What is the black widget with 'ao' on my iPad after iPadOS 26 update?

puffingbilly (Author)

Some other similar notes were found with browser search (like maybe 5 or 6.)

Also most don't say "ao" inside.. There's this one in Apple Community...

•Black square icon on iPad screen after iPad screen iOS26 update - Apple Community

//discussions.apple.com/thread/256137748?

..Maybe a need to change a Keyboard Accessibility setting:

Settings > Accessibility > Keyboards & Typing > Hover Typing - set to OFF

(try turn-off Assistive Touch)

[.Found these while a reply was underway; see first one above!]

- Or: turn off "Hover Text" feature.

You can disable it in the Settings for Accessibility -> Vision -> Hover Text -> Off

Other replies with slight variables appear in this duckduckgo search:

https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ftsa&q=+black+widget+with+%27ao%27+on+my+iPad&ia=web

Go to Settings > Accessibility > Hover Text and turn off Hover Text.