Keyboard Settings on iPhone

On iPhone, you can adjust the settings for both the onscreen (software) keyboard and external (hardware) keyboard. These settings include changing the appearance of the keyboard, customizing keyboard shortcuts, and modifying the key repeat rate and response.

Onscreen Keyboard Settings

• Show Uppercase Keys Only: If you have difficulty seeing the onscreen keyboard, you can display only uppercase letters. To do this, go to Settings > Accessibility > Keyboards and turn off “Show Lowercase Keys.”
• Larger Keyboard: When typing in many apps, you can use a larger keyboard by rotating your iPhone to landscape orientation. This feature is available in apps like Mail, Safari, Messages, Notes, and Contacts.
• Type with one hand and Set typing options: To find more information on adjusting the onscreen keyboard.

External Keyboard Settings

• Control iPhone with Keyboard Shortcuts: If you have difficulty using the touchscreen, you can control your iPhone with keyboard shortcuts when using a Magic Keyboard (sold separately). Go to Settings > Accessibility > Keyboards, turn on “Full Keyboard Access,” then use the following keyboard shortcuts:
  • Go to the next item: Tab
  • Go to the previous item: Shift-Tab
  • Activate the selected item: Space bar
  • Go to the Home Screen: Command-H
  • Open the App Switcher: Tab-A
  • Open Control Center: Tab-C
  • Open Notification Center: Tab-N
  • Show Help: Tab-H
• Customize Keyboard Shortcuts: To personalize the keyboard shortcuts, go to Settings > Accessibility > Keyboards > Commands.
• Customize Focus Appearance: To change the appearance of the focus, you can select “Auto-Hide,” “Increase Size,” “High Contrast,” or “Color.”
• Key Repeat: To adjust the repeat interval and delay, go to Settings > Accessibility > Keyboards > Key Repeat.
• Sticky Keys: To press and hold modifier keys like Command and Option while pressing another key, you can use Sticky Keys.
• Slow Keys: If you have difficulty using an external keyboard, you can adjust the time between when a key is pressed and when it’s activated by using Slow Keys.

Use cases for these settings could include making the keyboard more visible for people with visual impairments, using keyboard shortcuts for easier control of the iPhone for people with mobility impairments, and customizing the keyboard response for people with fine motor control difficulties.