Welcome to SwiftKey’s support pages!
How to use
Learn basic and advanced tips, how to change settings, how to personalize, and how to change keyboard’s theme.
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How to install
Download SwiftKey X and run the installer
Download the SwiftKey X app from the appstore of your choice, such as Android Market or Amazon Appstore. After the download is complete, the SwiftKey icon will be displayed in your smartphone or tablet apps menu. Tap on the SwiftKey icon in your main apps menu to start the setup wizard.
1. Choose a language
Tap on button 1 “Choose a language”, and then tap on one of the radio buttons to select your default language. A progress bar will monitor the downloading of the selected language module (you’ll need to be connected to a wireless network).
Note: you will be able to add more languages in the ‘Settings’ menu after the installation is completed.
2. Enable SwiftKey
Tap on button 2 “Enable SwiftKey X”, then tap on the “SwiftKey X” check button (the list will also show previous SwiftKey versions on your phone). An Android warning message will appear. Press “OK” to continue. Press the ‘Back’ button on your phone to return to the installation menu.
Note: SwiftKey does not collect data from sensitive fields such as password fields, and the language models it creates are stored on your phone’s SD card or in your tablet’s memory. Any data we do collect is covered by our Privacy Policy.
3. Set as default input
Tap on button 3 “Set as default input”, and then tap on the “SwiftKey X” radio button to make SwiftKey X your default keyboard.
4. Typing style
Tap on button 4 “Typing style”, and then tap on one of the radio buttons to select between “Precise” and “Rapid”. A description for each typing style is provided in the menu.
Note: your typing style can be changed in the Settings menu after the installation is completed.
5. Personalize
Tap on button 5 “Personalize” to allow SwiftKey to learn from your Facebook, Gmail, and/or Twitter messages. This will enable SwiftKey to improve word predictions based on your personal writing style and vocabulary. Tap on any number of options and input your details. You can personalize later by going to the Settings menu after installation is complete.
Note: the personalization process runs in the background and could take a few minutes.
Congratulations! You now have the option to view Quick Tips, change your Settings, or Finish. Select “Finish” to exit the installation program.
How to use
We’ve developed SwiftKey to make it as easy to use as possible.
SwiftKey starts predicting what you want to type from the moment you load it. Above the keyboard is the SwiftKey prediction area, which consists of three dynamic buttons.
Each button shows a prediction which can be selected by pressing the word.
The central button shows the primary SwiftKey prediction, which can be selected by pressing on the word or hitting space (depending on your spacebar settings).
As you enter text, the left button shows the actual characters entered, allowing new words to be entered with ease (see below).
SwiftKey learns new words as you enter them, and suggests those words in its future predictions.
If you wish to delete a whole word at any point, just swipe your finger across the keys from right to left. To delete a word from the Language Module, press and hold the prediction and select ‘Remove’.
To use special characters, long press on them and select the character you’d like, or load the secondary menu as you would the usual Android keyboard.
To minimize the keyboard, just swipe your finger from the top to the bottom of the keys.
In SwiftKey Tablet X you can switch between full and split keyboard layouts. The split keyboard is designed for easier typing with two thumbs. To switch between full and split layouts just hit the layout key (to the left of the comma).
FAQ
FAQ
1. How do I change how my SwiftKey keyboard looks?
To choose a theme (color scheme) press the SwiftKey logo on your keyboard (second button from the bottom left) and choose ‘Settings’. Go to ‘Theme’ and then press ‘Theme’ to set SwiftKey X’s theme.
SwiftKey Tablet X also has two keyboard different layouts, to allow easy typing with thumbs or fingers. To switch between full and split keyboard just press the layout button (to the left of the spacebar).
2. What is the difference between the ‘Precise’ and ‘Rapid’ typing styles in SwiftKey X?
Precise:
- The ‘Precise’ typing style is optimized for careful typists, who often choose predictions.
- In Precise mode SwiftKey will attempt to guess whole words based on the first few letters you type.
- The Precise mode is intended to reduce the number of keystrokes when you type by predicting and/or completing each word.
Rapid:
- The ‘Rapid’ typing style is optimized for very fast typists who want to type quickly without checking predictions frequently.
- The main prediction in this mode will usually not predict words that are significantly longer than the characters you’ve entered.
- The correction algorithm in this mode will focus on typos, and provided you roughly get the character length and position of the letters right, SwiftKey X should work out what you are typing at lightning speed.
3. What is the spacebar functionality in SwiftKey X?
In SwiftKey X, there are three available options with regards to how the spacebar functions. These can be switched between independently of your chosen typing style, although the two typing styles have a recommended default spacebar setting.
- ‘Spacebar will always insert a space’ – This means that pressing the spacebar will not affect your predictions or what you are typing. It will simply function as a spacebar.
- ‘Spacebar will complete the current word’ – Selecting this option means that pressing spacebar when typing a word will automatically enter the middle prediction. If you are not currently typing, then spacebar will simply enter a space, or a period if a space is already present (see ‘Quick “.”‘ in advanced settings to disable this). This mode is the default option for the ‘Precise’ typing style on smartphones.
- ‘Spacebar will always insert a prediction’ – Selecting this option means that pressing spacebar always enters the middle word prediction (plus one space), including next words. The option will never enter a space alone. This is the default option for the ‘Rapid’ typing style on smartphones and is the default for both typing styles on tablets.
To change the function of your spacebar, go to Settings->Advanced->Spacebar will… and choose the relevant option.
4. When I press the space key, SwiftKey keeps choosing a word for me. How do I turn this off?
Please go to Settings -> Advanced -> Spacebar will… and uncheck the ‘always insert a prediction’ option. For more information regarding the three options please see Spacebar functionality question.
5. Where are the directional (arrow) keys?
In SwiftKey X for Phones:
- You can access the directional arrow keys, by going to the THIRD pane; (press “123″ and then “{&=”).
- There is also the option to display arrow keys on the home screen. To turn these on please go into Settings -> Theme -> Arrow Keys. This is primarily for users with large-screen phones who do not have scrollballs or optical navigation aides, such as the HTC EVO/ Desire HD.
Arrow keys are not currently available in SwiftKey Tablet X
6. Downloading/updating a language module won’t work; connection error, download failed or corrupt.
SwiftKey X has a resilient language module download service, so if you have trouble, make sure you have enough space on your SD card and try redownloading with a strong data connection (such as Wi-Fi).
If your phone/tablet is currently connected to your computer it may be configured to mount the SD card to the computer, making the SD card unavailable to the phone/tablet. Try unplugging from your computer or setting your device to “charge only” and try again.
7. I’ve installed SwiftKey but the keyboard on my phone/tablet looks the same.
This simply means you haven’t completed the installer. Tap the SwiftKey X icon on your phone or tablet’s main menu and follow the instructions.
8. Which languages does SwiftKey X support?
SwiftKey X currently supports 35 languages, as detailed on our apps page.
We are working hard to increase our language support for as many languages as possible, so keep an eye out for updates.
9. How do I add a word to the dictionary, or get rid of a word I don’t want?
SwiftKey learns as you type; when you select a word not known by SwiftKey (using the left button in the prediction zone which shows the letters you have typed, or by pressing space if it’s in the middle prediction box), this word is then placed into SwiftKey’s dynamic language model and in future will be used in predictions.
You may need to do this a few times if a popular word is competing with your learned word.
To remove a predicted word, longpress on the prediction and choose ‘Remove’.
10. I still have a question
We have answers to many more questions about SwiftKey X and SwiftKey Tablet X on our KnowledgeBase.
11. I have an idea for a new feature or improvement
