Type and edit text on iPad

iPad has many apps in which you can enter text—for example, Contacts, Messages, Notes, and Mail. Use the onscreen keyboard to type information in text fields. Tap a text field to see the onscreen keyboard, then tap letters to type.

Note: The Shortcut Bar differs from app to app. The features described here may not be available with all apps.

Close up of top row of the keyboard with predictive text above. On either side of the predictive text are the icons of the Shortcut Bar.

Enter text using the onscreen keyboard

In any app that allows text editing, open the onscreen keyboard by tapping a text field. Then tap keys to type.

While entering text, you can do any of the following:

Type uppercase letters: Tap Shift, or touch the Shift key and slide to a letter.
Turn on Caps Lock: Double-tap Shift.
Quickly end a sentence with a period and a space: Double-tap the Space bar.
Enter numbers, punctuation, or symbols: Tap the Number key or the Symbol key .
Undo the last edit: Tap .
Enter emoji: Tap or to switch to the Emoji keyboard.
Enter accented letters or other alternate characters: Touch and hold a key, then slide to choose one of the options.
Hide the onscreen keyboard: Tap the Keyboard key .

For information on using an external keyboard to enter text, see Use Smart Keyboard and Smart Keyboard Folio with iPad and Use Magic Keyboard with iPad.

Correct spelling

While entering text, if you see a word underlined in red, you can correct it.

Tap the underlined word to see suggested corrections.
Tap a suggestion to replace the underlined word.
If the word you want doesn’t appear, type the correction.

Set typing options

You can turn typing features, such as spell check and auto-correction, on or off.

While typing text, touch and hold or , then slide to Keyboard Settings, or go to Settings > General > Keyboard.
In the list, turn special typing features on or off.

Select and revise text

To insert text or replace existing text, do any of the following:

Place the insertion point where you want to insert text: Touch and hold the text to show the magnifying glass, drag to position the insertion point, then start typing (you can ignore the menu that appears).
Select text to replace: Place the insertion point as described above, then lift your finger. In the menu that appears, tap to select the word or all text, then drag the grab points to select more or less text. Type to replace it.
Select text to revise: Tap the insertion point to display the selection options, or double-tap a word to select it; drag the grab points to select more or less text, then tap to see all the options:
- Tap Cut, Copy, or Paste.
- Tap B/I/U to format selected text.
- Tap Replace to see suggested replacement text; or have Siri suggest alternative text.

You can use Universal Clipboard on iPad. You can also use drag and drop to move selected text within an app.

Turn your keyboard into a trackpad

Touch and hold the keyboard with two fingers until it turns light gray.
Move the insertion point by dragging around the keyboard.
To select text with drag points, continue holding the keyboard until drag points appear on the insertion point, then move your fingers.
To use the trackpad to move the insertion point, drag the insertion point to a new location before drag points appear.

Helpful?

iPad User Guide