How to Edit or Delete Keyboard Shortcuts on Samsung & Gboard

This guide shows you how to edit or delete text shortcuts on both the Samsung Keyboard and Gboard, so you can stop autocorrect from replacing your intended words and keep your personal dictionary clean. You’ll learn the exact menu paths for each keyboard, plus what to do when a shortcut won’t delete.

What You’ll Need

An Android phone or tablet with either Samsung Keyboard or Gboard installed and set as the active keyboard.
Access to the Settings app on your device.

Step-by-Step

Editing or Deleting Shortcuts on Samsung Keyboard

Open the Settings app on your Samsung device.
Scroll down and tap General management.
Tap Samsung Keyboard settings.
Tap Text shortcuts. You’ll see a list of all your current shortcuts and their full phrases.
To edit a shortcut: tap the shortcut you want to change. A dialog will appear where you can modify the Shortcut (the typed abbreviation) and the Phrase (the expanded text). Tap Save when done.
To delete a shortcut: tap the minus (–) icon next to the shortcut, then tap Delete to confirm. Alternatively, long-press the shortcut and choose Delete from the pop-up menu.
If you want to add a new shortcut, tap the + icon in the top-right corner, enter the shortcut and phrase, then tap Save.

Editing or Deleting Shortcuts on Gboard

Open the Settings app on your Android device.
Tap System (or General management on Samsung) and then Languages & input.
Tap Virtual keyboard (or On-screen keyboard), then tap Gboard.
Tap Dictionary.
Tap Personal dictionary. Here you’ll see all your custom shortcuts and the words they expand to.
To edit a shortcut: tap the entry you want to change. Update the Shortcut field (the abbreviation) and the Phrase field (the full word or phrase). Tap the back arrow to save automatically.
To delete a shortcut: tap the trash can icon next to the entry, or tap the entry and then tap Delete at the bottom of the edit screen.

Common Mistakes

Editing the wrong keyboard: If you have both Samsung Keyboard and Gboard installed, you might be looking at the settings for the wrong one. Always check that you’re in the correct keyboard’s settings by verifying the keyboard name at the top of the screen.
Deleting the phrase instead of the shortcut: Some users accidentally clear the “Phrase” field while trying to delete the shortcut. This leaves a blank entry that still appears in your dictionary. Make sure to use the delete icon or button, not just clear the text.
Not saving after editing: On Samsung Keyboard, you must tap Save after editing; on Gboard, you must tap the back arrow. If you just close the dialog, your changes won’t stick.
Confusing text shortcuts with autocorrect suggestions: Text shortcuts only work when you type the exact abbreviation. If you’re seeing unwanted replacements, it might be the autocorrect feature, not a shortcut. Check the keyboard’s autocorrect settings separately.

Tips

Use shortcuts for long phrases you type often, like your email address or a standard reply. For example, set “addr” to expand to your full address.
On Gboard, you can also add shortcuts directly from the keyboard: type the abbreviation, tap the suggestion bar, and select “Add to dictionary.” This is faster than going through Settings.
On Samsung Keyboard, you can quickly add a shortcut by typing the phrase, then tapping the “+” icon in the suggestion bar and choosing “Add to text shortcuts.”
If you have a lot of shortcuts, periodically review them to remove ones you no longer use. This keeps your dictionary clean and reduces the chance of accidental replacements.
Remember that shortcuts are case-sensitive on some keyboards. If you type “omw” but your shortcut is “OMW,” it won’t trigger.

Troubleshooting

Shortcut still works after deletion: If a shortcut keeps expanding after you delete it, it might be stored in a different dictionary. Check both the “Personal dictionary” and any “Synced” or “Cloud” dictionaries in Gboard. On Samsung, look under “Text shortcuts” and also “Predictive text” settings. Restart the keyboard by switching to another keyboard and back, or restart your phone.
Can’t find the shortcut in the list: The shortcut might be stored under a different keyboard’s dictionary. If you recently switched from Samsung Keyboard to Gboard (or vice versa), the shortcuts don’t transfer automatically. You’ll need to re-add them in the new keyboard.
Delete button is grayed out: On Samsung Keyboard, some system shortcuts cannot be deleted. You can only edit or delete shortcuts you created yourself. If the delete icon is missing, it’s likely a built-in shortcut.
Changes not saving: On Gboard, if you edit a shortcut and press the home button instead of the back arrow, the change might not save. Always use the back arrow to exit the edit screen. On Samsung, make sure to tap Save.
Shortcut not working after edit: If you changed the shortcut text, make sure you’re typing the new abbreviation exactly. Also check that the keyboard’s “Text shortcuts” or “Dictionary” toggle is enabled in the keyboard settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete a shortcut that came with the keyboard?

Some built-in shortcuts (like “omw” for “On my way”) on Samsung Keyboard cannot be deleted. You can edit them, but not remove them entirely. On Gboard, the default dictionary is empty unless you add entries, so all shortcuts you see are user-created and can be deleted.

Will deleting a shortcut affect my autocorrect?

No. Text shortcuts are separate from the autocorrect feature. Deleting a shortcut only stops that specific abbreviation from expanding. Autocorrect continues to work based on your typing history and the built-in dictionary.

How do I add a new shortcut on Samsung Keyboard?

Go to Settings → General management → Samsung Keyboard settings → Text shortcuts → tap the “+” icon, type the shortcut and phrase, then tap Save. You can also add from the keyboard by typing the phrase and tapping the “+” in the suggestion bar.

How do I add a new shortcut on Gboard?

Go to Settings → System → Languages & input → Virtual keyboard → Gboard → Dictionary → Personal dictionary → tap the “+” icon, enter the shortcut and phrase, then tap the back arrow to save. Alternatively, type the phrase and select “Add to dictionary” from the suggestion bar.

Why did my shortcut stop working after a system update?

System updates can sometimes reset keyboard settings or change the dictionary location. Check that your keyboard is still set as the default and that the shortcut still exists in the dictionary. If it’s gone, you’ll need to re-add it.

Can I back up my shortcuts before switching phones?

On Samsung, you can back up keyboard settings via Samsung Cloud or Smart Switch. On Gboard, if you enable sync in Gboard settings (Settings → System → Languages & input → Virtual keyboard → Gboard → Dictionary → Sync), your personal dictionary will sync to your Google account.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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