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.

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#

1. Open the Settings app

2. Tap Bluetooth

3. Turn on the Bluetooth switch

4. Turn on your Bluetooth keyboard

5. Wait for the keyboard to appear under Other devices

6. 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:

1. Open the Settings app

2. Scroll down, tap Accessibility

3. Scroll down, tap Keyboards

4. Tap Extended Keyboard Features

5. Turn on the switch for Extended keyboard functions

6. 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#

Overview of keys to navigate with.

Shortcuts#

Overview of shortcuts to perform actions.

Actions#

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.

Overview of gestures you can perform via the keyboard.

Edit text#

Overview of keyboard shortcuts for editing text.

System#

Overview of hotkeys to control the system.

Customize keyboard shortcuts#

It is possible to customize keyboard shortcuts. This is how you do it:

1. Open the Settings app

2. Scroll down, tap Accessibility

3. Scroll down, tap Keyboards

4. Tap Extended Keyboard Features

5. Tap Commands

6. Tap a command to change the key combination

You can customize keyboard shortcuts.

References#

• Connecting a Bluetooth device

• Keyboard shortcuts for iPad

• Learn more about iPad keyboard shortcuts

• External keyboard settings on iOS