iOS 6 + keyboard shortcuts

I turned OFF Documents and Data from iCloud settings, then went to Keyboard and deleted all Shortcuts, then rest from the Keyboard screen *** don't go back to General or press the Home button ***.

After the restart the Shortcut work as required.

What's weird is the shortcuts that I was trying to set up BEFORE this procedure were populating my list of shortcuts after the reset! And all were working.

Problem is in the iCloud Doc and Data setting.

The Keyboard Shortcuts was first introduced with iOS 4 on 2010, but only enabled in Chinese and Japan language. Later, at iOS 5 Keyboard Shortcuts was rename as User Dictionary and used in any language. User Dictionary is store in a SQLite 3 database and can be backup, restore and transfer to any other iDevice without jailbreak. The mystery of User Dictionary is the database filename and file location. The file is located at ~/User/Library/Keyboard.

At iOS 4 the filename is UserWord.sqlite.

At iOS 5 is named UserDictionary.sqlite.

At iOS 6, if iCloud is setup, there should be only CloudUserDictionary.sqlite.

However most people got problem after upgrade iOS. When iOS is upgrading, CloudUserDictionary.sqlite will copy a new file UserDictionary.sqlite ( when Document and Data is off, iOS use the file's user dictionary ). After upgrading, UserDictionary.sqlite should be delete but often it wasn't . When UserDictionary.sqlite and CloudUserDictionary.sqlite exist at the same time, iOS's Document and data is set off, iOS will only use UserDictionary.sqlite. It works fine. But documents and data is set on, iOS cannot delete UserDictionary.sqlite, and iOS read data from UserDictionary.sqlite and CloudUserDictionary.sqlite at the same time, and finally user dictionary function crash.

So, to fix User Dictionary is to delete UserDictionary.sqlite, only leave CloudUserDictionary.sqlite on iOS.

I study how keyboard shortcuts run for two years. Because I put 10000 records in User Dictionary as a alternative language input method which is important for many people in Taiwan.

When I want to backup my iPhone, I find iBackupBot can transfer User Dictionary to any iPhone without jailbreak. I would like to share for anyone who need it.

The process : http://userdictionary.wordpress.com/

Found a solution! I was messing with this for quite a while and every combination of toggling iCloud on/off and all the other "fixes" did not work for me.

What I did was delete all the user dictionaries that I was able to access on my Mac since I have iCloud (and Documents and Data enabled).

Step 1: Navigate to the "Mobile Documents" directory as outlined here: http://www.maclife.com/article/howtos/how_turn_icloud_dropboxlike_syncing_servic e

Step 2: Expand the "com~apple~TextInput" folder and DELETE the folder(s) beginning with "mobile."

Step 3: On your iOS device add a new keyboard shortcut and it should perform as it should. If you watch the "com~apple~TextInput" directory as you add a shortcut you will see new files being created which is how iCloud saves the shortcuts.

Can anyone confirm that this solution works?

I have an iPhone 5 on iOS 6.1.2 and a 49 kB user dictionnary. Everything works fine with "Docs & data" turned off, but it doesn't work anymore as soon as I turn it on.

I do have both files in ~/User/Library/Keyboard: UserDictionary.sqlite and CloudUserDictionary.sqlite.

Both are the same size so I guess they contain the same thing. If anyone tried to delete UserDictionary.sqlite and it works after that with docs & data turned on, please confirm.

Thanks for the help.

Skeelo's solution seems to have worked for me. It's worth trying. Just remember to backup your files before deleting them.

iPhone 4

iOS 6.1.2

skeelo221 wrote:

Found a solution! I was messing with this for quite a while and every combination of toggling iCloud on/off and all the other "fixes" did not work for me.

What I did was delete all the user dictionaries that I was able to access on my Mac since I have iCloud (and Documents and Data enabled).

Step 1: Navigate to the "Mobile Documents" directory as outlined here: http://www.maclife.com/article/howtos/how_turn_icloud_dropboxlike_syncing_servic e

Step 2: Expand the "com~apple~TextInput" folder and DELETE the folder(s) beginning with "mobile."

Step 3: On your iOS device add a new keyboard shortcut and it should perform as it should. If you watch the "com~apple~TextInput" directory as you add a shortcut you will see new files being created which is how iCloud saves the shortcuts.

I can't find the files you are refering to, the closest I can find are ..

~/User/Library/Mobile Documents."numbers" or Keyboard Layouts

This is driving me nuts please help me as none of the other tips have worked. I used to be able to fix this with simple methods but since I restored my devices from a common back up none of them work.

Only on OS X 10.8 "Mountain Lion" .

Nor you need to open iCloud/Documents at iOS 6.

I'm sorry, I don't understand what you are trying to say. I am running 10.7.5, will a software upgrade make any difference?

~/User/Library/Keyboard only appear OS X 10.8

So you cannot find the folder at 10.7 or 10.9 beta, upgrade to 10.8 will be a solution.

But I don't use Mac OS. I use my method to reset keyboard shortcuts.

Didn't work

I followed your suggestion and turned on and off my documents and data on iCloud ten times, and my shortcuts have been restored! Thank you so much, ciber77! You solved my problem after I tried so many other suggestions that didn't work. 🙂

IOS 7 fixed this

No rigamarole required

I deleted all my shortcuts, but I have two with accents (éh and êh) that isn't possible rename or delete.

I have the same problem - there is one shortcut that I can't delete, doesn't matter what, it reappears.

I solved my problem.

In your idevice go to setting --> general --> about - > diagnostic and usage --> diagnostic and usage data and look for com.apple.TextInput error. Because this file I had problem with memony and overheat.

In your mac os x go to ~/Library/com~apple~TextInput. Look for the same file. In my case this file had almost 5 mb.

If you are with this situation do this:

1. turn off icloud from mac os x and iOS;
2. keep you files
3. delete ~/Library/com~apple~TextInput from your mac os x
4. turn on icloud.