How to use the iPad’s new flick keyboard in iOS 11
With the coming of latest upgrade in Apple devices most of you might have installed iOS 11 on your iPad. One new feature that you can find on this latest update and will love to enjoy is the new keyboard feature known as key flicks. Basically, Apple has taken its regular keyboard and overlaid numbers and symbols on each letter. For instance, now the D key is also the $, and the S is also a #. If you are unaware of this latest new flick feature then find here how to use it and have fun, easy typing.
Launch the key flicks option on your iPad
Key Flicks is on by default in iOS 11, but if you don’t see it, you might have to turn it on first.
- Launch the Settings app.
- Tap General.
- Tap Keyboard.
- Tap the toggle next to Enable Key Flicks to enable Key Flicks.
How to use the new flick keyboard on your iPad
If you want to use the new flick keyboard simply bring up the iPad’s keyboard, either in an app or using the search feature.
- Tap on a key if you want to enter the standard letter or symbol.
- To enter the “flick” symbol, touch a key and then pull downwards.
- As you pull down, the symbol will replace the letter on the keyboard and it’ll be entered into the text field.
Typing symbols and numbers this way is simple, intuitive, and a lot faster than taking the time to use the shift key. With this keyboard, you can still access the special characters and accent marks by holding down on a key.
As said above you just need to press down on the key and slide your finger down. The button will change from its stock symbol to the new one. From D to the $, for example. When you let go, that $ will be typed on the screen.
The idea behind the keyboard is that it makes getting to symbols easier. There’s a good chance that if you use it a lot, then that will happen.
An example typing an email Type out the beginning of your email: my.name. When it’s time to type the @ symbol, put your finger on the a key and flick down. You should see an @ symbol appear in your text field.. Any number or symbol displayed above the key in the Quick Type keyboard is accessible via Key Flicks.
How to turn off the flick key option
Turning Off the Flick Key Option is also a simple process to do
- Just open the Settings app.
- Tap “General.”
- Select the “Keyboard” option.
- Toggle off “Enable Key Flicks.”
So if you hate it or want to use the manual switching options and going to the Symbols menu then you can turn the keyboard off by as said above going into the Settings menu on your iPad, selecting General, and then Keyboard. From there, you just need to toggle off “Enable Key Flicks.” When you do, your keyboard will be reverted back to the standard iPad keyboard you’re used to using, without all the extra clutter.
Note that the new key flicking feature is available for almost all iPads that are able to run iOS 11, with the exception of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. With the larger iPad Pro model, you won’t be able to use key flicks. It is, however, available on all other iPad Pro models, the iPad Air and later, the iPad mini 2 and later, and the 5th generation iPad.
The quickType keyboard on the iPad has been updated in iOS 11 where you will find this super handy new Flick feature designed to let you enter numbers and symbols without the shift key. When you upgrade to iOS 11 and take a look at the keyboard on the iPad, and remember that a tap lets you enter the main letter on the keyboard, while a flick lets you enter the secondary symbol or number.