New keyboard shortcuts in iPadOS

Since the iPad has started to branch off from the iPhone in terms of what it can do with a larger screen, Apple has decided to rebrand iOS on the iPad to iPadOS. We have a guide on everything you need to know about iPadOS, but one of the coolest features are the new keyboard shortcuts with physical keyboards. This includes Apple's own Smart Keyboard Folio as well as every other physical Bluetooth keyboard that works with your iPad.

Apple stated that there are around 30 new keyboard shortcuts total in Safari, and here are the ones that they revealed in the WWDC keynote earlier this year:

  • Use default font size in Reader (Cmd + 0)
  • Open link in background (Cmd + tap)
  • Toggle downloads (Cmd + Alt)
  • Open link in new window (Cmd + Alt + tap)
  • Use selection for Find (Cmd + E)
  • Email this page (Cmd + I)
  • Open link in new tab (Cmd + Shift + tap)
  • Decrease Reader text size (Cmd + -)
  • Zoom in (Cmd + +)
  • Zoom out (Cmd + -)
  • Save webpage (Cmd + S)
  • Change focused element (Alt + tab)
  • Focus Smart Search field (Cmd + Alt + F)
  • Dismiss web view in app (Cmd + W)
  • Increase Reader text size (Cmd + +)
  • Download linked file (Alt + tap)
  • Add link to Reading List (Shift + tap)
  • Close other tabs (Cmd + Alt + W)
  • Scroll around screen (arrow keys)
  • Paste without formatting (Cmd + Shift + Alt + V)
  • New Private tab (Cmd + Shift + N)
  • Actual size (Cmd + 0)
  • Open search result (Cmd + Return)
  • Toggle bookmarks (Cmd + Alt + 1)

These new physical keyboard shortcuts are bound to make your iPad life a bit easier. These new shortcuts will work in conjunction with the previous ones that we're familiar with.

iPadOS is available today, Sept. 24 as a free update.

September 2019: Updated for iPadOS public release.

Christine Chan

Christine Romero-Chan was formerly a Senior Editor for iMore. She has been writing about technology, specifically Apple, for over a decade at a variety of websites. She is currently part of the Digital Trends team, and has been using Apple’s smartphone since the original iPhone back in 2007. While her main speciality is the iPhone, she also covers Apple Watch, iPad, and Mac when needed. When she isn’t writing about Apple, Christine can often be found at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, as she is a passholder and obsessed with all things Disney, especially Star Wars. Christine also enjoys coffee, food, photography, mechanical keyboards, and spending as much time with her new daughter as possible.