Why does omw autocorrect?
The iPhone keyboard has some notorious quirks, but there’s one little “feature” you may have noticed. Every time you type “omw” it is automatically expanded to “On my way!” This can be pretty annoying, so let’s turn it off.
Talking over text does not lend itself well to conveying emotion. That’s why every small detail—punctuation, case, and emoji— is so important. There’s a huge difference in how “omw” and “On my way!” can be interpreted. So lets you give the control back to you.
RELATED: How to Tame (and Improve) the iPhone's Autocorrect Feature
The iOS and iPadOS feature responsible for this is called “Text Replacement.” It allows you to create custom text shortcuts for phrases. The “omw” shortcut is actually the only one included by default, for some reason.
To get started, open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
Go to “General.”
Now go to “Keyboard.”
Select “Text Replacement.”
You’ll see the “omw” shortcut listed. Tap “Edit” in the bottom left corner.
Tap the red minus icon next to “omw” to delete it.
Finally, tap “Delete” to confirm.
Disclaimer: I am not associated with Apple. This article explores the implications of one of their defaults for its cultural relevance and usability. As such, the possibility remains that there are specific reasons for this default that I’m not aware of.
Apple’s default auto text replacement of omw to “On my way!” may seem innocuous, but this feature actually invokes an existential crisis for many members of the internet generation.
It certainly did for me when I tried saving this very piece of writing on my MacBook Pro, only to have — you guessed it — the “omw” automatically replaced by the overly eager, earnest, and insistent “On my way!”
Comedian and The Daily Show correspondent Jaboukie Young-White recently tweeted the following:
It must be noted that he was not alone in his despair.
The iPhone keyboard has some notorious quirks, but there’s one little “feature” you may have noticed. Every time you type “omw” it is automatically expanded to “On my way!” This can be pretty annoying, so let’s turn it off.
Talking over text does not lend itself well to conveying emotion. That’s why every small detail—punctuation, case, and emoji— is so important. There’s a huge difference in how “omw” and “On my way!” can be interpreted. So lets you give the control back to you.
RELATED: How to Tame (and Improve) the iPhone's Autocorrect Feature
The iOS and iPadOS feature responsible for this is called “Text Replacement.” It allows you to create custom text shortcuts for phrases. The “omw” shortcut is actually the only one included by default, for some reason.
To get started, open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
Go to “General.”
Now go to “Keyboard.”
Select “Text Replacement.”
You’ll see the “omw” shortcut listed. Tap “Edit” in the bottom left corner.
Tap the red minus icon next to “omw” to delete it.
Finally, tap “Delete” to confirm.
That’s all there is to it! You don’t have to worry about Apple hijacking your casual “omw” and adding unimplied enthusiasm. Text Replacement is a cool feature you should use, but you don’t have to use Apple’s built-in text replacement shortcut.
- The iPhone keyboard has some notorious quirks, but there's one little “feature” you may have noticed.
- Go to “General.”
- Now go to “Keyboard.”
- Select “Text Replacement.”
- You'll see the “omw” shortcut listed.
- Tap the red minus icon next to “omw” to delete it.
