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Type and edit text on iPhone

You can use the onscreen keyboard to add and edit text in iPhone apps.

Enter text using the onscreen keyboard

In any app that allows text editing, open the onscreen keyboard by tapping a text field. Tap individual keys to type, or use QuickPath (not available for all languages) to type a word by sliding from one letter to the next without lifting your finger. To end the word, lift your finger. You can use either method as you type, and even switch in the middle of a sentence. (If you tap the Delete key after sliding to type a word, it deletes the whole word.)

An iPhone keyboard showing sliding from one key to another to type.

Note: As you slide to type, you see suggested alternatives to the word you’re entering, rather than predictions for your next word.

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: Swipe left with three fingers.

  • Redo the last edit: Swipe right with three fingers.

  • Enter emoji: Tap the Next Keyboard, Emoji button or the Next Keyboard button 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.

    A screen showing the alternate characters for the “e” key.

You can also dictate text or use Magic Keyboard (available separately) to enter text.

Correct spelling

If you see an incorrectly spelled word underlined in red, you can correct it.

  1. Tap the underlined word to see suggested corrections.

  2. Tap a suggestion to replace the underlined word.

    If the word you want doesn’t appear, type the correction.

Type with one hand

To make it easier to type with one hand, you can move the keys closer to your thumb (all models except iPhone SE).

  1. Touch and hold the Next Keyboard Emoji key or the Switch Keyboard key.

  2. Tap one of the keyboard layouts. (For example, choose the Right-Handed Layout button to move the keyboard to the right side of the screen.)

    To center the keyboard again, tap the right or left edge of the keyboard.

Set typing options

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

  1. While typing text using the onscreen keyboard, touch and hold the Next Keyboard Emoji key or the Switch Keyboard key, then tap Keyboard Settings. You can also go to Settings  > General > Keyboard.

  2. In the list, turn special typing features on or off.

Select and revise text

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

  • Navigate a long document: Touch and hold the right edge of the document, then drag the scroller to locate the text you want to revise.

  • Insert text: Tap to place the insertion point where you want to insert text. You can also move the insertion point precisely by dragging it. Then start typing.

    A draft email showing the insertion point positioned where text will be inserted.
  • Select a word: Double-tap the word with one finger.

  • Select a sentence: Triple-tap the sentence with one finger.

  • Select a paragraph: Quadruple-tap with one finger.

  • Select a block of text: Touch and hold the first word in the block, then drag to the last word.

    After selecting the text you want to revise, you can type, or tap the selection to see options.

    • Cut: Tap Cut or pinch closed with three fingers two times.

    • Copy: Tap Copy or pinch closed with three fingers.

    • Paste: Tap Paste or pinch open with three fingers.

    • Replace: View suggested replacement text, or have Siri suggest alternative text.

    • B/I/U: Format the selected text.

    • the Show More button: View more options.

    A sample email message with some of the text selected. Above the selection are the Cut, Copy, Paste, bold/italics/underline, and Show More buttons. The selected text is highlighted, with grab points at either end.

With Universal Clipboard, you can cut or copy something on one Apple device and paste it to another. You can also use drag and drop to move selected text within an app.

Turn your keyboard into a trackpad

  1. Touch and hold the Space bar with one finger until the keyboard turns light gray.

  2. Move the insertion point by dragging around the keyboard.

    A note being edited after the keyboard has been turned into a trackpad. The keyboard is dimmed to show that it now works as a trackpad.
See alsoView previews and quick actions menus on iPhoneUse the onscreen keyboard with VoiceOver on iPhone
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