TechTipADay

By task · 5 tips

How to type faster on your phone and computer

Most of the speed is already on the device. Text replacement turns @@ into your email address, the spacebar moves the cursor, and the keyboard can shrink for one thumb. No new keyboard app needed.

  1. How to move the cursor on an iPhone or Android keyboard

    On iPhone, press and hold the spacebar and slide your finger. The keyboard turns into a trackpad. On Android with Gboard, swipe left or right along the spacebar.

    Use it when: You land the cursor on the letter you meant, instead of the one next to it.

    iPhone · Easy · 1 min · Full steps

  2. How to use the Gboard clipboard on Android

    Open the keyboard and tap the clipboard icon in Gboard's toolbar. Your recent copies are listed there. Unpinned ones disappear after an hour.

    Use it when: You can copy a code, switch apps, and still have the code without copying it again.

    Android · Easy · 1 min · Full steps

  3. How to turn on the one-handed keyboard on iPhone

    Touch and hold the globe or emoji key and pick the left or right keyboard icon. The same option is in Settings > General > Keyboard > One-Handed Keyboard.

    Use it when: A large phone becomes typeable with the thumb you are actually holding it with.

    iPhone · Easy · 1 min · Full steps

  4. How to set up text replacement on a Mac

    Open System Settings > Keyboard, click Text Replacements, then click +. Type the short code and the full phrase, click Add, and the Mac expands the code whenever you type it followed by a space.

    Use it when: Addresses and stock replies are slower on a keyboard than people admit.

    Productivity · Easy · 2 min · Full steps

  5. How to set up text replacement on iPhone

    Open Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement and tap +. Put the full text in Phrase and a short code like @@ in Shortcut. Type the code and a space, and the phone expands it.

    Use it when: A long address or a paragraph you retype stops being a typing job.

    Productivity · Easy · 2 min · Full steps

Questions people ask

Does the spacebar trick work on every iPhone?

It has been there since iOS 12, so any iPhone running a current iOS has it.

Where is the clipboard on Android?

There's no separate clipboard app on most phones. It lives in the keyboard, so in Gboard tap the clipboard icon.

How do I get the full keyboard back?

Tap the arrow on the empty side of the keyboard.

Can I use the same list as my iPhone?

Yes. If the Mac and the iPhone share an Apple Account with iCloud, the list syncs. Give it a minute after you add something.

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