How do I use the keyboard on my phone?

How to use the keyboards on your phone How to use the keyboards on your phone

The keyboard on your phone should be as easy and convienient to use as the keyboard for your computer. The Samsung keyboard gives you plenty of customisation options to choose from, so that you can make your keyboard your own. Change the layout, the languages it uses and the size among other options to create your perfect keyboard.

Please note: the options available for your phone keyboard may differ depending on your model and operating system. For information about your specific model download your user manual.

The Samsung keyboard has two separate toolbars. One gives you suggestions for predictive text and the other makes it quick and easy to send stickers, emoticons and gifs. You can swap between them by tapping the icon on the top left of the keyboard.

Basic keyboard navigation
1 Emoticon toolbar: change the toolbar to select emoticons, stickers and gifs
2 Auto replace suggestions: tap one of these suggestions to choose it
3 Auto replace options: tap here to see more auto replace suggestions
4 Backspace: deletes the last character you entered or the character before the typing cursor
5 Enter: start a new line of text
6 Change keyboard: tap this icon to change the keyboard you are using
7 Spacebar: insert a space into the text. This key can also be used to select the keyboard language
8 Symbols keyboard: change the keyboard to select a symbol. Tap the 1/2 key to see more symbols. When you're finished tap the ABC key to return
Tap 1/2 to select more symbols. Tap ABC to return
9 Shift: tap once to capitalise the next character you choose. Tap twice in quick succession to turn on caps lock

Please note: to swap to the emoticon toolbar, tap the icon at the top left of the keyboard.

Basic keyboard navigation on the emoji toolbar
1 Typing keyboard: change the toolbar to select predictive text suggestions
2 Emoticons: select emoticons to use
3 Stickers: select stickers to use
4 Gifs: select gifs to use
5 Speech to text: tap here to start converting speech to text
6 Keyboard settings: go to the Samsung keyboard settings page
7 More options: tap here to select more keyboard options such as Live message, Clipboard, Modes and Text editing
1 Open the keyboard
Open the keyboard
2 Tap the settings cog
Tap the settings cog
3 Tap Languages and types
Tap Languages and types
4 Tap Manage input languages
Tap Manage input languages
5 Tap the switch next to the languages you wish to use. A maximum of four can be selected at one time
Tap the switch next to the languages you wish to use
6 Navigate back to your keyboard
Navigate back to your keyboard
7 Swipe right or left on the spacebar to select a language
Swipe right or left on the spacebar to select a language

The Samsung keyboard can be used in three different layouts to provide the typing experience that you find easiest to use. The standard keyboard uses the full width of the screen. The One-handed keyboard moves the keyboard to the left or right side of the screen, making it easier to use with one hand. The floating keyboard can be dragged around the screen, making it easier to see the app you are using while typing.

1 Open the keyboard
Open the keyboard
2 Tap the options icon on the emoticon toolbar
Tap the options icon

Please note: if you see a list of words when you tap the options icon, tap the emoticon toolbar key then try again. The emoticon toolbar key looks like a face between two arrows.

3 Tap Modes
Tap modes
4 Select between the standard keyboard, one-handed keyboard and floating keyboard
Select the keyboard you wish to use

Standard keyboard

The standard keyboard

One-handed keyboard

The One-handed keyboard

Floating keyboard

The Floating keyboard

Touch feedback can let you know when you've typed and what you've typed on the keyboard. In the touch feedback settings you can choose whether to hear a sound, feel a vibration or see a preview of the character as you select it.

Please note: the options for Touch feedback will be different depending on the device you are using. For example, the A40, A50 and A70 do not support vibration feedback.

1 Open the keyboard
Open the keyboard
2 Tap the settings cog
Tap the settings cog
3 Tap Swipe, touch and feedback
Tap swipe, touch and feedback
4 Tap Touch feedback
Tap Touch feedback
5 Tap the switch next to Sound to enable or disable a tone that plays whenever you type on the keyboard
Tap the switch next to sound
6 Tap the switch next to Vibration to enable or disable a small vibration whenever you type on the keyboard

Please note: if you cannot see the option for Vibration, then vibration feedback may not be available for your device.

Tap the switch next to vibration
7 Tap the switch next to Character preview to enable or disable it. Character preview displays an enlarged preview of characters and emojis as you select them
Tap the switch next to Character preview

You can adjust the size of the keyboard and the colours it uses to make it easier to see and use.

Setting up a High contrast keyboard

1 Open the keyboard
Open the keyboard
2 Tap the settings cog
Tap the settings cog
3 Tap High contrast keyboard
Tap High contrast keyboard
4 Tap the switch to enable the High contrast keyboard
Tap the switch to enable the High contrast keyboard
5 Tap the colour option you prefer to select it
Tap the colour option you prefer

Changing the size of the keyboard

1 Open the Keyboard settings again
2 Tap Size and transparency

Please note: if this option is greyed out, please turn off the High contrast keyboard first.

Tap Size and transparency
3 Drag the handles on the sides of the keyboard to change its size
Drag the handles on the keyboard to adjust the size
4 Tap Done to confirm
Tap Done to confirm

Predictive texting is a feature that makes it quicker and easier to send messages by suggesting and changing words as you type. The more you use predictive text, the better it will become at suggesting your most used words and phrases.

Find out more about predictive text and how to use it.

If you're experiencing unusual behaviour on Samsung mobiles, tablets or wearables, you can send us an error report or ask us a question in the Samsung Members app.

This allows us to take a closer look at what is happening. The data is anonymised and only held for the duration of the investigation. Find out more about sending an error report through the Samsung Members app.

 

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