I went to system preferences > keyboard > text. When I got there I expected to find a long list of default text replacements, but there was only one. How do I get my default text replacements back?
MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 10.15
Last time I checked was years ago. Adding them back manually will take a while.
That's an idea, but how would I go about retrieving it from a time machine backup? I'm used to using time machine to retrieve stuff via finder, so where would I look in finder for that file?
sperry1975 Said:
"Where are my default text replacements? I went to system preferences > keyboard > text. When I got there I expected to find a long list of default text replacements, but there was only one. How do I get my default text replacements back?"
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Getting These Back:
So, they just vanished? Were they already there? When is the last time you checked the list prior to today?
You can always just add them back, manually.
perry1975 Said:
“Where are my default text replacements? Last time I checked was years ago. Adding them back manually will take a while.”
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Chances Are Slim:
Well, if you think about it, 3 years is more than 1,000 days. So, with all that time, it may have been removed for good. So, a thought:
Have a Time Machine Backup from Then?:
If you have a Time Machine Backup from years back, then you could probably recover these from it, and retrieve them that way.
You’d Create a Time Machine backup of your Mac today, so that you can have something to restore your Mac from, should anything go wrong with the entire recovery process. You’d eventually restore the Mac from Time Machine
While in the brief install, take some screenshots of the list, and then either eMail the images to export them to a USB Flash Drive. Once exported, verify you can read these, buy plugging the USB Flash Drive into your Mac.
Once all is recovered, restore from today’s backup you just created prior to all of this.
It’s a tricky process, but it might just do the job.
sperry1975 Said:
"Where are my default text replacements?: That's an idea, but how would I go about retrieving it from a time machine backup? I'm used to using time machine to retrieve stuff via finder, so where would I look in finder for that file?"
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Perform the Following:
A. To Export:
B. To Import:
Source: Back up and share text replacements on Mac - Apple Support
sperry1975 Said:
"Where are my default text replacements?: That's an idea, but how would I go about retrieving it from a time machine backup? I'm used to using time machine to retrieve stuff via finder, so where would I look in finder for that file?"
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2 Screenhots to refer to for the above reply:
That's helpful and all, but let's say I find the Text Substitutions.plist file on my time machine backup. What's to say that file has all the original content? Seems like it would be easier if Apple provided a file for easy download, but I've never heard of such a thing.
I searched my system for such a file without success.
sperry1975 Said:
"That's helpful and all, but let's say I find the Text Substitutions.plist file on my time machine backup. What's to say that file has all the original content? Seems like it would be easier if Apple provided a file for easy download, but I've never heard of such a thing. I searched my system for such a file without success."
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Where to Find this File:
It would no be created, until you drag it to the Desktop (or wherever else).
What File to Get All of This In:
It is likely a system folder - nothing to fiddle with. So, just let it be.
sperry1975 Said:
"Where are my default text replacements?[...]Seems like it would be easier if Apple provided a file for easy download, but I've never heard of such a thing. I searched my system for such a file without success."
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Once created, you can edit the file on your own...
To Edit Text Substitutions.plist:
Edit it and then drag it over to the Text pane:
Screenshot:
Where are my default text replacements?
