How to Add & Change iPad Keyboard Shortcuts? (Easy Steps)

🗓️ July 14, 2023 By ✍️ Jaysukh patel

Apple allows you to connect an external keyboard and conveniently create your Customized Keyboard shortcut command. First, it is a time of amusement if you own an iPad or consider buying one. By default, the iPad consists of all the commands, and it will be visible once you connect the external keyboard. Though the commands could confuse the user, but to avoid this chaos, you can create custom commands for the external keyboard on the iPad. Read on,

How to Create Custom Commands for External Keyboard in iPadOS

Before beginning with custom commands, we would like to show you how to connect an external Bluetooth keyboard to iPad. Because making a mistake while connecting the keyboard will not show any keyboard options that we are looking for.

How to Connect External Bluetooth Keyboard to iPad

Step #1: Go to the “Settings” app.
Step #2: Tap “Bluetooth”.
Step #3: Select the External Keyboard from the available Bluetooth devices list. [Keep Bluetooth Device turning on and Disconnect from other devices if in use]
Step #4: Wait a few seconds, until iPad completes the pairing process with External Bluetooth Keyboard.

For the first time, you’ll have to wait. Once the keyboard is added to paired devices, iPad won’t take much time when you connect the keyboard for the second time.

Unable to Pair External Keyboard With iPad

Did you check the external keyboard compatibility with iPad? If no,t then kindly ask the keyboard company about the compatibility. Because the old Bluetooth keyboard might not work appropriately with iPadOS, or in case of damage, the keyboard will disconnect frequently. We have made a list of the Best External Keyboard for iPad; get one for you.

1. Logitech Bluetooth Multi-Device Keyboard (Which we are using)
2. Apple Smart Keyboard
3. OMOTOM Ultra-slim Bluetooth Keyboard
4. YEKBEE Keyboard for iPad
5. JOSITIN Wireless Keyboard
6. Artech Portable Bluetooth Keyboard

Add Custom Commands for External Keyboard

Step #1: Open the “Settings” app on the iPad.
Step #2: Tap “Accessibility”.

Step #3: Search and go to the “Keyboards” menu.
Step #4: Turn on “Full Keyboard Access”.

Following are the All new iPad keyboard shortcuts that you can use with an external keyboard and access iPad,

• Tab: To navigate to the next item.
• Shift-Tab: To navigate to the previous item.
• Space: To select an item.
• Tab-A: To enter the menu/tab.
• Tab-Q: To exit the menu/tab.
• Command-H: To enter the Home screen.
• Tab-Command-H: To activate App Switcher.
• Tab-Command-C: To bring Control Centre down.
• Tab-Command-N: To use Notification Centre.

What if you want to customize the keyboard commands on iPadOS? Yes, absolutely it is possible to create custom commands on the external keyboard in iPad. All you need is Bluetooth keyboard and iPad updated to iPadOS.

Follow the same above steps 1-4 and then proceed with the next,

Step #5: Tap “Commands”.

Navigation, Device, and Gestures are the three categories in which you can add custom keyboard commands. Analyze the whole list, where you want to make changes and create your commands. I would recommend, creating custom commands for Lock Screen, Screenshot, App Switcher, Control Center, etc., settings that we need every time while using iPad.

For instance, I’m taking App Switcher, under Device.

Step #6: Tap App Switcher.
Step #7: Keyboard Shortcut pop-up will appear.

Step #8: On external Bluetooth Keyboard, type the command that you would like to add for App Switcher. It could be a single command (E.g., A) or a combination of multiple commands (E.g., Command+A or Shift+B).

Step #9: Select “Done”.

That’s it! Close the Settings app and try using the custom command on the iPad.

Why are Custom Keyboard Commands not working on iPad?

As you know, Apple has added support for the external keyboard on iPad for the first time, so understandably, you might face some issues. Give some time till Apple fixes all the bugs. In the meanwhile, if custom keyboard commands don’t work on iPad the,

• Disconnect and reconnect iPad with a keyboard

Go to the Bluetooth settings on the iPad and turn off the Bluetooth. The keyboard will automatically disconnect.

• Turn Off/On the external keyboard

Look for the power button of the external keyboard, probably located on the back of the keyboard. Turn off the keyboard for a while and then turn back on.

• Restart iPad

Restarting the iPad could fix minor software glitches. Here’s how to do it,

Home button iPad,

Step #1: Press and hold the Home button and Power button until the Apple logo appears on the screen.

No Home Button iPad,

Step #1: Press and quickly release the Volume Up button.
Step #2: Press and quickly release the Volume Down button.
Step #3: Hold the Side/Power button until the Apple logo appears on the screen.

Surely all these options will fix custom keyboard commands on the iPad. Write back to us in below comment box; how do you organize and Using your External Third-Party Bluetooth Keyboard on your iPad?