8 Simple Samsung Keyboard Tips to Improve your Speed and Accuracy

The keyboard is an essential part of any smartphone experience. Samsung — the biggest Android manufacturer that makes some of the best Android phones on the market — has supercharged its built-in One UI keyboard with plenty of customization options. Some of its features may overwhelm users, and Samsung has disabled them by default. However, when used right, they can elevate your typing experience. Here our our 8 top tips to improve the Samsung Keyboard.

8 simple Samsung Keyboard tips to improve your speed and accuracy© Provided by Android Police

1. Adjust the size of the keyboard

Not everyone prefers the default keyboard size on their Samsung Galaxy phone. If the keyboard size is too high or low, you can easily adjust it for a comfortable typing experience.

1. Swipe up from the home screen and find the Settings app with a familiar gear icon.
2. Scroll to General management.
3. Select Samsung Keyboard settings.
4. Tap Size and transparency.

1. Using a set of blue handles, you can shrink or enlarge the interface from the left, right, top, bottom, or corners. You can even push the keyboard higher if it is hard to reach the space bar.

Alternatively, you can open Samsung Keyboard settings from the keyboard toolbar at the top.

2. Change keyboard layout

The first typing machines had keyboards with an alphabetical layout, but the arrangement caused the keys to jam. Eventually, the Qwerty keyboard layout was created, spreading out the most frequently typed letters to minimize jamming and increase typing speed. It has since become the recognized standard, but other layouts have been adapted from it for various reasons. For example, the Azerty style is more suitable for typing in French, and the Qwertz layout is better for German.

The Samsung Keyboard offers a bunch of settings for customizing its layout, in case you have a language preference. You can switch between the default Qwerty style to Qwertz, Azerty, and even the classic 3×4 from feature phones. If you have more than one language enabled, you can select different layouts for each.

1. Open Samsung Keyboard settings on your Galaxy phone (refer to the steps above).
2. Tap Languages and types.
3. Manage input languages and change Qwerty type from the Numbers and symbols menu.
4. Keyboard setting also has a dedicated layout section to enable a number row and alternative characters for quick access. There’s even an option to tweak the spacebar row to include period and comma buttons. Open Layout in Samsung Keyboard settings to make tweaks.

3. Add a splash of color

A splash of color can go a long way to improve the user experience — that’s the whole point of Android 12’s Material You. If the keyboard’s default look feels bland, you can revamp it with its Good Lock modules. Download and install the Good Locks app, launch it, and download the Keys Cafe module. Once enabled, you can apply themes to make your keyboard come alive with color whenever you tap a key. Sadly, the app is not available for some regions.

Even if you can't access the Good Lock software, you can still add some color to your keyboard with Samsung's contrast feature. It's an accessibility setting to make the keys easier to see, but it offers a few interesting hues.

1. Head to Samsung Keyboard settings (check the steps above).
2. Select High contrast keyboard. Toggle it on to check different modes.

4. Use text shortcuts

The Samsung Keyboard executes text shortcuts really well. Instead of just showing the shortcut in the suggestions bar, it automatically replaces it with the expanded form when you hit the spacebar. You can create text shortcuts for frequently used words and phrases. Follow the steps below.

1. Open Samsung Keyboard settings (check the steps above).
2. Tap Text shortcuts.
3. Hit the + icon in the top right corner and enter your shortcut phrase alongside its expanded phrase.
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Aside from preset text shortcuts, the Samsung Keyboard offers another way to type faster: predictions. Most keyboards offer only three predictions, but the Samsung keyboard gives you nine of them. Simply tap on the three-dot menu to the right side of the toolbar to access them.

5. Enable gestures for smoother typing

The Samsung Keyboard supports two gesture controls but only lets you activate one at a time. The Swipe to type option is enabled by default and allows you to enter text by sliding your finger between letters. Cursor control lets you move the cursor to an exact spot by sliding your finger across the keyboard — but you'll have to select it yourself.

1. Launch Samsung Keyboard settings (refer to the steps above).
2. Scroll to Swipe, touch, and feedback.
3. Tap Keyboard swipe controls.
4. Tap the radio button beside Swipe to type or Cursor control.

There’s a way to get the best of both worlds, though. Select the Swipe to type option for faster typing, and you can long-press the spacebar on the keyboard to move the cursor.

6. Change quick-access symbols

The Samsung Keyboard offers quick access to frequently used symbols. Simply hold down the period key, and you’ll find ten extra signs. Samsung makes the feature even more helpful by allowing you to replace the characters with the ones you use most.

1. Go to Samsung Keyboard settings (check the steps above).
2. Scroll to Custom symbols.
3. Tap the symbol you want to change, then replace it by tapping a new symbol on the keyboard.
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7. Access emojis at your fingertips

Emojis can take chats and interactions to another level. With the Samsung Keyboard, you can easily add them by turning on the Suggest emoji option. It will automatically bring up suitable icons based on the context of your text.

1. Head to Samsung Keyboard settings (check the steps above).
2. Enable Suggest emojis and Suggest stickers while typing toggles.

8. Customize or disable the toolbar

Samsung added a toolbar to the One UI keyboard in 2018. It houses shortcuts for emoji, GIFs, voice typing, one-hand mode, a clipboard, and even the settings shortcut. Some items are hidden in a three-dot menu, but you can rearrange them per your preference. Just hold down on any icon to move it around.

The toolbar isn't always present, though. When typing, it disappears and is instead replaced by text suggestions. But you can easily switch to the toolbar mode by tapping the left-facing arrow in the top-left corner. If you’re not a fan of the toolbar, there's an option to disable it.

1. Open Samsung Keyboard settings (check the steps above).
2. Disable the Keyboard toolbar toggle.

Now, you’ll only get text suggestions in that space. As for the shortcuts that used to be on the toolbar, you’ll still be able to access them by long pressing the comma button.

Customize the Samsung Keyboard like a pro

We all have different preferences, tastes, likes, and dislikes, which applies just as much to our smartphone usage as it does to all other aspects of our lives. The Samsung Keyboard tries to appeal to a vast audience by offering various customization options to help you carve out your ideal keyboard. If you'd like to go beyond your typing experience and get the most out of using a Samsung phone, check out our article on the best Android and One UI software tips.