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

Just an update, further parley with Apple:

From Apple:

Catherine,

I have asked engineering to look into the community forum resolution to this problem so that we can get a fix for it.  As for connecting with someone closer to engineering, we do not have anyone closer;  I am your direct connection with them.  I sincerely apologize for the time wasted and money lost in this situation.  If there is anything that I can do to try to help recoup for the lost time and money, please let me know and as always I will continue to do my best on your behalf.

Then, from me:

I truly, truly appreciate your efforts, Jonathan, and not to be wise-***, but what are my options in having Apple help me “recoup” lost time and money? What do I get in compensation? New Macs and iPs each year for life?… I bill out at anywhere from $50-200/hour for communications/editorial work. Can I send Apple a bill for lost hours? Similarly, a lot of what I do requires the use of contractions, and because of this shortcuts oddity, I have lost the ability to type shouldnt with the proper apostrophe — because the shortcuts override won’t even allow the insertion of the apostrophe after the fact of typing. Reverse issues with “Connecticut,” which I can no longer type it its short form, the legal abbreviation, because shortcuts always spells it out. And because it’s a user-based issue, my Air does this in all apps, whether I am working in Word, Pages, RTF, Safari, Messages, or any web interface. How do I bill Apple for projects I’ve lost or screwed up because it appears that I can’t type, spell, write, or edit — the very things for which I am supposed to be paid. It’s like trying to play solitaire with a deck of 46 cards, or speak without the use of prepositions. I’m starting to sound like a drunken Yoda when I write. This simply must be fixed, and it must be fixable, and it must be done soon — if not immediately.

I’m sorry. I know it’s not you. But it’s not me, and it’s not just me. Countless umbers of Apple users are affected.

So, you have to advise me, who/what is the next level up? Apple Customer Relations? Tim Cook? There has to be a layer of service above you, and I need to be communicating at that level. How do I get there?

Please advise.

Thanks.

P.S. I’m not “outing” you by outing these conversations in the Community thread; I’m “outing” Apple.

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crmac: For me, take away the space and the numeral. Despite my experiences with Apple, I am still a loyal customer.

crmac:  Thanks for "fighting the good fight" with Apple reps!  I'm glad you're telling it like it is with Jonathan and maybe someone higher up will take note.  It appears we've all found permanent solutions to this problem one way or another after many YEARS of frustration in my case.  I hope you can get yours resolved with Apple, but it may be quicker to use our solutions and be done with it.  However, I DO understand your standing on principle that APPLE should fix this not us!

I may be, as they say, shouting into the wind on this, but I'm still trying to right this for myself, both the technical issue itself and the satisfaction against lost time and money. So, I'm doing a couple of things, among them, talking with other Mac guru types, forging my way up (?) to Apple Customer Relations, etc. Several things represent themselves as possibly useful in conveying information to others...

First, can we somehow come together and create a comprehensive lists of both what's going wrong and those solutions we've tried that have not worked? Think that among us we can manage this?

Then, has anyone tried to newly add a shortcut, then eliminate it? That would be a test of whether the issue is still "active," right?

Also, has anyone talked with other people with Apple IDs who use or don't use shortcuts? I'm beginning to suspect that the issue affects all Apple IDs, but the only people who have noticed it are those who first, use shortcuts, and second, who have tried to change them after first creating them. My guess is that anyone who isn't using shortcuts doesn't care, of course, and anyone who has never tried to do anything but add shortcuts wouldn't notice because they are perfectly happy.

Thoughts, All?

crmac:  As far as I'm concerned the problem is fixed for me and I know others that have used Chris's procedure along with eliminating the extra file I found have also had success. In answer to your question, "Then, has anyone tried to newly add a shortcut, then eliminate it? That would be a test of whether the issue is still "active," right?", I have added and eliminated new shortcuts with total success and no zombie shortcuts have ever returned since removing that "remnant" 2013 CloudUserDictionary.sqlite file.  I firmly believe that file was the key to the problems as it was obviously storing shortcuts from back in 2013.  The file was not located in the correct folder and should have been deleted with one of the ios updates.  Everything is now working exactly as it should on all devices and has now for almost a month.  I did keep a copy of that file just in case I needed if for something, so I suppose Apple could look at it if it really helped, but I doubt they care to.  As far as I'm concerned, this problem is permanently fixed on my devices and Mac and I need no further help from Apple.  It's a shame that Apple can't just fix this for everyone and people have to go to these "self-help" threads to find a solution, but apparently that's how Apple chooses to operate.  They were of absolutely no help to me when I originally went to the them about a year ago.

Keep fighting the good fight! 

Jim

I echo the above. No zombies back no matter what I do.

I am another one putting up my hand!  Chris's solution appeared to work for me but as others have experienced - they have returned.  I agree that someone (maybe you crmac) could be the one to fight this on our behalf.  This is absolutely crazy and it needs a fix.  WHY are Apple not being quick to fix this problem? Mine cost me time at work as my foolish children created several crazy shortcuts that annoy me daily - My name for one...which always comes up as "Mummy".

Please fight our crusade.  If I knew who you were, I'd buy you a coffee.  It is ridiculous that this has dragged on so darn long!

Carol-Lynn

How did you fix yours.  Just read that you fixed the shortcut issue.  I am desperate to get rid of my shortcuts!

Carol-Lynn

See my post on page 17

Peter - I have used your case number #***** and have spoken to Julius. Was told to off my iCloud on 10 Jun. He mentioned that he had contacted the engineers (on 12 Jun) to ask about the delay and was told that a quick resolution is expected for the removal of the keyboard shortcuts. Hope to have this issue settle soon. I think it would be good that those with this problem stick to referring to this case number to let Apple know about the problem

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do what romanaleksandrov suggests! its efficient and easy!

cfront I was told by Apple to reset my phone as new and while that did not bring the zombie shortcuts back it was REALLY UPSETTING to retype over 150 short cuts. I can tell the problems persists because even though I retyped ALL my shortcuts again shortcuts I don't need that I have deleted from the new list are reappearing. What I was given was a band aid fix.

So if I understand your instructions correctly, I need to deleted all of my 150 short cuts? So I would need to retype them all? AGAIN?

I am new to all of this so I am trying to find a solution between 19 pages worth of discussion on this topic and dont know even where to start. This is so infuriating.

Look at my post on page 17