11 Text Input Methods on iPad

One of the many features available on the iPad is its ability to allow students or teachers many ways to input text. These choices are often surprising to those who have only worked on laptop-style devices where there is only one option for text entry. Here are 11 different methods to input text on an iPad. (This set of options uses iPad Generation 9 running iPadOS 16.3).

Please also feel free to download the Keynote and customize it for your own classroom! (A PDF version is also available.)

1. Landscape Onscreen Keyboard (full width)

The full-width Landscape Onscreen Keyboard is likely the keyboard we see and use the most since many iPad cases allow you to prop the iPad in landscape orientation (sideways), and this is the default iPad keyboard setting.

Although it has a compact layout, this keyboard’s keys are about the same size as those on a physical keyboard (approximately 11mm wide).

You can hide this onscreen keyboard at any time by tapping the Keyboard button (lower-right corner of the keyboard).

2. Landscape Onscreen Keyboard—Undocked

The iPad allows its onscreen keyboards to “Undock” from the bottom of the screen. This allows the keyboard to be slid up and down the screen so you can type in a custom location and/or allow you to see another part of the screen while the keyboard is showing.

To Undock the keyboard, tap and hold the Keyboard button (lower-right corner of the keyboard) and select Undock from the pop-up menu. To move the keyboard, tap the Keyboard button and slide up or down.

3. Landscape Onscreen Keyboard—Split

The Split Landscape Onscreen Keyboard allows you to hold the iPad in landscape and type comfortably with 2 thumbs.

To Split the keyboard, tap and hold the Keyboard button (lower-right corner of the keyboard) and select Split from the pop-up menu. You can also slide the Split keyboard up or down by tapping the keyboard button and slide up or down.

To “unsplit” (Merge) the keyboard, tap and hold the Keyboard button (lower-right corner of the keyboard) and select Merge (or Dock and Merge) from the pop-up menu.

4. Landscape Onscreen Keyboard—Floating

The Floating Landscape Onscreen Keyboard allows you to create a “mini-keyboard” (about the size of an iPhone onscreen keyboard) and slide it anywhere on the screen.

To access the Floating the keyboard, tap and hold the Keyboard button (lower-right corner of the keyboard) and select Floating from the pop-up menu. To move the keyboard, tap the dash at the bottom of the Floating keyboard and drag it anywhere on the screen.

To Dock the Floating keyboard and return it to full size, tap the dash at the bottom of the Floating keyboard and drag it all the way to the bottom of the screen. The keyboard will resize itself and dock to the bottom of the screen.

5. Portrait Onscreen Keyboard (full width)

The full-width Portrait Onscreen Keyboard is accessible simply by turning the iPad 90º sideways to Portrait mode. Although this keyboard is smaller, one possible advantage to the Portrait full-width keyboard is that it allows more screen to be seen above the keyboard.

You can hide this onscreen keyboard at any time by tapping the Keyboard button (lower-right corner of the keyboard).

6. Portrait Onscreen Keyboard—Undocked

The Portrait Onscreen Keyboard can also “Undock” from the bottom of the screen. This allows the keyboard to be slid up and down the screen so you can type in a custom location and/or allow you to see another part of the screen while the keyboard is showing.

To Undock the keyboard, tap and hold the Keyboard button (lower-right corner of the keyboard) and select Undock from the pop-up menu. To move the keyboard, tap the keyboard button and slide up or down.

7. Portrait Onscreen Keyboard—Split

The Split Split Onscreen Keyboard allows you to hold the iPad in Portrait position and type comfortably with 2 thumbs.

To Split the keyboard, tap and hold the Keyboard button (lower-right corner of the keyboard) and select Split from the pop-up menu. You can also slide the Split keyboard up or down by tapping the keyboard button and slide up or down.

To “unsplit” (Merge) the keyboard, tap and hold the Keyboard button (lower-right corner of the keyboard) and select Merge (or Dock and Merge) from the pop-up menu.

8. Portrait Onscreen Keyboard—Floating

The Floating keyboard is also accessible in Portrait orientation. The Floating option provides a “mini-keyboard” (about the size of an iPhone onscreen keyboard) that can be moved anywhere on the screen.

To access the Floating the keyboard, tap and hold the Keyboard button (lower-right corner of the keyboard) and select Floating from the pop-up menu. To move the keyboard, tap the dash at the bottom of the Floating keyboard and drag it anywhere on the screen.

To Dock the Floating keyboard and return it to full size, tap the dash at the bottom of the Floating keyboard and drag it all the way to the bottom of the screen. The keyboard will resize itself and dock to the bottom of the screen.

9. External Physical Keyboards

The iPad also has the ability to use an external physical keyboard using any of its three possible connectivity methods: Lightning Port (wired), Smart Connector (physical connection on the side of the iPad), or Bluetooth (wireless). Many, many external keyboard options are available for the iPad at many different prices.

In our school district, anyone can visit any Library to borrow wired physical keyboards one-at-a-time or in class sets. (We use the Logitech Wired Keyboard for iPad Lightning Connector that works with the iPad Generation 9).

10. Siri Dictation

Siri Dictation is also available as a text input method on the iPad. After an initial setup, Siri Dictation is available by tapping the microphone key on the iPad onscreen keyboard to toggle it on and off.

Recent enhancements in Siri Dictation in iPadOS 16 allow you to use Siri Dictation and any iPad keyboard at the same time without turning Siri Dictation off and on.

Of course, Siri Dictation works best in quiet environments.

11. Scribble (handwriting to text)

Using the Apple Pencil (or Logitech Crayon), you can write on the screen and the iPad will convert printed and/or cursive handwriting to typed text.

To use Scribble, tap the screen with an Apple Pencil to access the drawing tools, and select the Scribble pen tool (a pen with the letter “A” on it). Write on the screen and typed text should appear where the cursor is on the screen.

Learn More

Type with the onscreen keyboard on iPad. 
https://support.apple.com/guide/ipad/type-with-the-onscreen-keyboard-ipad997da459/16.0/ipados/16.0

Enter text with Scribble on iPad. 
https://support.apple.com/guide/ipad/enter-text-with-scribble-ipad355ab2a7/16.0/ipados/16.0

Dictate text on iPad
. https://support.apple.com/guide/ipad/dictate-text-ipad997d9642/ipados

iPad Accessories—Keyboards. https://www.apple.com/shop/ipad/accessories/keyboards

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Attachments

11 Text Input Methods on iPad AppleEDU.pdf

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