The Default Android Keyboard Hides a Secret Superpower
You’ve probably heard that you can use your phone’s personal dictionary to save time when typing. This is one of our favorite time-saving hacks . However, there’s an even easier way to save entire blocks of text on Android, and you’ve been using it without even realizing it: your clipboard history.
This feature may vary depending on your phone model, so we’ll focus on Google’s Gboard . By default, the keyboard saves a history of what you copy, so you can paste multiple blocks of text without switching between apps. You can view this history by tapping the Clipboard icon on your keyboard (in some cases, you may need to tap the four-square apps button to open it).
However, the real magic is securing items you use all the time. For example, since Gmail still doesn’t have email templates , you can write a response in a form, copy it as usual, and then pin it to your clipboard history. This will attach it to the beginning of your history and will not be deleted over time like the rest of your clipboard.
Having multiple saved form responses seems like a superpower when working with email. For emails that only require a quick response, I can type them out in a couple of quick taps and be done with it. Then, when I return to my desk, the only emails left are those that require more thought or research.
This is a powerful feature hidden discreetly on your phone. Just remember not to store very sensitive information such as passwords – there are better tools for this anyway.