The iPad keyboard can float around your screen or sit split in the middle, which makes typing harder than it needs to be. To dock your keyboard on iPad, touch and hold the keyboard button at the bottom right of the on-screen keyboard, then tap "Dock" from the menu that appears. This puts the keyboard back at the bottom of your screen where it's easier to use.
Whether you're working with the built-in on-screen keyboard or connecting a physical keyboard, knowing how to dock and control your keyboard setup helps you type faster and work better. The floating and split keyboard options can be useful in some situations, but most people prefer the docked position for everyday typing.
This guide shows you how to position your on-screen keyboard, connect physical keyboards, fix common problems, and adjust settings for your needs.
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Docking the On-Screen Keyboard
The iPad's on-screen keyboard can be at the bottom of your screen (docked), in the middle (undocked), or split into two parts. You can switch between these positions based on what works best for your typing style and the app you're using.
Steps to Dock the Keyboard
- To dock your keyboard at the bottom of the screen, use the keyboard icon in the lower-right corner of your on-screen keyboard.
- Press and hold this keyboard icon until a menu appears.
- Tap Dock from the menu. Your keyboard will move to the bottom of the screen.
If you don't see the keyboard icon, go to Settings, tap General, then Keyboard. Make sure the Split Keyboard toggle is turned on.
Using Dock, Undock, and Merge Options
The keyboard menu gives you control over how your keyboard appears. When you press and hold the keyboard icon, you'll see up to three main options.
Dock places the keyboard at the bottom of your screen. This is the default position that most people use. It keeps the keyboard out of the way while giving you a full view of your content above it.
Undock moves the keyboard to the middle of your screen. This can be helpful when you want to see content at the bottom of the screen while you type.
Merge appears when your keyboard is split into two parts. Tapping this option brings the two halves back together into one full keyboard. The merged keyboard stays in whatever position it was before (docked or undocked).
Moving Between Floating, Split, and Docked Modes
You can quickly change your keyboard's appearance by using different gestures. Each mode offers unique benefits for different tasks.
To split your keyboard, place two fingers on the keyboard and spread them apart. The keyboard will split into two halves on the left and right sides of your screen. This makes thumb typing easier when you hold your iPad with both hands.
To create a floating keyboard, pinch the keyboard with two fingers. This makes a smaller, movable keyboard that you can drag anywhere on your screen. You can also access this by pressing the keyboard icon and selecting the floating keyboard option.
To switch back to a full docked keyboard from any mode, press and hold the keyboard icon and tap Dock and Merge. You can also pinch a split keyboard back together or expand a floating keyboard by spreading two fingers on it.
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Docking and Using Physical Keyboards
Physical keyboards connect to your iPad through either a magnetic Smart Connector or Bluetooth pairing. These keyboards automatically link to your iPad and provide immediate typing access once properly attached.
Connecting Magic Keyboard or Smart Keyboard Folio
The Smart Keyboard Folio and Magic Keyboard use the Smart Connector for a direct connection to your iPad. You'll find three small magnetic dots on the back or side of your iPad, depending on your model.
To connect your keyboard, line up your iPad with the keyboard's Smart Connector pins. The magnets will pull the iPad into place. You don't need to press any buttons or turn anything on.
Your iPad recognizes the keyboard right away and disables the on-screen keyboard automatically. If your keyboard doesn't connect, check that both connectors are clean and free of dust or debris.
You can detach the keyboard anytime by simply lifting the iPad away from the magnetic connection. The on-screen keyboard will reappear when you tap a text field.
Ensuring Keyboard Recognition and Settings
Your iPad should recognize your physical keyboard immediately after connection. If it doesn't, restart your iPad by holding the power button and sliding to power off.
Go to Settings > General > Keyboard to adjust your typing preferences. You can change the key repeat speed, which controls how fast letters appear when you hold down a key. Turn on or off auto-capitalization and auto-correction based on your typing style.
Check the Hardware Keyboard section in these settings to enable or disable features like predictive text. You can also view available keyboard shortcuts by pressing and holding the Command key on your connected keyboard. This shows you quick actions for switching apps, opening Spotlight, and returning to the home screen.
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Troubleshooting Docking Issues
Sometimes your iPad keyboard won't dock properly at the bottom of the screen, or it might float in the middle where you don't want it. The Scribble feature can also interfere with normal keyboard use, and in some cases, you might need to force restart your iPad to fix persistent problems.
Fixing a Stuck Floating or Split Keyboard
If your keyboard is floating in the middle of your screen or split into two parts, you can fix this with a simple gesture. Place two fingers on the floating keyboard and pinch them together. This will merge a split keyboard back into one piece.
To dock the keyboard back at the bottom, touch and hold the keyboard icon at the bottom right corner of the keyboard. A menu will appear with options like "Dock" and "Merge." Tap "Dock" to move the keyboard to the bottom of your screen.
You can also try using two fingers to drag the keyboard down to the bottom of the screen. Once it gets close to the bottom edge, it should snap into place automatically. If the keyboard still won't dock, go to Settings, tap General, then Keyboard, and make sure "Split Keyboard" is turned off.
Disabling the Scribble Feature
The Scribble feature lets you write with your Apple Pencil in text fields, but it can sometimes prevent your keyboard from appearing when you need it. Open Settings and tap Apple Pencil. Look for the option that says "Scribble" and toggle it off.
After you disable the Scribble feature, try tapping in a text field again. Your keyboard should now appear normally at the bottom of the screen. You can always turn Scribble back on later if you need to use it.
How to Force Restart iPad
A force restart can fix keyboard docking issues that won't go away with other solutions. The steps depend on which iPad model you have.
For iPads with Face ID or iPads with a top button, press and quickly release the volume up button. Then press and quickly release the volume down button. Finally, press and hold the top button until you see the Apple logo appear on the screen.
For iPads with a Home button, press and hold both the Home button and the top or side button at the same time. Keep holding both buttons until the Apple logo appears. Your iPad will restart, and your keyboard should work normally again.
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Customizing Your Keyboard Experience
Your iPad offers several ways to personalize how your keyboard looks and functions. These settings can make typing more comfortable and help you work faster.
Adjusting Keyboard Settings for Comfort
You can fine-tune your keyboard to match your typing style through the Settings app. Go to Settings, tap General, then select Keyboard to access all available options.
Key Repeat lets you control how fast a character repeats when you hold down a key. This is helpful if you often need to type multiple characters or if you want to prevent accidental repeats.
Auto-Capitalization automatically capitalizes the first letter of sentences. You can turn this off if you prefer to control capitalization yourself.
Predictive Text shows word suggestions above the keyboard as you type. Turn this on to speed up typing or off if you find the suggestions distracting.
You can also enable Sticky Keys to make modifier keys like Shift, Command, and Option easier to use. This feature is especially useful if you have trouble pressing multiple keys at once.
How Keyboard Modes Support Productivity
Your iPad keyboard can switch between different modes to fit your workspace needs. The floating keyboard lets you move a smaller keyboard anywhere on your screen by pinching inward with two fingers on the keyboard.
The split keyboard divides the keyboard in half, placing each side near the screen edges. This makes thumb typing easier when you hold your iPad with both hands. To enable it, touch and hold the keyboard icon, then select Split.
Keyboard shortcuts save time on common tasks. Press Command + H to go home, Command + Tab to switch apps, or Command + Space to open search. Hold down the Command key in any app to see available shortcuts for that specific app.
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Apple Pencil users need balance. Also explore: How to Use Apple Pencil on iPad: Complete Setup & Pro Tips.
Wrap Up
Docking your keyboard on iPad makes typing faster, more comfortable, and far less distracting. Whether you’re using the on-screen keyboard or a physical one, knowing how to dock, merge, and fix floating issues helps you stay productive.
Small adjustments like disabling Scribble or customizing keyboard settings can make a big difference in daily use. To get even more out of your iPad, pairing the right keyboard case or accessory is essential.
For reliable design and everyday functionality, we recommend exploring CHESONA. Their keyboard cases and accessories are built to support smoother typing, better ergonomics, and smarter workflows.
Keyboard control is just the start. Read our guide, How to Turn On Keyboard Backlight: Step-by-Step Guide for All Devices.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the steps to attach my keyboard to my iPad?
If you're using a physical keyboard, you have three main options. You can connect via Bluetooth by going to Settings, tapping Bluetooth, and selecting your keyboard from the list. Some iPad models support the Smart Connector, which lets you attach compatible keyboards directly without pairing. You can also use a USB adapter to plug in wired keyboards.
For the on-screen keyboard, just tap any text field to make it appear. The keyboard will show up at the bottom of your screen by default.
Can someone help me understand how to get my keyboard to stick to the bottom of my iPad screen?
Place two fingers on the floating keyboard and pinch them together. This gesture will dock the keyboard back to the bottom of your screen. You can also touch and hold the keyboard button in the lower right corner, then tap "Dock" from the menu that appears.
The keyboard will stay at the bottom until you undock it again. This works for the standard on-screen keyboard that comes with your iPad.
I'm having trouble! How can I reconnect my keyboard after it undocks on my iPad?
Touch and hold the gray keyboard button at the bottom right of the floating keyboard. A menu will pop up with different options. Select "Dock" to move the keyboard back to the bottom of your screen.
You can also use the pinch gesture by placing two fingers on the keyboard and pinching inward. Either method will secure your keyboard at the bottom where it started.
Hey there! Could you tell me how to keep my keyboard stationary when using my iPad?
Once you dock your keyboard at the bottom of the screen, it will stay in place. The keyboard won't move unless you manually undock it by using gestures or the keyboard menu.
Avoid using two-finger swipe gestures on the keyboard, as these can undock it. Don't tap and drag the gray bar above the keyboard either, since this will make it float.
Oops! My keyboard floats around - how can I secure it while I'm typing on my iPad?
Your keyboard is in floating mode, which is for one-handed typing. Touch and hold the keyboard button at the bottom right corner. Select "Dock" from the menu to fix it at the bottom.
You can also use a pinch gesture. Place two fingers on the floating keyboard and pinch them together. The keyboard will return to the bottom of your screen and stay there.
Hey buddy, could you guide me through locking my keyboard in place on my iPad?
Find the gray keyboard button in the lower right corner of your keyboard. Press and hold it until a menu appears. Tap "Dock" to lock your keyboard at the bottom of the screen.
If your keyboard is split, merge it first by pinching with two fingers on the keyboard or selecting "Merge" from the keyboard button menu. Then dock it using the same steps.
