# macOS Text Replacement doesn't work **URL:** \ **Category:** Bug graveyard\ **Created:** [June 5, 2020, 5:48pm UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/macos-text-replacement-doesnt-work/1269 "2020-06-05T17:48:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![curtismchale](https://forum.obsidian.md/user_avatar/forum.obsidian.md/curtismchale/32/34_2.png) [@curtismchale](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/curtismchale)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2020, 5:48pm UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/macos-text-replacement-doesnt-work/1269/1 "2020-06-05T17:48:11Z")
### Steps to reproduce Add a text shortcut like `;;zet` in macOS using the system text replacement which expands to…anything (or your note template). ### Expected result It should be picked up by the system and expanded to your text. ### Actual result Nothing happens ### Environment - Operating system: macOS - Obsidian version: 0.6.7 - Using custom CSS: 80’s theme stock * * * ### Additional information This does **not** happen if you use the snippets feature in Alfred so it’s got to be specific to macOS and their text replacement system. ---
**Author:** ![ryanjamurphy](https://forum.obsidian.md/user_avatar/forum.obsidian.md/ryanjamurphy/32/334_2.png) [@ryanjamurphy](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/ryanjamurphy)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2020, 5:54pm UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/macos-text-replacement-doesnt-work/1269/2 "2020-06-05T17:54:16Z")
Just for information: this is a known issue with Electron apps in general. Something to do with Electron not using proper macOS text fields. ---
**Author:** ![curtismchale](https://forum.obsidian.md/user_avatar/forum.obsidian.md/curtismchale/32/34_2.png) [@curtismchale](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/curtismchale)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2020, 5:58pm UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/macos-text-replacement-doesnt-work/1269/3 "2020-06-05T17:58:30Z")
Hrm, so there is likely no solution coming. ---
**Author:** ![ryanjamurphy](https://forum.obsidian.md/user_avatar/forum.obsidian.md/ryanjamurphy/32/334_2.png) [@ryanjamurphy](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/ryanjamurphy)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2020, 6:01pm UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/macos-text-replacement-doesnt-work/1269/4 "2020-06-05T18:01:00Z")
I think it _can_ be worked around on the development end, but indeed, if your workflow depends on text expansion I would stick to Alfred. ---
**Author:** ![curtismchale](https://forum.obsidian.md/user_avatar/forum.obsidian.md/curtismchale/32/34_2.png) [@curtismchale](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/curtismchale)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2020, 6:03pm UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/macos-text-replacement-doesnt-work/1269/5 "2020-06-05T18:03:57Z")
Yeah, not going to do that since Alfred text expansion can’t sync back to my iOS devices (where I do most of my actual writing and note taking actually). ---
**Author:** ![Rishi](https://forum.obsidian.md/user_avatar/forum.obsidian.md/rishi/32/398_2.png) [@Rishi](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/Rishi)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2020, 6:40pm UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/macos-text-replacement-doesnt-work/1269/6 "2020-06-05T18:40:42Z")
Yes, this is a bummer! I tried with BetterTouchTools and implemented a / feature for a note template using `/template` and I can confirm their shortcuts work but the builtin macOS ones don’t work at all. Like you, my main reason for using the builtin ones is because it syncs with all my devices automatically so I don’t wish to add another app to my workflow for text shortcuts. ---
**Author:** ![Rishi](https://forum.obsidian.md/user_avatar/forum.obsidian.md/rishi/32/398_2.png) [@Rishi](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/Rishi)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2020, 6:47pm UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/macos-text-replacement-doesnt-work/1269/7 "2020-06-05T18:47:02Z")
I found these old reports if it’s any help > > > on iOS and macOS there is a feature called Text replacements. If I type :) it could be replaced with 😊,... and a possible solution, > **[electron-text-substitutions](https://www.npmjs.com/package/electron-text-substitutions)** > > Substitute text in an input field based on OS X System Preferences ---
**Author:** ![WhiteNoise](https://forum.obsidian.md/user_avatar/forum.obsidian.md/whitenoise/32/11_2.png) [@WhiteNoise](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/WhiteNoise)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2020, 2:53am UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/macos-text-replacement-doesnt-work/1269/8 "2020-06-16T02:53:24Z")
move to graveyard because it’s not our fault. ---
**Author:** ![WhiteNoise](https://forum.obsidian.md/user_avatar/forum.obsidian.md/whitenoise/32/11_2.png) [@WhiteNoise](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/WhiteNoise)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2020, 2:53am UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/macos-text-replacement-doesnt-work/1269/9 "2020-08-16T02:53:49Z")
Closed on August 16, 2020, 2:53am UTC