How to add and use text replacements on Mac

You may be familiar with text replacements on your iPhone, where you use shortcuts to replace longer strings of text. You can do the same on your Mac to speed up your workflow.

You can use shorthand text for things like your name, company, and email address. You can also use them for the text that you frequently type in emails or text messages, e.g. E.g. “I’m late” or “Sorry, I can’t make it”.

Whether you’re creating a document, typing a text message, or composing an email, you can say what you need faster with text replacements on Mac.

Add text replacements on Mac

If you add new text replacements on your Mac, you can also use them on your iPhone or iPad. Just make sure you’re signed in with the same Apple ID to sync content.

Step 1: Open system settings Use the icon in your dock or the Apple icon in the Menu Bar.

Step 2: Choose keyboard.

Keyboard in System Preferences on Mac.

Step 3: Go to text Tab. If you’re synced with your iPhone or iPad, you might see shortcuts you’ve added there.

Step 4: To add a replacement, select the plus sign bottom left.

Plus sign button to add a text replacement.

Step 5: Enter the keyboard shortcut you want to use to replace the text in the box that opens.

Field for entering the link.

Step 6: Press your tab button, and then type the text you want to appear when you use the shortcut.

Field for entering the text to replace the link with.

Step 7: Press your To return button to save the text replacement.

By default, your replacements are listed in alphabetical order according to the shortcut.

Added text replacement on Mac.

Use text replacements on Mac

To use a text replacement, open your document, text message, email, note, or other item.

Step 1: Place the cursor where you want the text string and type the keyboard shortcut.

Step 2: You should see the replacement text pop-up below the shortcut.

Pop-up window to replace text in messages.

Step 3: You can then select and press that text To returnor use the spacebar to replace the link with the text.

Text replacement in messages.

Step 4: If for some reason you don’t want to replace the shortcut with the text string, select that X on the right side of the small pop-up window.

X to close the text replacement option.

Edit or remove text replacements

You can change existing text replacements or remove the ones you don’t use.

Step 1: in the system settings > keyboardgo to text Tab.

Step 2: To edit a replacement, select it and enter the new shortcut or text you want to display. Then press your To return Key.

Replacement text box selected to edit text.

Step 3: To delete a replacement, select it in the list and use the minus sign bottom left to remove it.

Minus sign button to delete a text replacement on Mac.

With text replacements on Mac, you can speed up your typing. For similar ways to be more productive, check out some of the best Mac keyboard shortcuts.

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