The more you use iOS, the more you get used to its time-saving tricks---and the more you take them for granted. That's why we've produced a cheat sheet that will help you get acquainted with both touch-based and keyboard-based shortcuts for iPhone and iPad.

You don't need an iPad Pro with a Smart Keyboard to make use of keyboard shortcuts on iOS. Both the regular iPad and iPhone models also support shortcuts, though you'll need to find a Bluetooth keyboard first.

iOS and Keyboard Shortcuts

Most of the keyboard shortcuts you're used to using on your Mac will work on your iPad Pro, iPad, and iPhone. Some apps have specific keyboard shortcuts. You might want to check any official manuals for third-party apps not mentioned here to further speed up your workflow.

If you're using the iPad Pro with Smart Keyboard, or an iPad and wireless Apple keyboard, you're all set to go. If your Bluetooth keyboard is aimed at Windows use, you'll need to get used to substituting particular keys.

The two most common substitutions are Ctrl in place of Apple's Cmd, and Alt in place of Option. The layout may also be different, depending on your localization. Apple keyboards place the @ symbol on Shift + 2, for example. This is different than the standard UK layout.

Some of these shortcuts may not work, or may only work on the iPad Pro. In particular, the iPad Pro has a useful shortcut where holding down the Cmd key shows all available shortcuts for a given app. Try it in Safari, on the Home screen, or even in a third-party app like Slack.

Touch-Based iOS Shortcuts

Touch Shortcut

Description

Navigation Shortcuts

Tap time/status bar

Quickly scroll to the top of the page or list

Swipe from top of screen

Access Today screen/Notification Center

Swipe from bottom of screen (not iPhone X)

Access Control Center

3D Touch and swipe from left

Access the app switcher

Typing Shortcuts

Double-tap Space

Insert space with period

3D Touch and scroll keyboard

Move cursor with precision

Tap and hold key

Access alternate symbols or characters

Double-tap Shift

Enable caps lock

Tap and hold emoji/language key

Access keyboard settings, orientation, and languages

3D Touch "Send" button

Access "Send with effect" menu (iMessage only)

Browsing Shortcuts

3D Touch link/image

Open link or image to preview

Tap and hold link/image

Access context menu

Tap and hold Refresh

Quickly access Request Desktop Site option

Tap and hold Tabs button

Access tab context menu to close or open tabs

Tap and hold Bookmarks button

Quickly add item to Reading List or Bookmarks

Tap and hold Reader Mode button

Enable Automatic Reader View for specific websites

Home Screen Shortcuts

Swipe down on home screen

Search iPhone

Swipe right on home screen

Access Today screen and widgets

Tap and hold app

Move or delete apps

3D Touch app

Jump to app function or share App Store link

3D Touch folder

Rename folder

iPhone X Shortcuts

Swipe up from bottom of the screen

Go to Home screen

Swipe up from bottom and flick right

Access App Switcher

Pull down from top-right corner of screen

Access Control Center

Pull down from top-left of screen

Access Today/Notification Center

iPad Shortcuts

Four finger swipe right/left

Switch apps right/left

Five finger pinch

Access Home screen

Four finger swipe up

Access app switcher

Pull keyboard apart to left and right

Use split keyboard mode

Keyboard Shortcuts for iOS

Keyboard Shortcut

Description

Global iOS Shortcuts

Alt + Tab

Switch apps using the App Switcher

Cmd + H

Go to the Home screen

Cmd + Space

Search for something

Cmd (Hold)

Display list of available shortcuts (iPad and iPad Pro only)

Text Shortcuts

Cmd + C

Copy

Cmd + V

Paste

Cmd + X

Cut

Cmd + Z

Undo

Cmd + Shift + Z

Redo

Cmd + A

Select all

Shift + Left/Right

Select with cursor

Option + Left/Right

Move cursor to previous/next word

Option + Shift + Left/Right

Select previous/next word

General Shortcuts

Cmd + N

Create new (e.g. Contact, Reminder)

Cmd + F

Search within app

Cmd + I

Show information

Cmd + B/I/U

Bold/Italics/Underline formatting

Safari Shortcuts

Cmd + T

Open new tab

Cmd + Shift + T

Reopen previously closed tab

Cmd + W

Close current tab

Cmd + Shift + \

Show tab overview

Cmd + L

Open location/search bar

Cmd + R

Reload current tab

Cmd + F

Find on page

Ctrl + Tab

Next tab

Ctrl + Shift + Tab

Previous tab

Cmd + ]

Forward

Cmd + [

Backward

Cmd + Shift + D

Add to Reading List

Cmd + Shift + L

Show sidebar

Mail Shortcuts

Cmd + N

New message

Backspace

Delete message

Ctrl + Cmd + A

Archive message

Cmd + R

Reply

Cmd + Shift + R

Reply to all

Cmd + Shift + F

Forward message

Cmd + Shift + J

Mark as junk

Cmd + Shift + L

Flag message

Cmd + Shift + U

Mark as read/unread

Cmd + Shift + N

Get new mail

Option + Cmd + F

Search mailbox

Cmd + L

Filter mail

Calendar Shortcuts

Cmd + N

New event

Cmd + F

Search events

Cmd + T

Show today's events

Cmd + R

Refresh

Cmd + Left/Right

Go to previous/next day, week, month, year

Tab

Go to next event

Shift + Tab

Go to previous event

Cmd + 1/2/3/4

Go to day/week/month/year view

Notes Shortcuts

Cmd + N

New note

Enter

Edit note

Cmd + Enter

Finish editing

Cmd + F

Find in note

Option + Cmd + F

Search list of notes

Cmd + B/I/U

Bold/Italics/Underline formatting

Cmd + Shift T/H/B/L

Title/Heading/Body/Checklist formatting

Option + Cmd + T

Create table

Cmd + ]

Indent text right

Cmd + [

Indent text left

News Shortcuts

Cmd + R

Refresh news

Cmd + F

Search

Cmd + Up

Go to top of page

Cmd + 1/2/3/4/5

For You/Spotlight/Following/Search/Saved tabs

Tab

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Once you've mastered these tricks, take a look at our ultimate iOS beginner's guide for an in-depth look at your device's various functions. You'll learn how to back up your device, privacy essentials, and making the most of Apple mainstays like iCloud and Siri.