How to Fix a Floating Keyboard on an iPad

Zoom in on the keyboard with two fingers to make it normal again

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Updated on June 5, 2024

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Under normal circumstances, a full keyboard will appear at the bottom of your iPad’s screen whenever it’s needed and will go away when it isn’t. In addition to this full keyboard, an iPad can display a floating keyboard, which is easier to type with one hand. You can move the iPad keyboard around, and you can also split it.

If you prefer a full keyboard, you can fix a floating keyboard on an iPad by docking it, merging it, or switching it back to its default state.

What Is the Floating Keyboard on an iPad?

The floating keyboard is an iPad feature that makes the default virtual keyboard smaller. It floats over the active app, hence the name floating keyboard. You can drag and position it, and it’s designed to make it easier to type with one hand. In addition to the floating keyboard, iPadOS has a split floating keyboard, which divides the virtual keyboard into floating halves you can reposition freely.

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How Do I Fix the Floating Keyboard on an iPad?

If you prefer to use the iPad's static keyboard, there are a few ways to switch keyboard versions or disable the floating keyboard altogether.

Pinch to zoom in on the keyboard. If you see a small keyboard floating over your app, pinch outward with your fingers as if you were zooming in on a photo. This will reverse the floating keyboard, turning it back to the normal version.
Drag the floating keyboard into place. Tap and hold the bottom of the keyboard, and drag it to the bottom of the iPad screen. When you remove your finger, the keyboard will stop floating and snap into place.
Merge your split keyboard. If you see two small keyboards floating over your app, you need to merge them. Tap a text field to make the keyboards appear, then touch and hold the keyboard button on the lower right of one of the floating keyboards. If you drag your finger to select Dock and Merge, the keyboards will rejoin and stop floating.
Turn off the keyboard's Shortcuts and Predictive toggles. These options are available in Settings > General > Keyboard.

This will also turn off the predictive text function even when your Bluetooth keyboard is disconnected.
Reboot your iPad if you're still having trouble with your floating keyboard or if it's unresponsive.

If the keyboard is still split after rebooting, try the previous fixes again.
Reset your iPad. This is the nuclear option that you should do only after trying all the above steps. It's great for fixing software bugs but will wipe the iPad clean as if you just bought it.

FAQ

How do I get rid of the floating keyboard on my iPad?

There’s no way to fully disable the floating keyboard on an iPad. However, you can get rid of the floating keyboard when a physical keyboard is connected to your iPad. Navigate to Settings > General > Keyboard, and turn off the Shortcuts and Predictive toggles. If you only turn off the Shortcuts toggle, that will prevent the full floating keyboard from appearing when using a physical keyboard. The floating predictive text portion of the floating keyboard will still appear at the bottom of your screen unless you also disable the Predictive toggle.
How do I make the keyboard bigger on the iPad?

If your keyboard is too small, you can get it back to normal size by putting two fingers on it and spreading them apart. Apple doesn't include a way to make the entire keyboard bigger, but you can use the Zoom feature to get a better look at it by going to Settings > Accessibility > Zoom. You can also use a third-party app to have a larger than normal keyboard, but you should ensure that it comes from a reputable developer.

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