One universal trick to enhance productivity on mobile devices—regardless of the app or task at hand—is to increase typing speed. Be it completing an online form or engaging in a group chat, faster text entry can save precious seconds that accumulate over time.

There are numerous strategies to achieve this, from concealed shortcuts on your keyboard to entirely new techniques for inputting text. Experimenting with these methods can unlock extra moments to enjoy away from the screen or enable the crafting of even more messages on your device.

Utilize the Slide-to-Type Feature

Instead of tapping each letter individually, try the sliding method: press the first letter and slide to the subsequent characters, completing the word in one fluid motion. Once you become accustomed to this technique, it significantly accelerates typing speeds. This feature is typically activated by default on Pixel and iOS devices, but needs to be enabled for Samsung keyboards.

On Pixels, access this feature by selecting the gear icon on the keyboard, and then choose Glide typing. For iPhones, navigate to Settings, then General > Keyboard > Slide to Type. On a Samsung device, enable it by tapping the gear icon, followed by Swipe, touch, and feedback > Keyboard swipe controls > Swipe to type.

Create Text Shortcuts

If certain phrases frequently appear in your texts, consider setting them up as shortcuts activated by a designated code: for instance, typing “omw” can instantly suggest “on my way.”

On Pixels, you can navigate to the gear icon on the keyboard, then go to Dictionary > Personal dictionary and select your language; hit the + icon to add a new shortcut.

For Samsung devices, tap the gear icon, then select Text shortcuts to modify existing shortcuts or create new ones. On iPhones, these can be managed under General > Keyboard > Text Replacement in the Settings menu.

Switch to One-Handed Mode

Previous discussions have emphasized the benefits of utilizing your device with one hand, whether on Android or iOS. When you only have one hand available, your typing speed can be significantly hindered—but it doesn’t need to be that way.

To activate one-handed mode on Android, open the keyboard and tap the four squares (on Pixels) or the three dots (on Samsung devices) to locate the One-handed option, which will shift the keyboard to one side. For an iPhone, hold down the globe icon while the keyboard is active; a set of icons will appear to allow you to position your keyboard to the left or right.

Opt for Voice Input

Dictating a message in a crowded subway might be impractical, but when multitasking, voice input offers a convenient alternative. Depending on your natural typing speed, it could enhance your overall messaging efficiency.

Activating voice input is simple: every default keyboard features a mic icon, located at the top right on Pixel devices, bottom left on Samsung, and bottom right on iPhones. Tap the icon to begin speaking, and you can even vocalize punctuation marks.

Experiment with Alternative Keyboards

Both Android and iOS support alternative keyboard installations, allowing users to switch between them for potentially improved typing speed. Consider exploring options like Typewise, available on Android or iOS, which boasts larger buttons, diverse customization options, and incorporates the swipe-to-type feature mentioned earlier.

Another noteworthy option is SwiftKey by Microsoft, compatible with both Android and iOS, which offers extensive customization capabilities along with highly accurate autocorrect and text prediction—facilitating swifter message composition.