Keyboards

This section explains how to use a keyboard, switch between keyboards, copy and modify a keyboard, create a new keyboard, and set how spelling keyboards speak.

Using a Keyboard

When you select a text entry field, an editing keyboard will open. Select keys to enter words, numbers, etc. The characters you select will appear in the text field at the top of the keyboard.

Note: When you select the shift key or CAPS LOCK key, the letters on the keyboard will adjust to your selection. For example:

Lowercase letters with shift not selected

A screenshot of a keyboard showing lowercase letters. The Shift key is white, indicating it is not selected.

Uppercase letters with shift selected

A screenshot of a keyboard showing uppercase letters. The Shift key is blue, indicating it is selected.

As you enter characters, predicted words are displayed. If you see the word you want, select it. It will appear in the keyboard text field, saving you time entering the entire word.

A screenshot of a keyboard page. The top of the page shows a prompt: "Type words to show, separated by commas". A red box points out that "en" was entered. A second red box highlights predicted words that begin with "en".

If you make a mistake, select Backspace to remove one character at a time, select Delete Word to remove the last word, or select Clear to remove all text. Select Undo to reverse your most recent change.

When you finish entering and modifying text, select Finished. The text you entered will appear in the text entry field.

Note: If you select Cancel, the keyboard will close and any text you entered will not appear in the text entry field.

Switch to a Different Keyboard

If you do not want to use the existing keyboard, switch to a different keyboard.

Go to Menu > Toolbox > Vocabulary > Keyboards & Word Prediction.
Select Select a Keyboard to list the spelling and editing keyboards with Change buttons.
Select Change for the keyboard you want to replace. A window lists available keyboards under Default Keyboards and My Keyboards tabs.
If you haven’t created your own keyboards, select the Default Keyboards tab. To find the keyboard you want, use one of the following methods:
- Use the arrows to page through the list
- Select the Search for keyboard field and enter a partial keyboard page name
When you find the keyboard you want, select Select. A checkmark will replace the Select button.
Select Close. The keyboard you selected is now the default.

Copy and Edit a Keyboard

If you don’t want to use an existing keyboard, create a new one by copying an existing keyboard and then editing the copy.

Go to Menu > Toolbox > Vocabulary > Keyboards & Word Prediction.
Select Select a Keyboard to list the spelling and editing keyboards with Change buttons.
Select a keyboard. For example, select the Spelling Keyboard Change button and then select the Default Keyboards tab.
To find a keyboard to copy, use one of the following methods:
- Use the arrows to page through the list
- Select the Search for keyboard field and enter a partial keyboard page name.
When you find the keyboard you want to copy, select the duplicate button for that keyboard.
In the Duplicate Keyboard window, enter a name for the new keyboard.
Select Create. “Successfully copied” will appear briefly and the new keyboard will open.
Edit the keyboard and select Save. The new keyboard will be added to the My Keyboards tab with a checkmark to indicate it is now the default keyboard.
Select Close. When you select the spelling keyboard in the vocabulary, the one you created will open.

Create a New Keyboard

If you don’t want to use any of the existing keyboards, create a new one.

Go to Menu > Toolbox > Vocabulary > Keyboards & Word Prediction.
Select Select a Keyboard to list the spelling and editing keyboards with Change buttons.
Select the type of keyboard to create. For example, select the Spelling Keyboard Change button.
From either the Default Keyboards tab or the My Keyboards tab, select Add New. Enter a new keyboard name and select Finished.
Define the number of keyboard buttons by using the Rows and Columns + and – buttons.
Select Create & Edit. “Successfully created” will appear briefly and the keyboard page will open.
Edit the new page and select Save. The new keyboard will be added to the My Keyboards tab with a checkmark to indicate it is now the default keyboard.
Select Close. When you select the spelling keyboard in a vocabulary, the one you created will open.

Change How a Keyboard Speaks

You can change how your device speaks when you enter letters, words, and sentences on a spelling keyboard.

Go to Menu > Toolbox > Vocabulary > Keyboards & Word Prediction.
Select Keyboard Settings. The Keyboard Settings window will open.
Select one, two, or all three Auto Speak tabs to set how your device speaks when you are spelling on a keyboard.
If you select the Letters tab, the device will speak each letter as you enter it.
If you select the Words tab, the device will speak each word when you finish entering it.
If you select the Sentences tab, the device will speak each sentence when you enter final punctuation—a period, question mark, or exclamation mark—plus a space.
If you select two tabs, the device will speak each letter and word, letter and sentence, or word and sentence as you enter it.
If you select three tabs, the device will speak each letter, word, and sentence as you enter it.
If you do not select any tabs, the device will speak no letters, words, or sentences as you enter them.
Select Finished.

Write with Your Vocabulary in Apps

You can use the currently selected vocabulary instead of a keyboard to input text in apps such as the Web Browser and Text Messaging. To set your vocabulary’s home page as the default for entering text in apps:

Go to Menu > Toolbox > Vocabulary > Keyboards & Word Prediction.
Select Keyboard Settings. The Keyboard Settings window will open.
Toggle ON Write with My Vocabulary in Apps.
Select Finished. You can now use buttons to enter text in apps.