To switch your iPad from a split keyboard back to the regular keyboard, touch and hold the keyboard key in the bottom-right corner of the keyboard, slide your finger to Dock and Merge, and let go. You can also drag the two halves of the keyboard back together with two fingers. To stop it from splitting again, go to Settings > General > Keyboard and turn off Split Keyboard.
If your keyboard is small and floating in the middle of the screen instead of split, that’s the floating keyboard. Pinch outward on it with two fingers to make it full size. Here are the steps for each situation.
How to merge a split keyboard on iPad
Method 1: Use the keyboard key
- Tap in a text field so the keyboard appears.
- Touch and hold the keyboard key (it looks like a small keyboard) in the bottom-right corner.
- Slide up to Dock and Merge and lift your finger.
If you only see Merge, choose it. The keyboard may still be undocked (raised off the bottom), so hold the key again and choose Dock.
Method 2: Pinch the halves together
Place one finger on each half of the keyboard and slide them toward the middle until they join.
How to turn off Split Keyboard for good
- Open Settings.
- Tap General > Keyboard.
- Turn off Split Keyboard.
With this off, the keyboard can’t split by accident when you spread your fingers on it. Some larger iPad models don’t offer a split keyboard at all, so you may not see this setting.
How to fix a small floating keyboard
A floating keyboard looks like an iPhone keyboard hovering over the screen.
- Place two fingers on the floating keyboard.
- Spread them apart (pinch out) until the keyboard snaps back to full size at the bottom of the screen.
You can also touch and hold the keyboard key and choose Dock if it’s shown. To turn on the floating keyboard on purpose, pinch in on the full keyboard with two fingers.
Which keyboard do you have?
| What you see | What it is | How to fix it |
|---|---|---|
| Two halves on the left and right | Split keyboard | Hold the keyboard key > Dock and Merge |
| Full keyboard raised up from the bottom | Undocked keyboard | Hold the keyboard key > Dock |
| Small keyboard in the middle of the screen | Floating keyboard | Pinch out with two fingers |
| No keyboard at all | A hardware keyboard is connected | Disconnect it or tap the keyboard icon on the screen |
Troubleshooting
- No keyboard appears: A Bluetooth keyboard, Smart Keyboard, or Magic Keyboard may be connected. Turn off Bluetooth or detach it, or tap the small keyboard icon at the bottom of the screen.
- The keyboard keeps splitting: Turn off Split Keyboard in Settings.
- Dock and Merge isn’t shown: Your iPad may not support split keyboards. If the keyboard is floating, pinch out instead.
- Still stuck: Restart your iPad and update iPadOS in Settings > General > Software Update.
Frequently asked questions
Why did my iPad keyboard split in half?
Spreading two fingers apart on the keyboard splits it, which is easy to do by accident. Turn off Split Keyboard in Settings to prevent it.
Is the split keyboard useful?
It’s handy for typing with your thumbs while holding the iPad in both hands, especially in landscape.
How do I make the iPad keyboard bigger?
Make sure it’s docked and merged. You can also turn your iPad to landscape for larger keys, or turn on Display Zoom in Settings > Display & Brightness on supported models.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.