Text Replacement is a built-in macOS feature that expands a short trigger into longer text. It is useful for email addresses, common replies, shipping addresses, signatures, and words you often mistype.
This guide applies to recent macOS versions. Text replacements work in most apps that use standard text input.
Does This Affect You?
Use this if you type the same phrase repeatedly and want something like “addr” or “eml” to expand automatically.
Add a Text Replacement
- Open System Settings from the Apple menu.
- Click Keyboard.
- Open Text Replacements.
- Click the plus button.
- In Replace, type the short trigger.
- In With, type the full text that should appear.
- Press Return or click away to save.
- Test it in Notes or Messages by typing the trigger and then Space or punctuation.
Edit or Remove a Replacement
- Return to System Settings > Keyboard > Text Replacements.
- Double-click the Replace or With text to edit it.
- Select a replacement and click the minus button to delete it.
- Changes apply immediately.
Text Replacement Tips
Sync Across Apple Devices
With iCloud enabled, replacements can sync to iPhone and iPad under Keyboard > Text Replacement.
Pick Triggers You Will Not Type Accidentally
Avoid normal words such as “the.” Use short but unusual triggers like “addr,” “sig2,” or “eml.”
Some Apps Ignore It
Terminal, some code editors, and apps that handle raw keyboard input may not expand macOS text replacements.
Good Everyday Uses
Common examples include email addresses, phone numbers, mailing addresses, support replies, meeting links, and frequent spelling corrections.
Sources
- Apple Support: Use text replacements on Mac
- Apple Support: Use System Settings on Mac