When you set up a text replacement on iPhone, you can enter long or complicated text by typing just a few characters, like shorthand for your most frequently used words and phrases.
One shorthand for “On my way” is already set up for you, but you can add your own. You can also stop a word or phrase from being replaced, and create replacements for word and input pairs on certain Chinese or Japanese keyboards.
Create a text replacement
- While in a text field, touch and hold the Emoji button or the Switch Keyboard key.
- Tap Keyboard Settings and tap Text Replacement.
- Tap the Add button.
- Type a phrase in the Phrase field and the text shortcut you want to use for it in the Shortcut field.
Don’t want to replace a word or phrase you use?
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap General, tap Keyboard, and tap Text Replacement.
- Tap the Add button and enter your word or phrase in the Phrase field, but leave the Shortcut field blank.
Create a text replacement for word and input pairs
Using certain Chinese or Japanese keyboards, you can set up text replacements for word and input pairs, and each one goes into your personal dictionary. Then, when you type the text shortcut for a word or input on a supported keyboard, the paired word or input replaces the shortcut you typed.
You can use shortcuts with these languages:
- Simplified Chinese: Pinyin
- Traditional Chinese: Pinyin and Zhuyin
- Japanese: Romaji and Kana
Sync your personal dictionary across devices
Your personal dictionary can stay current on your other devices with iCloud.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap your name, then tap iCloud.
- Tap See All, tap iCloud Drive, and then turn on Sync this iPhone.
Reset your personal dictionary
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap General, then tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Tap Reset and tap Reset Keyboard Dictionary.
- Enter your passcode, then tap Reset Dictionary.
This deletes all custom words and shortcuts and returns the keyboard dictionary to its default state.
