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Using common keyboard shortcuts

MARCH 7, 2021
It doesn’t matter if you are on a Smart Folio Keyboard or the Magic Keyboard. Either one of them has a few
How to use the Magic Keyboard shortcuts on the iPad Air and iPad tricks when you press the Command key, like on a Mac. If you are a PC kind of person, the Command key does
Pro the same thing as the Control key on a regular computer.

José Adorno - Mar. 7th 2021 12:00 pm PT  @joseadorno

Here are a few common keyboard shortcuts:

Command-H: Go to the Home screen;

Command-Space bar: Show or hide the Search field;
Command-Tab: Switch to the next most recently used app among your open apps.
Command-Shift-3: Take a screenshot;
Command-Shift-4: Take a screenshot and immediately open Markup to view or edit it;
Command-Option-D: Show or hide the Dock;

There are also some other common keyboard shortcuts that you can use in specific apps, like Notes, Mail, and
the Calendar.

On the Notes app, for example:

Command-B: Bold;
Command-I: Italic;
Command-U: Underline;
Command-Shift-H: Heading;
Command-N: New Note;
7 Comments      Command-Return: End Editing.

One of the best things about the iPad is the possibility to add accessories to it, including Apple’s own Magic On the Mail app:
Keyboard. The Magic Keyboard for the iPad Air (4th generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd or 4th generation), and
Command-R: Reply;
the iPad Pro 11-inch (1st or 2nd generation) gives the user the ability to simply enjoy the best part of iPadOS
Command-Shift-R: Reply All;
with very familiar shortcuts from the macOS.
Command-Shift-F: Forward;
Do you know every one of them? Head below to find the most useful Magic Keyboard shortcuts for your iPad. Command-Option-F: Search mailbox;
Command-Up arrow: View the previous email;
Command-Down arrow: View the next email.

On the Calendar:

Command-1: Go to day view;

Command-2: Go to week view:
Command-3: Go to month view;
Command-4: Go to year view;
Command-T: Show today;
Command-R: Refresh calendars.

You can also customize

keyboard shortcuts on the Magic Keyboard: Home Screen:

swipe down with three fingers;
Multitasking view: a three-finger swipe up;
Open Settings, then tap Accessibility;
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hold;
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Tap Keyboards;
Switch between open apps: three-finger swipe left or right.
Tap Full Keyboard Acces and turn it on;
Tap Commands;
Some more useful tips
Tap a command, then press a custom key combination to assign to it;
Tap Done. Tap to click

If you’re looking for the Escape key, there are two ways to enable it:
Tap Command-period to invoke Escape on the Magic Keyboard for the iPad;
Open Settings, General, Keyboard, then select Hardware Keyboard and choose Modifier Keys to use the
Escape key instead of another command.
How to use the Magic Keyboard trackpad
If you want to use tap to click and secondary click, you’ll find toggle controls for both of these in Settings,
General, and Trackpad.
Tap to click: every tap is a click, so you don’t need to press a little harder to make a click;
Two-finger click: it works like a long press on the iPad touchscreen. This click enables the contextual
menu for a selected app on the Home Screen.
Adjust Magic Keyboard brightness

If you don’t like Apple’s own auto-brightness setting on the Magic Keyboard, you can always change it.

Open Settings, then General;

Select Keyboard, then tap Hardware Keyboard;
Use the Keyboard Brightness slider.

Lost? Here’s what to do

There are so many shortcuts to use with the Magic Keyboard, but don’t worry. If you ever forget a shortcut, just
long press “Command” and a menu will appear with all the shortcuts available on that app.

Do you want to know even more about the top features of the Magic Keyboard? We’ve got you covered here.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Different than the Smart Folio Keyboard, the Magic Keyboard for the iPad has a built-in trackpad, which you
can use several gestures that will help you in your daily activities:
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1-finger tip
Check out 9to5Mac on YouTube for more Apple news:
Open Control Center: move the cursor to the top right;
Open Notification Center: move the cursor to the top left; My Mac workspace for 2022!
Find the Dock: move cursor to the bottom of the display;
Select tests: long press when editing test to select.

2-finger tips

Invoke Spotlight: two finger swipe down;

Zoom in and out: use pinch gestures;
Scroll webpages: in Safari, go swiping two fingers on your trackpad;
Cut, Copy, or Paste: tap selected text with two fingers.

3-finger tips


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Apple's tablet debuted in 2010. Since the original version, it's expanded into multiple screen sizes and
Pro and non-Pro options.
𝐣𝐢𝐦𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 • a year ago
Q: Is there a way to do the "Ctrl+2-finger swipe up" Mac zoom in to
screen thing on it?
How To
A collection of tutorials, tips, and tricks from the 9to5Mac team helping you fix and get the most out of I use that all the time on my Macs but can't find a similar decent method
your favorite gear. on iPad Pro with MK. 😕
1△ ▽ • Share ›

Reasonablecash • a year ago

MAGIC KEYBOARD
Step one: win the lottery so you can afford the bloody thing.
1△ ▽ • Share ›

Samuel A. Maffei > Reasonablecash • a year ago

Been on sale for $200 ($100 off) on Amazon for almost 2 months
About the Author now. Stop whining.
△ ▽ • Share ›

José Adorno Stephen Ellerington > Reasonablecash • a year ago

 @joseadorno I would like to see a price reduction here in the UK. I have read
Brazilian tech Journalist. Author at 9to5Mac. Previously at tv globo, the main TV broadcaster in Latin about discounts on Amazon in the US but I think it is time for
America. Apple to drop the price. The iPad Air is compatible with the
Got tips, feedback, or questions? jose@9to5mac.com Magic Keyboard and the potential for lots more customers should
justify a price reduction. Do the Amazon discounts hint at a
newer version being released soon?
△ ▽ • Share ›

PS • a year ago
This is absolutely very helpful. Thanks
△ ▽ • Share ›

Samuel A. Maffei • a year ago • edited

Apple launches new Shot on iPhone Should Apple acquire Peloton? Review:
You know, you can just hold down cmd-option on the Magic Keyboard in
Challenge any app in iPad OS 14 and it show you what commands it supports.
Right?