iPad 11th gen A16 weird key flick issue

When using flick option on top letters on my English US keyboard on my brand new ipad A16 11th gen, instead of getting numbers i get weird symbols. 


(Same issue applies in Greek keyboard either.)


For example when long pressing "w" button, i get a "w" with a ^ on top instead of number "2" etc. I attached a video of the issue.


https://youtube.com/shorts/O3Zq6_Wcz4k?feature=share


Of course i tried all the solutions i could think of:

  • changed layout from QWERTY to another random one and then back to QWERTY
  • Removed all keyboards and added again only english US keyboard
  • disabled and reenabled flick option toggle switch
  • restarted ipad
  • resetted keyboard settings (via settings -> reset-> keyboard reset)


this is super annoying and it is in fact a feature i use a lot. Has any1 faced the same issue before?


any help would be greatly appreciated as this is super frustrating!


thanks, Lefteris.

iPad

Posted on Mar 20, 2025 7:03 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Mar 20, 2025 8:45 AM

Key flick has nothing to do with Long Press. The later is supposed generate the Accent Menu Pop Up, so you can type accented characters.


Key flick is when you swipe down on a key with your finger, without really pressing.

7 replies

Mar 20, 2025 10:23 AM in response to lefteris177

lefteris177 wrote:

with long press I get random weird char (as per video)

That is what iOS has always done for the last 15 years or so. The chars aren't really "random weird", they are the standard accented charcters which users need to type Latin-script European languages without changing the keyboard.


I don't know of any way that you could have used press and hold on iOS to generate other than those accented characters in the past, or of any way to change that behavior currently.


Key Flicks was added to iOS with version 11 about 8 years ago, and has always involved flicking down on the keys (not press and hold).

Mar 20, 2025 9:31 AM in response to lefteris177

lefteris177 wrote:

disabling the flick toggle in settings also removes the ability to long press

I can't duplicate that, the accent menu always comes up with press and hold. Normally I don't think there is any way to disable the accent menu, which some users would like to do. Are you also on ios 18.3.2?

Regardless, the issue is still there, and any actual suggestion would be really appreciated.

Are you saying that with the flick toggle on, swiping your finger downward on the Q key does not produce 1?


Do you have this problem is all apps including Safari, Mail, Messages, Notes, Pages?

Mar 20, 2025 9:55 AM in response to Tom Gewecke

Hmm I just tried everything again and this is what is happening:


  • flick works properly (the swipe gesture) and the correct char appears, while with long press I get random weird char (as per video)
  • if I disable the flick toggle I don’t lose the long press ability (apologies) , I just lose the flick ability and also the small indicators next to each letter
  • i still get weird chars when I long press on keys, instead of the expected character.
  • my issue (long press issue) appears everywhere regardless of app
  • i am on the 18.3.2


so while flick may be an alternative and is working perfectly, I am used to the long press function, which sadly is not working. Any other suggestions?


thanks for your help!


This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

iPad 11th gen A16 weird key flick issue

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.