IOS Keyboard as trackpad to insert text

[gdmedia]

I just learned that if you deep-press on the #IOS keyboard space bar, the keyboard works like a trackpad, so you can insert text without using your finger on the screen. Apparently, works on any iPhone or iPad with 3D Touch. (So, not the iPhone XR, apparently.) Solves #1 thing I hated about IOS!

I just happened onto this information online. People I know didn’t know about it either. Are we just the last to know or has this important feature not been much publicized?

 

[AllergyDoc]

I’ve been here since 2013 and I just learned about this feature 2 months ago. I think it works with devices with Long Press, too, so it should work with the XR. It’s a great feature.

 

[Bballrob]

I decided to test this out on this post on my almost 2 week old XR. It works on the XR too.

 

[Act3]

Works with the iPad too which never had 3D Touch.

https://9to5mac.com/2018/09/17/how-...ad-mode-on-every-iphone-and-ipad-with-ios-12/

 

[dan9700]

who doesn't know this been out for ages

 

[BugeyeSTI]

I just learned that if you deep-press on the #IOS keyboard space bar, the keyboard works like a trackpad, so you can insert text without using your finger on the screen. Apparently, works on any iPhone or iPad with 3D Touch. (So, not the iPhone XR, apparently.) Solves #1 thing I hated about IOS!

I just happened onto this information online. People I know didn’t know about it either. Are we just the last to know or has this important feature not been much publicized?

No iPad has force touch (I’m assuming that’s the feature your talking about when you say 3D touch). What your referring to is called long press and was implemented on devices not capable of force touch.

 

[friednoodles]

You may also be interested in another little-known text-editing gesture:

On the black pop-up text editing menu (cut, copy, paste, etc), you can do swipes left and right on that menu instead of trying to hit the tiny arrow buttons on the sides.

 

[bmac89]

You can also use two fingers anywhere on the keyboard as a trackpad.

 

[haruhiko]

I’ve been here since 2013 and I just learned about this feature 2 months ago. I think it works with devices with Long Press, too, so it should work with the XR. It’s a great feature.

3D Touch text input cursor has been there since the iPhone 6s (2015).

 

[C DM]

You can also use two fingers anywhere on the keyboard as a trackpad.

I believe it works just with one finger, at least when it comes to 3D Touch.

 

[danmart]

Force press on a 3D Touch phone, two fingers on the iPad. A long-press on the space bar works for any device running the latest iOS.

 

[charlituna]

I just learned that if you deep-press on the #IOS keyboard space bar, the keyboard works like a trackpad, so you can insert text without using your finger on the screen. Apparently, works on any iPhone or iPad with 3D Touch.

it works on any key and it also works with a long touch.

 

[phessler]

Thanks for the tip. I never knew about this!

 

[chris4565]

What’s also handy is 3D touch to be able to move the cursor and then you lower the pressure a bit while still holding down and then you apply more pressure again and then you can select text. Another way to do this is hold down spacebar (don’t 3D touch) and then just tap with another finger anywhere on the keyboard (while still holding spacebar) and then you also enter text selection mode.

 

[ZEEN0j]

What’s also handy is 3D touch to be able to move the cursor and then you lower the pressure a bit while still holding down and then you apply more pressure again and then you can select text. Another way to do this is hold down spacebar (don’t 3D touch) and then just tap with another finger anywhere on the keyboard (while still holding spacebar) and then you also enter text selection mode.

Didn’t know the last part about space bar and tapping with a second finger to select. Handy on a iPad (I know about two finger drag)