Keyboard and input
Text Replacement
Most people call this short codes that expand into longer text.
You can define a short code that expands into a longer phrase, and you can use the same feature to stop autocorrect mangling a particular word.
This setting is present on your iPhone.
- We have this path on file but have not yet confirmed it against an official source.
Where to find it - iOS 13 and later
- Settings
- General
- Keyboard
- Text Replacement
What it does
Each entry has a phrase and an optional shortcut. Typing the shortcut inserts the phrase. An entry with a phrase but no shortcut simply teaches the keyboard that the spelling is correct.
What changes
When it is on
Typing a shortcut inserts the full phrase.
When it is off
Nothing expands.
Should you turn it on?
Good reasons to turn it on
- Saves typing the same thing repeatedly.
- Stops autocorrect changing names and jargon.
- Entries sync across your Apple devices.
Good reasons to turn it off
- A shortcut that matches a real word fires when you did not mean it.
Battery
No real change
Privacy
No real change
Performance
No real change
Cellular data
No real change
Storage
No real change
Out of the box: One example entry is present on a new phone.
Questions people actually ask
- How do I stop autocorrect changing a particular word?
- Add it under Text Replacement as a phrase with no shortcut. The keyboard then treats it as a real word.
If it is not working
- To protect a word from autocorrect, add it as a phrase with no shortcut.
- Entries sync through iCloud, so check the same Apple Account is in use.