iPadOS keyboard shortcuts for text selection and scrolling
Arrow keys, CMD, OPTION and SHIFT replace the trackpad.
- Answers
- How do you select text and scroll on an iPad without a mouse?
- Topics
- apple · design · iPad · review · tablet
- Full article on willem.com
- https://willem.com/en/2020-08-11_the-best-keyboard-for-ipad/
Summary
You do not need a trackpad: on an iPad, arrow keys move the cursor, CMD or OPTION with arrows jump further, SHIFT combined with any of these selects text, and the space bar scrolls a full screen.
Full text
Long-press the CMD key in any iPadOS app to reveal a cheat sheet of that app's shortcuts. For moving through text: the arrow keys move the cursor one position, CMD plus an arrow jumps all the way up, down, left or right, and OPTION plus an arrow moves one word at a time. Hold SHIFT with any of these to select text. CMD+A selects everything, CMD+C copies and CMD+V pastes. For scrolling a webpage or email without touching the screen: the arrow keys scroll precisely, the space bar scrolls down one full screen height, and SHIFT plus space bar scrolls back up. Learn these once and you move the cursor faster than you would by reaching for a mouse or the touchscreen.