Keyboard Access for iOS
It is possible to control your iOS device with an external keyboard. You can navigate and perform actions by pressing keys on the keyboard. Keyboard controls are available on iPhone, iPad, and iPod. However, the functionality is less extensive on iPhone and iPod compared to iPad.
iPad with a connected keyboard
Connect keyboard
Connecting a keyboard is the first step to getting started with keyboard control.
For iOS we recommend connecting a Mac keyboard. However, you can also connect a Windows keyboard. In the table below you can see how the keys relate to each other.
| Mac | Windows |
|---|---|
| Command | Windows |
| Control | Ctrl |
| Option | Alt |
Difference between keys on Mac and Windows.
You can connect the keyboard in two ways: via Bluetooth or via the charging port.
Way 1: via Bluetooth
Open the Settings app
Tap Bluetooth
Turn on the Bluetooth switch
Turn on your Bluetooth keyboard
Wait for the keyboard to appear under Other devices
Select the keyboard to connect to
Your keyboard should now be under the My Devices heading.
Way 2: Via Charging Port
You connect the keyboard by plugging the cable into the charging port. The keyboard connector must be the same as your device's charging port. Usually, this is not the case, you have to purchase an adapter.
First, check which charging port your device has. New devices have a USB-C port, older devices have a Lightning port. They both have the same shape. The Lightning port is slightly wider and slightly narrower than the USB-C port.
USB-C port
Lightning port
Then check the keyboard connection. The most common is a standard USB connection, you will then need an adapter. There are also keyboards, especially for iOS with USB-C or Lightning connection.
USB-C cable
Micro USB cable
USB cable
Lightning cable
Enable extended keyboard features
You should now have connected your keyboard to your device. To operate your entire device with the keyboard, the extended keyboard functions must be turned on. This is how you do it:
Open the Settings app
Scroll down, tap Accessibility
Scroll down, tap Keyboards
Tap Extended Keyboard Features
Turn on the switch for Extended keyboard functions
Select the keyboard to connect to
You can now use all available keyboard shortcuts to control your device.
Control via keyboard
Now that you have connected the keyboard, you are probably wondering how you can now operate your device. The most important things to know are:
Tab : navigate to next element
Arrow Keys : Navigate Lists
Space : activate selected element
An app should be fully operable with these three keys. Unfortunately, most apps don't take keyboard controls into account. It will often happen that you cannot fully control apps with keyboard access.
In the tables below you will find keyboard shortcuts that are available.
Overview
Long-press the Command key to display an overview of the available shortcuts. On Windows keyboards, you have to press the Windows key for this. Please note at the time of writing this only works on iPad.
Overview of keyboard shortcuts in the Notes app
Navigate
| Action | Mac | Windows |
|---|---|---|
| Forward | Tab | Tab |
| Backward | Tab + Shift | Tab + Shift |
| Up | Arrow up | Arrow up |
| Down | Down arrow | Down arrow |
| To the left | Left arrow | Left arrow |
| To the right | Right arrow | Right arrow |
| Activate | Spacebar | Spacebar |
| Close | ESC | ESC |
| Go to the start | Tab + Left Arrow | Tab + Left Arrow |
| Go to the end | Tab + Right Arrow | Tab + Right Arrow |
| Go to the next section | Control + Tab | Ctrl + Tab |
| Go to the previous section | Control + Shift + Tab | Ctrl + Shift + Tab |
Overview of keys to navigate with.
Shortcuts
| Action | Mac | Windows |
|---|---|---|
| Overview of Shortcuts | Hold down command | Press and hold Windows |
| Switch between apps | Command + Tab | Windows + Tab |
| Search via Spotlight | Command + Spacebar | Windows + Spacebar |
| Go to the home screen | Command + H | Windows + H |
| Take screenshot | Command + Shift + 3 | Windows + Shift + 3 |
| Take and edit screenshot | Command + Shift + 4 | Windows + Shift + 4 |
| Hide dock | Command + Option + D | Windows + Alt + D |
Overview of shortcuts to perform actions.
Actions
| Action | Mac | Windows |
|---|---|---|
| App selector | Tab + A | Tab + A |
| Back | Tab + B | Tab + B |
| Control panel | Tab + C | Tab + C |
| Search | Tab + F | Tab + F |
| Keyboard gestures | Tab + G | Tab + G |
| Lock screen | Tab + L | Tab + L |
| Menu | Tab + M | Tab + M |
| Message Center | Tab + N | Tab + N |
| Apple Pay | Tab + P | Tab + P |
| Rotate device | Tab + R | Tab + R |
| Siri | Tab + S | Tab + S |
| Activation Button | Tab + X | Tab + X |
| Actions | Tab + Z | Tab + Z |
Overview of shortcuts to perform actions.
Gestures
Press the Tab + G keys to enable or disable keyboard gestures.
Hold down Shift to tap and swipe with two fingers.
| Action | Mac | Windows |
|---|---|---|
| Tap | Space | Space |
| Swipe up | Arrow up | Arrow up |
| Swipe down | Down arrow | Down arrow |
| Swipe left | Left arrow | Left arrow |
| Swipe right | Right arrow | Right arrow |
| Zoom in | Command + Up Arrow | Windows + Up Arrow |
| Zoom out | Command + Down Arrow | Windows + Down Arrow |
| Rotate left | Command + Left Arrow | Windows + Left Arrow |
| Rotate right | Command + Right Arrow | Windows + Right Arrow |
| 3D Touch | Command + Space | Windows + Space |
Overview of gestures you can perform via the keyboard.
Edit text
| Action | Mac | Windows |
|---|---|---|
| Select all | Command + A | Windows + A |
| Copy | Command + C | Windows + C |
| Paste | Command + V | Windows + V |
| Cut | Command + X | Windows + X |
| Undo | Command + Z | Windows + Z |
| Redo | Command + Shift + Z | Windows + Shift + Z |
| Move cursor | Option + Arrow Keys | Alt + Arrow Keys |
| Select the previous word | Option + Shift + Left Arrow | Alt + Shift + Left Arrow |
| Select the next word | Option + Shift + Right Arrow | Alt + Shift + Right Arrow |
Overview of keyboard shortcuts for editing text.
System
| Action | Mac | Windows |
|---|---|---|
| Restart | Control + Option + Shift + Command + R | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + Windows + R |
| SOS | Control + Option + Shift + Command + S | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + Windows + S |
| Analysis | Control + Option + Shift + Command + . | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + Windows + . |
| Transfer Mode | Control + Option + Command + P | Ctrl + Alt + Windows + P |
Overview of hotkeys to control the system.
Customize keyboard shortcuts
It is possible to customize keyboard shortcuts. This is how you do it:
Open the Settings app
Scroll down, tap Accessibility
Scroll down, tap Keyboards
Tap Extended Keyboard Features
Tap Commands
Tap a command to change the key combination
You can customize keyboard shortcuts.