Pairing a keyboard with an iPad turns it from a casual device into something close to a laptop. The keyboard shortcuts make the difference. Without them, you keep reaching up to tap the screen. With them, your hands stay on the keys and everything happens fast.
iPadOS has way more keyboard shortcuts than people realize. I've mapped the most useful ones across system navigation, multitasking, text editing, and app specific shortcuts.
System level shortcuts
These work everywhere in iPadOS, from any app.
- Cmd + H goes to Home Screen (instead of swiping up)
- Cmd + Space opens Spotlight search
- Cmd + Tab cycles through recent apps
- Cmd + Shift + Tab reverses Cmd + Tab direction
- Cmd + Option + D shows/hides the Dock
- Cmd + Shift + 3 screenshot full screen
- Cmd + Shift + 4 screenshot with selection (iPadOS 15+)
Cmd + H is the one that transforms how you use iPad with a keyboard. Going home instantly from any app without lifting your hands matters way more than it sounds.
App switching and multitasking
- Cmd + Tab app switcher (hold to see, release to select)
- Cmd + Down Arrow exits current app to Home Screen
- Cmd + Option + Right Arrow moves to next Split View app
- Cmd + Option + Left Arrow moves to previous Split View app
- Globe + S opens Slide Over with app picker (with Magic Keyboard)
Hold Cmd + Tab to see all apps, then release Cmd to select. Same behavior as Mac and Windows, familiar across platforms.
Text editing essentials
- Cmd + A select all
- Cmd + C, Cmd + V, Cmd + X copy, paste, cut
- Cmd + Z, Cmd + Shift + Z undo, redo
- Cmd + B, I, U bold, italic, underline
- Option + Left/Right Arrow jumps cursor by word
- Cmd + Left/Right Arrow jumps to start/end of line
- Cmd + Up/Down Arrow jumps to start/end of document
These mirror Mac shortcuts because iPad with keyboard borrows the macOS conventions. If you know Mac text editing shortcuts, you already know iPad text editing.
Safari specific shortcuts
- Cmd + T new tab
- Cmd + W close tab
- Cmd + Shift + T reopen closed tab
- Cmd + R reload page
- Cmd + L focus address bar
- Cmd + F find on page
- Cmd + 1 through 9 jump to that tab
- Cmd + [ back, Cmd + ] forward
Cmd + L is the productivity hack for browsing. Instead of tapping the address bar, just hit Cmd + L. Cursor lands in the URL bar ready for typing.
Mail shortcuts
- Cmd + N new message
- Cmd + R reply
- Cmd + Shift + R reply all
- Cmd + Shift + F forward
- Cmd + Shift + N get new mail
- Cmd + Up Arrow next message
- Cmd + Down Arrow previous message
- Delete moves to Trash
- Cmd + Return send the email
Cmd + Return is the send shortcut. Type your email, hit Cmd + Return, message sends. Faster than reaching for the send button.
Notes app shortcuts
- Cmd + N new note
- Cmd + Shift + N new folder
- Cmd + B, I, U bold, italic, underline
- Cmd + Shift + T title format
- Cmd + Shift + H heading format
- Cmd + Shift + L bulleted list
- Cmd + Shift + 7 numbered list
- Cmd + Return add checkmark