How to Turn Your iPhone or iPad Keyboard Into a Trackpad

Sometimes you have to move the cursor on your iPhone or iPad to a specific spot to fix a mistake, or add or delete text. However, it's not always easy, especially if you need to position your cursor in the middle of a word.

No worries. You can more easily move your cursor around the screen by tapping into iPhone or iPad Trackpad mode. This feat of magic works on any iPad or iPhone that supports 3D Touch (iPhone 6s or later) and runs iOS 9+. In this mode, you can also more easily select text through the right-finger gestures. Here's how.

This article originally appeared on PCMag.com.

Entering Touchpad Mode on iPhone

Open an app on your iPhone that automatically displays the keyboard. This could be Mail, Notes, iMessage, or any other app where you enter text. On your iPhone, press down on the keyboard as you normally would to trigger a 3D Touch feature. Notice that the characters on the keys fade away, indicating that your keyboard is now in touchpad mode.

Move your finger around the touchpad, and you'll see that the cursor moves accordingly. Stop when the cursor is in the right spot, such as in the middle of a misspelled word that you need to correct. Lift your finger, and the touchpad changes back to a keyboard. Now you can start typing again to fix the mistake.

Selecting Text on iPhone

Now, let's say you want to select text to cut, copy, or format. On your iPhone, return to trackpad mode. Move your cursor to the right spot, such as in front of a word or line that you want to select. Press more firmly down on the trackpad without lifting your finger and then move your finger to select the entire word or line. This move can be tricky as you have to apply just the right amount of pressure to select text. Release your finger when the text is selected.

Select a Word, Line, or Paragraph

You can also select your current word by pressing down once, your current line by pressing down twice, and your current paragraph by pressing down three times. Click on the selection to display the toolbar where you can cut, copy, paste, or format your text. Tap on the right arrow at the end of the toolbar to access other options.

Entering Touchpad Mode on iPad

On an iPad, the starting maneuver is different. Open an app that calls up the keyboard. Lightly press down on the keyboard with two fingers to segue into trackpad mode. You can now move around the screen by moving both fingers on the trackpad. When your cursor is in the right spot, lift your fingers to revert to keyboard mode.

Selecting Text on iPad

To select text in trackpad mode on your iPad, position the cursor and then wait a second until you see the text insertion point. Now move your fingers around the screen, and the text you swipe over should be selected. Release your fingers after you’ve selected all the text you want. This move is also tricky, so you may have to try it more than once before you achieve success.

An Easy Way to Select Text

Here’s an easier and more reliable way to select text. After you’ve positioned the cursor, release your fingers to return to keyboard mode. Tap two fingers once to select your current word, two fingers twice to select the entire sentence, and two fingers three times to select the entire paragraph.

About Our Expert

Lance Whitney

Contributor

My Experience

I've been working for PCMag since early 2016 writing tutorials, how-to pieces, and other articles on consumer technology. Beyond PCMag, I've written news stories and tutorials for a variety of other websites and publications, including CNET, ZDNet, TechRepublic, Macworld, PC World, Time, US News & World Report, and AARP Magazine. I spent seven years writing breaking news for CNET as one of the site’s East Coast reporters. I've also written two books for Wiley & Sons—Windows 8: Five Minutes at a Time and Teach Yourself Visually LinkedIn.

My Areas of Expertise

I've used Windows, Office, and other Microsoft products for years so I'm well versed in that world. I also know the Mac quite well. I'm always working with iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and Android on my various mobile devices. And these days, I write a lot about AI, so that's become another key area for me.

The Tech I Use

My wife always jokes about all the tech products we have around the house, but I manage to put them to good use for my articles. I like Lenovo computers, so I own a couple of Lenovo desktops and several laptops. I have three MacBooks and a Mac mini. For my mobile life and work, I use an iPhone 16 Pro, iPad Pro, and iPad mini as well as an Apple Watch. But since I write about Android, I own several Android phones and tablets. Like any tech person, I have a cabinet full of cables, wires, and assorted mysterious gadgets. And when it's time to take a break from writing, I have an old Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii, both of which I use for exercise and fitness games.

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