Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Use 3x4 Keyboard in Android 4.4.2

The stock keyboard in Samsung Galaxy S5 has two main layouts, one of which is 3x4 keyboard. This keyboard has simpler and bigger keyboard keys than those in qwerty keyboard. This keyboard is designed for those who have difficulty to use qwerty keyboard or for those who are old-fashioned users that want to keep using a keyboard that has a similar layout as they used to have in the old phones. But, you have to remember that this keyboard can only be used when you hold your phone in portrait view so that when you hold your phone in landscape view the keyboard will switch to qwerty keyboard automatically.

How to use 3x4 keyboard in ABC mode?
Assuming that you have activated 3x4 keyboard in the Samsung keyboard settings, when you hold your phone in portrait view in an app or screen where you can enter text then the keyboard will automatically be displayed in the ABC text input mode. While you're in this mode, you can do the following actions:

1. Entering numbers:
   You can do so by long tapping the key where the required number is placed. As the example, if you want to enter number "4", then you have to long tap the "ghi" key .
2. Entering letters:
   You can do so by using one of the following methods:
• Tap the key where the required letter is placed as many as the letter position in the key. As the example, if you want to enter letter "f", then you have to triple tap the "def" key .
• Long tap the key where the required letter is placed until the pop up window appears. Without lifting your finger, drag your finger to the required letter to key it in. As the example, if you want to enter letter "f", long tap the "def" key and then without lifting your finger select "f" from the pop up window.
3. Using the delete or backspace keys:
• Tap to delete a preceding character.
• Tap and hold to erase preceding characters. Release the key to stop erasing.
• Tap to move the text cursor backwards when you're in the empty multiple lines.
4. Using the enter/return key:
   FYI, this key can change depending on the app you're using:
• Return/Enter keys : tap this key to break to the next line.
• Next key : tap this key to move the text cursor from one field to another. This key is used when typing text in to multiple fields.
• Done key : tap this key to accept input.
• Go key : tap this key to perform an action.
5. Using the shift key:
• Switch to Abc mode: tap to switch to Abc mode. The key will change to and the first letter will be entered in uppercase. After the first letter is typed, the shift key will change to  and the following letters will be entered in lowercase.
• Enter an uppercase letter: tap to enter another uppercase letter.
• Switch to ABC mode: tap twice. The key will change to and all of the letters will be entered in uppercase.
• Switch to abc mode: tap to switch to abc mode. The key will change to and all of the letters will be entered in lowercase.
6. Changing the keyboard settings:
   You can quickly access the Samsung keyboard settings by tapping . From here, you can do some customizations for your keyboard.
7. Accessing more keyboard options:
   You can access more keyboard options by long tapping and then select from the following options:
• : select this option to use voice dictation feature.
• : select this option to use handwriting feature.
• : select this option to access clipboard.
• : select this option to use optical reader.
• : select this option to view more detailed settings for the keyboard.
• : select this option to view emoticons.
• : select this option to turn on floating keyboard.
8. Using the space bar:
• Tap to enter a space.
• When you have chosen multiple input languages in the Samsung keyboard settings, swipe the space bar to the right or to the left to switch between languages.
9. Changing the text input mode:
   Tap to use the 3x4 keyboard in 123Sym mode. It will activate symbol, punctuation and emoticon keys.
10. Using additional Email or Web keys:
    When you're in a Browser or Email apps, two additional keys will be displayed(one will replace the shift key, and another one will replace the .,?! key). The Email-related keys are typically : @. and .com. While the Web-related keys are typically: ./ and www.

How to use 3x4 keyboard in 123Sym mode?
If you tap while you're in ABC text input mode, then it will activate symbol, punctuation and emoticons keys. The layout of the 3x4 keyboard in 123Sym mode is exactly the same as with those when you use Sym text input mode in qwerty keyboard. We won't learn about it again here since it has been written clearly in the preview post about how to use qwerty keyboard.