Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge: How to Use Samsung 3x4 Keyboard in Android 5.1.1 Lollipop

If you have enabled the 3x4 keyboard in your Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge, you can use it to help you to type better if you have difficulty when typing with smaller keys because it has bigger keys than qwerty keyboard or if you have just switched from a feature phone because it has simpler layout than qwerty keyboard.


How to use Samsung 3x4 keyboard?
The abc mode will be displayed at the first place when you use the Samsung 3x4 keyboard in your phone. When 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 "5", then you have to long tap .
  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 "v", then you have to triple tap .
    • Long tap the key where the required letter is placed until a 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 "v", long tap and then without lifting your finger select "v" from the pop up window.
  3. Entering punctuations:
    You can enter one of the most frequently used punctuations by tapping as many as the required punctuation is placed, e.g., to enter "?", triple tap key
  4. Using the backspace key:
    • Tap to delete a preceding character or to move the cursor backwards when you're in the empty multiple lines.
    • Tap and hold to erase preceding characters. Release the key to stop erasing.
  5. Using the Enter key:
    This key will change depending on the app you're using:
    • : tap this key to break to the next line.
    • : tap this key to move the cursor from one field to another. This key is used when typing text in multiple fields.
    • : tap this key to accept input or perform an action.
  6. Using the shift key:
    This key will change depending on the letter mode you're using:
    • : when this key is displayed, you can enter a single letter in uppercase. FYI, if the auto capitalise feature is on, this key will automatically enable when you start typing a new sentence.
    • : when this key is displayed, you can enter letters in lowercase.
    • : when this key is displayed, you can enter letters in uppercase.
  7. Accessing keyboard settings and more keyboard options:
    You can quickly go to the keyboard settings menu by tapping You can also view 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 access clipboard.
    • : select this option to view emoticons.
    • : select this option to turn on floating keyboard feature.
    • : select this option to view more detailed settings for the keyboard.
  8. Using the space bar:
    You can use this key to do the following actions:
    • Single tap this key to enter a space.
    • When you have added some input languages in your keyboard, you can switch between input languages by swiping the space bar to the left or to the right.
    • When the auto punctuate feature is on, you can automatically insert a full stop by tapping the space bar twice.
  9. Switching to the Sym mode:
    Tap to switch to the Sym mode in qwerty layout.
  10. Using additional Email or Web keys:
    When you're in a Browser or Email app, two additional keys will be displayed in the left side of the "abc" key and in the right side of "wxyz" key. The Email-related keys are typically : @ and .com. While the Web-related keys are typically: /, www., and .com.

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge: How to Enable 3x4 Keyboard in Android 5.1.1 Lollipop

If you don't like using the default Samsung qwerty keyboard when entering text in your Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge(e.g., when you have thick fingers and need bigger keys to help you to type better, when you want to have a simpler keyboard layout, when you want to be able to type using the way you used to do with your old phone, etc.), you can alternatively use 3x4 keyboard. This keyboard has simpler layout and bigger keys than qwerty keyboard.


How to enable the 3x4 keyboard?
As the example, we'll enable 3x4 keyboard when English(UK) is selected as the input language by using two different methods: from the settings menu and from an app or screen where you can enter text.

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 at the top right to go to the settings menu.
  2. Scroll down to the System section and then tap Language and input.
  3. Tap Samsung keyboard.
  4. Tap English(UK). FYI, 3x4 keyboard layout may not available in some languages.
  5. Select 3x4 keyboard.
  6. The 3x4 keyboard has been enabled and is ready to use to enter text.

Method #2: From an app or screen where you can enter text
  1. When you're entering text, e.g., when composing a new text message, you can quickly go to the Samsung keyboard settings by long tapping the key in the left side of the space bar and then select .
  2. Tap English(UK). FYI, 3x4 keyboard layout may not available in some languages.
  3. Select 3x4 keyboard.
  4. The 3x4 keyboard has been enabled and is ready to use to enter text.

As a note, since 3x4 keyboard can only be used while you hold your phone in portrait view, it'd better if you turn off the auto rotate feature while using this keyboard to avoid your phone automatically switches the keyboard back to qwerty keyboard when you hold your phone in landscape view.

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge: How to Use Samsung QWERTY Keyboard in Android 5.1.1 Lollipop

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge comes with a preloaded keyboard that you can use to enter text, e.g., composing a new email message, writing memo, etc. This keyboard uses qwerty as the default layout. While you're using the Samsung qwerty keyboard, you can use two text input modes: ABC mode and Sym mode.


How to use Samsung qwerty keyboard in ABC mode?
This mode is displayed at the first place when you use the Samsung qwerty keyboard in your phone. When you're in this mode, you can do the following actions:
  1. Using suggestion words:
    When the predictive text feature is on, you'll be provided with some suggestion words as you're typing. You can select a suggestion word to correct or complete the word you're typing. If necessary, you can tap to view more suggestion words.
  2. Entering numbers or letters:
    You can use number keys to enter numbers and letter keys to enter letters.
  3. Using the shift key:
    This key will change depending on the letter mode you're using:
    • : when this key is displayed, you can enter a single letter in uppercase. FYI, if the auto capitalise feature is on, this key will automatically enable when you start typing a new sentence.
    • : when this key is displayed, you can enter letters in lowercase.
    • : when this key is displayed, you can enter letters in uppercase.
  4. Switching to the Sym mode:
    Tap to use Samsung qwerty keyboard in Sym mode.
  5. Accessing keyboard settings and more keyboard options:
    You can quickly go to the keyboard settings menu by tapping . You can also view 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 access clipboard.
    • : select this option to view emoticons.
    • : select this option to turn on floating keyboard feature.
    • : select this option to view more detailed settings for the keyboard.
  6. Using additional email or web keys:
    When you're in a Browser or Email app, two additional keys will be displayed in the left side of the space bar and in the right side of the full stop key. The email-related keys are typically : @ and .com. While the web-related keys are typically: /, www., and .com.
  7. Using the space bar:
    You can use this key to do the following actions:
    • Single tap this key to enter a space.
    • When you have added some input languages in your keyboard, you can switch between input languages by swiping the space bar to the left or to the right.
    • When the auto punctuate feature is on, you can automatically insert a full stop by tapping the space bar twice.
  8. Using the full stop key:
    • Tap to enter a full stop.
    • Long tap to view the most frequently used symbols and punctuations.
  9. Using the enter key:
    This key will change depending on the app you're using:
    • : tap this key to break to the next line.
    • : tap this key to move the cursor from one field to another. This key is used when typing text in multiple fields.
    • : tap this key to accept input or perform an action.
  10. Using the backspace key:
    • Tap to delete a preceding character or to move the cursor backwards when you're in the empty multiple lines.
    • Tap and hold to erase preceding characters. Release the key to stop erasing.


How to use Samsung qwerty keyboard in Sym mode?
If you tap when you're in ABC mode, the keyboard will be switched to the Sym mode. While in this mode, you can do the following actions:
  1. Enter symbols and punctuations:
    You can use symbol keys to enter symbols and punctuation keys to enter punctuations.
  2. : tap this key to view more symbols and punctuations.
  3. : tap this key to return to the ABC 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, settings, etc.