When the iPad became more productivity-friendly with the Smart Keyboard ($169 for use with 12.9-inch iPad Pro, $149 for use with 9.7-inch iPad Pro), iOS embraced keyboard shortcuts. While you could have guessed that Command + A selects all text, did you know there's a keyboard shortcut to jump to the home screen? How about a key combination that brings up an app switcher that looks a lot like the one found on Windows and macOS?
These keyboard shortcuts don't require the Smart Keyboard or the iPad Pro. These tricks will work if you pair a Bluetooth keyboard with any iPad running iOS 9 or later. Below you'll find a comprehensive list of the shortcuts currently available. If you want to see if other shortcuts are available for the app you're using, hold down the Command button for a temporary overlay.
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iOS
Command + Tab: App switcher
Command + Space: System-wide search
Command + Shift + H: Navigate to home screen
Shift + Tab: Return to the previous field
While Editing Text:
Command + A: Select all text
Command + X: Cut
Command + V: Paste
Command + Z: Undo
Command + Shift + Z: Redo
Option + Left: Move cursor one word to the left
Option + Right: Move cursor one word to the right
Option + Shift + Left arrow: Select previous word
Option + Shift + Right arrow: Select next word
Safari
Command + T: Open new tab
Command + W: Close open tab
Control + Tab: Show next tab
Control + Shift + Tab: Show previous tab
Command + R: Reload current Web page
Command + F: Opens find
Command + L: Access address field
Command + Shift + R: Open Reader mode
Chrome
Command + T: Open new tab
Command + Shift + N: Open new Incognito tab
Command + Shift + T: Reopen last-closed tab
Command + L: Access address field
Command + W: Close tab
Command + D: Bookmark current page
Command + F: Opens find
Command + R: Reload tab
Command + Y: Open history
Command + Shift + . [period]: Activate voice search
Firefox
Command + Left: Back
Command + Right: Forward
Command + Shift + P: Open new Private tab
Control + Tab: Show next tab
Control + Shift + Tab: Show previous tab
Command + R: Reload tab
Command + F: Opens find
Command + T: Open new tab
Command + L: Access address field
Command + W: Close tab
Microsoft Outlook
Command + N: Compose new message
Command + Shift + N: Create new event
While reading a message:
Command + Up: Open previous message
Command + Down: Open next message
Command + R: Compose reply
Command + Shift + R: Reply All
Command + J: Forward message
Command + 1: Access mail tab
Command + 2: Access calendar tab
Command + 3: Access files tab
Command + 4: Access people tab
Command + 5: Access settings tab
While composing a message:
Escape: Close
Command + Return: Send message
Command + N: New email
Command + R: Reply
Command + Shift + R: Reply all
Command + Shift + F: Forward
Command + Shift + N: Get all new mail
Command + Shift + J: Mark email as junk
Command + Shift + L: Flag email
Command + Shift + U: Mark email as unread
Command + Option + F: Search mailbox
Command + Up arrow: View previous email
Command + Down arrow: View next email
While Composing an Email:
Command + Shift + D: Send email
Command + Option + B: Add Bcc recipients
Command + M: Minimize draft
MORE: iOS 9 Gives Your iPad Laptop-Like Powers
Notes
Command + F: Find Note
Command + B: Bold
Command + I: Italics
Command + U: Underline
Command + Option + T: Set in title (H1) format
Command + Option + H: Set in heading (H2) format
Command + Option + L: Add checklist box
Command + N: New note
iMovie
Ctrl + Left arrow: Go to beginning
Ctrl + Right arrow: Go to end
Shift + Left arrow: Go back 10 frames
Shift + Left arrow: Go forward 10 frames
Command + B: Split selected clip
Command + Shift + Plus: Zoom in
Command + Minus: Zoom out
Option + [: Trim clip start
Option + ]: Trim clip end
Command + Option + B: Detach audio
Command + Shift + M: Mute audio in selected clip
Ctrl + S: show audio waveforms
Calendar
Command + 1: Go to day view
Command + 2: Go to week view
Command + 3: Go to month view
Command + 4: Go to year view
Command + T: Show today
Command + R: Refresh calendars
Command + F: Search
Command +N: New event
Contacts
Command + N: New contact entry
Command + F: Search
Apple Maps
Command + 1: Standard view
Command + 2: Transit view
Command + 3: Satellite view
Command + F: Find
Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint:
Command + B:
Bold
Command + I: Italics
Command + U: Underline
Word:
Command + S:
Save
Command + F: Find in document
Microsoft Powerpoint
Command + Shift + N: New slide
Pages
Command + B: Bold
Command + I: Italics
Command + U: Underline
Command + Option + C: Copy style
Command + Shift + K: Add comment
Command + Shift + W: Show word count
Command + F: Find in document
Command + R: Show/Hide ruler
Command + N: New document
When an object or section of text is selected:
Command + D: Duplicate
Command + L: Lock position
Command + Option + Shift + F: Send to front layer
Command + Option + Shift + B: Send to back layer
Sheets
Command + Shift + K: Add comment
Command + F: Find in spreadsheet
Command + Shift + [: Go to previous sheet
Command + Shift + ]: Go to next sheet
Command + Shift + N: Insert Sheet
Command + N: New spreadsheet
When an object or section of text is selected:
Command + Option + C: Copy style
Command + D: Duplicate
Command + L: Lock position
Keynote
Command + Option + P: Play slideshow
Command + Option + A: Show transitions and builds
Command + Option + N: Show presenter notes
Command + N: New presentation
Command + F: Find
Command + Shift + K: Add comment
When an object or section of text is selected:
Command + D: Duplicate
Command + L: Lock position
Command + Option + Shift + F: Send to front layer
Command + Option + Shift + B: Send to back layer
While editing text:
Command + B: Bold
Command + I: Italics
Command + U: Underline
Command + Option + C: Copy style
Reminders
Command + Control + I: Show reminder details
Command + N: New reminder
iPad Pro Tips and Tricks
- Multitask on the iPad Pro
- Use the iOS Keyboard as a Touchpad
- Display Two Safari Tabs Simultaneously on the iPad Pro
- How to Use the Apple Pencil with iPad Pro's Notes App
- Edit Multiple Streams of 4K Video on the iPad Pro
- Use Your iPad Pro as a Secondary Display
- Check the Apple Pencil’s Battery Life
- Use Your iPhone as a Hotspot for the iPad Pro
