Short Swipes
Short swipes let you quickly access additional characters by flicking in 8 directions from any key. This is faster than long-pressing for common characters.
Quick Summary
| What | Description |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Quick access to subkeys via directional flick |
| Gesture | Quick flick from key in any of 8 directions |
| Directions | N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW |
How It Works
Each key has up to 8 subkeys arranged around it:
NW N NE
\ | /
W -- KEY -- E
/ | \
SW S SEA quick flick in any direction types that subkey character.
How to Use
Step 1: Touch the Key
Touch the key you want to access subkeys from (don’t tap - hold briefly).
Step 2: Flick in a Direction
While still touching, quickly slide your finger in the direction of the subkey you want.
Step 3: Release
Lift your finger. The subkey character appears.
Example: Typing Numbers
On QWERTY layout, numbers are on the NORTHEAST (up-right) direction:
| Key | Flick NE | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Q | ↗ | 1 |
| W | ↗ | 2 |
| E | ↗ | 3 |
| R | ↗ | 4 |
| … | … | … |
[!TIP] Think “start from the SW corner of the key” to access the NE subkey.
Common Subkey Layouts
Letters (Top Row)
- Northeast: Numbers (1-0)
- Northwest: Symbols (~, @, #, $, etc.)
- Southeast: Escape (on Q)
Backspace
- West: Delete entire word
- Short swipe + hold: Selection delete mode
[!NOTE] Subkey assignments vary by layout. Check Per-Key Customization to see and modify your layout’s subkeys.
Calibrating Short Swipes
Adjust sensitivity in Settings:
- Go to Settings > Activities > Short Swipe Calibration
- Adjust Minimum Distance (shorter = more sensitive)
- Practice in the test area
| Setting | Effect |
|---|---|
| Min Distance | How far to swipe before triggering |
| Max Distance | Beyond this becomes a long swipe |
Tips and Tricks
- Practice direction: North is straight up, not diagonal
- Speed matters: Quick flicks work best
- Visual feedback: The trail shows your swipe direction
- Customize: Change subkey actions in Settings > Activities > Per-Key Customization
[!TIP] If short swipes accidentally trigger, increase the minimum distance setting.
Difference from Long Press
| Action | Short Swipe | Long Press |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Fast (instant) | Slow (wait 600ms) |
| Behavior | Types subkey character | Key repeat |
| Access | 8 directional subkeys | Repeats the main key |
Settings
| Setting | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Min Distance | Gesture Tuning | Minimum swipe length |
| Max Distance | Gesture Tuning | Maximum swipe length |
| Enable Short Swipes | Gesture Tuning | Toggle feature on/off |
Terminal App Support
When using CleverKeys in terminal emulators (Termux, ConnectBot, etc.), certain short swipe actions adapt automatically:
| Action | Standard Apps | Terminal Apps |
|---|---|---|
| Paste | Android paste API | Ctrl+V key event |
| Copy | Android copy API | Same |
| Cut | Android cut API | Same |
Terminal apps don’t implement the Android context menu protocol, so paste commands are sent as Ctrl+V key events instead. This happens automatically — no configuration needed.
Related Features
- Cursor Navigation - Move cursor with gestures
- Selection Delete - Select text with backspace
- Per-Key Actions - Customize subkeys