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7 Common iPhone Keyboard Problems & Fixes

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The iPhone keyboard has improved drastically over the last several years, but it’s still not without its faults. Here are the seven most common iPhone keyboard problems and how to fix them.

Ideally, having a full-size physical keyboard is the best setup for typing, but when you’re out on the go and only have your iPhone to type out an email or a text message, you have to work with what you’re given. However, what if even that is giving you problems?

The iPhone’s keyboard is excellent in iOS 9, and it’s a major improvement over previous versions of iOS, but it’s only good if it works properly. Over the last several months, we’ve heard many stories of users having iPhone keyboard problems, whether it’s severe lag when typing, keyboard shortcuts not working, or even just the keyboard not popping up when it should be.

Read: 15 Best iPhone Keyboard Shortcuts

If you’re experiencing iPhone keyboard problems, here are seven of the most common issues that we’ve come across and how to fix each one.

Keyboard Predictions Not Appearing

Apple introduced a feature called QuickType in iOS 8 that gives you predictions of words that it thinks you’ll type next, that way you don’t actually have to type out the word, but can instead just tap on predicted word and have it typed out for you.

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However, it sometimes likes to disappear and hide itself at random times, but there’s a quick fix in order to bring it back.

If this is happening to you, there’s a quick and easy fix that takes less than a second. Simply swipe up on that small tab right above the keyboard to re-enable QuickType and get your keyboard predictions back. This method is also probably why it sometimes disappears randomly, as you may accidentally swipe down in that area to make it disappear.

Keyboard Lag

If you’re typing along and notice that the keyboard can’t keep up, then you’re most likely experiencing keyboard lag, and it’s a common issue for iPhone users. Personally, we’ve noticed some keyboard lag on the iPhone 6 at times when writing an email or sending a reply in iMessage.

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Unfortunately, there isn’t a permanent fix that users can do, but there is at least a temporary fix if updating to the latest version of iOS doesn’t help.

Oddly enough, turning off Documents & Data in iCloud seems to do the trick for many users. To do this, head to Settings > iCloud > Documents & Data. From there, try typing on the keyboard again and if it works just fine, you should be okay to flip the iCloud switch back on. If that doesn’t work, try resetting all settings. To do that, General > Reset > Reset All Settings.

Keyboard Typing Noises Not Working

If you’re one that enjoys hearing the keyboard clicks as you type, but someone how they aren’t sounding when you’re typing, there are a few things to check.

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First off, make sure the mute toggle switch on the side isn’t activated. This prevents not only the ringer from blaring, but also mutes keyboard typing sounds.

If that isn’t the problem, go into Settings and tap on Sounds. Then scroll down to Keyboard Clicks and make sure that it’s turned on. If that still doesn’t work, it’s most likely a bug that could be fixed with a simple restart. Just shut off your iPhone and turn it back on. It will most likely be a temporary fix, but it’s better than nothing until Apple can address the issue in a later update.

Keyboard Not Popping Up

If you’ve experienced some minor keyboard problems, at least the keyboard shows up. Some users have reported that their iPhone keyboard just won’t appear when they need to type something out.

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Usually, a simple restart will do the trick (at least temporarily). Just power down your iPhone and boot it back up. If that still doesn’t fix it, your next best option is to restore your iPhone. Be sure to back it up first and then restore through iTunes. This will wipe everything and give you a fresh start, which hopefully means that whatever was causing your keyboard not to pop up is officially gone.

Keyboard Shortcuts Not Working

If you enjoy having those handy keyboard shortcuts but they aren’t working properly for you, there are several things you can try to get them to work again.

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Try and delete a shortcut and create it again. You can also try adding a new shortcut to your existing shortcut list to see if that breaks it up and gets them all working again properly.

If that doesn’t work, reset the keyboard dictionary by going to Settings > General >Reset > Reset Keyboard Dictionary.

It’s also possible that it could be an iCloud syncing issue. Navigate to Settings > iCloud > Documents & Data and see turn off Documents & Data if it’s turned on. Now try to use your keyboard shortcuts. If they start working again, turn back on Documents & Data.

3D Touch Keyboard Trackpad Being Finicky

One cool feature of 3D Touch on the iPhone 6s is the ability to turn the keyboard into a trackpad of sorts to make it way easier to move the cursor around while you’re typing.

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This makes it so that you don’t have to tap on the cursor itself and move it around with your finger, which is more of a pain in the rear end than you might think. However, the 3D Touch keyboard trackpad feature can be a bit finicky.

It could be a bug that might get fixed in a future update, but several users have told me that activating the keyboard trackpad with 3D Touch sometimes doesn’t work, and they usually have to try it again in order for it to start working properly.

Unfortunately, there’s no official fix for this, although a restart of your iPhone could temporarily fix it and make it better to use.

Looking for Alternatives

At the end of the day, if you don’t like the default iPhone keyboard, you can try out some alternatives.

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We have a roundup of the best third-party keyboards for your iPhone, with SwiftKey being one of the best options on the market. SwiftKey offers better word predictions than the default keyboard with the ability to learn your typing habits over time.

There’s also a Flow option that allows you to type by swiping from key-to-key. This takes a bit of practice, but once you get it down, it’s a lot faster than traditional typing for sure.

24 Comments

24 Comments

  1. Larry

    05/08/2015 at 9:20 am

    It’s called androids apple sucks they will never keep up with us!! Apple is all looks and overpriced and overrated just that gay Apple logo on the back

    • Josh Williamson

      07/02/2016 at 3:14 pm

      People have different opinions. You are probably the most ignorant person I’ve met. I’m not saying this because I’m an iOS fan, which I am most certainly not. I’m saying this because your little comment of yours isn’t helping, and is totally not related to this topic going on here. I’m not going lecture you anymore, because it’s already out there that young children don’t know any better. And watch your language, please. Your parents may not like it when you use that kind of language.

  2. AJ

    05/08/2015 at 10:04 am

    Why not ditch the keyboard? Imagine writing in any app on your iOS device-email, web browser, text docs, SMS-the possibilities are endless! Try the new handwriting input panel app that makes it a reality (and it’s free). Download today: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/myscript-stylus-handwriting/id931394264?mt=8.

  3. Just Helping

    08/05/2015 at 8:42 pm

    You don’t need to reset your phone, just open multitasking and swipe every app closed, it’ll work after. Annoying as hell, but it’ll work.

  4. Delia Ferguosn

    08/29/2015 at 2:48 am

    my apple iphone 5 has none of the above problems. the N H U J B don’t respond when touched.
    any ideas???

    • gaetano

      09/07/2015 at 9:21 am

      i have the same problem, have you resolved?

  5. Ruthjtoney

    08/30/2015 at 11:18 pm

    1=6 Hey Friends,,,,!my neighbor’s ex-wife makes $68 /hr on the laptop . She has been fired for 6 months but last month her pay was $18404 just working on the laptop for a few hours.
    navigate to this site>>>>> See More

  6. golds0421

    11/10/2015 at 3:09 pm

    I found when I turned the sound off the keyboard on my 6plus, the sensitivity improved significantly. Not sure for how long-but for now big improvement.

  7. Momma

    12/02/2015 at 1:49 pm

    Yo mamma was here

  8. Mona Liza Bautista

    01/28/2016 at 12:30 am

    paste keeps on popping whenever i am texting on my iphone 6s plus..is there a way to fix it?please help..thank you

    • Annette

      07/29/2016 at 7:45 pm

      I have the same problem! How did you resolve it?

  9. Catherineswhitman

    01/29/2016 at 11:19 pm

    1=2226 my best friend’s half-sister makes $87 /hr on the laptop . She has been out of a job for eight months but last month her check was $16467 just working on the laptop for a few hours.
    find more info…. See More

  10. DJ

    02/04/2016 at 7:21 pm

    When I am scrolling through selections the selected item is not taking? Any ideas. Ex. When registering for a sport I scrolled down to swimming but it would not take. It went to soccer and would not change. Then I tried swimming again and it went to hockey so I could not select the sport I wanted and there fore was not able to register for swimming. Very frustrating. Any ideas?

  11. notafan

    03/21/2016 at 4:18 pm

    Apple…it just works…er, most of the time?

  12. Rcd

    03/23/2016 at 7:50 pm

    Letters A and Q on the keyboard they don’t work when i pressed them

  13. sumpi majumder bala

    05/02/2016 at 5:47 am

    Letters I and K on the keyboard they don’t work when i pressed them

  14. Steven Bailey

    05/04/2016 at 6:52 am

    Reset your network settings this should fix the issue. I’m not sure how long, but this worked for my iPhone 6s Plus. My screen cracked so I had my local cell phone repair shop add a black screen to my rose gold iPhone 6s Plus 64gig.. After about a day of usage my keyboard would peek & pop & my scroll back feature would stop working from time to time. After resetting all my network settings texting is a lot smoother. No lag, no peek & pop.

  15. Sadaquat

    06/09/2016 at 3:25 am

    If your keyboard does not pop up in quick reply message in lock screen so just turn off the predictive switch in keyboard problem will fix

  16. CHD

    06/10/2016 at 10:21 am

    Thank you, didn’t know how to put it back. I think I did accidently swipe off QuickType.

  17. Dirk Liebenberg

    06/20/2016 at 2:29 am

    swiftkey loaded successfully on my iPhone 6. it works with Messaging and Whatsapp, but fails to load the Swiftkey keyboard in Mail or Notes. I have spend hours tiring to get it to work

  18. jabbar ali khankha

    08/05/2016 at 1:34 pm

    My apple iPhone 5s creating problems like as touch even working properly or even not working ,call even pick up or call even not pick up ,keyboard even working or keyboard even not working of my iPhone .but my iPhone display is not cracked anywhere. Pls sit tell me what is problem in my iPhone 5s

  19. Marie Cooper

    05/03/2017 at 5:36 pm

    I have an iphone6, and the keyboard only works on a couple letters. The bottom row doesn’t work, and the space bar as well. This is a problem because on some of my apps an area on the bottom of my iphone work so the apps cannot be used. Please help me I have looked everywhere and have had no discovery of what to do. You are my only hope pleaseeeee help me.

  20. Terry Rickey

    05/17/2017 at 12:18 pm

    My I-Phone 6S during texting sometimes does not type It takes 3 or 4 times for the letter to type

  21. Billie

    05/20/2017 at 6:06 am

    My sisters iPhone 6SPlus is acting up. When she gets a phone call, the keyboard pops up and she can’t answer the call. What would cause that to happen?

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