How to Control an iPad With an External Keyboard Using Accessibility Shortcuts - MacRumors
Skip to Content

How to Control an iPad With an External Keyboard Using Accessibility Shortcuts

by

If you have difficulty using the touchscreen on an iPad, you can control one via a connected keyboard using Apple's range of accessibility shortcuts. To learn how to connect a Bluetooth keyboard to ‌iPad‌, click here, or keep reading to learn how to enable full keyboard access.

ipadpromagickeyboardtrackpad
Before you follow the steps below for remapping keys, make sure your keyboard is connected to your ‌iPad‌.

  1. Launch the Settings app on your ‌iPad‌.
  2. Select Accessibility -> Keyboards.
  3. Select Full Keyboard Access.
  4. Toggle the switch next to Full Keyboard Access so that it's in the green ON position.

You can control your ‌iPad‌ using the following keyboard shortcuts:

  • Action
  • Go to the next item
  • Go to the previous item
  • Activate the selected item
  • Go to the Home screen
  • Open the App Switcher
  • Open Control Center
  • Open Notification Center
  • Show Help
  • Shortcut
  • Tab
  • Shift-Tab
  • Space bar
  • Command-H
  • Tab-A
  • Tab-C
  • Tab-N
  • Tab-H

To customize the shortcuts, return to the Full Keyboard Access screen described above, and select Commands. From this screen, you'll be able to remap individual keys to control basic functions, movement, interaction, device elements, gestures, and shortcuts.

Popular Stories

iPhone 18 Pro Deep Red Feature

iPhone 18 Pro Launching in Two Months With These 12 New Features

Friday July 17, 2026 10:39 am PDT by
It is now mid-July, and that means the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are now just two months away. The devices are expected to look similar to the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, but there will still be many year-over-year changes, with rumored features including a smaller Dynamic Island, 5G via satellite, and more. Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, ...
iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max Feature

'Apple Upgrade' Program Reportedly Launching Next Week

Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:30 am PDT by
Apple and Klarna are partnering on a new "Apple Upgrade" program set to launch in the U.S. on Tuesday, July 28, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The program will allow you to finance most iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch models, with a 24-month term for iPhones and Apple Watches and a 36-month term for iPads and Macs. Customers will be able to pay off the device early during the term, ...
iPhone 18 Pro Deep Red Feature

iPhone 18 Pro Launching in Two Months With These 12 New Features

Tuesday July 21, 2026 6:22 am PDT by
It is now mid-July, and that means the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are now just two months away. The devices are expected to look similar to the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, but there will still be many year-over-year changes, with rumored features including a smaller Dynamic Island, 5G via satellite, and more. Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, ...