That keyboard is one of the tools or functions that we use more in our mobiles It is not a secret: we use it to write messages, emails, the address of a web page in the browser and for countless things. Any tip or shortcut that improves experience when using the keyboard is always welcome.
The Android keyboard, especially the Google keyboard, is extremely good and versatile. It is higher than the iPhone keyboard, although it also does certain things very well. The Android keyboard has Tools such as the clipboard that facilitates my day up to dateAnd a good selection of functions always by hand. And I always discover really useful hidden tips.
The secret shortcut of the “123” button: keep pressing on
When the keyboard is opened on the screen, it occupies a considerable part of its space. Around A third of the screen becomes the keyboard (or even a little on certain keyboards and mobiles). This is thus by design, those responsible for this tool and the operating system seem to want the keyboard to have a compact but functional design, that it is as intrusive as possible on the screen.
That's why The keyboard is divided into two screens with three: one with letters of letters (the typical Qwety format keyboard) and two screens with access to the symbols. To change between one and the other, it is necessary to press a button: “123”.
Press this button Modifies the letter keyboard screen on the keyboard of numbers and symbols, and If you want to go to the second screen with even more symbols, you must press a second buttonmarked like '= \
The numbers and the symbol keys are not always in sight for the keyboard to be more compact
But did you know what It is possible to save by pressing all these buttons? Yes, there is a shortcut on the Android keyboard which is active by default, and essentially benefits from the sliding function, or knowledge Sliding. It is only necessary to maintain the button “123”.
Al Keep '123' appears the second screen Keyboard, which includes numbers and symbols, and we have two options to use the keyboard faster and effectively:
- Hold the '123' button and, with another finger, press the number or symbol that we want
- Slide the same finger with which we supported “123” to the number or symbol that we want to write
In fact, this shortcut works so well that even It is possible to access even more symbols. After pressing the “123” button, we can extend some of the buttons on the second keyboard that appears on the screen to access more symbols. Another way to do it is to slide the same finger with which we press the '123' button and keep it under pressure on another button to appear the menu with more options, as we see in the image previous.
It may seem very simple, but those we are constantly using mobile on an up -to -date day base, both for personal problems and to work, we are always looking for ways to save time and, above all, to get use more dynamic of mobile. It is faster and faster to hold a finger to write some numbers Having to make several keys, especially if it is something you do all the time.
Once you have gotten used to using this shortcut, there is no going back, or at least it was my experience. Android is full of these little tips and gestures, sometimes little known, which can Make our lives easier and save precious time That we will accumulate and that we can use to do more things, or have more free time to see another episode of this Netflix series that hung us.
This article was initially published in Xataka Android in February 2024. It was revised and updated again.
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