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Type with the onscreen keyboard on iPhone

In apps on iPhone, you can use the onscreen keyboard to enter and edit text. You can also use Magic Keyboard and Dictation to enter text.

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 to type a word by sliding from one letter to the next without lifting your finger (not available for all languages). To end a 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.)

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 the Shift key, or touch the Shift key, then slide to a letter.

  • Turn on Caps Lock: Double-tap the Shift key.

  • Quickly end a sentence with a period and a space: Double-tap the Space bar.

  • Correct spelling: Tap a misspelled word (underlined in red) to see suggested corrections, then tap a suggestion to replace the word, or type the correction.

  • Enter numbers, punctuation, or symbols: Tap the Numbers key or the Symbols key.

  • Undo the last edit: Swipe left with three fingers, then tap Undo at the top of the screen.

  • Redo the last edit: Swipe right with three fingers, then tap Redo at the top of the screen.

  • Enter emoji: Tap the Next Keyboard, Emoji key or the Next Keyboard key to switch to the emoji keyboard. You can search for an emoji by entering a commonly used word—such as “heart” or “smiley face”—in the search field above the emoji keyboard, then swipe through the emoji that appear. To return to the regular keyboard, tap the Next Keyboard, Emoji key or the Next Keyboard key, then tap ABC in the lower-left corner.

    A note in the Notes app being edited, with the emoji keyboard open and the Search Emoji field at the top of the keyboard.

Turn on haptic feedback for the onscreen keyboard

You can customize keyboard settings to hear or feel tapping as you type.

  1. Go to Settings  > Sounds & Haptics > Keyboard Feedback.

  2. Turn on Sound to hear tapping as you type; turn on Haptic to feel tapping as you type.

Turn the onscreen 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.

  3. To select text, touch and hold the keyboard with a second finger, then adjust the selection by moving the first finger around the keyboard.

See Select, cut, copy, and paste text for more ways to select text.

Enter accented letters or other characters while typing

While typing, touch and hold the letter, number, or symbol on the keyboard that’s related to the character you want.

For example, to enter é, touch and hold the e key, then slide to choose a variant.

A screen showing an email being composed. The keyboard is open and showing alternate accented characters that appear when you touch and hold the E key.

You can also do any of the following:

  • On a Thai keyboard: To choose native numbers, touch and hold the related Arabic number.

  • On a Chinese, Japanese, or Arabic keyboard: Tap a suggested character or candidate at the top of the keyboard to enter it, or swipe left to see more candidates.

    Note: To view the full candidate list, tap the up arrow on the right. To return to the short list, tap the down arrow.

Move text

  1. In a text editing app, select the text you want to move.

    A note in the Notes app with a phrase in a paragraph selected.

  2. Touch and hold the selected text until it lifts up, then drag it to another location within the app.

    If you drag to the bottom or top of a long document, the document automatically scrolls.

    In a note in the Notes app, a selected phrase appears to rise as a result of a user touching and holding the selection.

If you change your mind about moving the text, lift your finger before dragging, or drag the text off the screen.

Set typing options

You can turn on special typing features—such as predictive text and auto-correction—that assist you when you type on iPhone.

  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 the typing features (below All Keyboards) on or off.

Type with one hand

To make it easier to type with one hand, you can move the keys closer to your thumb.

  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.

See alsoSelect, cut, copy, and paste text on iPhoneUse the onscreen keyboard with VoiceOver on iPhone
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