A quick way to toggle Scribble on and off?

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Level 1

67 points

A quick way to toggle Scribble on and off?

I’m a longtime iPad user who just upgraded from an iPad (6th gen) to an iPad mini (A17 Pro) with an Apple Pencil Pro. Using an iPad with Pencil feels like it’s going to be fantastic — once I can figure out how to manage getting out of Scribble when I don’t want to use it.

For example, I’ll often be using the Pencil when I decide to start writing an email, and after beginning the email using Scribble I realize it would just be quicker to two-handed (or two-thumbed) type using the full-size on-screen keyboard. In that scenario, tho’, the only keyboard I can figure out how to bring up is the small, floating Scribble keyboard (which is somehow different from the normal iPadOS floating/split keyboard I’m familiar with).

There has to be a way to quickly toggle out of Scribble and go back to two-handed typing, right? I thought maybe putting the Pencil back on the magnetic connector would do the trick, but it doesn’t seem to. What am I missing?

Apple Pencil Pro

Posted on Jan 25, 2025 10:03 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

malobee

Level 1

26 points

Feb 12, 2025 10:24 AM in response to mgrad92

As far as I know, there is no way to create a shortcut to toggle scribble. I keep searching for a solution to this issue as well, and I have never found one. It is incredibly frustrating that one has to go several layers deep in a system settings menu to turn this feature on and off. As I only use it for specific things, and otherwise Scribble impedes my usage of the iPad, I need to be able to toggle it if I am to use the feature at all.

You can create a shortcut to open settings (which is the only way to add a quick launch to settings from the control panel). It will not allow you to open to a specific sub-menu, however. If you tap and hold in the control panel, tap "add a control," then select shortcut > open app you can select settings as the app it opens. You do not need to create a separate shortcut in the settings app. When I want to use scribble, the motion is swipe down > settings > apple pencil settings > scribble toggle. It is only marginally better than using spotlight to open settings and going through the same motion.

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Answer 2

mgrad92 Author

Level 1

67 points

Feb 12, 2025 10:54 AM in response to malobee

With the Pencil Pro I can Squeeze → tap “•••” → tap “⚙️” → tap “Pencil Settings…” to navigate directly to the same pane you’re getting to, toggle Scribble on or off, then swipe or use App Switching to get back to the app I was using — but even that’s obviously cumbersome enough to be a major distraction.

I was hoping for a way to toggle Scribble without leaving whatever app I was using — or, failing that, I was hoping it’d be possible to toggle Scribble with a Shortcut I could trigger with an action like Squeeze or Double Tap. I guess none of that is possible, which feels like an oversight.

I don't guess there are any helpful replies coming any time soon, and this thread will close before long. I'd recommend anyone who finds this while looking for answers to the same question leave a comment at apple.com/feedback, like I have.

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Answer 3

LotusPilot

Level 10

302,852 points

Jan 25, 2025 10:16 AM in response to mgrad92

Scribble is easily enabled or disabled in iPad settings:

Settings > Apple Pencil > Scribble - set to ON or OFF as required

Should you choose to do so, you might create a shortcut (using the Shortcuts App) to semi-automate the settings change - and add the Shortcut to the Control Centre. Using the Control Centre to access the shortcut can reduce the settings change to a single tap.

Whether or not creating the Shortcut is worthwhile effort, only you can decide.

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Answer 4

mgrad92 Author

Level 1

67 points

Jan 25, 2025 10:55 AM in response to LotusPilot

I guess what I mean is I’m looking for an easier way to toggle the Scribble keyboard out of the way than leaving the app I’m working in (Mail, Notes, etc.) to scroll through Settings. It seems like iPadOS switches me from the “normal” keyboard to Scribble automatically, as soon as I start to use the Pencil for text entry. Is there really no equally simple way to switch back, without disabling Scribble entirely?

(Also, are you sure there’s a Shortcuts method for controlling the Scribble setting? This was actually my first thought, but turning Scribble on/off didn’t seem to be scriptable.)

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Answer 5

malobee

Level 1

26 points

Feb 12, 2025 10:58 AM in response to mgrad92

Unfortunately, it is much more hassle for me to switch my squeeze trigger because I am also an artist, and use it far more for palettes and things like that than for triggering a shortcut. I would have to switch that back and forth as well as toggling scribble on and off. I have definitely left feedback/a feature request though! Here's to hoping that one day it will come.

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Answer 6

mgrad92 Author

Level 1

67 points

Jan 25, 2025 1:17 PM in response to mgrad92

(Because if Scribble’s on/off setting is available to Shortcuts, it looks like I should be able to set one up and trigger it just by squeezing the Pencil Pro.)

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A quick way to toggle Scribble on and off?

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