Even if you are using Apple devices for a long time, you might not have knowledge of some tricks hidden in plain sight. One such case is about a secret trackpad on iPhone to make typing easier. Here is how you can use it on your iPhone.
What you will see?
The secret trackpad on iPhone
Along with the intriguing hidden capabilities, iOS 15.4 added a set of new enhancements. The new SharePlay add-on for FaceTime allows you to view movies or listen to music with your friends while working. Also, the new Focus Mode allows you to block out distractions while working. While many hidden functions may be found in the iPhone’s settings, others are incorporated right into the UI. The case for the secret trackpad for your keyboard is similar to that. When writing or editing text on an iPhone, you usually hold your finger on the screen to activate and move the cursor. A magnifying bubble enlarges the text to make navigation simpler. There is, however, another technique to move your cursor that may be more convenient for you.
How to bring up the secret trackpad?
On an iOS device, here is how you can find the hidden trackpad:
- Bring up your keyboard and press and hold the space key until the keyboard turns blank. You can do this anywhere you’ve written a block of text.
- When you do this, you will get some haptic feedback and see the cursor grow for a second. This indicates that the keyboard can now be used as a trackpad.
- Move your cursor across the entire keyboard with your finger still pushed down, much like you would on your Mac’s trackpad.
- You can lift your finger off the screen to set the cursor. After that, you can change the text with any of the other keys, such as erase.
- To bring up the hidden trackpad and move the pointer again, press your finger down on the space key.
With the hidden trackpad, you can control the cursor by your finger movement. Moreover, it moves much more readily. If you have an iPhone 6S or later, you can use 3D Touch, Apple’s term for pressing down hard on the screen. You may access the same hidden trackpad by performing a 3D Touch hard push anywhere on the keyboard. On an iPad, the same approach will work. Although, remember that this method only works for chat messages that you haven’t sent yet. It also works great in the Notes app as well.
Conclusion
Apple goes to great lengths to promote the incredible capabilities that iPhones and iPads have to offer. However, most of us are unaware of a number of minor but useful features. The secret trackpad on the iPhone and iPad is one such feature. You can bring up the keyboard after finishing a text, then press and hold the space key with your finger until the keyboard goes blank. The pointer will grow for a few seconds while you are there. This indicates that the concealed trackpad has been activated. You can move your finger around the keyboard length while pushing down. The pointer will follow the direction of your finger. Moreover, you can even move the cursor to the spot where you wish to add, change, or rewrite the text using your finger, then lift it. To make changes to your text, you can use the other keys on the keyboard.
Did you know about the secret trackpad on your iPhone? Tell us in the comments section below.
