Learn iPad keyboard shortcuts
If you have an external keyboard connected to your iPad, you can use keyboard shortcuts to do things that normally need a mouse, trackpad, or other input device.
See keyboard shortcuts in the menu bar
To see a list of shortcuts that you can use with an app, open menus in the menu bar.
If you're using iPadOS 27 or later
Tap or click the name of the app next to the date in the top left corner of the screen to show the menu bar.
Choose a menu.
If you're using iPadOS 26
Swipe down from the middle of the top edge of the iPad screen to show the menu bar. If you have a mouse or trackpad, you can also move your pointer to the top edge to show the menu bar.
Choose a menu.
If you're using iPadOS 18 or earlier
To see a list of shortcuts that you can use with an app, press and hold the Command ⌘ key when you use the app or on the Home Screen.
Use common keyboard shortcuts
Most iPad keyboard shortcuts use the Command ⌘ key, like on a Mac. If you're more familiar with a PC keyboard, the Command ⌘ key does the same thing as the Control key on a PC. Keyboards from Apple also have a Globe
key which offer additional functions.
Editing
Command-A: Select all items.
Command-X: Cut the selected item and copy it to the clipboard.
Command-C: Copy the selected item to the clipboard.
Command-V: Paste contents of the clipboard.
Command-Z: Undo previous action.
Shift-Command-Z: Redo to reverse undo command.
Globe
or Globe-E: Show Emoji.Globe-D: Start Dictation.
Command-B: Boldface the selected text, or turn boldfacing on or off.
Command-I: Italicize the selected text, or turn italics on or off.
Command-K: Add a web link.
Command-U: Underline the selected text, or turn underlining on or off.
System commands
Globe-A: Show or hide the Dock.
Globe-Shift-A: Show or hide App Library.
Globe-C: Show Control Center.
Globe-H: Go to the Home Screen.
Globe-M: Show Menu Bar.
Globe-N: Show Lock Screen.
Command-Space bar: Show or hide Spotlight.
Command-Shift-3: Take a screenshot.
Command-Shift-4: Take a screenshot and immediately open Markup to view or edit it.
Window management
Command-W: Close a window.
Command-M: Minimize a window.
Globe-F: Enter or exit full screen.
Command-Tab: Switch to the next most recently used app among your open apps.
Control-Globe-Arrow: Tile the current window to half the screen in the direction of the pressed arrow.
Control-Shift-Globe-Arrow: Arrange the current and most recent windows in two halves of the screen, with the active window placed in the half of the screen in the direction of the pressed arrow.
