How to Create Custom Text Replacements on Android

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Use text shortcuts to type faster in GBoard, Samsung Keyboard, and SwiftKey

Written by Travis Boylls

Last Updated: November 12, 2025 Fact Checked

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Using GBoard

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Using Samsung Keyboard

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Using Swiftkey

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Q&A

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Tips

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Warnings

Text replacements or text shortcuts allow you to use shortcuts or acronyms to input common phrases you use in your texting. This can save you time when you type. This is a common feature on iPhones, but it is not enabled by default on Android. However, you can easily enable it in the Settings menu. The way you do so depends on which keyboard you have installed. Both Samsung and stock Android phones come with different keyboards. This wikiHow article teaches you how to add keyboard shortcuts on both GBoard for Android, Samsung Keyboard, and Microsoft SwiftKey.

Quickly Add Text Shortcuts

Open your keyboard and tap the Gear icon above the keyboard.
Tap Dictionary > Personal Dictionary (GBoard) or Text Shortcuts (Samsung Keyboard).
Tap the plus icon (+) in the upper-right corner.
Enter a phrase or word and a shortcut.
Tap Add.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using GBoard on Android

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To do so, swipe down from the top of the screen and tap the Gear icon in the upper-right corner.
This opens your System Settings menu.

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Tap Keyboard. It’s the second option in the Settings menu. This opens your keyboard Settings menu.
- Alternatively, you can tap anywhere you need to enter text to open GBoard and then tap the gear icon above the keyboard to open the keyboard settings menu.
It’s about halfway down the menu. It’s next to an icon that resembles a book.
It’s the first option in the menu.
Tap English, or whichever language you prefer to use.
It's in the top right corner of the screen.
Tap the line at the top and type a word or phrase that you want to create a shortcut for. For example, you could type "I love you".^{[1]
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Tap the line next to the box labeled "Optional shortcut" and then type the shortcut you want to use for the phrase you typed. For example, if your phrase is "I love you", you could type "ily". This adds the shortcut to the keyboard.^{[2]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using Samsung Keyboard

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To do so, swipe down from the top of the menu and tap the Gear icon in the upper-right corner.
It's near the bottom of the Settings menu. It's next to an icon that resembles slider bars.
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Tap Samsung keyboard settings. It’s the fifth option below the “Date and time” option.
- Alternatively, you can tap anywhere you input text to open the keyboard and tap the gear icon at the top of the keyboard.
It’s the second-to-last option below “Smart Typing.”
It’s in the upper-right corner of the app.^{[3]
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Tap the line that says "Shortcut" and type a shortcut you want to use for a word or phrase. For example, you could type "ily" for the phrase "I love you".^{[4]
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Tap the line that says "Expanded phrase" and type the full word or phrase you want to use for your shortcut.
It's in the lower-right corner of the Add shortcut pop-up.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using Microsoft SwiftKey

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1
Tap where you can input text. If you have Microsoft SwiftKey installed as your default, tap anywhere you enter text to open the keyboard.
- SwiftKey doesn’t come pre-installed on Android phones. However, you can download and install it for free in the Google Play Store.
It’s in the upper-right corner of the keyboard. This displays the menu.
It has an icon that resembles a gear.
It’s about halfway down the menu. It’s next to an icon that resembles a microphone.
It’s the first option at the top of the menu.
It’s at the bottom of the menu.
Enter the full word or phrase you want to create a shortcut for in the box labeled “Clip content.” For example, you could type “I love you.”
Enter the shortcut you want to use for your word or phrase in the box labeled “Shortcut (optional).” For example, you could type “ily” for the phrase “I love you.”
This adds the keyboard shortcut to your SwiftKey keyboard.^{[5]
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Microsoft Support
Technical support and product information from Microsoft.

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Community Q&A

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Question

How do I add multiple text shortcuts ( >40 ) to Android?

Community Answer

If you are using the Google keyboard (downloadable from the Play Store) for your phone, you can go into Settings > Languages and Input > Personal Dictionary > Add (+), where you can type in the words that you want and create the optional shortcut. For example, you can set it so when you type "XD" you get the auto-suggestion of "hahaha!". You can add as many as you like to it, just make sure you also select the Google keyboard to be your primary one.

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Text shortcuts are incredibly helpful for email addresses, phone numbers, and so on.

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Warnings

If you're using a keyboard other than the default keyboard, it may not support text shortcuts, or the settings may be different.

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