As summer officially wraps up, many people are returning to work or school, which often means spending more time writing lengthy content, especially while on the move. While smartphones have taken over many tasks previously reserved for laptops, typing on small touchscreens can make you miss the convenience of a full keyboard. Fortunately, modern phones come with several features designed to make text input easier. Here are some tips to help you out.

Explore Your Settings

Predictive text, automatic punctuation, and shortcuts (such as holding down vowel keys to access accent marks) have made typing on a smartphone less cumbersome. To discover what features your phone offers, start by opening its Settings app.

For iPhone users, navigate to General and then Keyboard.

For most Android devices, go to System, Keyboard, On-screen Keyboard, and then select Gboard, which is often the default app. Samsung phones typically have the Samsung Keyboard, which provides similar options.

In these menus, you can enable features like spell-check, text correction, and, yes, Apple’s Auto-Correction, which has improved over time. Both the iPhone keyboard and Google’s Gboard (which also has an iOS version) can even display a compact layout for easier one-handed typing.

On Gboard, you can press and hold the comma key for quick access to the settings menu, or tap the four-squares icon on the left to find the One-Handed mode. This menu also lets you resize or “float” the keyboard around the screen.

Additionally, tools like password managers can help prevent login errors, while features like Slide to Type (on iPhone) and Glide Typing (on Gboard) let you swipe your finger across the keys to form words—though the accuracy may vary.

You can also move the text cursor more easily. On iPhones, press and hold the space bar to dim the keyboard, then drag your finger to adjust the cursor position. On Gboard, sliding your finger along the space bar will move the cursor if you’ve enabled “gesture cursor control” in the settings.

Both Apple and Google offer keyboard layouts for different languages and emojis. While you can install third-party keyboard apps, be cautious of those from untrusted developers due to potential security risks.

Consider External Hardware

If you need to type large amounts of text, you can pair your iPhone or Android phone with an external Bluetooth keyboard, such as Apple’s Magic Keyboard. iPhone users can also enable Full Keyboard Access in the Accessibility settings to use navigation keys and shortcuts.

If you prefer a more portable option, consider a foldable keyboard that can fit into a jacket pocket and expand to resemble a full-size keyboard.

Foldable keyboards, which typically fold into two or three parts when not in use, cost anywhere from $25 to $80, depending on their size and features.

Use Voice Typing

Voice-to-text technology has been improving for years, becoming more accurate over time. Many apps, including virtual assistants, offer voice dictation. For instance, iOS 18’s Notes app can record live audio and transcribe it on the spot.

To enable dictation on an iPhone, go to Settings, General, and then Keyboard, and turn on Enable Dictation. You can also turn on Auto-Punctuation to insert punctuation marks automatically as you speak. Apple provides a full list of dictation commands for editing text and adding emojis.

For Android users with Gboard, open the Settings app, go to System, select Keyboard, and ensure Google Voice Typing is turned on. Tapping the microphone icon will start voice dictation, and you can see a list of voice commands by selecting the Info icon. Keep in mind that you’ll need to call out punctuation and formatting commands, such as “question mark” or “new paragraph.”

While voice typing is great for quickly getting ideas down, it might not be ideal for noisy environments like a busy coffee shop or for private documents you wouldn’t want overheard. Some voice inputs are processed online, so an internet connection is required.

Regardless of how you enter your text, always double-check it (or let AI do it) before sending, as typos can slip through no matter the input method.am of the day that our big, bright screens can fold up so we can carry them everywhere. That future feels inevitable.