Keyboard issues on iPhones aren’t really uncommon since a fair amount of users come across them after a software update. This specific issue where the keyboard is missing or disappears randomly is typically faced by users who connect bluetooth keyboards to their iPads for a better typing experience. However, issues with the firmware or just buggy behavior in general can also prevent the keyboard from showing up.
If you’re one of those unlucky iOS / iPadOS users who’re currently facing this issue, we’re here to help. In this article, we’ll be discussing some basic troubleshooting methods that you can follow to fix the missing iPhone or iPad keyboard and make it reappear on the screen.
Update iOS or iPadOS
If you have an available iOS or iPadOS software update, install it, as it may resolve the issue for you. You’ll want to backup your device first, of course.
Go to Settings > General > Software Update and install what is available
This may resolve the issue for you, as some users found the keyboard was disappearing only on earlier versions of iOS 14 or iPadOS 14 but not on later releases, similar to the slow lagging keyboard issue.
Tap on a Text Input Area
Double tapping or triple tapping into a text area on the screen can often make the keyboard appear if it’s otherwise hidden off the screen.
Rotate the Device
Sometimes rotating the devices screen orientation can make the keyboard appear too, just make sure orientation lock is disabled otherwise rotating won’t accomplish anything.
Force Quit and Relaunch the App
If only a particular app is having problems with the keyboard disappearing, try force quitting it and relaunching the app.
Force quitting apps on iPad and iPhone is as simple as going to the App Switcher and swiping up on the app you wish to quit.
Update the App
Again, if one particular application is causing a problem, check to see if that app has an available update on the App Store. If it does, install the update, it may resolve the vanishing keyboard issue.
Turn Off Bluetooth
This step may be really helpful if you regularly use Bluetooth keyboards for typing on your iPad. Typically, when you pair a Bluetooth keyboard with your iPad, the on-screen keyboard will disappear automatically. This is why you’ll need to make sure that your iPhone or iPad is not connected to a nearby Bluetooth device.
To turn off Bluetooth, head over to Settings -> Bluetooth and use the toggle to disable the feature.
Alternatively, you can disable it from the Control Center by tapping on the Bluetooth toggle. Now, see if the on-screen keyboard shows up. If it did, you know who the culprit was.
Restart the iPhone / iPad
If that troubleshooting step didn’t help, you can try rebooting your iOS/iPadOS device and see if it resolves the issue. Most minor software-related bugs and glitches like this can be resolved by simply rebooting your device. If you’re using an iPhone/iPad with Face ID, long-press the side button and the volume up button to access the shutdown menu. On the other hand, if you’re using a model with Touch ID, you just need to hold the power button. Also, you can shut down your device through settings too.
Reset All Settings
Unusual settings configuration can sometimes cause issues with the stock iOS keyboard on your iPhone and iPad. Hence, restoring your iPhone or iPad’s settings to factory defaults could potentially fix the problem in some cases. If you’re not sure how to do this, simply follow the steps below.
- Go to Settings from the home screen of your iPhone or iPad and tap on “General”.
- Next, scroll down to the very bottom and tap on “Reset” to continue.
- Here, simply tap on the “Reset All Settings” which is the first option in the menu.
Doing this will not erase the data that you have stored on your iPhone. However, it will restore the keyboard dictionary, network settings, home screen layout, location settings, etc. If you don’t want to permanently lose these settings, you’ll need to back up your device to iCloud or iTunes before doing the factory reset.
Hard Reset Your iPhone / iPad
Hard reset, also known as force restart is a peculiar way of rebooting your iPhone or iPad and it differents from a regular restart which is considered as soft restart. To achieve this, you’ll need to press multiple buttons in quick succession depending on the device you’re using. On iPhones and iPads with physical home buttons, this can be done by simply holding the power button and home button simultaneously until you see the Apple logo on the screen. On newer iPhones and iPads that lack a home button, you’ll need to click the volume up button first, followed by the volume down button, and then hold the side/power button until you see the Apple logo.
If you face any issues, please reach out to our Customer Experience Team at support@board.vision or +65 69097100 and we will be happy to help.
Our hotline operating hours are from Mondays to Fridays 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM SGT (excluding public holidays).