How To Turn The Clicks Keyboard For Iphone Into A Remote Control For Your Life
Source: Clicks

What you'll learn in this article:

  • How to turn the keys on your Clicks Keyboard into Action buttons
  • What is 'Clicks Mode' and how to use it to trigger Shortcuts
  • Discover powerful Shortcuts that can be mapped to Action buttons

The 36 buttons on your Clicks Keyboard can be used for so much more than just typing. By enabling Clicks Mode to work with iOS Shortcuts, you can use the buttons on your Clicks Keyboard to quickly launch apps, trigger workflows or take actions you perform frequently.

This article will guide you through how to set up Clicks Mode, configure keys as Action buttons, and offers some sample Shortcuts you can add to your iOS Shortcuts App with just a click.

What is 'Clicks Mode'?

Clicks Mode refers to a specific way to configure your iPhone iOS accessibility and keyboard settings to allow your Clicks Keyboard to take actions beyond simply typing.

How does 'Clicks Mode' work?

When Clicks Mode is enabled, pressing the Clicks Key (next to the space bar) will cause iOS to listen for a command upon your next keypress. That keypress can be mapped to launch a Shortcut you have built in the iOS Shortcuts app.

How do I enable 'Clicks Mode'?

Enabling Clicks Mode requires completing a few different steps:

  1. Enabling full keyboard access
  2. Clearing default keyboard commands
  3. Creating your custom shortcuts
  4. Configuring your Clicks Keyboard Action buttons

Configuring Clicks Mode

Step 1. Enable full keyboard access.

These settings provide a visual confirmation when you engage Clicks Mode. When an Action has been invoked, you will see a glowing ring around the outside of your screen for 1 second.

1.1 Go to Settings > Accessibility > Keyboards > Full Keyboard Access

  • Set 'Full Keyboard Access' to On

1.2 Under appearance

  • Set Auto-Hide to On
  • change to 1 second
  • Choose Color (we recommend coordinating it to the color of your Clicks, ie. pick Yellow for BumbleBee, or Grey for London Sky)

Step 2. Clear default keyboard commands

2.1 Go to Settings > Accessibility > Keyboards > Full Keyboard Access > Commands

2.2 Clear each of the pre-existing keyboard commands

  • Look for commands that have a shortcut programmed. You will see a key indicated on the far right hand side of the screen in line with the command
  • Tap on the command
  • Select clear
  • This will clear the default keyboard command

2.3 Repeat these steps for each command until all commands are clear

Step 3. Create your custom shortcuts

Now you will use the Shortcuts app on iOS to create the shortcuts that you will map to your Clicks Keyboard as Action buttons.

3.1 Be sure to download the Shortcuts app on the App Store

3.2 If you aren't familiar with Shortcuts, it's a powerful app with lots of functionality! This guide from Apple can help you understand the many possibilities of Shortcuts.

To help you get started, you can browse some of our favorite Shortcuts below that work well with Clicks Mode. If you want to install one on your iPhone, just click the link below.

Shortcut What it does Get it
Shazam Starts listening for a song and returns the details Install it
Focus Toggles in and out of focus mode Install it
Voicenote Begins recording a voice note Install it
Instagram Launches the Instagram app Install it
Onmyway Sends a text message to a predetermined contact with a canned message and ETA based on driving time to a destination Install it

Step 4. Map Your Shortcuts as Clicks Mode Action buttons

In this final step you will configure your Clicks Keyboard to launch Shortcuts using Clicks Mode.

4.1 Go to Settings > Accessibility > Keyboards > Full Keyboard Access > Commands

  • Scroll to the bottom of the page under the 'SHORTCUTS' heading
  • You will find all the Shortcuts you created in step 3

4.2 Map a Shortcut to an Action button

  • Tap on the name of the shortcut you want to program

  • Enter the shortcut you want to use to invoke that shortcut

    • Press the Clicks key (next to the space bar)
    • Followed by the key you want to use to activate the shortcut

  • Press done

4.3 Repeat the steps for the other Action buttons you want to configure

Step 5. Using the Clicks Key to trigger Action buttons

Now that you have mapped Shortcuts to your Clicks Keyboard, you can start using your new Action buttons. To launch an action:

5.1 Press and hold the 'Clicks Key' (next to the space bar)

5.2 Tap the Action button you want to trigger twice

  • The first press of the Action button enables Clicks Mode
  • The second triggers the shortcut

For example, if you have mapped the shortcut to open the Instagram app to the Action button 'Clicks Key + I', you would trigger this by: Hold Clicks Key > Press 'I' twice.

Clicks Mode from Lock Screen!

Clicks Mode shortcuts are super powerful. Not only do they work from anywhere within iOS while you are using your iPhone, but they even work from a locked iPhone screen.

If you pick up your iPhone and go straight to a Clicks Mode shortcut, your iPhone will unlock with FaceID and immediately take that action. You can dial contacts, open apps, or activate any shortcut you want immediately without ever having to tap on your touchscreen. It's incredible!

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