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SDLA Quick Fix Idea · iPad

Restore a Tiny, Floating, Split, or Undocked iPad Keyboard

Return the onscreen keyboard to its normal full-width position after an accidental pinch or keyboard-control gesture.

Teacher

A student's iPad keyboard suddenly became tiny, moved into the middle of the screen, or split into two pieces. How do I restore the normal keyboard?

Quick Fix

No reset is usually needed. Floating, split, and undocked keyboards are built-in iPad features that can be activated accidentally. Tap inside a text field so the onscreen keyboard is visible, then match what you see below.

Tiny and movableThis is the floating keyboard.

Divided into two halvesThis is the split keyboard on a supported iPad.

Full width but raisedThis keyboard has been undocked.

The keyboard is tiny and floating
  1. Place two fingers directly on the small keyboard.
  2. Spread your fingers apart, as though enlarging a photo.
  3. Release when the keyboard expands to full width at the bottom of the screen.

Alternate method: Tap the keyboard's More button, then choose Full if that option appears.

The keyboard is split into two halves
  1. Touch and hold the keyboard button near the lower-right corner of the onscreen keyboard.
  2. Without lifting your finger, slide to Merge or Dock and Merge.
  3. Release your finger when the desired option is highlighted.

Model note: Apple currently limits the split keyboard to iPad mini and iPad (9th generation and earlier). If there are two halves on another model, verify that you are looking at Apple's onscreen keyboard rather than an app-specific keyboard.

The full keyboard is floating above the bottom edge
  1. Touch and hold the keyboard button near the lower-right corner.
  2. Slide your finger to Dock.
  3. Release to return the keyboard to the bottom of the screen.

If the keyboard is also split, choose Dock and Merge instead.

Verify the fix

  • Tap in a text field in Notes or another familiar app.
  • Confirm that the keyboard fills the bottom portion of the screen.
  • Close and reopen the original instructional app, then try typing again.

If the keyboard still does not appear normally

  • Check whether a Bluetooth or attached hardware keyboard is connected.
  • Try the keyboard in a second app to determine whether the issue belongs to one app or the whole iPad.
  • Restart the iPad only after saving the student's work.
  • If the device is district-managed and the problem continues, contact local technology support with the iPad asset number, iPad model, affected app, and a screenshot.

Official Apple guidance