title: Swipe Typing
description: Draw paths through letters to type words
category: Typing
difficulty: beginner
featured: true
related_spec: ../specs/typing/swipe-typing-spec.md
Swipe Typing
Swipe typing lets you type words by drawing a continuous path through letters. CleverKeys uses a neural AI model to predict words from your swipe patterns.
Quick Summary
| What | Description |
|---|
| Purpose | Type words faster by swiping |
| Gesture | Draw path through letters without lifting finger |
| AI Model | ONNX transformer neural network |
How It Works
Instead of tapping each letter:
- 1. Touch the first letter of your word
- 2. Slide your finger through each letter in order
- 3. Lift your finger at the last letter
- 4. The word appears in the text
For example, to type "hello":
- • Touch h → slide to e → slide to l → slide to l → lift at o
How to Use
Step 1: Start on the First Letter
Touch and hold the first letter of your word. A trail appears showing your path.
Step 2: Draw Through Letters
Without lifting your finger, slide through each letter in sequence. You don't need to be perfectly accurate - the AI predicts your intended word.
Step 3: Lift to Complete
Lift your finger when you reach the last letter. The predicted word appears in your text.
Step 4: Choose from Predictions
If the wrong word appears:
- • Check the prediction bar for alternatives
- • Tap the correct word to replace it
Tips for Better Accuracy
- • Start and end precisely: Begin and end on the correct letters
- • Hit key letters: Pass through distinctive letters in the word
- • Maintain steady speed: Don't rush or pause mid-word
- • Use longer swipes: Longer words are easier to predict than short ones
[!TIP]
Double letters (like 'll' in 'hello') can be swiped in a small loop or just passed through once.
Prediction Bar
After swiping, three predictions appear:
| Position | Meaning |
| Center | Best match (auto-inserted) |
| Left | Second best match |
| Right | Third best match |
Tap any prediction to use it instead.
Settings
Tune swipe typing in Settings > Neural:
| Setting | Description |
| Beam Width | More candidates = more accurate but slower |
| Neural Profile | Balanced, Fast, or Accurate presets |
| Prediction Count | Number of suggestions to show |
When Swipe Typing Doesn't Work
Swipe typing may not activate when:
- • Typing in password fields
- • The swipe is too short (detected as tap)
- • No language pack is downloaded
Related Features
- • Autocorrect - Fix mistakes automatically
- • Short Swipes - Quick access to subkeys
- • Neural Settings - Tune prediction
Technical Details
See Swipe Typing Technical Specification for details on the ONNX model and beam search algorithm.