Have you ever opened your iPad to type something and found that your keyboard has split in half? Or shrunk down to a tiny size? You’re not the only one. It can be confusing when the keyboard suddenly changes, especially if you don’t know why it’s happening.

The iPad’s keyboard is designed to be flexible, but sometimes that means it changes when you don’t expect it to. The good news is that these issues are easy to fix.

If your keyboard has split apart, become too small, or just isn’t working the way you want, we’ll show you how to get it back to normal. We’ll also teach you how to tweak a few settings to make typing on your iPad more comfortable. Ready to go? Let’s start with the big question…

Why is my keyboard split on my iPad?

If your keyboard has separated into two halves, you’ve probably turned on the Split Keyboard feature. This is designed to make typing easier when you’re holding the iPad with both hands, as it puts the keys closer to your thumbs.

Some people find this helpful, but it’s also quite easy to turn on by accident. Here’s how it can happen:

• Dragging the keyboard apart with your fingers. This gesture enables the split mode.

• Tapping the wrong setting. If the split keyboard is turned on in settings, it can pop up unexpectedly.

• Older iPads. Some models have this feature available by default.

If you didn’t mean to turn it on, don’t worry. It’s just as easy to turn off...

How to fix a split keyboard on an iPad

If you want to put your keyboard back together, here are three quick fixes – using gestures, using the keyboard button, or changing the settings:

Using gestures

1. Place two fingers on either half of the split keyboard.

2. Drag both halves toward the middle of the screen.

3. Now let go, and the keyboard will go back to normal.

Using the keyboard button

1. Open an app that uses the keyboard, like Notes or Safari.

2. Tap and hold the Keyboard icon (it’s the small keyboard symbol in the bottom-right corner).

3. Select Merge from the menu. Job done.

Changing the settings

1. Open Settings.

2. Go to General > Keyboard.

3. Find Split Keyboard and turn it off. Your keyboard should now be back to its usual layout.

How to make the keyboard bigger on an iPad

If your keyboard looks smaller than usual, you might have accidentally switched to the Floating Keyboard. This is a mini version of the keyboard that can move around the screen. You can bring it back to full size by using a gesture, checking settings or trying a different keyboard:

Use a gesture

1. Place two fingers on the small floating keyboard.

2. Spread your fingers apart like you’re zooming in on a photo.

3. The keyboard will now expand back to its full size.

Check your display settings

1. Open Settings > Display & Brightness.

2. Under Text Size, move the slider to make text (and some parts of the keyboard) bigger.

Try a different keyboard

Apple’s built-in keyboard doesn’t let you manually adjust the size, but you can do this on some third-party keyboards like Gboard or SwiftKey. So, if you want more control over how your keyboard looks, give them a try.

How to enable or disable the split keyboard on an iPad

Do you like the split keyboard? Or, do you never want to see it again? You can turn it on or off in Settings:

To Turn on the split keyboard

1. Open Settings > General > Keyboard.

2. Turn Split Keyboard on.

3. Open an app, tap the Keyboard icon, and choose Split.

To turn off the split keyboard

1. Open Settings > General > Keyboard.

2. Turn Split Keyboard off.

3. If your keyboard is already split, tap and hold the Keyboard button and choose Merge.

Now that you know how to fix and customise your keyboard, you’ll never be stuck with the wrong size or style again!

Need more help?

Looking for more advice for your iPad, iPad Mini, iPad Air or iPad Pro?. Here are some of the best iPad tips for beginners. Also, here’s some info on how to free up storage space on your iPad and how to fix an iPad that’s not charging.

If you’re looking for a new iPad, here’s an article to help you find out which iPad is right for you. And if you want to speak to an expert before you buy, pop in-store and chat to one of our colleagues. They’ll answer all your questions.