Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Use the Stock Qwerty Keyboard in Android 4.4.2

By default, Samsung Galaxy S5 uses the stock qwerty keyboard to facilitate the user when they want to enter text, for instance when composing a new text or email messages. The qwerty keyboard can be used when you hold your phone in portrait or landscape views. This keyboard has two main text input keys that can be used to change the on-screen keyboard keys: ABC mode and Sym mode.

How to use qwerty keyboard in ABC mode?
When the keyboard is displayed at the first time, it uses ABC text input mode by default. This mode will activate the default alphabet keys. While in this text input mode, you can do the following actions:

1. Using suggestion words:
   When the predictive text feature is on, you'll see some suggestion words are displayed based on the letters you're typing. You can select one of them to correct or complete the word you're typing. If necessary, you can tap to see more suggestion words.
2. Entering numbers/letters:
   You can do so by tapping the required numeric/alphabetic characters.
3. Using the shift key:
• Switch to Abc mode: tap to switch to Abc mode(the first letter will be entered in uppercase 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 and the key will change to as a sign that all of the letter will be entered in uppercase.
• Switch to abc mode: tap to switch to abc mode(all of the letters will be entered in lowercase).
4. Changing the text input mode:
   Tap to use keyboard in Sym mode. It will activate symbol, punctuation and emoticon keys.
5. Changing the keyboard settings:
   You can quickly access the Samsung keyboard settings by tapping . From here, you can do some customizations for your keyboard.
6. 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 the floating keyboard.
7. Using additional Email or Web keys:
   When you're in a Browser or Email apps, two additional keys will be displayed in the left and right sides of the space bar. The Email-related keys are typically : @ and .com, while the Web-related keys are typically: / and www.
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. Using the full stop key:
• Tap to quickly enter a full stop.
• Long tap to quickly view the most frequently used symbols or punctuations and then you can select the required one.
10. Using the enter key:
    FYI, this key can change depending on the app you're using:
• Return/Enter key : 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.
• Go key : tap this key to perform an action.
• Done key : tap this key to accept input.
11. Using the delete key:
• Tap to delete a preceding character.
• Tap and hold to delete preceding characters. Release the key to stop deleting.
• Tap to move the text cursor backwards when you're in the empty multiple lines.

How to use qwerty keyboard in Sym mode?
If you tap while you're in ABC text input mode then it will bring you to the Sym mode which will activate symbol, punctuation and emoticon keys. While in Sym mode, there are some different keys that you can use:

1. Enter a symbol or punctuation:
   You can do so by tapping the required symbol or punctuation keys.
2. : tap this key to view more symbols and punctuations.
3. : tap this key to return to the ABC text input mode.
4. : tap this key to display all available emoticons. FYI, you can also long tap this key to access more keyboard options (e.g: clipboard, handwriting, etc).

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Enable or Disable Character Preview in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

By default, Samsung Galaxy S5 uses the stock qwerty keyboard that has similar layout with those in laptop or PC. Since qwerty keyboard will place a single character(letter, number, symbol) in a single keyboard key then you may find that this keyboard has smaller keyboard keys. For some users, those small keys sometimes make them hard to make sure that they have tapped the right key because it may be covered with their fingers. Luckily, there's an option in the Samsung keyboard called character preview which will help you to verify that you're typing correctly because if it's enabled the device will show a big character bubble when a key on a qwerty keyboard is tapped.


How to turn on or off character preview in the Samsung keyboard?
Generally, there are two methods available that can be used to enable or disable character preview in the Samsung keyboard: from the settings menu and when you're typing.

Method #1: From the settings menu

1. On any screen, swipe down the top of the screen to open up the notification panel and then tap to go to the settings menu.
2. With the settings menu is displayed in grid view, scroll down to the System section and then tap Language and input .
3. If necessary, tap Default and then select Samsung keyboard.
4. Tap next to Samsung keyboard to view more detailed settings.
5. Scroll the screen to the very bottom.
6. Depending on your current settings, tap Character preview to enable or disable this option. When the checkbox next to this option is checked means the character preview is enabled.

Method #2: When you're typing
This method can be applied when you're in any app or screen where you can enter texts. As the example, we'll enable or disable character preview when composing a new text message in Messaging app:

1. Open Messaging app and then tap to create a new text message.
2. If necessary, tap the Enter message field to view the keyboard.
3. See the key located in the left side of the space bar.
• If the key already displays the keyboard settings icon , then tap the key to view the Samsung keyboard settings.
• If the key does not display the keyboard settings icon, long tap the key until a pop up window appears and then select to view the Samsung keyboard settings.
4. Scroll the screen to the very bottom.
5. Depending on your current settings, tap Character preview to enable or disable this option. When the checkbox next to this option is checked means the character preview is enabled.

As a note, character preview is optimized to be used in qwerty keyboard so that if you're using other keyboard layout then this feature won't work.

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Switch Between Installed Keyboard Apps in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

If you are not satisfied with the stock keyboard or can't find a keyboard feature that you're looking for, you will probably install a third-party keyboard app from the Play Store or other sources. Luckily, you are allowed to have more than one keyboard apps in your Samsung Galaxy S5 and can switch between them with ease by changing the input mode so that you can use the required one according to your need.


How to change input method?
Generally, there are two methods available, either from the settings menu or when you're entering texts, that can be used to change the input method so that you can switch between installed keyboard apps in your phone.

Method #1: From the settings menu

1. On any screen, swipe down the top of the screen to open up the notification panel and then tap to go to the settings menu.
2. With the settings menu is displayed in grid view, scroll down to the System section and then tap Language and input .
3. Tap Default and then select the required keyboard you want to use.
4. The selected keyboard will be applied and ready to be used to enter texts.

Method #2: When entering texts
FYI, this method can be applied in any app or screen where you can use keyboard to enter texts. As the example, we'll change the input method when composing a new text message in Messaging app:

1. Open Messaging app and then tap to create a new text message.
2. If necessary, tap the Enter message field to display the keyboard.
3. Swipe down the top of the screen to open up the notification panel and then tap Choose input method in the Notifications section.
4. Now, select the required keyboard you want to use.
5. The selected keyboard will be applied and ready to be used to enter texts.

When you have multiple keyboard apps, the ability to change the input method will let you to use the one that best suit your need with ease. So, how about you? How many keyboard apps do you have?

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Enable and Use Cursor Control in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

If you often use keyboard in laptop or PC to write down something, you may have used the arrow keys when you wanted to navigate around the texts you're writing. The arrows keys typically consist of 4 keys: the left arrow (back arrow), the up arrow, the down arrow, and the right arrow (forward arrow). Each of the arrow key can be used to move the text cursor to the specified direction. In the stock keyboard in Samsung Galaxy S5, you can find a feature named cursor control that has the similar function with the arrow keys. When cursor control is enabled, you can control the text cursor simply by sliding your finger to the desired direction across the keyboard so that you can navigate around the texts you're writing without having to take away your finger from the keyboard.

How to enable the cursor control feature in the Samsung keyboard?
You can do so by using the following steps:

1. Swipe down the top of the screen to open up the notification panel and then tap to go to the settings menu.
2. With the settings menu is displayed in grid view, scroll down to the System section and then select Language and input .
3. If necessary, tap Default and then select Samsung keyboard.
4. Tap next to Samsung keyboard to view more detailed settings.
5. Scroll the screen to the very bottom.
6. Tap Keyboard swipe and then select Cursor control to enable it.

How to use the cursor control feature?
If you have enabled cursor control in the Samsung keyboard settings, now you can use it to control the text cursor movement when entering texts in an app or screen where you can enter texts. As the example, we'll use cursor control when composing a new text message in Messaging app:

1. Open Messaging app and then tap to create a new text message.
2. Tap the Enter message field to display the keyboard.
3. Now, write down your message.
4. Controlling the text cursor:
• To move the text cursor to the top, slide your finger upwards across the keyboard. It'll do the similar function as the up arrow key.
• To move the text cursor to the bottom, slide your finger downwards across the keyboard. It'll do the similar function as the down arrow key.
• To move the text cursor to the right, slide your finger to the right across the keyboard. It'll do the similar function as the forward arrow key.
• To move the text cursor to the left, slide your finger to the left across the keyboard. It'll do the similar function as the back arrow key.

Given the function, this feature will be able to provide you an alternative way to control or navigate the text cursor with the similar way as you used to do when using keyboard in laptop or PC. So, how about you? Which method do you like best to control the text cursor, tapping a part of the texts on the screen or sliding your finger across the keyboard?

Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Enable and Use Flick Input in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

By default, if you want to enter a symbol or alternative character in a particular key on the keyboard, you have to tap and hold that key until a pop-up window appears above the keyboard showing available symbols or alternative characters, then, without lifting your finger, drag your finger to the required character and then release your finger to insert it. Well, if you often use symbols or alternative characters while typing, there's an option in Samsung keyboard called flick input that will be able to provide you an alternative way to enter symbols or alternative characters with more easily and quickly. With this feature, you can display available symbols and alternative characters in a particular key on the keyboard simply by sliding your finger upwards on a key, lets you select the required symbol or alternative character with more conveniently.

How to enable the flick input feature in the Samsung keyboard?
You can do so by using the following steps:

1. Swipe down the top of the screen to open up the notification panel and then tap to go to the settings menu.
2. With the settings menu is displayed in grid view, scroll down to the System section and then tap Language and input .
3. If necessary, tap Default and then select Samsung keyboard.
4. Tap next to Samsung keyboard to view more detailed settings.
5. Scroll the screen to the very bottom.
6. Tap Keyboard swipe and then select Flick input to enable it.

How to use flick input to enter symbols or alternative characters?
If you have enabled flick input in the Samsung keyboard, now you can use it to easily and quickly enter symbols or alternative characters while you're on an app or screen where you can enter text. As the example, we'll try using flick input when composing a new text message in Messaging app:

1. Open Messaging app and then tap to create a new text message.
2. Tap the Enter message field to display the keyboard.
3. Enter an alternative character:
• Flick up your finger on the letter key "A" (or other letter keys) to view available alternative characters.
• Tap the required alternative character to enter it into your message.
4. Enter a symbol:
• Flick up your finger on the key located in the right side of the space bar to view the most frequently used symbols/punctuations.
• Tap the required symbol or punctuation to enter it into your message.

As a note, if you flick up your finger on a particular key that doesn't have any symbol or alternative character, then the selected key will be inserted automatically, for instance when you flick up your finger on the letter key "M" that doesn't have any alternative character then it'll automatically insert "M".