Phone keyboard settings worth changing

Your keyboard has more settings than most people ever open. A few of them make a real difference to everyday typing. Menu names vary between phones and keyboard apps, so look for these in your keyboard’s settings rather than expecting the exact wording.

Keyboard height and key size

Many keyboards let you make the keys taller. Taller keys are easier to hit and can cut down on misses along the bottom row. If you have a large phone and small hands, try it the other way: a slightly lower or narrower keyboard shortens the reach.

One-handed mode

This squeezes the keyboard towards the left or right edge so a single thumb can reach every key. It is worth knowing where the switch is for the times you only have one hand free.

Vibration and sound

A small vibration on each tap tells you a key registered without looking. Some people type more evenly with it; others find it slows them down. Try a few days each way. Key sounds work the same way and are best left off in public.

Autocorrect and suggestions

Autocorrect quietly repairs small slips, and for everyday messages it usually helps. The row of word suggestions is less clear-cut: stopping to read and pick a suggestion can take longer than just typing the word. If you rarely use the suggestions, you lose nothing by ignoring them.

Note that the Thumbster test asks your keyboard to switch autocorrect and auto-capitalisation off while you type, so the score measures your own accuracy. Your everyday settings are not changed.

Swipe typing

Sliding a finger across the letters instead of tapping them suits some people very well, especially one-handed. It is a different skill from thumb tapping and depends heavily on the keyboard guessing the word, so it is worth trying for messages but it is not what this site is measuring.

Text shortcuts

Most phones let you set a short code that expands into a longer phrase, such as your email address or a reply you send often. It will not raise a test score, but it saves a lot of everyday typing.

Change one thing at a time

If you change several settings at once you will not know which one helped. Change one, give it a few days and then take the test again. For technique rather than settings, see how to type faster on your phone.