iPad Accidentally highlighting and deleting text with ios9 keyboard tweaks

[Yammylee]

Having the same issue, and have been able to reproduce consistently but no fix yet.

iOS 9 iPad Air 2

Touch space and coma (or most other keys (eg space and k) causes select of the last word or section of text, which means you can easily overwrite the selected text if you're not watching...

 

[jonnyb098]

I'm glad this isnt just me. Its hard to file a bug report on this since its very random. I'm always getting the highlight and delete on my Air 2. Also the keyboard loves to not accept input for the first couple characters you type......like you have to type like a snail. I used to be a speed demon with iPad typing and now its just a pain.

Plus theres the other bug in messages...if you have the keyboard up and switch apps.....then go to multitasking and switch back to messages the keyboard goes down.....then up. You guys see this too?

They bring all these new features to iPad for iOS 9 while ignoring the many many bugs the iPad version of iOS has had since iOS 7. Honestly I think iOS 9.0 was much more stable and less stuttery than on iOS 9.1. Its a freaking mess. Debating doing the 9.2 beta since I read things are much better. Its Maddening since the iPad is my primary device and this A8X feels like a 3 year old iPad sometimes

 

[Pablo98121]

Hi guys. I'm going insane with a problem since upgrading to ios9, and I'd love to hear if anyone else is having the same issue.

Since updating to ios9 my iPad Air 2 keyboard has become almost useless thanks to the new tweaks. I type pretty quickly (though not crazy quick), and it seems that I'm typing with a technique that inadvertently selects and then overwrites huge tracts of texts as I write. The problem, it seems, is that I type at a speed that means that my index and middle fingers are often both touching keys at the same time, especially when I want to press two keys that are very close to each other.

The result of this is that as I type I accidentally activate this new cursor thing that allows users to easily select text. Sometimes it selects just one or two words and sometimes it's an entire paragraph, but because this is all happening so quickly I end up overwriting whatever I've selected before I have time to stop typing. It's infuriating.

This is a real problem because I'm an author, and I write all of my books using Pages. I'm terrified that my keyboard has now become a minefield, and if I set foot in the wrong place I'll destroy everything.

So, yeah, that's it. I'm just wondering if anyone else is having the same problem, and if there's any way to revert entirely to the old keyboard (or download a third party keyboard that doesn't have the new features). I'm a big fan of the rest of the update, but if my keyboard doesn't work the way it used to my iPad will be completely useless for work, and it'll be nothing more than a delivery system for porn and Facebook

Yes, same issues here - I do not know what the cause is - simultaneous touch on combined keys? It is driving me crazy, as whole sentences and paragraphs of text, usually from the previous "stop" or edit point, can be lost with a stoke - they are highlighted, and while I am not a super-fast typist, I am fast enough that I cannot intervene. The hole text is gone, and I have to start over - new phrase, new sentence, new paragraph. It is extremely frustrating, and this did NOT happen until the installation of IOS 9, when I noticed it immediately, I thought it would be fixed with the 9.1, but it is not. Now I use my laptop for any crucial text composition, which is not convenient but saves frustration of loss. Help Me!

 

[Pablo98121]

Also notice the loss of input for the first letter or two of typing - I have to go super-slow, and even then it is very random and infuriating. Is there no fix for this?

 

[jonnyb098]

Also notice the loss of input for the first letter or two of typing - I have to go super-slow, and even then it is very random and infuriating. Is there no fix for this?

It's a bit less prominent in 9.2 but still there

 

[Geelongcat]

Just wanted to chime in and say I also have this problem. It really does affect my ability to use my iPad for actual work related stuff rather than just surfing the web. It's obvious they haven't tested these changes on people who touch type on their iPads. If I could undo the delete it would be something, but the Undo button works very inconsistently, and most of the time it does nothing.

I'm also finding other little glitches, for example in writing this post it was difficult to move the cursor around, and other times the select/select all/paste option won't come up. All very basic things which really should just work.

 

[FasterQuieter]

I switched from iPad Air to iPad Pro and was hoping the issue wouldn't follow me. Sadly it did, so on that lovely big screen I am stuck with typing slowly with 1 finger. So frustrating.

 

[stevemiller]

for what it's worth the iPhone keyboard as of ios9 is pretty broken too. Text selection and cursor navigation issues seem way worse.

I've mentioned this other places, but for me one of the worst changes is you no longer have two finger tap to select a block of text. I have no idea why they got rid of this.

 

[FasterQuieter]

From the iOS 9.2 release notes:

"Addressing an issue where using the iPad keyboard could unintentionally trigger text selection mode"

Fingers and toes crossed this fixes rather than merely addresses the issue.

 

[CraigStuartSmith]

From the iOS 9.2 release notes:

"Addressing an issue where using the iPad keyboard could unintentionally trigger text selection mode"

Fingers and toes crossed this fixes rather than merely addresses the issue.

God yes I hope it does fix it. It drives me mad and I am so glad I found this thread so now I know it's not me. I moved from android to iPad Air 2 and this has been a disaster for me at work as I type fast when in meetings and I find my notes get highlighted then deleted, common when I quickly type p then o. I had to revert to pen and paper the other week when the keyboard had so much lag then starting deleting stuff I had no other choice. It's just terrible and I was considering selling my iPad and trying a Surface as a couple of other guys at work swear by them (not 'swear at' like I do currently) but maybe I will wait to see if I gets fixed.

 

[FasterQuieter]

God yes I hope it does fix it. It drives me mad and I am so glad I found this thread so now I know it's not me. I moved from android to iPad Air 2 and this has been a disaster for me at work as I type fast when in meetings and I find my notes get highlighted then deleted, common when I quickly type p then o. I had to revert to pen and paper the other week when the keyboard had so much lag then starting deleting stuff I had no other choice. It's just terrible and I was considering selling my iPad and trying a Surface as a couple of other guys at work swear by them (not 'swear at' like I do currently) but maybe I will wait to see if I gets fixed.

9.2 did fix the issue for me on my iPad Pro. Thank god.

EDIT: Scratch that, I still have the issue. Not sure why it was ok that day, but it has still been broken ever since. I just don't type on it anymore and try to contain my rage.

 

[Deefletch]

Hi guys. I'm going insane with a problem since upgrading to ios9, and I'd love to hear if anyone else is having the same issue.

Since updating to ios9 my iPad Air 2 keyboard has become almost useless thanks to the new tweaks. I type pretty quickly (though not crazy quick), and it seems that I'm typing with a technique that inadvertently selects and then overwrites huge tracts of texts as I write. The problem, it seems, is that I type at a speed that means that my index and middle fingers are often both touching keys at the same time, especially when I want to press two keys that are very close to each other.

The result of this is that as I type I accidentally activate this new cursor thing that allows users to easily select text. Sometimes it selects just one or two words and sometimes it's an entire paragraph, but because this is all happening so quickly I end up overwriting whatever I've selected before I have time to stop typing. It's infuriating.

This is a real problem because I'm an author, and I write all of my books using Pages. I'm terrified that my keyboard has now become a minefield, and if I set foot in the wrong place I'll destroy everything.

So, yeah, that's it. I'm just wondering if anyone else is having the same problem, and if there's any way to revert entirely to the old keyboard (or download a third party keyboard that doesn't have the new features). I'm a big fan of the rest of the update, but if my keyboard doesn't work the way it used to my iPad will be completely useless for work, and it'll be nothing more than a delivery system for porn and Facebook

[doublepost=1452510040][/doublepost]hello. l too am having this problem with typing and accidentally deleting because of the damn highlighting. I'm really frustrated to see that there doesn't seem to be a thing we can do about it! argh!!,

 

[Sundevil86]

I joined MacRumors just to post that I too am having the same problem, exactly as described by the OP. I'm on an iPad Mini--whatever the newest one is--and on the latest iOS, currently 9.2.1, I think. I thought maybe it was the new bar above the keyboard with all the shortcuts and the undo. Turns that off and it didn't help. Also, for me, anyway, Undo will often not bring back my deleted text. Maybe because I type too fast, by the time I realize what I've done it's too late to undo? There are other forums out there (from Google search) I'm about to go check. If I find an answer I will post it here! It's making me crazy--my Mini is pretty much my computer these days!

 

[LTT10]

Same here. Has been driving me crazy.

 

[kaiseryeahhh]

The Cydia tweak doing this I did not like the same, and this function ios9 do better, but I still going on, especially when you write fast and a 2 hands.

 

[LTT10]

Going to Swiftkey did not help for me.

 

[Deefletch]

God yes I hope it does fix it. It drives me mad and I am so glad I found this thread so now I know it's not me. I moved from android to iPad Air 2 and this has been a disaster for me at work as I type fast when in meetings and I find my notes get highlighted then deleted, common when I quickly type p then o. I had to revert to pen and paper the other week when the keyboard had so much lag then starting deleting stuff I had no other choice. It's just terrible and I was considering selling my iPad and trying a Surface as a couple of other guys at work swear by them (not 'swear at' like I do currently) but maybe I will wait to see if I gets fixed.

hi l wpoke to Appl tech dept last week. First l went into Settings, accesability, and changed the Slow or Sticky keys , hoping this would slow the keys down (they advised me to do this) and it didnt change a thing. So then they had me send all my ipad data to icloud, and then re install my software. Still doing it! My next step is sending it back for repair, whilst its in the warranty period. Its a real bummer. PS the reason for the typo's is it wont let me place the cuursor to change anything! argh! pps my hubby has same ipad, same update of software, with no problems...

 

[CraigStuartSmith]

9.2 did fix the issue for me on my iPad Pro. Thank god.

EDIT: Scratch that, I still have the issue. Not sure why it was ok that day, but it has still been broken ever since. I just don't type on it anymore and try to contain my rage.

Yep its still there for me too, how long can this go on for?????? My Air2 is just sitting there as an item in my laptop bag and not being used. I am going to take it into my local Apple store and if they cant fix it I will get the address for complaints and write to them every week with the same basic letter and keep sending it RMSD (UK postal service) so they have to sign for it repeatedly.

 

[Deefletch]

l think l may have solved my problem! Fingers crossed! l contacted Apple, and on the second attempt it seems to have worked! we uploaded all my ipad data to ibooks, then clicked on 'restore backup' and it takes the ipad back to Hello. Then it seems to work, so if you

can, call Apple customer sevice and try it.
[doublepost=1457295500][/doublepost]l couldnt spell check on that last posting. l meant to say l backed up my ipad onto itunes, and then clicked on 'back up restore' which re loads the lot back on. Had to do it twice, but it seems to have worked! no more blue highlighting and deleting! Yaye!

 

[LCPepper]

Yeah, just to add that this is happening a lot to me on my Mini 4. Especially seen as the screen is smaller, I get this a lot.

I used to mix between using my bluetooth keyboard and onscreen, but now I can't use the onscreen for more than simple text entry.

Seconding the fact that you can use the UNDO key on the keyboard at least.

 

[Deefletch]

Yeah, just to add that this is happening a lot to me on my Mini 4. Especially seen as the screen is smaller, I get this a lot.

I used to mix between using my bluetooth keyboard and onscreen, but now I can't use the onscreen for more than simple text entry.

Seconding the fact that you can use the UNDO key on the keyboard at least.

It's just so annoying!
[doublepost=1459528252][/doublepost]

Yep its still there for me too, how long can this go on for?????? My Air2 is just sitting there as an item in my laptop bag and not being used. I am going to take it into my local Apple store and if they cant fix it I will get the address for complaints and write to them every week with the same basic letter and keep sending it RMSD (UK postal service) so they have to sign for it repeatedly.

Hi againn, lve spoken to John Lewis where l bought it and they say return it to a JL store and it takes a month to repair. I'm going to do it, l think!

 

[carlitos1963]

I honestly thought this was just happening to me. I finally found this thread, so I will try the "backup to iTunes and restore" on my iPad, but, seriously. What a pain it is to type on the iPad now. I have been using my computer more and my iPad for a lot less because of this typing issue.

 

[JamesMike]

Why not get a keyboard for your iPad? Mine works fine.

 

[carlitos1963]

Hmmm, I guess I could do that, but for me, it kinda defeats the whole "iPad paradigm." If I have to carry a keyboard with my iPad because the built in keyboard isn't working, I might as well use my laptop. But I will give it a try!

 

[tvamvarg]

Surely this must be the "trackpad" mode that comes into play, inadvertently. Now that I know about it, it's very reproducible if no less disturbing. Trackpad mode can be useful for sure, and having had this issue made me discover this hidden feature - jury is still out there whether it will be a net positive or negative...