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The iPad is great for watching YouTube or web browsing, but it’s increasingly common for people to use it instead of a laptop. Having a keyboard changes the game, and some great keyboard shortcuts can save you time when working.

The arrival of the iPad Pro and a keyboard that you can attach to the tablet 24/7 brought with it a change in approach for Apple. No longer is the iPad only a media consumption device; having a keyboard always at hand transforms the iPad into a more-than-capable computer. If you’re a long time Mac user who knows just which keys to press to bend macOS to your will, you’ll feel like a fish out of water when tapping away at an iPad. But that needn’t be the case.

Here, we’re going to run through twenty of the best keyboard shortcuts---ones that everyone who is serious about using an iPad instead of a laptop really ought to know.

Let’s get started!

System Level Shortcuts

  • Cmd+Space: Opens Spotlight from anywhere in iOS
  • Cmd+H: Returns to the Home screen.
  • Cmd+Tab: Opens the iOS app switcher from anywhere in iOS and behaves similarly to the app switcher in macOS.
  • Shift+Cmd+3: Takes a screenshot.
  • Shift+Cmd+4: Takes a screenshot and immediately enters markup mode.
  • Option+Cmd+D: Opens the Dock when inside an app.
  • Press and hold Cmd: Displays a list of shortcuts for the app that you are currently using.

Text Editing Shortcuts

  • Cmd+Up Arrow: Jumps to top of the page.
  • Cmd+Down Arrow: Jumps to bottom of the page.
  • Cmd+A: Selects all.
  • Cmd+C: Copies the selected text.
  • Cmd+X: Cuts the selected text.
  • Cmd+V: Pastes the contents of the Clipboard.

Safari Shortcuts

  • Cmd+F: Opens the "Find" dialog.
  • Cmd+N: Opens Split View.
  • Cmd+T: Opens a new tab.
  • Cmd+W: Closes the current tab.
  • Cmd+R: Refreshes the current tab.
  • Cmd+[: Goes back a page in the current tab.

If You're Using a Hardware Keyboard

  • Press the Down Arrow, then tap and hold the keyboard icon on-screen: Switches to the software keyboard, perfect for accessing the emoji picker.