How to Swype Type Keyboard on iPhone (No-Jailbreak)

Start the Guide
Swype type keyboard on iPhone (no-jailbreak)

How to Swype Type Keyboard on iPhone (No-Jailbreak)

102.5k Views
Step 1 of 21

There use to be a good swype type keyboard for iPhone called shapewriter. But they were bought out and removed from the App Store. Since then there have been many very bad attempts.

Step 2 of 21

Every single one I've tried from the App Store are terrible. So when I finally found one that actually works. I had to come here and make a guide for it.

Step 3 of 21
The app is called Path Input. There's both a free and add free paid version. The reason I like this one so much is it actually works.

The app is called Path Input. There's both a free and add free paid version. The reason I like this one so much is it actually works.

Step 4 of 21

All the others currently in the App Store actually slow down your typing speed because you have to spend so much time correcting the words. But path input is surprisingly accurate.

Step 5 of 21
As you can see its pretty much like the native notepad app that comes with iOS.

As you can see its pretty much like the native notepad app that comes with iOS.

Step 6 of 21
Except the keyboard works like a swype keyboard.

Except the keyboard works like a swype keyboard.

Step 7 of 21
If it doesn't place the correct word. Scroll through the suggested words above the keyboard.

If it doesn't place the correct word. Scroll through the suggested words above the keyboard.

Step 8 of 21
Tap one of the suggested words and it'll turn into that word.

Tap one of the suggested words and it'll turn into that word.

Step 9 of 21
To capitalize a letter or first letter of a word. Tape the up/down arrows key on the left of the keyboard.

To capitalize a letter or first letter of a word. Tape the up/down arrows key on the left of the keyboard.

Step 10 of 21
The last letter or first letter of the last word will be capitalized. Tap it a second time the entire word will be capitalized.

The last letter or first letter of the last word will be capitalized. Tap it a second time the entire word will be capitalized.

Step 11 of 21
Hold the letter P down to find the numbers.

Hold the letter P down to find the numbers.

Step 12 of 21
To find more punctuation and symbols hold the keys toward the bottom down (double click space bar to add a period like the normal iphone keyboard).

To find more punctuation and symbols hold the keys toward the bottom down (double click space bar to add a period like the normal iphone keyboard).

Step 13 of 21
With practice you'll be able to type amazingly fast. And this app is the best I've found at it so far. It's predictive text is much better than any other available in the App Store right now.

With practice you'll be able to type amazingly fast. And this app is the best I've found at it so far. It's predictive text is much better than any other available in the App Store right now.

Step 14 of 21
When you're done tap the arrow at the top right corner to find this menu at the bottom. You can copy to clipboard and paste in other apps.

When you're done tap the arrow at the top right corner to find this menu at the bottom. You can copy to clipboard and paste in other apps.

Step 15 of 21
Tap the mail icon to mail the text.

Tap the mail icon to mail the text.

Step 16 of 21
Or the message icon to use it in a text message.

Or the message icon to use it in a text message.

Step 17 of 21
Go into settings and you can add words to your dictionary in the "User Words" section.

Go into settings and you can add words to your dictionary in the "User Words" section.

Step 18 of 21
I added these words that I often have to use but aren't commonly known. So now I can "swipe" them on the keyboard.

I added these words that I often have to use but aren't commonly known. So now I can "swipe" them on the keyboard.

Step 19 of 21

I know you probably wish we could use this as our native keyboard. I do too. But apple doesn't allow this. So this is the best alternative I've found without jailbreaking.

Step 20 of 21

Well there you have it. When I find something good I like to pass it along. I hope you find it useful.

Step 21 of 21

Enjoy!!!

You're Done

Check out other guides by this author!

michigan
I'm a semi professional magician. Graphic designer. I've been deaf almost 20 years but i can hear now thanks to the cochlear implant I got almost 2 years ago.

Keep Exploring

Start Over

39 Comments
0 Supplies
Elisabeth Redlig

Just bought it. Thanks for the info! :)

Elisabeth Redlig yesterday

James Fillinger

Hey Thanx for the info, I just started using it. What is the issue exactly with apple not allowing it? Is it cause droid does already? But I do like it and will keep using the app.

James Fillinger 2 weeks ago

Adam Cowan

Bye then

Adam Cowan 3 weeks ago

Tom Bowman

I am going back to Android because of the lack of keyboards on iOS. The stock keyboard has better swipe input than anything you can get on the iPhone/iPad, even when jailbroken. So long suckers, enjoy the crApple world.

Tom Bowman 4 weeks ago

Kreg Soli

Didn't even know this type of app existed! Awesome. Thx a million.

Kreg Soli last month

Joy in Life

Swype type (thx, autocorrect! :-(. )

Joy in Life 2 months ago

Joy in Life

I haven't used Skype type keyboards before, but after reading your guide I downloaded the free option and I really like it!!!

Joy in Life 2 months ago

Sally Cuevas

Forget it me and my bother tried so now it works thanks a lot for posting this

Sally Cuevas 2 months ago

Sally Cuevas

I tried this on my iPod and it doesn't work right

Sally Cuevas 2 months ago

River Haven

I will give this a try. Thanks.

River Haven 3 months ago

Ron Jaxon

They don't allow any keyboard on iPhone except the one that comes in iOS. But if you get a text from someone. Open the path input app and type your reply. If you send it to their contact it'll just add to your text conversation.

(author) 3 months ago

Ron Jaxon

It'll be at the bottom in settings. Or perhaps you have the free version. I can't remember if the free version allows you to add words or not.

(author) 3 months ago

Cathy Chavez

Couldn't find "user words" in settings on my iPhone5...help??

Cathy Chavez 3 months ago

Cathy Chavez

Fabulous! Thanks for the tip. I miss my Android swype keyboard. Gonna try this one.

Cathy Chavez 3 months ago

Brad Burnette

Just switch to a newer Android phone and you don't have to "jailbreak" it to get a "swype" keyboard. Besides, SwiftKey for Android is by far the best, fastest, and most accurate swype keyboard available.

Brad Burnette 3 months ago

Pat Young

Cool app,

Pat Young 3 months ago

Pol Vendrell

Does it work in the iPad 2? In the iOS 6 for iPad?

Pol Vendrell 3 months ago

Doris Bartels

Hmm.. Too bad, this looks great but only works in English isn't it?

Doris Bartels 3 months ago

Ron  Warrick

Thanks for letting me know about this app. It's a gem.

Ron Warrick 3 months ago

Gabriel Fonseca

On cydia I was using swypetotext I think I'll check it out again and make sure

Gabriel Fonseca 3 months ago

Tyson Patterson

Personally, it's going to be difficult because input by hovering over space is something new for even android alone. Path Input definitely is ahead of the game, but I think apple should just make their own swipe keyboard.

Tyson Patterson 3 months ago

Romit Heerani

I can't type whole sentences using that keyboard whereas Swiftkey on Android allows me to not take my finger off the device, if you find an app that can do this then let me know.

Romit Heerani 3 months ago

Ron Jaxon

I'm not sure what you mean. The space bar works fine and it automatically adds spaces between words. Or did I misunderstand you?

(author) 4 months ago

Romit Heerani

Also the one you suggested doesn't let me swipe on space to input a space…

Romit Heerani 4 months ago

Ron Jaxon

I tried that one. It's terrible. But I hope they keep working in it.

(author) 4 months ago

Romit Heerani

For those asking for a keyboard for jail-broken iPhone, Swype, the first company to release swiping keyboard has a beta for it, which you can google for.

Romit Heerani 4 months ago

Ron Jaxon

If you have android. I think you already have swype.

(author) 4 months ago

Bruce Anderson

Does this work on android Galaxy Nexus 4.1.1 version phones?

Bruce Anderson 4 months ago

Frank Dill

Anything like this for ipad 2?

Frank Dill 4 months ago

Ron Jaxon

I haven't found a good one from cydia. There's one called iswipe but it didn't work very well.

(author) 4 months ago

Stephen Tam

Thanks Ron, BTW, with jailbreaking which keyboard I should choose?

Stephen Tam 5 months ago

Michael Mitchell

Thanks for the tip. I downloaded the free version.

Michael Mitchell 5 months ago

Lauren Decker

Thanks so much! I switched from an android to an iPhone so I was used to swipe, it's kinda hard to transfer over :/

Lauren Decker 5 months ago

Terrence Lall

This is great, thanks! Just wish I could use it globally, I guess it's only a matter of time

Terrence Lall 5 months ago

Silent Hill

Thanks Ron. This is really a number one app to have. I did not think it was possible on an iPhone. Your guide is also excellent, as usual. 🆒😄👍

Silent Hill 5 months ago

Andy H

Good find - thanks for sharing

Andy H 5 months ago

Ron Jaxon

I tried thumbslide. While its not bad as far as decent predictive text. It has some issues they should address. Such as auto spacing after words, odd keyboard layout. It's not bad but in my opinion path input is a little ahead of the game.

(author) 5 months ago

Adam Cowan

Cool! I was mucking about with my keyboards in the general section and seen that some languages had a sort of pad where you draw and the letter comes up, is there a way to do that in English?

Adam Cowan 5 months ago

Tutorial Doctor

"Thumbslide" is a good one. I thought they left the App Store.

Tutorial Doctor 6 months ago

Be first to comment on Step 1.

Be first to comment on Step 2.

Ron Jaxon

Yes there is. path input lite

(author) 6 days ago

J Hopp

I would love to try it, but no free version.

J Hopp 6 days ago

Ron Jaxon

Funny. The first negative comment about it. Kinda says something don't it.

(author) last month

Elliemae The Soap Lady

No this app sux! I tried it, and deleted. It puts jibberish all over your text. Changing languages doesn't help, either. It is jibberish in any language. No good

Elliemae The Soap Lady last month

Ron Jaxon

But I haven't found any good ones for jailbroken. The ones I've tried work on the main keyboard. But they have terrible predictive text. If you found a good one please let us know which one. Iswype was terrible last I checked.

(author) last month

Adrian Santangelo

If you're phone is jailbroken, then the answer is yes. :-)

Adrian Santangelo last month

Hailea Vaughn

darn!

Hailea Vaughn 2 months ago

Ron Jaxon

No. Apple doesn't allow us to change the keyboard unfortunately.

(author) 2 months ago

Hailea Vaughn

can you get it on your regular keyboard like the one where you text with.

Hailea Vaughn 2 months ago

Ron Jaxon

Are you on iPad? Maybe there's no iPad version yet.

(author) 5 months ago

Ron Jaxon

Yes. I just did a search in iTunes and both path input lite and path input pro came up.

(author) 5 months ago

Leigh Foreman

I can't find it in the app store. Sure this is how its spelt?

Leigh Foreman 5 months ago

Be first to comment on Step 4.

Be first to comment on Step 5.

Be first to comment on Step 6.

Be first to comment on Step 7.

Be first to comment on Step 8.

Be first to comment on Step 9.

Marie-Anne B

Nvmd i saw it on the next slide

Marie-Anne B 3 months ago

Marie-Anne B

Why is the P key written wt a 12

Marie-Anne B 3 months ago

Be first to comment on Step 11.

Be first to comment on Step 12.

Be first to comment on Step 13.

Be first to comment on Step 14.

Be first to comment on Step 15.

Be first to comment on Step 16.

Be first to comment on Step 17.

Be first to comment on Step 18.

Be first to comment on Step 19.

Sally Gillies

So nice! I'm a good typist but not on my phone indeed a lot of help! :-) thanks for sharing!

Sally Gillies 3 weeks ago

Kathleen  Cercone

Great information! I am going to try it

Kathleen Cercone 3 months ago

Diana Lane

Thanks for sharing. I'll try it!

Diana Lane 4 months ago

Lisa Wynne

Fabulous!!!! Downloading it now

Lisa Wynne 4 months ago