Your iPad is an incredible tablet. But when it comes to typing - especially for those of us with bigger fingers - the default keyboard size can sometime feel a little cramped. So, if you’ve ever found yourself squinting at keys or struggling with typos, read on…
In this article, we’ll show how you can make your iPad keyboard bigger and more comfortable for typing. Whether you're trying to get the keyboard to take up more screen space or just trying to make keys easier to press, we've got lots of handy tips below. We'll cover everything from rotating your iPad to landscape mode to using third-party apps, so let’s get into it.
Why is my keyboard small on my iPad?
Before we look at the ways to make your keyboard bigger, let’s think about why your keyboard might be small in the first place. There are a few common reasons.
Floating keyboard. If your keyboard seems to be floating in the middle of the screen and looks tiny, you’ve probably activated the floating keyboard feature. This is handy if you want to type with one hand, but it can be annoying if you accidentally activate it.
Split keyboard mode. iPads have a split keyboard option that lets you split the keyboard into two halves. This is great for thumb typing when you’re holding the iPad with both hands, but it does make the individual keys smaller.
Default settings. Sometimes, it’s just the way the keyboard is set up by default. For most users this works fine, but if you want something bigger you’ll need to tweak a few settings.
Right then. Now that we’ve identified the culprits, let’s explore how to fix the issues and make your iPad keyboard bigger.
Method 1. Rotate your iPad to landscape mode
One of the quickest and easiest ways to get more keyboard real estate on your iPad is to simply rotate it to landscape mode. When you do this, the keyboard automatically stretches out to fit the wider screen, giving you larger keys that are easier to tap.
How to enter landscape mode
Hold your iPad with both hands and rotate it from a vertical position (portrait mode) to a horizontal position (landscape mode).
The screen will automatically adjust, and you’ll notice that the keyboard is now wider, with more space between the keys.
This method is especially useful if you’re typing long documents or emails and need that extra space to type comfortably. Landscape mode can sometimes make the screen feel a bit cramped for other activities, so it’s a bit of a trade-off.
Method 2. Turn off the floating keyboard
The floating keyboard lets you move the keyboard around the screen and type with one hand. It’s convenient, but comes at the cost of a much smaller keyboard. If your keyboard is floating and looks too tiny to use, turning off this feature will instantly give you back your full-sized keyboard.
How to turn off the floating keyboard
Place two fingers on the floating keyboard.
Spread your fingers apart, like you’re zooming in on a picture. This gesture will make the keyboard expand back to its full size.
Alternatively, tap and hold the small bar at the bottom of the floating keyboard and drag it down to the bottom of the screen until it docks.
And just like that, your keyboard will return to its full size.
Method 3. Turn off the split keyboard
Another feature that can make your keyboard feel smaller than it should be is the split keyboard. Having a keyboard in two halves is great for thumb-typing, but it does reduce the size of each half by a fair amount.
How to turn off a split keyboard
Use gestures. Place two fingers on either half of the split keyboard. Push them together to join the halves back into a full keyboard.
Use settings. Go to the Settings app. Tap on General, then Keyboard. Find the Split Keyboard option and toggle it off.
Your keyboard will now appear as a full-sized unit again.
Method 4. Use the zoom feature
If you’re still finding the keys too small, even with a full-sized keyboard, there’s another trick you can call on - using the iPad’s built-in Zoom feature. This allows you to magnify portions of the screen - including the keyboard - to make everything appear larger.
How to use the zoom feature
Open the Settings app on your iPad.
Go to Accessibility.
Tap on Zoom and toggle it on.
Once Zoom is enabled, double-tap the screen with three fingers to zoom in.
Move the zoomed area over the keyboard to make the keys larger.
While this method can take some getting used to, it’s really useful for those who need larger keys due to visual impairments or just personal preference. The only real downside is that it can obscure other parts of the screen while it’s being used.
Method 5. Use a third-party keyboard app
If you’re looking for more keyboard customisation options, third-party keyboard apps are your best bet. Here are a few worth considering:
Gboard by Google. Gboard for iOS is a popular keyboard app that offers a ton of customisation options, including resizing the keyboard. It also supports glide typing and integrated Google search.
SwiftKey. Microsoft’s SwiftKey AI keyboard allows for extensive customisation, including adjusting the size of the keyboard. It also learns your typing style over time, making predictions more accurate.
Fleksy. Fleksy is known for its speed and customisation options, including adjustable keyboard size, themes, and even gesture controls.
How to use a third-party keyboard
Download and install your preferred keyboard app from the App Store.
Open the Settings app.
Go to General, then Keyboard, and tap on Keyboards.
Tap Add New Keyboard and select the third-party keyboard you installed.
To set it as your default, tap Edit in the top-right corner and drag the new keyboard to the top of the list.
How do I move my iPad keyboard to the bottom of the screen?
Sometimes, the iPad keyboard can end up floating in the middle of the screen, which is far from ideal when you want it at the bottom, where it belongs. Fortunately, getting it back down is a simple process…
Tap and hold the keyboard icon (which looks like a small keyboard) located at the bottom-right corner of the keyboard.
Select Dock from the pop-up menu that appears. This will instantly move your keyboard back to the bottom of the screen.
Can you make keyboard letters bigger on iPad?
If it’s not just the overall keyboard size but the size of the individual letters that’s troubling you, there are a few options to consider. Unfortunately, Apple doesn’t offer a native option to increase the letter size specifically, but you can still achieve a similar effect with third-party keyboards or the Zoom feature.
How do I make my iPhone keyboard bigger?
If you're finding it a bit tricky to type on your iPhone's keyboard because the keys feel too small, don't worry—you're not alone. Luckily, there are a few simple ways to give yourself a little more typing room.
First, you can enable the "Display Zoom" feature, which makes everything on your screen - including the keyboard - appear larger. To do this, go to Settings > Display & Brightness > View and select "Zoomed”.
Alternatively, you can try rotating your iPhone to landscape mode when typing, which naturally enlarges the keyboard.
And if you use a third-party keyboard app, look out for larger key options in the settings.
Need more help?
If you’ve tried the above tips but still aren’t feeling it, maybe you’d prefer an actual iPad keyboard. If you’re on the hunt for a new iPad, here’s a roundup of the best iPads.
Looking for more advice for your current iPad, iPad Mini, iPad Air or iPad Pro?. Here are some of the best iPad tips for beginners, and here’s an article to answer the question which iPad do I have?
