How to switch to WordBoard on iPad with an external keyboard connected
If you use a Magic Keyboard, Smart Keyboard, or any Bluetooth keyboard with your iPad, you have probably noticed the on-screen keyboard switcher just is not there. This is expected iPadOS behaviour, and there is a simple way around it.
Quick answer
iPadOS hides the on-screen keyboard switcher whenever an external keyboard is connected, because it assumes you no longer need one. To get it back and switch to WordBoard, tap the keyboard toggle button at the bottom of the screen, choose Show Keyboard, then use the switcher (the globe key) as you normally would. You do not need to unplug or disconnect your external keyboard.
Why the keyboard switcher disappears on iPad
On iPhone, the globe key that switches between installed keyboards is always available in a text field. On iPad, iPadOS treats a connected external keyboard as your primary input method and suppresses the on-screen keyboard, including the switcher, on the assumption that you are typing on hardware keys instead.
That is fine if you only ever use the built-in keyboard. It becomes a problem the moment you want to switch to a third-party keyboard like WordBoard, because the control you would normally tap simply is not on screen.
How to switch to WordBoard on iPad with an external keyboard
- Tap into any text field. Open Messages, Notes, Mail, or any app where you would normally type.
- Look for the keyboard toggle button. It sits at the bottom of the screen, usually in the bottom-right corner of the text field area.
- Tap it and choose "Show Keyboard." This forces the on-screen keyboard to appear even though your external keyboard is still connected.
- Use the switcher as usual. Tap the globe key to cycle keyboards, or tap and hold it to pick WordBoard directly from the list.
Once WordBoard is active, you can keep typing on your external keyboard for regular text and still tap WordBoard keys on screen for saved snippets, templates, and quick replies. The two are not mutually exclusive.
Before you can switch to it, WordBoard needs to be installed
If you have not added WordBoard as a keyboard yet, do that first in Settings, General, Keyboard, Keyboards, Add New Keyboard. See the full guide to switching keyboards on iPhone for the setup steps; they are identical on iPad.
Using WordBoard across iPhone and iPad
If you split your typing between an iPhone and an iPad with an external keyboard, your saved keys do not need to be rebuilt on each device. See using WordBoard on both iPhone and iPad for how one Pro purchase and sync cover both.
FAQ
- Why can't I see the keyboard switcher on my iPad? iPadOS hides it automatically whenever an external keyboard is connected. It is not a bug, and it is not specific to WordBoard.
- Do I need to unplug my external keyboard to switch to WordBoard? No. Tap the keyboard toggle button, choose Show Keyboard, and the switcher reappears without disconnecting anything.
- Can I use WordBoard and my external keyboard at the same time? Yes. Type normally on the external keyboard and tap WordBoard's on-screen keys for saved snippets whenever you need them.
- Does this work the same way with a Magic Keyboard, Smart Keyboard, and Bluetooth keyboards? Yes. Any external keyboard connected to iPad triggers the same behaviour, and the same "Show Keyboard" workaround applies to all of them.