10 Keyboard Hacks Every IPhone User Should Know
At first glance, the iPhone keyboard looks the same as it did ten years ago, but underneath the hood, a lot has changed. In addition to the hidden features that have existed for years, Apple has gradually added features and gestures that make typing a little easier. If you still shake your iPhone to undo an action, it’s time to take a closer look. These 10 tips will help you get the most out of typing on your iPhone.
Use tactile keyboard feedback to simulate a physical keyboard.
Typing on the glass surface of an iPhone can feel a bit lifeless, especially if you’re used to typing on mechanical keyboards on your Mac. While it’s impossible to install a physical keyboard on your iPhone (unless you buy something like the Clicks keyboard ), you can simulate one. The iPhone has a built-in haptic engine that provides subtle vibrations when you interact with the device. While most people are familiar with it from notifications, calls, and scrolling through various iOS user interface elements, you can enable it for the keyboard as well. Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Keyboard Feedback and turn on Haptic Feedback.
Use this hidden gesture to enter a single number from the main keyboard.
When you type on the iPhone keyboard, you only see letters. To enter numbers or symbols, you need to switch to the “123” keyboard layout—unless, of course, you use this hidden gesture. This is because each letter already has a number or other symbol hidden behind it. To reveal it, all you need to do is swipe away from the “123” key. The keyboard will then display the numbers and symbols. Swipe to the desired number, release, and that’s it. The keyboard will return to normal.
Use this camera trick to scan text into any field.
The iPhone’s iOS has built-in optical character recognition (OCR). It’s used when copying text from an image in the Photos app. The same feature is integrated into the Camera app, allowing you to paste text directly into any field, bypassing the keyboard. To do this, point the camera at any text, and the app will outline it with a yellow border. You’ll also see a “Live Text” button in the lower right corner. Tap it, select the text, and tap “Copy.” Now open any text field, and you’ll see a prompt to paste the copied text.
Enable one-handed mode to move the keyboard closer to your thumb.
If you have a large iPhone, typing with one hand can be extremely difficult. Instead, use the one-handed keyboard mode. Press and hold the globe key to find the option to pin the one-handed keyboard to the left or right (below the list of all available keyboards). If you don’t see it, go to Settings > General > Keyboard > One-handed Keyboard and select “Left” or “Right.” Once enabled, you’ll see a miniature keyboard layout pinned to the side of the screen. Tap the arrow button to change the pinned position. Unfortunately, unlike Gboard on Android , you can’t change the size of the keyboard itself, but this makes using the keyboard with one hand much easier.
Create a library of replacement text for phrases you re-type daily.
Apple’s built-in text replacement feature can transform a couple of pre-programmed letters into canned responses. This could be your address, a client email template, a signature, a repeating closing message—anything you type often. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement . Tap the Plus button at the top, add the expanded response in the Phrase field, and add trigger characters in the Shortcut field.
Double and triple tap are used to select a word, sentence, or paragraph.
Selecting text is as simple as dragging the cursor on your iPhone. But instead of fiddling with the tiny cursor, try tapping the screen. Double-tapping a word will quickly select it; triple-tapping will select a sentence; four taps will select the entire paragraph.
Use these gestures to master quick editing.
After selecting text, pinch three fingers together to quickly copy. Spread three fingers apart to paste. You can also swipe left with three fingers to undo. For precise text selection, there’s nothing better than using a trackpad. You may already know that pressing and holding the spacebar on your iPhone keyboard turns it into a trackpad. But you can also use this feature to select text. Keep your finger on the spacebar, but use another finger to move the cursor to select text.
Reconfigure your keyboard dictionary to improve predictions.
Sometimes your iPhone keyboard may not work properly. Autocorrect may suggest words you never type, or random words you use in group chats but never intend to repeat may pop up in your replies. If keyboard predictions are annoying, there’s a solution. You can reset all settings and start over from the prediction library. To do this, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Keyboard Dictionary .
Enable multilingual support to type in two languages using one keyboard.
If you speak multiple languages, you may find yourself constantly switching between keyboards to type in your target language. Now you don’t have to. You can enable multilingual support to type in different languages on a single keyboard. When you enable two languages, the iPhone keyboard automatically adapts. It detects which language you’re typing in and even suggests different options based on that. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards > Add New Keyboard . Select a language, then choose whether to add a new keyboard or append this language to an existing keyboard.
Use text proofreading tools to proofread your message before sending.
You shouldn’t trust AI to write your own texts, but you can use it to review and edit text you’ve written yourself. And you don’t need to pay for an AI subscription to do so. If your iPhone (iPhone 15 Pro and later) has Apple Intelligence built in , you can use Writing Tools. Writing Tools is integrated into the Notes app, Mail app, and essentially anywhere you write. Select text and select Writing Tools from the menu that appears. Then ask Siri to shorten your text, format it to make it more formal, and, of course, check for grammar and spelling errors.