How to Customise CleverType Keyboard for Your Needs

Getting Started with CleverType Keyboard Customization

Setting up your CleverType keyboard takes about 2 minutes, but the customization options can transform your entire mobile typing experience. Most people don't realize how much they can adjust their keyboard app to match their exact needs.

First things first - after downloading CleverType, you'll need to enable it in your phone's settings. On Android, go to Settings - System - Languages & Input - Virtual Keyboard, then add CleverType. For iPhone users, it's Settings - General - Keyboard - Keyboards - Add New Keyboard. Once that's done, the real fun begins.

The initial setup wizard walks you through basic preferences, but thats just scratching the surface. You can customize everything from predictive text behavior to how aggressively the keyboard corrects your mistakes. I've found that spending 10 minutes adjusting these settings saves hours of frustration later.

What makes CleverType different from other keyboard apps is how deeply you can customize the AI features. You're not stuck with one-size-fits-all corrections - you can teach the keyboard your writing style, preferred terminology, and even create custom AI assistants for different situations.

The customization menu is accessed by tapping the CleverType icon on your keyboard. From there, you'll see categories like Appearance, AI Settings, Input Preferences, and Privacy. Each section contains multiple options that let you fine-tune exactly how your keyboard behaves. Don't be overwhelmed by the choices - you can start with the basics and explore deeper settings as you get comfortable.

Personalizing Your Keyboard Theme and Appearance

Your keyboard is something you look at hundreds of times per day, so it should look good. CleverType offers dozens of pre-made themes, but the real power comes from creating your own custom appearance.

Start with the theme gallery - there are options ranging from minimalist black and white designs to colorful gradient layouts. You can preview each theme before applying it, which helps you find something that matches your phone's overall aesthetic. I personally prefer darker themes because they're easier on the eyes during late-night typing sessions.

Beyond pre-made themes, you can customize individual elements:

• Key colors: Change the background color of each key
• Text color: Adjust the letter color for better visibility
• Border style: Add or remove borders around keys
• Background image: Upload your own photo as a keyboard background
• Key shadows: Add depth with shadow effects
• Font style: Choose from multiple typeface options

The keyboard size adjustment is something many users overlook. If you've got larger hands, increasing the key height by 10-15% can dramatically reduce typos. Smaller adjustments work better on compact phones where screen space is precious. CleverType lets you adjust both height and width independently, which is rare among keyboard apps.

One feature I particularly appreciate is the split keyboard mode for tablets or when typing in landscape orientation. This positions keys closer to your thumbs, making one-handed typing much more comfortable. You can also adjust the keyboard's position on screen - floating it higher or lower depending on how you hold your device.

The transparency slider is another neat touch. You can make your keyboard slightly see-through, which lets you view more of the app you're typing in. This is especially useful when filling out forms or referencing information while composing messages.

Customizing AI Writing Assistants for Different Tasks

This is where CleverType really shines compared to basic keyboard apps. The AI writing assistant capabilities can be customized to match your specific needs.

You can create multiple custom AI assistants, each trained for different purposes. For example, I've set up separate assistants for:

1. Professional emails (formal tone, business vocabulary)
2. Social media posts (casual, emoji-friendly)
3. Technical writing (precise, jargon-appropriate)
4. Creative content (descriptive, engaging language)

Creating a custom assistant takes just a few taps. Go to AI Settings - Custom Assistants - Create New. Give it a name, then set parameters like tone preference, formality level, and vocabulary complexity. You can even specify industry-specific terminology you want the assistant to recognize and suggest.

The tone adjustment feature is incredibly powerful. You can set your default tone to anything from "very casual" to "extremely formal" with several gradations in between. When you're typing, you can quickly switch between assistants by tapping the AI icon and selecting a different preset. This means you don't have to manually adjust your writing style - the keyboard does it for you.

Another customization option is setting how proactive you want the AI to be. Some people prefer aggressive suggestions that appear constantly, while others want minimal interference. You can adjust the suggestion frequency, how long suggestions stay visible, and whether the keyboard automatically implements corrections or waits for your approval.

The grammar correction settings deserve special attention. You can choose which types of errors get flagged - spelling only, punctuation, style issues, or all of the above. For creative writing, you might want fewer corrections. For business communication, you probably want maximum scrutiny.

Setting Up Quick Actions and Shortcuts

Time-saving shortcuts are what separate power users from everyone else. CleverType lets you customize quick actions that appear above your keyboard, giving you one-tap access to frequently used features.

The quick action bar can hold up to 8 shortcuts. Here's what you can add:

• Text snippets (email signatures, addresses, common phrases)
• Emoji shortcuts for frequently used reactions
• Grammar check toggle
• Tone switcher
• Translation button
• Voice input activation
• Custom AI assistant selector
• Clipboard history

Text snippets are particularly useful for information you type repeatedly. Instead of typing your full email address every time, create a snippet with a trigger like "@@" that expands to your complete address. Same goes for phone numbers, addresses, or standard email responses like "Thanks for reaching out, I'll get back to you within 24 hours."

The clipboard history feature keeps track of your last 20 copied items, letting you quickly paste something you copied earlier without having to recopy it. You can customize how many items get saved and whether sensitive information (like passwords) gets automatically excluded.

Gesture shortcuts are another level of customization. You can assign specific swipe patterns to trigger actions. For example, swiping right on the space bar could activate voice input, while swiping left could open emoji. Swiping up might trigger the AI assistant, and swiping down could access your clipboard history.

Creating a personalized dictionary is essential for anyone who uses specialized terminology, names, or abbreviations. Add words to your custom dictionary so the keyboard stops trying to "correct" them. This is especially important for people who work in technical fields or use multiple languages regularly.

Adjusting Grammar and Autocorrect Preferences

Not everyone wants the same level of correction, and CleverType understands that. The grammar settings menu gives you granular control over how the keyboard handles mistakes.

The autocorrect aggressiveness slider is your first stop. Set it low, and the keyboard will only fix obvious typos. Set it high, and it'll actively rewrite sentences to improve clarity and grammar. Most people find the middle ground works best - catching genuine mistakes without being overly intrusive.

You can customize which types of corrections happen automatically versus which ones require confirmation:

The language settings matter more than most people realize. If you regularly type in multiple languages, enable multilingual support and select which languages you use. CleverType can detect language switches automatically and adjust corrections accordingly. This prevents the frustrating experience of having English autocorrect mess up your Spanish typing.

For non-native English speakers, there's a special learning mode that provides more detailed explanations when corrections are made. Instead of just changing "your" to "you're," it'll briefly explain why the correction was necessary. This helps you learn while you type, gradually reducing the number of corrections needed over time.

Professional writers might want to enable the style consistency checker. This feature monitors your writing patterns and flags inconsistencies - like switching between Oxford commas and no Oxford commas, or mixing American and British spelling conventions. It's subtle but incredibly helpful for maintaining polished writing.

Optimizing Keyboard Layout and Input Methods

The physical layout of your keyboard affects typing speed and accuracy more than most features. CleverType offers several layout options beyond the standard QWERTY arrangement.

Layout choices include:

• QWERTY (standard)
• QWERTZ (common in German-speaking countries)
• AZERTY (French layout)
• Dvorak (optimized for efficiency)
• Colemak (modern alternative layout)

Most people stick with QWERTY because that's what they learned, but if you're willing to invest time in learning a new layout, Dvorak and Colemak can significantly increase typing speed. The keyboard includes a practice mode that helps you learn alternative layouts without switching your primary keyboard.

Key size customization is crucial for accurate typing. The default key size works for most people, but if you've got particularly large or small hands, adjusting by even 10% can make a noticeable difference. You can also adjust the spacing between keys, which helps prevent accidentally hitting adjacent keys.

The number row is optional in CleverType. Some people prefer having numbers always visible at the top, while others prefer the cleaner look of a letter-only layout with numbers accessed by long-pressing keys. There's no right answer - it depends on how often you type numbers.

Swipe typing (also called glide typing) can be enabled or disabled based on your preference. If you do use swipe, you can adjust the sensitivity - how precisely you need to trace the path between letters. Lower sensitivity is more forgiving but occasionally makes wrong guesses. Higher sensitivity requires more precise swiping but gives more accurate results.

The key press feedback can be customized extensively. You can adjust:

• Haptic feedback strength (vibration)
• Sound volume and type
• Visual feedback (key highlight duration)
• Popup preview size and duration

Some people prefer silent typing with no haptic feedback, while others want strong vibrations and click sounds. CleverType lets you set these independently, so you could have visual feedback without sound or vibration, for example.

Configuring Voice Input and Transcription Settings

Voice typing has gotten remarkably good in recent years, and CleverType's voice input features are worth customizing properly. The keyboard uses advanced AI transcription that handles accents, background noise, and technical terminology better than most alternatives.

To access voice settings, tap the CleverType icon - Settings - Voice Input. The first thing to set is your primary language. Even if you selected this during setup, double-check that it matches your actual accent. There's a difference between "English (US)" and "English (UK)" in terms of vocabulary and pronunciation patterns.

The transcription accuracy level has three settings:

1. Fast: Prioritizes speed, good for casual messages
2. Balanced: Mix of speed and accuracy (recommended for most users)
3. Precise: Takes slightly longer but catches nuances better, ideal for professional communication

Punctuation auto-insertion is a game-changer for voice typing. When enabled, the keyboard automatically adds periods, commas, and question marks based on your speech patterns and pauses. You can adjust how sensitive this feature is - whether it adds punctuation liberally or only when you explicitly pause.

The voice command system lets you control formatting while speaking. Say "new paragraph" to start a new paragraph, "all caps" to TYPE IN CAPITALS, or "question mark" to add punctuation. You can customize which voice commands are recognized and even create your own shortcuts.

Background noise suppression can be adjusted from low to high. Higher settings filter out more ambient sound, which is great in coffee shops or busy offices. Lower settings work better in quiet environments where aggressive filtering might cut off parts of your speech.

For people who work with technical vocabulary or proper names, adding terms to the voice recognition dictionary is essential. The keyboard will learn these words and stop trying to replace them with similar-sounding common words. This is particularly important for medical professionals, engineers, or anyone who uses industry-specific jargon.

Managing Privacy and Data Settings

Privacy matters, especially when you're using a keyboard that processes everything you type. CleverType takes privacy seriously, and the customization options reflect that commitment.

The data collection settings menu explains exactly what information gets collected and why. You have granular control over:

Each of these can be toggled independently. If you're concerned about privacy, you can disable all learning features and use CleverType as a purely functional keyboard without any data collection. The AI features will still work, but they won't personalize to your specific writing patterns.

The incognito mode is particularly useful. When activated, the keyboard stops learning new words, doesn't save anything to clipboard history, and doesn't send any data to AI processing servers. This is perfect for typing sensitive information like passwords, financial details, or confidential work documents.

You can also set up content filters that prevent certain types of information from being processed by AI features. For example, you can tell CleverType to never send credit card numbers, social security numbers, or email addresses to cloud-based AI processing. These get handled locally on your device instead.

The data retention settings let you control how long the keyboard keeps your personalization data. Options range from "until I delete it" to automatic deletion after 30, 60, or 90 days. If you share a device with others, shorter retention periods make sense.

According to research on AI keyboard privacy, transparent data policies and user control are essential for trustworthy keyboard apps. CleverType's privacy dashboard shows you exactly what data exists and gives you one-tap deletion of all personalization data if you want a fresh start.

The offline mode is worth mentioning. Many of CleverType's features work completely offline, including basic autocorrect, personal dictionary, and text prediction. Only advanced AI features like tone adjustment and complex grammar analysis require an internet connection. You can customize which features are allowed to use mobile data versus only working on WiFi.

Advanced Customization Tips and Hidden Features

Once you've mastered the basics, there are several advanced customization options that power users should know about. These features aren't immediately obvious but can significantly enhance your typing experience.

The gesture customization menu is buried a bit deep (Settings - Advanced - Gestures) but it's incredibly powerful. Beyond the basic swipe shortcuts mentioned earlier, you can create complex gesture combinations:

• Double-tap spacebar: Add period and capitalize next word
• Long-press comma: Access emoji picker
• Swipe from shift key: Toggle caps lock
• Two-finger swipe: Undo/redo
• Pinch gesture: Minimize keyboard

These gestures become muscle memory quickly and can save substantial time once you're used to them.

The keyboard can also be customized to show different layouts based on context. For example, when typing in a web browser's address bar, you might want quick access to ".com" and "www" shortcuts. When typing in a messaging app, emoji might be more important. CleverType can detect the app you're using and automatically adjust the quick action bar accordingly.

For people who frequently switch between devices, the settings sync feature is essential. Enable cloud sync (with your choice of Google Drive, iCloud, or CleverType's encrypted servers), and all your customizations automatically transfer to your other devices. This means your carefully crafted custom assistants, personal dictionary, and theme preferences work the same way on your phone and tablet.

The macro system is an advanced feature that lets you create multi-step actions triggered by a single command. For example, you could create a macro that:

1. Inserts your email signature
2. Runs grammar check
3. Switches to formal tone
4. Copies the text to clipboard

All of this happens with one tap, saving time on repetitive formatting tasks.

Keyboard shortcuts for external keyboards are also customizable. If you use a physical keyboard with your phone or tablet, you can map key combinations to CleverType features. Ctrl+Shift+G could trigger grammar check, Ctrl+T could switch tone, and so on.

The experimental features section (Settings - Advanced - Labs) contains beta features that haven't been fully released yet. These change regularly as new capabilities are tested. Current experiments include predictive emoji based on text sentiment, automatic message summarization, and contextual smart replies. You can opt into testing these features and provide feedback that shapes future development.

For developers and technical users, CleverType offers API access that lets you integrate the keyboard with other apps. This is beyond what most users need, but if you're building custom productivity workflows, the integration possibilities are extensive.

Troubleshooting Common Customization Issues

Even with all these customization options, sometimes things don't work quite right. Here are solutions to the most common issues people encounter when customizing CleverType.

Custom theme not saving: This usually happens when the theme file is too large (over 5MB). Compress your background image or choose a simpler design. Also check that you've granted CleverType storage permissions in your phone's settings.

AI assistant not responding correctly: If your custom assistant isn't behaving as expected, review the training examples you provided. The AI learns from examples, so if you only gave it 2-3 samples, it doesn't have enough context. Provide at least 10-15 examples of the writing style you want.

Shortcuts not triggering: Make sure you've enabled the gesture system in Settings - Input Methods - Gestures. Some phone manufacturers disable custom gestures by default for security reasons. You may need to add CleverType to your device's accessibility services.

Voice input language wrong: This happens when you have multiple keyboards installed. Go to your phone's language settings (not CleverType's settings) and make sure the system language matches what you want for voice input. CleverType uses the system voice recognition as a base layer.

Keyboard lagging after heavy customization: If you've added many custom themes, assistants, and shortcuts, the keyboard might slow down on older devices. Go to Settings - Performance and enable "Lite Mode," which reduces animations and limits background processing.

Sync not working between devices: Check that you're signed into the same account on both devices and that sync is enabled in Settings - Account - Sync Settings. Also verify that both devices have the latest version of CleverType installed - sync doesn't work between different versions.

Autocorrect too aggressive/not aggressive enough: Fine-tune the correction level by going to Settings - Text Correction and adjusting the slider. But also check your personal dictionary - sometimes words you've accidentally added make corrections seem off. Review and clean up your dictionary regularly.

If you're experiencing issues not covered here, the CleverType support page has detailed troubleshooting guides and a community forum where users share solutions.