Help with setting up and using Deftkeys. Can’t find your answer? See the FAQ or email hello@deftkeys.com.
Add the keyboard
- Open the Deftkeys app once. It walks you through setup.
- Go to Settings › General › Keyboard › Keyboards › Add New Keyboard… and choose Deftkeys.
- In any app, touch and hold the globe key and pick Deftkeys.
Turn on Full Access (optional)
Full Access lets the keyboard use the templates, shortcuts and contact card you save in the app, keep clipboard history and play haptics. To turn it on, go to Settings › General › Keyboard › Keyboards › Deftkeys and switch on Allow Full Access. Deftkeys never sends what you type anywhere; see the Privacy Policy.
Using Deftkeys
- Replies and templates: tap the tools button at the left of the bar above the keys, then Replies or Snippets. Tap one to insert it. If it has fields such as
{name}, type each value in the bar or tap a quick pick, or tap Skip. - Shortcuts: type a shortcut such as
;sigand tap the suggestion, or press space if “Expand on space” is on. Press backspace straight away to undo. - Tone: select some text, or put the cursor in a paragraph, then tap Tone. Choose Formal, Friendly, Concise or Fix grammar, then Replace or Insert below.
- Clipboard: copy something, switch to Deftkeys and tap Clipboard. Tap an item to paste it.
- Edit templates and your contact card in the Deftkeys app, under Library and Settings.
Troubleshooting
Deftkeys isn’t listed under Add New Keyboard
Open the Deftkeys app once, then fully close Settings and open it again. If it’s still missing, restart your iPhone. You can also add it from Settings › Apps › Deftkeys › Keyboards. If your iPhone is managed by an employer, a device management profile may block third-party keyboards; check Settings › General › VPN & Device Management.
The keyboard switched back to Apple’s keyboard
That’s normal in password fields, phone-number fields and apps that don’t allow third-party keyboards. iOS switches automatically, and Deftkeys comes back when you leave that field.
My templates or contact card don’t show in the keyboard
The keyboard needs Full Access to read what you save in the app. Turn it on as shown above. Without it, you can still use the built-in replies and starter templates.
Formal, Friendly and Concise are greyed out
These use Apple Intelligence, which needs a supported iPhone with iOS 26 or later and Apple Intelligence turned on in Settings › Apple Intelligence & Siri. Fix grammar works on every iPhone. If the keyboard can’t run a rewrite, use Rewrite in the Deftkeys app and tap Send to keyboard.
Clipboard history is empty
Clipboard history needs Full Access and must be switched on in the app’s settings. It only captures text when you open the Clipboard panel, and it skips passwords copied from password managers.
I hit a limit on templates, shortcuts or rewrites
The free plan includes 10 templates and 3 shortcuts of your own, and 5 tone rewrites a day. Deftkeys Pro removes these limits. See Pricing.
Subscriptions
- Restore Pro on a new iPhone: in the Deftkeys app, open Deftkeys Pro and tap Restore Purchases, signed in with the same Apple Account.
- Cancel: Settings › [your name] › Subscriptions › Deftkeys.
- Refunds are handled by Apple at reportaproblem.apple.com.
Still stuck?
Email hello@deftkeys.com with your iPhone model, iOS version and what happened. A screenshot helps, but please hide any client details first.