Enter text and numbers

Windows Mobile devices offer a variety of options for entering text and numbers. For an even more efficient way to enter information that already exists in Outlook on your PC — such as contacts, appointments, tasks, and notes — see the Synchronizing page.

On touch screen devices

You can enter text and numbers by tapping on a keyboard that you can display on the screen.

In a program, tap the keyboard icon at the bottom of the screen. If you see a different input icon, tap the icon, tap the input selector arrow to the right side of the input icon, and then tap Keyboard.
Enter text and numbers by tapping keys on the on-screen keyboard.

Note: The on-screen keyboard is available only on screens where you can enter text.

Tip
To make the keys larger, tap the input selector arrow, and then tap Options. In the Input method list, select Keyboard, and then tap Large Keys.

Windows Mobile 6 touch screen devices have an advanced handwriting recognition engine that allows you to enter text by writing in your own cursive, print or mixed style.

Other text input options include Block Recognizer, Letter Recognizer and a QWERTY keyboard, all of which are available as a soft input panel that appears on the bottom of the display when a field or document allows text entry.

Some devices also have an integrated QWERTY keyboard, with which text can be entered by simply pressing the corresponding letter button.

On non-touch screen devices

Notes:

Some devices may have an integrated QWERTY keyboard, with which text can be entered by simply pressing the corresponding letter button.
Some device keypads might have a different layout than what is described here, or may support other text-entry options.
Not all devices have T9 mode or a dedicated T9 key (the * key on most devices with the T9 mode).

When creating an e-mail or text message on your device, you can use the number keys to enter letters, numbers, punctuation, and symbols such as emoticons.

You can enter text in what is called “Abc mode” by pressing each key until the letter you want appears on the screen. For example, to enter the word "shoe" in Abc mode, you would press 7 four times, 4 three times, 6 three times, and 3 two times.

On some mobile devices, you can use what is called “T9 mode” to enter whole words. T9 stands for "text on 9 keys." This function may let you enter text faster than other methods.

As you press each key in T9 mode, the device analyzes the possible letters associated with that key and attempts to predict and complete the word. For example, to enter the word "shoe" in T9 mode, you would press the keys 7, 5, 6, and 3 once each, scroll to the word “shoe” in a list that appears, and then press ENTER.

To enter text on devices that have the T9 mode

In a text field, press and hold the * T9 key.
Scroll to and click T9 English, Abc, 123, or Symbols. The selected text mode is indicated at the upper-right corner of the screen.
Enter the text or numbers that you want, or choose a symbol from the symbol menu by scrolling to the symbol and pressing ENTER.
- In T9 mode, enter letters by pressing the keys on which the letters appear. Press a key only once for each letter. If there is more than one choice for your entry in the T9 dictionary, the device will display a list of available words. Click on the word in the T9 list to enter that word and a space after it.
- If you are entering a word in Abc mode, press the # key after each word to enter a space.

Tip
The current text mode is indicated in the upper-right corner of the screen. You can quickly press the * T9 key to scroll through upper-case, lower-case, and caps lock options.

Was this information useful? Yes | No

E-mail this page

Enter text and numbers

On touch screen devices

On non-touch screen devices

To enter text on devices that have the T9 mode

Getting started topics