Q: I cannot delete iPhone keyboard shortcuts.  They keep restoring.

I deleted all the shortcuts from all devices, and then every added them all back into my computer because  I didn't know which ones were the new ones and which ones are the old ones (I have them saved on my desktop because I have done this so many times lol). I woke up  this morning and everything is fixed! I should've followed that last step before typing. Thank you! You are awesome!

Yes, it takes a while for everything to start syncing up again.  I suppose it takes some time for the new clean folder and files to recreate.  I still can't believe Apple isn't fixing this in iOS 9.  It's such a simple fix.

I did not touched any of my over 150 shortcuts. I did deleted the zombie ones for the (hopefully) the last time. It has been 3 days and still no zombie shortcuts. 

BTW: Who came up with calling them zombie shortcuts? Thats pretty funny.

I really don't know who coined the term Zombie shortcuts, but I agree both funny (in a sad way) and appropriate.  I believe it goes way back and may have started in a prior thread on this topic.

Whether to take credit or blame, methinks 'twas I...

Just ran through the process. Two questions:

1. in terms of the restore, did you guys erase the iPhone/iPad first, or did you just plug it into iTunes and select the "Restore Backup" button and select the latest iTunes backup from which we removed the CoreUserDisctionary.sqlite file and CoreDataUbiquitySupport folder?

2. I've only ever had a problem with this on my iPhone, my iPad never received the zombie shortcuts. My Mac would get the shortcuts. For now only performed the process on my iPhone and erased the zombie shortcuts on my mac. Hopefully, won't have to do the process on the iPad as well.

Definitely credit!  A very descriptive and appropriate name for the living dead shortcuts that couldn't be killed!  And adding humor to an extremely aggravating problem.

No need to erase since the restore will erase and replace.  Do exactly as you stated and as included in the posted solution and you will be fine.  You may or may not have to perform the process on your iPad.  I had to, but my iPad had the zombie SC's on it as well.  You shouldn't have to do anything to your Mac, but it may take a long time to start syncing.  Mine took days, but for others it was shorter.  Don't worry, just have patience and go to bed as pagemakers4 suggests.

So far so good.

1) Backed up iPhone and iPad to computer (both had iCloud drive on)

2) Downloaded iBackUpBot (still not sure about this being malawary or not?)

3) I duplicated the back ups for safety

4) I only had two folders in the KeyboardDomain folder.  I deleted them

5) Restored phone, and let it back up from computer

6) Restored ipad and let it back up from computer

7) Shortcuts looked correct (the ones I deleted before restore were still gone), reboot twice on each

8) I added "aphone" to my phone, and "apad" to my pad for tester shortcuts.

9) "apad" and "aphone" now exist on each device via wireless icloud sync.

10) I will update if necessary, but so far this does seem to have worked... I pray it stays

Can someone explain:

My current backup is to iCloud only. Do I need to turn off iCloud backup, then force a backup to iTunes. Then edit the backup. Then restore from iTunes. Then turn on iCloud?

I'm confused about the relationship of the iCloud to iTunes backups and what should be backed up and restored from where/to where.

The way I see it now is:

1. Turn off sync to iCloud

2. Sync/backup to iTunes

3. Delete the keyboard/coredata folder

4. Restore from backup in iTunes, using the local iTunes (not iCloud) backup.

5. Re-check the box to sync to iCloud?

When do I delete the zombie shortcuts? After I do steps 1-5 above or before step 2?

That is exactly correct!

When do I delete the zombie shortcuts? After I do steps 1-5 above or before step 2?

Also, it doesn't matter if other devices are connected to the internet, iCloud, etc while you perform the steps on the primary device? For me I have two devices, iPhone 6+ and iPad Mini. I don't use the Mini much, not even sure if it has the issue. If I do the steps on the iPhone first, then delete the shortcuts I don't want, then do the same on the iPad...no issue right?

I had the problem on both devices.  We've discovered that some people have only part of the problem and the easier fixes sometimes work.  I wasn't so lucky as were others.  In answer to your question, it doesn't seem to matter when you delete the zombie shortcuts.  Once you remove the corrupted files the issue goes away and you can add and delete your files with no worries.  So if your problem is like mine and many others, delete those corrupted files and do the restore with the clean backup and it really doesn't matter when you delete the zombie shortcuts.  If you find that they are reappearing on your iPad mini as they did on mine, then you'll need to do the same procedure on that.  You shouldn't have to do anything to your Mac at all if you have one.

Jim

WWhere did the documents and data setting go for backing up and syncing keyboard shortcuts? What's the equivalent