How do you select text using Pages on an iPad – your finger obscures the cursor so that it’s difficult to position? Google docs creates a bubble by the side of your finger with a magnified view of the text and cursor. Surely this is an oversight.
iPad, iPadOS 14
You have the option to use the onscreen keyboard as a trackpad. To position the cursor tap the page with a single tap, then place two fingers simultaneously on the onscreen keyboard. Slide the two fingers to move the cursor to where you want it. To select text double-tap a word, then place two fingers simultaneously on the onscreen keyboard. Slide the two fingers to move a selection handle to where you want it. In either case once the keyboard has turned into a trackpad, you can slide the two fingers off it to navigate the page while positioning the cursor or selecting text. Lift the two fingers to exit trackpad mode.
The iPad User Guide describes another method:
Use the method that works best for you.
You have the option to use the onscreen keyboard as a trackpad. To position the cursor tap the page with a single tap, then place two fingers simultaneously on the onscreen keyboard. Slide the two fingers to move the cursor to where you want it. To select text double-tap a word, then place two fingers simultaneously on the onscreen keyboard. Slide the two fingers to move a selection handle to where you want it. In either case once the keyboard has turned into a trackpad, you can slide the two fingers off it to navigate the page while positioning the cursor or selecting text. Lift the two fingers to exit trackpad mode.
The iPad User Guide describes another method:
Use the method that works best for you.
It looks like Apple did not include the text magnifier in their own apps.
I just tested this.
That stated you CAN zoom into your document some, tap on a piece of text and simply grab the lower blue drag dot, instead, to select text.
Doing that you will be able to still see your text.
You can send Apple feedback about this issue here.
Tap the link below.
https://www.apple.com/feedback/pages-ios-ipados.html
Hi Adamglyn, you’re welcome. I expect touch and hold to magnify text to come to Pages in the not too distant future. It’s already available in other apps in iPadOS 15. Here’s an example from Notes:
Btw, the magnifying glass for text is not a new feature, just a returning one. It was dropped beginning with iOS 13. Here's how it looks in Notes on my (still working) 2009 iPhone 3GS running iOS 6:
Never even thought about the keyboard track pad feature.
I do not use that feature as much as I used to.
That's a VERY good idea!
👍😬
Thanks – I’ll have to get used to this before I can compare like with like – Apple Pages with Google docs. Certainly an improvement!
Hi MichelPM, it's a sometimes overlooked, under-appreciated feature, but the first time used it seems almost magical ;-)
Thanks for all your help.
Selecting Text Using Pages on an iPad
