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Floating keyboard won’t minimize

When in Apple Notes or Google Keep (and probably in other apps I haven't yet discovered), the floating keyboard refuses to disappear when I tap on the screen behind it. This happens with the native keyboard, SwiftKey, and Gboard. In other words, after I type what I want to, the keyboard simply sits there in the way, blocking my view, with no way to get it off the screen as you can with a full-sized keyboard. Does anyone know if there is a setting that neutralizes this behavior? I'm in disbelief this is happening.

iPad (9th generation)

Posted on Jul 25, 2023 5:02 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jul 26, 2023 4:34 AM

Have you enabled the Scribble feature? This feature uses a different mini-keyboard that does not respond to the two-finger zoom or pinch gestures.


Settings > Apple Pencil > Scribble - set to OFF



After disabling Scribble, you may need to force-restart your iPad:


Force restart iPad (models with Face ID or with Touch ID in the top button)

If your iPad doesn’t have the Home button, do the following:

  1. Press and quickly release the volume button nearest to the top button.
  2. Press and quickly release the volume button farthest from the top button.
  3. Press and hold the top button.
  4. When the Apple logo appears, release the top button.



Force restart iPad (models with the Home button)

Press and hold the top button and the Home button at the same time. When the Apple logo appears, release both buttons.




Otherwise, to restore the new Floating Keyboard to the normal on-screen keyboard presentation, use the two-finger “zoom” gesture (i.e., the reverse of the two-finger “pinch”).


If the Split Keyboard is restored instead of the full on-screen keyboard, you can either use two fingers (one on each of the two half-keyboards) and swipe the two halves together - or touch-and-hold the “keyboard” key, then slide your finger to the Merge & Dock option and release.


Use the floating keyboard on your iPad – Apple Support

Split and move the keyboard on your iPad – Apple Support



Similar questions

2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jul 26, 2023 4:34 AM in response to Nightflyre9

Have you enabled the Scribble feature? This feature uses a different mini-keyboard that does not respond to the two-finger zoom or pinch gestures.


Settings > Apple Pencil > Scribble - set to OFF



After disabling Scribble, you may need to force-restart your iPad:


Force restart iPad (models with Face ID or with Touch ID in the top button)

If your iPad doesn’t have the Home button, do the following:

  1. Press and quickly release the volume button nearest to the top button.
  2. Press and quickly release the volume button farthest from the top button.
  3. Press and hold the top button.
  4. When the Apple logo appears, release the top button.



Force restart iPad (models with the Home button)

Press and hold the top button and the Home button at the same time. When the Apple logo appears, release both buttons.




Otherwise, to restore the new Floating Keyboard to the normal on-screen keyboard presentation, use the two-finger “zoom” gesture (i.e., the reverse of the two-finger “pinch”).


If the Split Keyboard is restored instead of the full on-screen keyboard, you can either use two fingers (one on each of the two half-keyboards) and swipe the two halves together - or touch-and-hold the “keyboard” key, then slide your finger to the Merge & Dock option and release.


Use the floating keyboard on your iPad – Apple Support

Split and move the keyboard on your iPad – Apple Support



Jul 27, 2023 4:20 PM in response to LotusPilot

Thanks for the response. Scribble was indeed on, but when I turned it off and restarted my iPad, nothing changed. The floating keyboard is still stuck on the screen in many applications - even in device settings. I really don't understand Apple's logic in making things so inconvenient and difficult for its users. They disable the ability to swipe with the full-sized keyboard (for absolutely no imaginable reason), and then when I try to use the floating keyboard because it CAN swipe, they disable the ability to move the keyboard from the screen (again, for no logical reason). They also disable predictive text on Google search, which is exactly when the user needs it the most. Apple makes beautiful things, then punishes its users with absurdly counterintuitive choices. It's not to be understood. What benefit to the user is derived from these limitations I described?

Floating keyboard won’t minimize

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