Industry guru Dave Taylor offers free tech support on a wide variety of technical and business topics, including HTML, online advertising, Cascading Style Sheets, Web design, management, Unix, Linux, search engine optimization, online dating, Mac OS X, shell script programming and Microsoft Windows.

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

I don't get it, I have a new Blackberry Pearl and have been enjoying getting used to its predictive typing system, SureType, but all of a sudden my phone is now into the same annoying multiple-keypress input system that my pre-Pearl phone forced me to use. How do I switch back to the predictive SureType system?

Dave's Answer:

I have suffered through the exact same frustration too, so I know exactly of what you speak. My problem is that I wasn't sure what to call the predictive typing system on the Blackberry Pearl, so I searched Google for "predictive typing", "t9 input" and even the "ABC" that's displayed on the Pearl screen if you're in what Blackberry calls "multi-tap input mode".

For the record, it's not "T9" on this phone and there's no reference to "predictive typing" in the 240 page User's Guide either. You need to search for SureType[tm, of course] to find anything at all.

The solution is oddly tucked away in the Language settings of the phone. Here's how I switched out of Multitap and into SureType on my own cellphone:

Go to the main applications view on the Pearl.
Choose Options (it's the little crescent wrench icon) and select it.
Scroll down to Language and click the trackball.
Under "Input Language" you want to either select your language with Multitap (to enable Multitap) or without (which puts you into SureType mode). For example, I selected English (United States) to get SureType.
Now just click the menu button and select Save and you're back to normal.

I hope that helps you get out of this weird mode. I have to say that I am amazed at just how well the predictive typing capability works too!

Help others find this article at Del.icio.us, Digg, Netscape, Reddit, and Stumble Upon

Categorized: Cell Phones and Mobile Phones (Article 7189)
Tagged: abc mode, blackberry pearl, predictive typing
Previous: How do I turn a command line into a shell script?
Next: How do I make my MySpace profile public?

Ringaza Free Bonus Ringtones and Wallpapers!

Subscribe!

Never miss another useful Q&A article again! Subscribe to AskDaveTaylor with Google Reader.

Comments

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

Posted by: Bryon Thornburgh at March 2, 2007 12:01 PM

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

Posted by: john at March 16, 2007 5:34 AM

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!

Posted by: Jonathan Roy at March 22, 2007 4:16 PM

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!

Posted by: Jessica White at April 3, 2007 12:52 PM

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.

Posted by: Michael at April 20, 2007 4:52 PM

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

Posted by: adrian at July 2, 2007 1:02 AM

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.

Posted by: Daniel at August 31, 2007 9:41 AM

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....

Posted by: Anthony at December 13, 2007 7:09 AM

Thanks for the help with switching back to sure type.

Posted by: Rob at February 29, 2008 4:42 PM

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

Posted by: Jack at March 13, 2008 5:48 AM

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! :))

Posted by: Keti at April 28, 2008 12:57 PM

GRAZIE!!! THANK YOUUUU! MERCIIIII!

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

Made my day!
Agata

Posted by: Agata at May 14, 2008 9:05 AM

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

Posted by: ashlee at May 24, 2008 12:22 AM

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

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

and that should do it. :)

Posted by: brandenbrutal201 at May 26, 2008 2:50 PM

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?

Posted by: Brian at May 27, 2008 1:06 PM

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

Posted by: Tahday at July 20, 2008 11:33 PM

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.

Posted by: youwant at July 27, 2008 8:47 PM

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

Posted by: lkjsfdlkjsdfd at July 30, 2008 2:18 PM

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

Posted by: Charles Palmer at August 13, 2008 1:07 PM

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!

Posted by: Fatima at August 21, 2008 12:21 PM

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.

Posted by: Windy at October 28, 2008 6:20 PM

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

Posted by: Vanya at November 30, 2008 4:59 PM

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!

Posted by: Beth at December 29, 2008 11:16 PM

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

Posted by: cb es osa at January 16, 2009 12:14 PM

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!

Posted by: nmjs at January 21, 2009 7:37 PM

It worked!!!!! thanks from Chili

Posted by: Daniel at January 26, 2009 9:23 AM

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

Posted by: Rob Baron at February 9, 2009 8:31 PM

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

Posted by: di at February 19, 2009 8:49 AM

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

Posted by: Trisha at February 20, 2009 6:18 PM

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

Posted by: JJSolo at March 12, 2009 11:33 AM

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! :)

Posted by: Jackie Simons at March 24, 2009 7:46 PM

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.

Posted by: Ed at April 24, 2009 4:21 AM

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.

Posted by: Cat_not_kitty at May 12, 2009 2:14 PM

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

Posted by: Renee at May 20, 2009 6:49 AM

Thanks Dave. Very helpful. V

Posted by: Vince at May 20, 2009 11:31 AM

I have a lot to say, but ...

I have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but most of all I'd like to say thank you for all your efforts on this Web site by buying you a chai!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!