Android. Backspace/delete key not functioning.

Question

When onKeyListener is set Backspace/delete key is not functioning.

I set an OnKeyListener on my EditText. Then default actions of some keys became not functioning. Like DELETE/Backspace. Then I changed to use my own text-deleting function by manipulating the string inside. But it seems to be pretty complex.

I have to get selection, make substring, and so on. Are there other solutions to get the key functioning normally?

which Android api and device are you using for testing. This is not what usually happens. — akkilis, Jan 17 '12 at 10:24
See http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4886858/android-edittext-deletebackspace-key-event — Paul Beusterien, Sep 13 '12 at 22:57

score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 17 '12 at 10:46

3

It depends on the IME you are using. Some IME implements delete function without sending KEYCODE_DEL. Try other IME than the default.

For example, if you press DEL button long enough, some IME deletes all text in the edit box. This cannot be done through KEYCODE_DEL.

answered Jan 17 '12 at 10:46

JonA

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indeed i have to write my own text-deleting method to deal with any IME the users use. – M Rijalul Kahfi Jan 17 '12 at 10:52
@MRijalulKahfi Do you have an example of how to create your own text-deleting method ? – vrunoa Jul 08 '13 at 22:00

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Feb 14 '17 at 02:11

I had this problem too, I solved it by returning false in onKeyListener function. This should execute normal operations on other keys.

.setOnKeyListener(new DialogInterface.OnKeyListener() 
{
     @Override public boolean onKey(DialogInterface dialog, int keyCode, KeyEvent event) 
     {
        //your workarounds;
        return false;
     }
})

score 0 · Answer 3 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:34

0

There are two known issues affecting KEYCODE_DEL for the default (LatinIME) Google Keyboard that ships with Android: Issues 42904 and 62306.

I have researched this and have devised a workaround, with code, that seems to get around both of these issues. That workaround can be found here:

Android - cannot capture backspace/delete press in soft. keyboard

edited May 23 '17 at 12:34

Community

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answered Jan 17 '14 at 04:26

Carl

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score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Dec 31 '21 at 02:11

I have similar problems that you are facing and I somehow managed to stumble on the solution. Apparently, I had setOnKeyListener to 'return true'. After I changed it to 'return false', the phone keyboard works perfect with backspace functioning properly once again on edittext. Hope this helps:

Solution: One of your existing onkeylistener codes contain 'return true'. Rectify it by setting existing code from 'return true' to 'return false'

.setOnKeyListener(new View.OnKeyListener() {
            public boolean onKey(View v, int keyCode, KeyEvent event) {
  ...
  return false;
                }
        });

Android. Backspace/delete key not functioning.

4 Answers4