Set up Mac text replacements and check app support
Expand a recurring phrase from a distinctive trigger, then check app-level settings when the replacement does not appear.
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For a phrase you type often, create a text replacement with a trigger unlikely to occur by accident. For example, use “;addr” for a mailing address instead of a common abbreviation.
Add and test a replacement
Open Apple menu > System Settings > Keyboard > Text Replacements. Add the trigger and its replacement, then test “;addr” in TextEdit and in the app where you will use it. If it expands in TextEdit but not there, check that app’s Edit > Substitutions > Text Replacement setting. Review the expanded text before sending, especially if it contains contact details.
Check the app
Text replacement is not supported in every app; some web forms and custom input fields do not honor it. Macworld describes these app-specific limits.
Prevent or recover from a wrong expansion
If the trigger collides with ordinary typing, replace it with a distinctive symbol pattern. If an app keeps changing text unexpectedly, turn off Text Replacement in that app and correct the message before sending. For organizing project files instead of text snippets, see Finder tags across projects. Read Apple’s setup and app limitation and Macworld’s app-specific troubleshooting.