How do I switch my Blackberry Pearl from Multitap to SureType?

There is an easier way to switch the Pearl back into SureType mode:

1. Press the Menu key within a text field
2. Select "Enable SureType"

http://www.blackberry.com/btsc/search.do?cmd=displayKC&docType=kc&externalId=KB10261&sliceId=SAL_Public&dialogID=8932694&stateId=0%200%205344662

Hi Dave
Appreciate you sharing your knowledge like you do.
Can you help with a Blackberry Pearl problem ,I have 4 received messages/emails which I can't delete. 3 are emails and 1 is a sms. they are from 2 consecutive days and have been deleted from my computer. any comments appreciated

Thank you for posting this suggestion. I have just received my Pearl a few days ago and was having the same problem. What a great phone, but a wierd way to setup the typing input!

This is by far the most useful information that I've found on the web THIS YEAR! And I'm a network administrator! Thank you so much, and congrats on the high Google ranking for "blackberry pearl multitap mode". You're number one! You're number one!

There's a MUCH faster way: just hold down the SYM (Symbol) key when you're in typing mode.

At first the symbols will appear as usual, but keep holding down the SYM key until the symbols menu goes away (about 2 seconds).

Holding down the SYM key toggles between SureType and Multi-Tap modes.

When in Multi-Tap mode, you will see a "ABC" icon in the upper-right hand corner of the screen. When in SureType mode, there is no associated icon shown.

A big THANKYOU to all posters on this blog, I am totally useless with anything technical and was about to smash my blackberry pearl because it kept hopping into multi-tap mode and i couldn't get out back to predictive , you have saved my blackberry from a certain cruel death, other than that glitch it is absolutely fantastic.

thanks

Thanks again to everyone for their suggestions for escaping multi-tap hell!

I've found that using the password vault, which appropriately switches the input method to multi-tap while one enters a password, leaves the pearl in multi-tap mode. If anyone knows anyone at RIM could you ask for a firmware update that automatically switches the keyboard out of multi-tap mode once the password has been entered?

That would save a lot of frustration - particularly for new users.

Gracias, Mon Amie! Just had a CFO walk in havign somehow managed to switch his input language to greek - literally typing greek symbols for everything! Thanks for a big save easy to find article that let me fix it in less than 5 minutes....

Thanks for the help with switching back to sure type.

Dave,
Your site is very informative. With my BlackBerry Pearl, my Call Log deletes itself automatically. Missing alot of calls. What can I do to prevent this. Thanking you in advance.
J

Hi Dave,
Thank you so much for answering this question! My phone was on SureType since I got it about 5 months ago then all of a sudden a couple of days ago it automatically switched to multi-tap mode and I couldn't seem to find a way to switch it back. After google-ing my question, your site came up 1st and I'm so happy I'm back to SureType!
Thank you!!
p.s. I also tried the suggestions posted by Bryon and Michael but they didn't work for me, sorry guys, Dave's the best! :))

GRAZIE!!! THANK YOUUUU! MERCIIIII!

I was getting real desperate! :)))))))))))))

Made my day!
Agata

My phone is going into some sort of mode where it says *none due to radio off* in thr manage connection feature.
therefore, i can't use my phone at all...
any idea how to turn this back on?
thanks

go to the main menu and click manage connections...

then in the list find mobile network... click on it

and that should do it. :)

I just got an 8120 Pearl & it suddenly stopped using SureType. Not only that, it stopped doing the automatic number lock in my address book phone fields. And when I click on the menu there is no "Enable SureType." And there's no ABC in the corner either. I don't get it - the Language is set right (i.e., not to Multi-tap). Any thoughts?

Your a beast, somehow my text got switched and i had to put it back to sure type...

This is dumb. For a function to be used so frequently not to be directly mapped to a button makes no sense. I have the need to switch modes constantly. Anyone know how to override a button mapping?

BTW the holding SYM trick does not seem to work for me.

just change launguage to somnething else and then save it and put it back to english and the abc will go away

I, too, am desperately in need for a way to switch between SureType and multitap without using the menu.

hey i have a telus blackberry pearl. and all of a sudden i have no sound on it. i was using it just fine. i can styll make calls and receive calls. but when i pick up the call theres just dead air. same as if i call someone outgoing...no one can hear me and i cant hear the phone ringing?! what do i do!

I found this correct answer on my 4th search sessoin, not the first.
Thanks for the fix, FYI my pearl 8100 says "localization" not "languages" in the Options menu. Then I changed the input language to English (not English-us/Britan). Then it automatically changed to "US sure-type" not the multi tap.

Thanks so much for that; somehow my predictive text got switched off, and the "Multi Tap" thing was driving me crazy....all fixed now!

Dave? You're friggin GENIUS!!!! Went thru my Pocket guide 4x's... finally did a search and there you were with your easy peasy answer. Thank you and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Thanks! Holy cow, was about to lose my religion!

the suretype just randomly turned its self off and ive tried everything on here. there is no "enable suretype" on the menu and that SYM key thing doesnt work either! im getting really stressed out! please help me!

It worked!!!!! thanks from Chili

This was exactly the answer that I needed. Thank you so much.

whenever i type a message on the pearl there is always a period after every word? help! thanks

Thanks for the instructions on how to disable that stupid sure type off!!!!!!!!!!!!! I couldn't find it anywhere until here!!!!!!! thank you

Thanks for your help! This has been driving me crazy.

Thank You SO much!! I was about to get rid of my blackberry. I even went on blackberry forums to try and figure out what was going on with my text messaging. I really appreaciate your help. Thanks Alot! :)

Thanks for this. Just for info, on my blackberry pearl the menu is called 'localisation' instead of 'language'. Rest of the method is the same though.

Thanks for the resources, everyone! For those of you with a Blackberry Pearl, holding down the SYM key doesn't work, nor will you find an "Enable SureType" option in the texting menu. To make matters worse, there's no Languages option in the main Option menu (why on earth they would make the whole thing so bloody complicated, I don't know). To change texting back to Suretype on the Pearl, follow Dave's directions but go to the Localisation Option (rather than the Languages option). My keyboard randomly stopped predictive texting and when I finally found the Localisation fix (thanks to Windy, above), my input language was still set appropriately i.e. to English (UK) rather than English (UK) Multitap. Switching it to another language and then back to the right language seemed to fix the problem.

THANKS!
I was gettig so crazy why it switched off and I couldn't get it back on. Your help worked.

Thanks Dave. Very helpful. V

THANK YOU ! YOU ARE MY HERO.

Great info. Everyone, there are many varieties of Pearl's out there, and they will have slightly different menu names, etc. Mine positively DOES have the Languages menu item rather than Localization.

SYM key did not work for me. Not every text field has the menu option to switch between multitap and Suretype. For instance, when trying to select a name from the address book, or choosing a name to send an SMS text, the menu item isn't there. However, once I'm in the body of an SMS text, I can push the menu key and there's an option to switch between multitap and suretype.

Going into the Languages/Localization menu will give you more options, though. On mine, there's an "Input Options" menu which has several options which can be turned on/off:
Compound Words
Context learning
Auto Word learning
Use Address Book as Data Source
Learn words from email messages (off, All Messages, Contacts only)
Predictive input.

So playing with these options might let your Blackberry learn some custom terms or business words you frequently use. This could help you from needing to switch to multi-tap as frequently. I guess the watchout is that it may also pick up on more misspelled words, etc.

thanks so much for all the help. I had gone through all my applications several times. Leaving the choice buried under "language" is pretty obscure.

i have a black berry pearl, and when i press call or to look at my call log my phone automaticly locks how do i fix it? please help

Oh my gosh; thank you so much!
I was going CRAZY without suretype.
I was searching the internet with "suretext" and that got me no where. Thanks again :D

Hi Dave

My Suretype menu is coming out horizontal and I want to switch it back to a vertical menu. How do I do this?
Thanks for you time
Sarah

Dave,

My Blackberry pearl freezes when I want to open my contacts. How do I fix this.

Thanks for the tip on Suretype, that was driving me crazy

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! That was bothering me soooo much and i have regained my sanity!!

THANK YOU for this.

You are wonderful.

Thank you for the help I got so sick and tired of texting with Suretype.

Your page was very useful in enabling me to turn that irritating SureType OFF, and switching back to multitap. I really cannot understand how anyone can work with SureType. Sure, if your vocabulary consists of say 100 words and you always type the same message, it can be very useful I suppose.

Hi dave, thank you so much for your helpful information. My black berry had sure type for nearly two years now and then three months back they updated my software and the sure type was gone and I had the multi function and I couldn't figure out for the life of me in how to get it back. It made it so difficult to text fast but now it's back to normal and I can't thank you enough!

Heey (;

Thanks Yo.
I really Appreciate it.
That was totally helpful )(:

Keep Posting.

Thanks! my pearl started typing ABC and i havent been able to figure out how to fix it. Now it's back to predictive text.

How do you add words to the dictionary in SureType? It seems like a good idea but is very irritating as it has a very limited vocab! Thanks, Kate

hi dave, u r really legend bro.u solved my blackberry pearl multi tap problem.i appreciate u.thanks for that.

Thanks for this help. I have pushed a button and switched Suretype off but cant find it but the option language option does work. The shift button does not work. For those of us who use it a lot it does learn so you add words. 8110 over 2 years old now.

Thank you soooo much! My 18 month old got a hold of my cell phone and switched it. I was going crazy until I found this website and your help:-)

Dave--
I was having so much trouble with the keyboard that had switched to predictive typing and I couldn't even text. I tried the suggestions of easy switching but your comment at the type was what did it. Thanks so much -- now I can text!!

This is without doubt the most useful tip I have found on the internet in my search for solutions for dealing with the many foibles of the Black Berry. You saved me hours of searching and possibly trying solutions that could have ruined my phone.
Many thanks.