When you want to type a number or symbol on your iPhone's keyboard, you have to press a button to switch to that specific keyboard. This takes a few taps and some added time, but there's a shortcut that can save you a tap.


This shortcut is very easy to perform, but it's much easier to understand by watching the video. Nonetheless, let's see if we can make sense of it in the text as well.

The number key in the bottom left corner of your iPhone switches the keyboard so you can type numbers and symbols. If you tap it, the keyboard switches and stays on screen until you tap to go back to the alphabet. This is good if you want to type a few numbers and symbols, but if you're only there for a single number or symbol it's not very practical. To save yourself a little time and effort, just tap the number key and hold down, then slide to the number or symbol you want. When you let go, the keyboard will automatically switch to the alphabet.


This trick also works with some other modifier keys, such as the shift key. If you tap and hold down the shift key, then slide to a letter, you'll end up with a capital letter and save yourself a tap.

An extra tap isn't a lot of work, but with the time it takes to type on a touchscreen keyboard a few seconds here and there can make a notable difference.

G/O Media may get a commission Subscribe and Get Your First Bag Free Promo Code AtlasCoffeeDay20

You can follow Adam Dachis, the author of this post, on Twitter and Facebook. If you'd like to contact him, Twitter is the most effective means of doing so.



