How can I fix the alternate character sequence?

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Level 1

12 points

How can I fix the alternate character sequence?

How can I change the order of the accented alternate characters for bilingual use? The most used ones were first in the pop-ups and it was relatively easy to correctly type in French. With the most recent iOS update the sequence has changed and the typical é and è (for example) are off to the right with the first alternate being ě (no idea what that even is...). The popup is also much larger so you have to physically slide over much further. This makes typing in French much more cumbersome and causing constant typos. Alternately, how do I go back to the previous iOS version (the so-called "liquid glass" with fuzzy transparent characters is a pita as well which I would very much like to get rid of). Thankyou for any suggestions.

iPad, iPadOS 26

Posted on Jan 15, 2026 7:20 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

LotusPilot

Level 10

322,200 points

Jan 15, 2026 9:58 AM in response to IDKwhatIDK

Other than selecting the preferred regionalisation options in iPad settings, there are no settings that will change the keyboard or extended keyboard (pop-up) character selection layout:

Settings > General >

Keyboard > Keyboards
Language & Region

Rolling-back to an earlier version of iOS/iPadOS is not possible. Having updated to iPadOS 26, you cannot return to iPadOS 18.x.

All System Updates are digitally signed by Apple - and can only be installed whilst the digital signatures remain valid. After release of a new iOS/iPadOS version, the immediately preceding version continues to be digitally signed by Apple - however, usually within a few days, Apple will revoke the digital certificate with which the earlier version is signed.

Perhaps consider that iOS/iPadOS updates include both functional and essential security updates. Restoring an earlier version of the OS would undermine the security of your device and your personal data.

For information, Apple do invite submission of constructive comments and feature requests via its Product Feedback portal. For iPad and iPadOS:

Feedback - iPad - Apple

If you would like to see additional configuration options in a future version of iPadOS, this would be the most appropriate channel to communicate your request to Apple.

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Answer 2

IDKwhatIDK Author

Level 1

12 points

Jan 15, 2026 11:26 AM in response to LotusPilot

Thank you for the link to provide feedback. I will certainly let them know how disfunctional this is. I have already selected Canada, English and French keyboards and English and français as languages so no help there. There obviously is nobody who speaks French involved in the coding of this and no intelligence, artificial or otherwise to put the alternate characters in sequence vs. frequency of use. Some of them don't even belong (maybe used in some other language??) - no idea what the v or dot on top of the c is supposed to be, ditto for the v and dot on the e and a circonflex under an e???

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Answer 3

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

123,744 points

Jan 15, 2026 12:57 PM in response to IDKwhatIDK

IDKwhatIDK wrote:

Some of them don't even belong (maybe used in some other language??) - no idea what the v or dot on top of the c is supposed to be, ditto for the v and dot on the e and a circonflex under an e???

Yes, even the English keyboard has a lot of different e's available in the accent menu, all for other languages, including 4 for French. "v" above is called "caron", and č and ě are used in Czech. The diacritic below is called "ogonek" and ę is used in Polish and Lithuanian.

Your point about having that choice more closely related to the language of the keyboard is a good one, so feedback is definitely useful.

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How can I fix the alternate character sequence?

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