If you have an iPhone Plus model, you may have struggled to type on your iPhone’s keyboard with just one hand. There’s a new hidden feature in iOS 11 that allows you to move the keyboard to the right or left of the screen. The keys become smaller and closer together, but you can definitely type one-handed on any iPhone with this one-handed keyboard. And, even if you’ve got big fingers, the keyboard technology is smart enough to predict what you’re trying to type and will activate the correct key most of the time. Here’s how to enable the one-handed keyboard in iOS 11 on iPhone.
How to Enable the One-Handed Keyboard on iPhone
- When viewing the built-in iPhone keyboard, tap and hold (single double tap and hold for VoiceOver users) the Smiley or Globe icon.
- Select on the left or right keyboard, depending on which hand you’re holding your iPhone with.
You can return to full-screen keyboard by tapping the white arrow in the open gray space (single finger double tap the Switch To Default Layout button for VoiceOver users) next to the one-handed keyboard.
Note: The one-handed keyboard feature is not available on four-inch iPhones like iPhone SE or on the iPad. On iPad, you can instead use the split keyboard feature.
How to Enable the One-Handed Keyboard on iPhone in Settings
To use the one-handed keyboard on iPhone, you can enable it from the Settings section. If you don’t see the feature in your Settings section, you’re using a device that doesn’t support one-handed keyboard (like iPhone SE or iPad), or you need to upgrade to iOS 11.
- Launch the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Select General.
- Select Keyboard.
- Select One Handed Keyboard.
- Select Left or Right depending on your preference.
