Can't typ on newer iPhones

[sleeptodream]

I agree that the 6.3 inch iPhones definitely seem harder to type on. I use a Plus and I appreciate the extra space with their current keyboard algorithm, I’m much more accurate on the bigger phones. I don’t use autocorrect so I care a lot about accuracy

 

[shadowboi]

Well, it can be my personal problem, or it is, doesn't matter, i dont know how to delete this thread so lets post the reddit thread. Which describes it more perfect

https://www.reddit.com/r/ios/comments/1cvfk0o/hate_the_ios_typing_experience_am_i_alone_any

I had used few androids in my life and keyboard on these phones is horrible, absolute trash. On my Galaxy S10+ I couldn’t type a f****ng message and people had to listen to my audio messages all the time, up to the point my friend said “oh f*** for f***’s sake stop sending me your audiobooks, why can’t you just write a message”.

It was partly because of this stupid curved display that Samsung has abolished only recently. I had tried one 2022 Samsung phone (M33 or smth) for a while until I drowned it and it was much better experience than S10+ but still horrible, I don’t like and had never liked Google keyboard which was meant to be a copycat of Apple’s keyboard but privacy-invasive one.

Returning to iPhone with 11 Pro was a bliss, perfect experience. But beware, as I mentioned earlier in the thread I have auto-correction and predictive text disabled

 

[ShawtyisFreakQV]

So finally some people show up. I can even give a specific example. When I am trying to type NOS (I’m Dutch) I’m typing Bo or a B instead of an N. It has never been like that until iPhone 13,14,15,16 Gladly some people recognise it.

 

[Wanted797]

Sounds like you need to reset the dictionary. I have to do this every so often.
Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Keyboard Dictionary.

The iPhone learns overtime words you type e.g. names and places. I find after a period it just goes whacky and starts letting you just make up randomly words.

 

[Wanted797]

Ha! I thought it was me! I have exactly the same experience. It's weird. I guess it's the new 'smart' error correction that doesn't jell with me. Endless typos, and sometimes just plain weird guessing by iOS. I've tried different settings but cam't make it worj. 😉

Reset the keyboard dictionary.

 

[ShawtyisFreakQV]

Sounds like you need to reset the dictionary. I have to do this every so often.
Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Keyboard Dictionary.

The iPhone learns overtime words you type e.g. names and places. I find after a period it just goes whacky and starts letting you just make up randomly words.

No we just can’t type. It’s as simple as that 😂

 

[Tyler O'Bannon]

I’m just over here waiting for it to get in and on and if and of contextually correct. So far it’s wrong 95% of the time

 

[theladyboo]

Is it iOS related or phone related? I've always found it a pain to place the cursor where a typo may occur because the speech to text is absurd sometimes and I always need to correct it, but general texting is easy enough. Maybe text in landscape mode so the buttons are bigger?

 

[hanzzzen]

Well, it can be my personal problem, or it is, doesn't matter, i dont know how to delete this thread so lets post the reddit thread. Which describes it more perfect

https://www.reddit.com/r/ios/comments/1cvfk0o/hate_the_ios_typing_experience_am_i_alone_any

I agree. The iOS keyboard and auto correct is far from perfect. I also have a feeling that throughout the different iOS the typing experience has become … worse. Might be my age or growing fingers

xKeyboard is an iOS app that will let you design your own keyboard. @ , 0-9 and favorit emojis on the same layout. You can even put words or sentences into keys. Doesn’t fix auto correct errors though.

 

[dennis264]

it a pain to place the cursor

Tangent: I remember this change, something happened between iOS 5 - 8 where trying to place a cursor regressed badly. I think it's when they "enhanced" copy and paste.
It's like Apple made a "courageous" choice to assume anybody is ever gonna need to precisely place a cursor.

Me: How about if I place my finger on the place I want to move the cursor to, then hold it for an extra second, then the cursor moves there. Even if it's inside[mind blown inflection] a word.
Apple: Copy Paste?

 

[klasma]

It's been many moons ago for me (maybe the iPhone 5?), but I do remember 'predictive text' seemingly "causing" typos, etc. I've had it off ever since, and haven't noticed any issue typing on each new phone / software update that comes out.

If it's on, try turning OFF 'predictive text'. Settings > General > Keyboard > toggle off 'predictive text'.

Well that’s too bad. I just tried that, but it made me realize that I’m using predictive text much more than I thought. It’s just too tedious to type everything out on a touch screen.

 

[klasma]

Wouldn't be surprised if Tim Apple is somehow behind this...like he was behind his two other pride and joys--butterfly keyboard and fine woven.

They trained the neural engine on Tim’s typing patterns.

 

[klasma]

Tangent: I remember this change, something happened between iOS 5 - 8 where trying to place a cursor regressed badly. I think it's when they "enhanced" copy and paste.
It's like Apple made a "courageous" choice to assume anybody is ever gonna need to precisely place a cursor.

I think it’s when they first removed the little screen loupe (as part of a text input overhaul).

 

[Logic368]

I can't typ on iPhones above 12. Typing this on iMac, because on my 14 Pro it couldn't be done.

Don't know how to describe but typing on 14Pro is just ****ed. Can't typ a normal sentence without mistakes. Autocorrect is on but has to correct just everything.

but then, I used my moms phone (12) and everything went smooth and not a single problem at all. Used an iPhone 8 to test. 10 times better. Held the phone next to each other, there is more space between letters it looks.

You should take an old iPhone and type on it, it's just unbelievable. I cant be the only one. Wanted to switch to Samsung just because of this.....

It’s because of the weight distribution. On the iPhone 8, which I agree is easier to type on, because of the giant bezel and comparative lightness and smaller size, the keyboard sits much higher than on modern phones. But modern phones are also much larger and heavier so you’re really stretching out your hand to try and prevent the phone from slipping out of your grip. Remember, iPhone 8 is basically smaller, lighter, and shorter, and yet the keyboard sits higher. The original iPhones and iPads all had giant bezels. This was not an accident.

 

[Howard2k]

Interesting. So you can't type on phones above the iPhone 12. That would mean the iPhone 13, the 14, the 15 and the 16 series. And you've heard about this on Reddit too.

So, since 2021 this has been a major problem. Almost four years. And across at least four models of iPhone.

Strange that there's never been any inkling of this problem HERE on MacRumors in the last four years.

Agreed. Never heard of this.

 

[shadowboi]

So finally some people show up. I can even give a specific example. When I am trying to type NOS (I’m Dutch) I’m typing Bo or a B instead of an N. It has never been like that until iPhone 13,14,15,16 Gladly some people recognise it.

I tried it just now, turns out I had mastered the blind type on iPhone over the years, can type most stuff without even looking. Maybe this is iOS 18 issue or an issue with Dutch keyboard? I cannot confirm how it behaves on this iOS since I am still on 17. Also do you use screen protector? I had some issues with typing when I had matte screen protector or for example when my hands were wet

 

[Maxis]

I can't typ on iPhones above 12. Typing this on iMac, because on my 14 Pro it couldn't be done.

Don't know how to describe but typing on 14Pro is just ****ed. Can't typ a normal sentence without mistakes. Autocorrect is on but has to correct just everything.

but then, I used my moms phone (12) and everything went smooth and not a single problem at all. Used an iPhone 8 to test. 10 times better. Held the phone next to each other, there is more space between letters it looks.

You should take an old iPhone and type on it, it's just unbelievable. I cant be the only one. Wanted to switch to Samsung just because of this.....

Actually, I have the same problem. Can't type with iPhone without hitting keys next to each one. (iPhone13+14 max)

 

[robvalentine]

iPhone keyboard is harder to type on than android ones in my experience. Auto correct is way worse.

Maybe try resetting keyboard?

 

[Bungaree.Chubbins]

There’s no appreciable difference in the typing experience between my iPhone 14 and my 8 Plus. They’re both fine. Autocucumber could be a bit better, but the typing experience is just fine.

It’s definitely a LOT easier for me to type on my 14 than it is to type on my iPhone 5!

If I had guess, I might wonder if there was a bug in the Dutch keyboard, or maybe a hardware glitch in your specific phone, because it’s not a universal experience. I typed all this at the breakfast table on my iPhone 14. No problems.

 

[P_Watt]

Is it iOS related or phone related? I've always found it a pain to place the cursor where a typo may occur because the speech to text is absurd sometimes and I always need to correct it, but general texting is easy enough. Maybe text in landscape mode so the buttons are bigger?

you do know that if you tap and hold the space bar the keyboard turns into a touchpad to move your finger and place the cursor exactly?

 

[Howard2k]

you do know that if you tap and hold the space bar the keyboard turns into a touchpad to move your finger and place the cursor exactly?

Or tap and hold the screen and the magnifier shows up.

 

[splitpea]

There’s also the swipey keyboard that messes with everything. I have to turn that one off on each new phone.

But a long time ago didn’t setting up a new iphone involve a step where you tapped around a bit so they could correct for screen offset? (That always kills me on certain public touchscreen UIs, which are always calibrated for people a foot taller than me.) That’s not a setup step any more.

 

[Aquaporin]

It has gotten more and more frustrating to type on an iPhone compared to the earlier editions which I used to say was a real perk of getting an iPhone over an android. It was very frustrating to try to type on an Android compared to an iPhone 10+ years ago.

 

[macsound1]

I've been noticing this for a while. Some websites definitely disable autocorrect which is super annoying but I've made a change that makes typing way easier. Make the keyboard smaller.
I think it's my muscle memory from all the smaller phones not getting overwritten in my mind so against all rational thoughts, this makes typing more accurate for me.

 

[alexballvideos]

I kinda agree, I’m going to reset the keyboard dictionary now on advice here. I wonder when Apple added the swipe to type feature, consequently made tap to type far worse? I don’t use swipe to type.. anyone recall when that feature was added?

My recent memory

5S - recall this was great, you could borderline not even look at the keyboard and just mash away and things were great.

7 - don’t recall to be honest, I had two iPhone 7’s to get me to the 12

12 - frustrated with typos and poor battery life from 5G

15 pro max - went to bigger phone and thought the typo’s would lessen but no.

—-
Edit* I see I have slide to type enabled but I never use it. Going to disable and see how things go..