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

Apple Card iPhone 16 Pro Feature

Apple Card Promo to Offer Free AirPods Pro 3

Friday May 15, 2026 8:59 am PDT by
Starting as early as next week, customers who sign up for an Apple Card at Apple's retail stores in the U.S. will receive $249 cash back when they purchase AirPods Pro 3, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The promotion has yet to be officially announced by Apple, so exact terms and conditions are not available at this time. AirPods Pro 3 are priced at $249 in the U.S., so customers who...
airpods pro 3 pink

New Apple Card Holders Can Get Free AirPods Pro 3, But There's a Catch

Monday May 18, 2026 8:11 am PDT by
Apple today launched a new promotion offering new Apple Card holders the chance to earn back the cost of AirPods Pro 3 through monthly cash rebates, but there is a recurring spend requirement attached. Customers who open a new Apple Card account and purchase AirPods Pro 3 directly from Apple by June 15 will qualify. Starting July 1 and running through April 30, 2027, cardholders can earn $25 ...
Apple WWDC25 iOS 26 CarPlay Light mode 250609

Six Popular iPhone Apps Now Available on CarPlay

Thursday May 14, 2026 9:10 am PDT by
Apple's CarPlay system for accessing iPhone apps on a vehicle's dashboard screen has received six popular apps in recent weeks: ChatGPT, Perplexity, Grok, Google Meet, WhatsApp, and the indie artist streaming platform Audiomack. Make sure you have the latest version of each app and they will automatically appear on CarPlay. ChatGPT Starting with iOS 26.4, CarPlay supports voice-based...