How to Fix iPad Keyboard Not Appearing

Fix your iPad keyboard when it won't show up. Simple troubleshooting steps to restore your on-screen keyboard in iPadOS.

1. Force quit and restart the current app. Double-tap the Home button or swipe up from the bottom and pause to open App Switcher. Find the problematic app and swipe up on its preview to close it. Reopen the app and tap a text field to check if the keyboard appears.
2. Check for connected external keyboards. Open Settings and tap Bluetooth. Look for any connected keyboards in the My Devices list. If you see one you're not using, tap the 'i' icon next to it and select Disconnect. Test the on-screen keyboard in any app with a text field.
3. Reset keyboard settings. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Reset > Reset Keyboard Dictionary. Enter your passcode when prompted. This clears custom words and resets keyboard behavior without affecting other data.
4. Toggle Split Keyboard settings. Open Settings > General > Keyboard. Find 'Split Keyboard' and toggle it off if it's on, or on if it's off. Return to any app and tap a text field to test. If the keyboard appears, you can toggle Split Keyboard back to your preferred setting.
5. Check AssistiveTouch settings. Navigate to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > AssistiveTouch. If AssistiveTouch is enabled, look for 'Dwell Control' and ensure it's turned off. Dwell Control can interfere with keyboard input and prevent the keyboard from appearing.
6. Restart your iPad. Press and hold the Top button and either Volume button until the power off slider appears. Drag the slider to turn off your iPad. After it shuts down completely, press and hold the Top button until you see the Apple logo.
7. Reset all settings if the issue persists. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Reset > Reset All Settings. Enter your passcode and confirm the reset. This returns all settings to defaults while keeping your data and apps. You'll need to reconfigure Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and other preferences.