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Table of Contents

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 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 or 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.

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

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.
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 selected text 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.
- : View more options.

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

Move text

In a text editing app, select the text you want to move.
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, it automatically scrolls.

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

While typing text using the onscreen keyboard, touch and hold or , then tap Keyboard Settings. You can also go to Settings > General > Keyboard.
In the list, turn special typing features on or off.

Correct spelling

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

Tap the underlined word to see suggested corrections.
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—on all iPhone models except iPhone SE (1st generation).

Touch and hold or .
Tap one of the keyboard layouts. (For example, choose 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.

Turn your keyboard into a trackpad

Touch and hold the Space bar with one finger until the keyboard turns light gray.
Move the insertion point by dragging around the keyboard.

Helpful?

iPhone User Guide