How to Connect a Bluetooth Keyboard to Your iPad

Using the virtual keyboard on your iPad isn’t a terrible experience, but you’re better off hooking it up to a physical keyboard. Here’s how to connect a Bluetooth keyboard to your iPad.

The iPad’s onscreen keyboard can be great for typing memos or sending a tweet, but if you plan to type your essay paper using the onscreen virtual keyboard, your fingers and wrist will likely want to fall off and you’ll likely freak out.

In other words, using the onscreen keyboard isn’t much fun if you need to churn out any long-form text. You’d be much better off using some kind of physical keyboard instead, so a Bluetooth keyboard might come in handy.

Sure, there are some great keyboard cases you can get for your iPad, but if you don’t need something ultraportable, just getting a standard Bluetooth keyboard should do the trick. They also offer a full-size keyboard instead of the shrunken keys you might find on the keyboard case.

Apple’s own Bluetooth keyboard is a great option when you want to use a keyboard with your iPad because it’s portable size and feels good to type.

That said, almost any Bluetooth keyboard will do the trick, but we’ll show you how to connect a Bluetooth keyboard to your iPad using an Apple Bluetooth keyboard.

Connecting a Bluetooth Keyboard to iPad

First off, we need a keyboard to use with the iPad before we do anything. Obviously, if you’re reading this, you probably have a keyboard ready to hook up, but if not, it’s time to go shopping.

Again, we recommend using Apple’s own Bluetooth keyboard, since it will have roughly the same style as the iPad, and uniformity may be something you’re looking for. Otherwise, there are plenty of different Bluetooth keyboards to choose from at different price points. this is an AmazonBasics one It retails for around $25, which is much cheaper than Apple’s own option.

Once you have your keyboard (again, we use the Apple keyboard for this), put some battery in it and fire it up by pressing the power button on the right. It will automatically go into pairing mode, so you should see a small flashing green light in the upper right corner of the keyboard.

Now switch to your iPad and open the app. Tap on it and turn the feature on if it’s not already on. When your keyboard is in pairing mode, it should appear under “Apple Bluetooth Keyboard” in your iPad’s Bluetooth menu.

Go ahead and tap on it to begin the pairing process. The next step will require you to enter a four-digit number on your keyboard and then press Enter. Once you’ve done that, your keyboard will be paired with your iPad and you can start using it right away.

iPad Stands

Of course, using a keyboard with an iPad is pretty useless without the iPad stand, otherwise you’ll have to stare at your iPad a lot instead of using it properly like a laptop.

That said, there are tons of great iPad stands you can buy, and even most iPad cases these days come with some sort of built-in stand, including Apple’s own Smart Cover and Smart Case. iPad at ideal viewing angles.

If you’re looking for a case-free iPad stand, I’m a huge fan personally. Belkin FlipBladeIt can be folded quite easily and stored in a bag, making it a great choice for travel. It can also be adjusted to different angles, so you can get the viewing angle that best suits your needs.

As for a case with built-in stand, Apple’s Own Smart Case my choice. The leather design gives it a timeless look and the entire case is very simple and minimalist. It comes with a built-in Smart Cover that can be folded to support the iPad at two different angles.

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with going the DIY route, either. They say the best iPad stand is the one you make yourself. This is the cheapest way to go and the only limitation is your own imagination and creativity.

You can turn almost anything into an iPad stand by placing something on the back of your iPad to support it, or even use an inexpensive business card holder from an office supply store to hold your iPad while you type. The possibilities are endless when it comes to DIY.