How to Use the New One-Handed Keyboard in iOS 11

[MacRumors]

There are a lot of little small tweaks and feature changes buried in iOS 11, and an option for a one-handed keyboard is one of them. With the one-handed keyboard, the entire on-screen keyboard can be shifted to either the left or the right so you can type more comfortably with a single hand even with a phone as large as the iPhone 7 Plus.

The feature is compatible with 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch iPhones, although it appears it may not work on 4.7-inch iPhones if display zoom has been turned on.

Once you know the feature is available it's easy to get to and activate, as long as you have multiple keyboards turned on in Settings. Here's how:

1. With the keyboard open, long press on the globe or the emoji symbol if you have the emoji keyboard activated. A simple tap won't work because this brings up emoji or other keyboard options.
2. At the bottom of the display, there are three keyboard options: shifted left, centered, and shifted right. Choose right or left to pick one of the one-handed keyboards.

With the one-handed keyboard enabled, the keys are shifted to the left or right by about an inch on the iPhone 7 Plus. The keys remain off-center for as long as you're using the keyboard, unless you tap the large white arrow.

Tapping on that arrow returns the keyboard to its standard center position, and you'll need to repeat the above steps to get it to shift over again.

If you don't have multiple keyboards set up, you'll need to either turn on another keyboard by navigating to the Keyboards option within the General section of your Settings app or manually turn on one-handed keyboard to the left or right on that same page.

Article Link: How to Use the New One-Handed Keyboard in iOS 11

 

[GreyOS]

Article could clarify that it’s available on the 4.7” phones too, but not if you have Zoom mode enabled

 

[critter13]

not available on SE but probably not necessary

 

[drzen]

Microsoft's implementation was much better with the curved arc one handed keyboard mode.

 

[MrGimper]

Article could clarify that it’s available on the 4.7” phones too, but not if you have Zoom mode enabled

Thanks for the heads up. I thought it should be available on the 4.7 too but it wasn't showing on my wife's 6s. However, she has zoom mode enabled, so that explains it

 

[Westside guy]

Speaking of keyboards... is there a way to get the landscape keyboard on the non-Plus devices (like my 6S) to actually span the width of the screen? With iOS 11, in landscape mode there is blank gray space to the left and to the right of the keyboard - resulting in 25-30% empty, wasted space.

 

[dtb200]

I can't see it on my 6s even though i don't have Zoom mode enabled..?

 

[WildCowboy]

Thanks, folks...we added a clarification on the models it works with.

Seeing some reports from 6s owners that it doesn't work even with zoom turned off. (Like the post above this one. )

I don't think we have a 6s among our staff members to test on, so would appreciate any other reports.

 

[Westside guy]

I can't see it on my 6s even though i don't have Zoom mode enabled..?

On the non-Plus devices, it looks like you have to go into the keyboard settings and manually enable it. And you have to pick either "left" or "right".

AND if you turn it on, then go back to fullscreen using the keyboard arrow - if you want it back later, you have to go back into Settings!

What happened to the company that used to say "you don't need a manual because everything is simply intuitive"?

 

[GreyOS]

On the non-Plus devices, it looks like you have to go into the keyboard settings and manually enable it on these devices. And you have to pick either "left" or "right".

AND if you turn it on, then go back to fullscreen using the keyboard arrow - if you want it back, you have to go back into Settings!

What happened to the company that used to say "you don't need a manual because everything is simply intuitive"?

Not the case on my 6. Works without a hitch from the keyboard without ever needing to go into settings.

 

[Heebeejeebies]

Thanks, folks...we added a clarification on the models it works with.

Seeing some reports from 6s owners that it doesn't work even with zoom turned off. (Like the post above this one. )

I don't think we have a 6s among our staff members to test on, so would appreciate any other reports.

I've got a 6s. Works fine for me.

 

[WildCowboy]

Okay, I think the issue is that you have to have multiple keyboards turned on. That gives you the globe/emoji key where you can activate the one-handed keyboard right from the keyboard. Otherwise you have to go into Settings.

 

[dtb200]

Could there be a difference between iOS 11 across different countries? I'm in the UK

 

[Westside guy]

Okay, I think the issue is that you have to have multiple keyboards turned on. That gives you the globe/emoji key where you can activate the one-handed keyboard right from the keyboard. Otherwise you have to go into Settings.

Ah, it appears that does the trick. Still, this is the opposite of intuitive design.

 

[dtb200]

https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B0Q5aVbMKMisEi

 

[needfx]

https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B0Q5aVbMKMisEi

care to explain what are you sharing here?

 

[dtb200]

care to explain what are you sharing here?

Yes - it's a screen recording of what happens on my 6s when I look for the one-handed typing option

 

[0098386]

That’s actually really useful! Works just fine on my iPhone 6, but I’ll be replacing it with an 8 soon.

 

[GreyOS]

Er pretty sure you have zoom mode enabled, contrary to your earlier post.

Go to Settings > Display & Brightness > setting at the bottom

Yes - it's a screen recording of what happens on my 6s when I look for the one-handed typing option

 

[James Candelo]

Speaking of keyboards... is there a way to get the landscape keyboard on the non-Plus devices (like my 6S) to actually span the width of the screen? With iOS 11, in landscape mode there is blank gray space to the left and to the right of the keyboard - resulting in 25-30% empty, wasted space.

I've been wondering the same, it is a total waste of space and even worse you end up tapping other keys. iOS10 had that right.

 

[subjonas]

not available on SE but probably not necessary

Yes the whole phone is one-handed

 

[szw-mapple fan]

Thanks, folks...we added a clarification on the models it works with.

Seeing some reports from 6s owners that it doesn't work even with zoom turned off. (Like the post above this one. )

I don't think we have a 6s among our staff members to test on, so would appreciate any other reports.

Non-plus 6s owner here. It works perfectly fine, but it is disabled when I enter zoomed display mode. Hope this helps.

 

[danskin]

Anyone else hitting the 'keyboard settings' accentually and got taken away from what you are doing ?
Also apple why you no let me hide the one handed keyboards......I seriously don't need them.

 

[C DM]

Anyone else hitting the 'keyboard settings' accentually and got taken away from what you are doing ?
Also apple why you no let me hide the one handed keyboards......I seriously don't need them.

Don’t enable the one handed keyboard and you won’t have it.

 

[danskin]

Don’t enable the one handed keyboard and you won’t have it.

Can't when you have multiple keyboards.