It sounds like you're encountering the floating keyboard on your iPad, which can definitely be a bit disorienting if you're used to the full-sized one! Don't worry, it's a common "feature" that's easy to reverse. Let's get that keyboard back to its proper size and position.
How to Get Rid of the Small, Floating Keyboard on Your iPad
The iPad's small, floating keyboard is actually a handy feature for one-handed typing or when you want to see more of the screen while typing. However, it can be quite frustrating if you're not expecting it or if you accidentally activate it. Luckily, there are a couple of straightforward ways to restore your full-sized keyboard.
Step 1: Let's Tackle This Together – Which Keyboard Are We Dealing With?
Before we dive in, can you confirm which "small keyboard" you're seeing?
- Is it a miniature keyboard that you can drag around the screen? This is the most common scenario and what we'll primarily focus on.
- Or is your keyboard split into two halves on either side of the screen? This is a different, though equally easy, fix.
Once we confirm, we can jump right into the solution! For the purpose of this guide, we'll assume you're dealing with the floating keyboard.
Step 2: The Easiest Way – Pinch to Expand!
This is often the quickest and most intuitive way to get your full keyboard back.
- Locate the Floating Keyboard: Make sure the small, floating keyboard is visible on your screen.
- Use Two Fingers: Place two fingers (your thumb and index finger work best) on the floating keyboard.
- Pinch Outward: Imagine you're zooming in on a photo. Spread your fingers apart on the keyboard, as if you're trying to make it bigger.
- Watch it Grow! As you pinch outwards, the keyboard should instantly expand back to its full, docked size at the bottom of the screen.
Voilà! Your full-sized keyboard should now be restored. If this didn't work, don't fret – we have other methods!
Step 3: Dragging and Dropping – A Different Approach
Sometimes, the pinch gesture might not feel natural or responsive. In that case, you can simply drag the keyboard back into position.
- Find the Bar at the Bottom: Look closely at the very bottom of the small, floating keyboard. You'll see a thin gray bar or handle.
- Press and Hold: Place one finger on this gray bar.
- Drag Downward: While keeping your finger pressed, drag the keyboard all the way down to the bottom edge of the screen.
- Release: Once it's positioned at the bottom, release your finger. The keyboard should snap back into its full, docked size.
This method is particularly useful if your keyboard is floating in the middle of the screen and you want to explicitly move it to the bottom.
Step 4: The Keyboard Menu – Your Control Center
The keyboard menu offers more granular control over your keyboard's behavior. This is a reliable method if the pinch or drag gestures aren't working as expected.
Sub-heading: Accessing the Keyboard Menu
- Show the Keyboard: Ensure the small, floating keyboard is active on your screen.
- Tap and Hold the Keyboard Icon: In the bottom-right corner of the floating keyboard, you'll see a small keyboard icon (it looks like a square with a small keyboard symbol inside).
- Press and Hold this icon for a second or two. A small pop-up menu will appear.
Sub-heading: Choosing the Right Option
Once the menu appears, you'll see several options:
- Dock & Merge: This is the option you're looking for. Tapping this will immediately return your keyboard to its full size and dock it at the bottom of the screen.
- Float: This option is what caused your keyboard to become small and floating in the first place. If you accidentally tap this, your keyboard will shrink again.
- Split: If your keyboard is split into two halves, selecting "Dock & Merge" here will also fix that.
Simply tap on Dock & Merge, and your keyboard will return to its normal, full-sized glory!
Step 5: What If My Keyboard is Split (Two Halves)?
If your keyboard is split into two halves on either side of the screen, it's a different feature altogether, designed for thumb-typing.
- Pinch Inward to Merge: Place two fingers on the inner edges of the two keyboard halves. Then, pinch your fingers together (as if you're trying to shrink something). The two halves will merge back into one full keyboard.
- Keyboard Icon Method: Alternatively, use the same keyboard icon method from Step 4. Tap and hold the keyboard icon, and then select Dock & Merge. This will also bring the split keyboard back together.
Step 6: Preventing Accidental Floating Keyboards in the Future
Now that you know how to get rid of it, let's learn how to avoid accidentally triggering it again!
- Be Mindful of the "Pinch In" Gesture: The most common way to accidentally activate the floating keyboard is by performing a reverse pinch gesture on the full-sized keyboard (i.e., pinching your fingers inward on the keyboard). It's easy to do by mistake.
- Avoid Dragging from the Keyboard Icon: If you accidentally drag the full-sized keyboard from the keyboard icon in the bottom right corner, it can also initiate the floating keyboard mode.
By being aware of these gestures, you can minimize the chances of the small keyboard appearing when you don't want it.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to make the iPad keyboard smaller again?
You can make the iPad keyboard smaller (float) by placing two fingers on the full-sized keyboard and pinching inward, or by tapping and holding the keyboard icon in the bottom right and selecting "Float."
How to move the floating keyboard on iPad?
To move the floating keyboard, simply press and hold the small gray bar at the bottom of the floating keyboard with one finger, and then drag it to your desired position on the screen.
How to dock a split keyboard on iPad?
To dock a split keyboard, place two fingers on the inner edges of the two halves and pinch inward to merge them, or tap and hold the keyboard icon and select "Dock & Merge."
How to disable the split keyboard on iPad?
You can disable the split keyboard by going to Settings > General > Keyboard and toggling off "Split Keyboard."
How to change the size of the iPad keyboard?
The iPad keyboard only has two main sizes: full-sized and floating (small). You cannot manually adjust its exact dimensions beyond these two states.
How to reset iPad keyboard settings?
You can reset keyboard dictionary by going to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Reset > Reset Keyboard Dictionary. This won't affect the size, but it will clear learned words.
How to get rid of the predictions bar on iPad keyboard?
To hide the predictions bar, you can usually swipe it down. If that doesn't work, go to Settings > General > Keyboard and toggle off "Predictive."
How to use one-handed keyboard on iPad?
The floating keyboard itself is designed for one-handed use. You can also drag it to the left or right side of the screen for easier reach with one hand.
How to prevent the iPad keyboard from splitting?
To prevent the iPad keyboard from splitting, go to Settings > General > Keyboard and toggle off "Split Keyboard."
How to bring back the missing keyboard on iPad?
If your keyboard is completely gone, try restarting your iPad. If that doesn't work, go to Settings > General > Keyboard and ensure "Enable Dictation" and any active keyboards are listed.
