This hidden Apple characteristic is a productiveness sport changer

Typically talking, Apple’s numerous working techniques get a foul rap for providing a restricted set of options when in comparison with the likes of Home windows, Android, and Linux. Whereas it is true that Apple tailors its software program to adapt to its ‘walled backyard’ ecosystem method, iOS, iPadOS, macOS, et al. do embody fairly a couple of superior configuration choices, lots of that are wholly unknown to the typical consumer.

One such characteristic that is criminally underutilized is named Textual content Replacements, and it has been round for fairly a while throughout Apple’s numerous software program platforms. Briefly, the utility lets you create a listing of shortcut-esque textual content strings, that are then routinely swapped out for user-prescribed phrases, symbols, or emojis when written right into a given textual content area. Once you add a Textual content Substitute onto one Apple machine, it routinely synchronizes throughout all different Apple merchandise which might be signed in with the identical Apple Account.

In the event you’ve ever texted a pal ‘omw’ solely to frustratingly have your iPhone or MacBook change the textual content to ‘On my means!,’ then you definately’re already accustomed to Textual content Replacements to a cursory diploma. This explicit alternative is enabled by default on all Apple units — maybe as a option to showcase the characteristic in motion — although it could admittedly be slightly annoying if you do not know how one can regulate or disable it.

Fortunately, it is easy to change the omw alternative shortcut to your liking, in addition to so as to add a variety of rather more helpful entries to the Textual content Substitute record itself. Personally, I’ve loaded up my record with helpful quick-access shortcuts for lesser-used symbols and emoticons which might be in any other case more durable to enter on the fly, and it continues to save lots of me a ton of time when textual content messaging family and friends. I’ve additionally arrange helpful Textual content Replacements for routinely getting into in my delivery handle, my work e-mail, my phone quantity, and different related info that I usually have to cite when crunching by means of work-related emails.

Learn how to get began with Textual content Replacements

The characteristic works throughout iPhone, iPad, Mac, and extra

Regardless of being such an extremely helpful utility, the Textual content Replacements characteristic is tucked away slightly deep inside the Settings software of every of Apple’s respective platforms.

To entry Textual content Replacements on iOS and iPadOS, observe these steps:

1. Launch Settings.
2. Navigate to Basic > Keyboard > Textual content Substitute.

On macOS, observe these steps to entry the characteristic:

1. Launch System Settings.
2. Navigate to Keyboard > Textual content Replacements…

On visionOS, the characteristic is accessible by following these steps:

1. Launch Settings.
2. Navigate to Basic > Keyboard > Textual content Substitute.

As soon as you have reached the principle Textual content Replacements web page in your Apple machine, it is time to get configuring. Throughout all platforms, merely faucet or click on on the + glyph icon so as to add a brand new entry. Two textual content fields will seem on-screen, with the primary being Change and the second being With (on older software program variations, these textual content fields would possibly as a substitute learn Shortcut and Phrase, respectively).

From right here, merely add your required phrase or phrase to the Change/Shortcut part, adopted by your expanded phrase or phrase to the With/Phrase part. Lastly, faucet or click on on the Save/Add button to decide to the entry. There isn’t any restrict to the variety of Textual content Replacements you possibly can configure on a given machine, and it is easy to return and delete undesirable entries in the event you occur to alter your thoughts at a later date.