How to customise the Samsung keyboard text shortcut

Did you know that an average smartphone user saves over 800 hours in their lifetime by using text shortcuts? Even text shortcuts sometimes save you from sending something that you did not intend to do. I mean keyboard shortcuts appear to be a crucial component that enhances the user experience. For that, numerous smartphone users focus on providing keyboard shortcuts.

But Samsung keyboards are such handy tools that are packed with customizable shortcut benefits. With this accessibility, users can save their precious time, boost productivity, and reduce the risk of auto-typing. One of the things I like is that it’s easy to express yourself and build your library of shortcuts. So here, we will explain to you how you can create a keyboard shortcut and use it.

Creating text shortcuts

Several keyboard options provide keyboard shortcut accessibility. But creating your means means using a Samsung keyboard. Here, you define your action, and accordingly, the phone processes it. Well, this is not a big task, but numerous users are still there who don’t know exactly how to proceed. For this, here are simple instructions to create your text shortcut.

1. Head to your phone’s settings.
2. Navigate to General Management.
3. Scroll down and tap on Samsung Keyboard Settings.
4. Under there, locate more typing options >> Text Shortcuts.
5. Now click the plus (+) icon in the top-right corner.
6. Type the full phrase you want to abbreviate in the Shortcut field.
7. Under the Expanded Phrase field, type the short abbreviation through which you will write that long phrase.
8. Hit the add button, and you are done.

Some advanced options

Concerning the above steps, you can add keyboard shortcuts to whatever you want. But suppose, after some days, you might look at customizing the existing key shortcuts. Moreover, you might need to add shortcuts to specific emojis or symbols. To answer both of these arguments, here is what we explain below.

Deleting or editing existing shortcuts

If you are bored with using the same type of abbreviation for a specific phrase, you can either edit it or delete it. All you need to do is follow the below instructions and proceed. So let’s understand how to edit or delete an existing keyboard shortcut.

Note: Steps 6 and 7 are interchangeably optional. I mean, follow step 6 to edit the shortcut and ignore step 7. Similarly, to delete that shortcut, do step 7 and ignore step 6. Apart from that, the rest of the steps are manually followed.

1. Open your phone’s settings.
2. Navigate to General Management.
3. Scroll down and tap on Samsung Keyboard Settings.
4. Under there, locate more typing options >> Text Shortcuts.
5. Look for the keyboard shortcut you want to edit or delete. 
6. Tap on it, make changes, and save it.
7. Long-tap the shortcut name and tap delete.
8. That’s it; you are done.

Add shortcuts to emojis and symbols.

This section could be a search for several users, as while chatting, we all want a handy way that helps us speak more with less effort. For this, creating a shortcut for a specific emoji or symbol could be as simple as possible. Look, you are keenly aware of creating your keyboard shortcuts. From those instructions, do the same steps you followed above, but instead of typing the word or abbreviation, type the specific emoji or symbol you want to display.

Managing text shortcuts

When there is a context for managing text shortcuts, there are generally two things to consider. One is sorting, and the second is creating categories for groups of shortcuts. This helps the user be organized with the different shortcuts created. So let’s first talk about sorting.

Sorting and Searching Shortcuts

Samsung has the option to manage different shortcuts on your phone. Because many times, the user needs to look for a specific shortcut, and having a long queue somewhere disappoints. For this, Samsung has varied sorting options. I mean, you can sort keyboard shortcuts on different bases, like alphabetical order and frequency. Apart from that, using the built-in search bar, you can directly search for specific shortcuts and manage them.

Create a shortcut category.

Choosing between the wide queue of keyboard shortcuts might also be confusing, especially with such an unexpected shortcut list. In such a scenario, creating a category for specific shortcuts could be the best option. If you want a greeting-related shortcut, just head into the section and grab the shortcut. It could be much more time-saving as compared to figuring out the entire queue. So, follow these steps and create a shortcut category.

Note: Repeat step 7 for every addition of new shortcuts in such categories.

1. Launch your phone’s settings.
2. Head of General Management.
3. Scroll down and tap on Samsung Keyboard Settings.
4. Under there, locate more typing options >> Text Shortcuts.
5. Tap the three dots in the top right and select Manage Categories.
6. Click on the plus (+) symbol, then name your category along with a description, and tap Add.
7. Tap and hold the shortcut you want to add and select Edit >> Select recently created category >> Add.
8. That’s it. In this way, you can create a dedicated shortcut category and add shortcuts to it.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the advantages of leveraging and managing text shortcuts on the Samsung keyboard are numerous, ranging from time-saving convenience to personalized efficiency. By creating and customizing text shortcuts, users can enhance their typing experience and streamline communication. As we conclude, I encourage readers to delve into the world of text shortcuts, experiment with creating personalized abbreviations, and tailor their keyboard experience to suit their unique needs.