Tiny spacebar on iPadOS 26 keyboard despite display zoom settings

If your iPad is not operating as expected, try a forced-restart - as this will often clear an isolated software issue:

Force restart iPad (models with Face ID or with Touch ID in the top button)

If your iPad doesn’t have the Home button, do the following:

1. Press and quickly release the volume button nearest to the top button.
2. Press and quickly release the volume button farthest from the top button.
3. Press and hold the top button.
4. When the Apple logo appears, release the top button.

If the problem persists after performing the restart, it may be necessary to reset your iPad settings. While this reset will not cause any loss of data, as a precaution, it is always wise to ensure that you have a current iCloud or iTunes backup before performing the reset:

How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

When you are happy to proceed, you can perform the reset from iPad settings:

Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Reset > Reset All Settings

If the problem still doesn’t clear, the next step is to reset the iPad to factory settings:

Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to factory settings - Apple Support

Otherwise, you would be best advised to seek assistance directly from Apple Support. You can contact the Support Team using the Support link at top-right or bottom-left of this page. Alternatively and perhaps easier, you can initiate and manage your support cases using the excellent Apple Support App. If not already installed on your iPad, the App can be downloaded from the App Store:

https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-support/id1130498044

You might also visit the Genius Bar at your local Apple Store or Apple Authorised Service Provider (AASP) - where the technicians will be able to assist with troubleshooting:

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

I’m not sure any of your solutions actually address the problem, as presented.

In iOS 26.1 the space bar of the on screen keyboard is tiny. The size of three letter keys. Traditional space bars are much, much longer. Much of its screen size seems to be given over to the number/additional character buttons and the dictation key. Which is a super unhelpful change. It needs to be bigger, the issue is is there any way the user can change that, it’s not a "reset the iPad" level issue.

Bloody Apple wrote:

I’m not sure any of your solutions actually address the problem, as presented.

In iOS 26.1 the space bar of the on screen keyboard is tiny. The size of three letter keys. Traditional space bars are much, much longer. Much of its screen size seems to be given over to the number/additional character buttons and the dictation key. Which is a super unhelpful change. It needs to be bigger, the issue is is there any way the user can change that, it’s not a "reset the iPad" level issue.

"Not sure" implies you haven't yourself used this structured approach to resolve a potential software problem. If the progressive resets don't clear the issue, appropriate direction prior to qualified assistance from Apple has been provided.

Whilst not fixing all possible issues, many have be successful in clearing unexpected problems using this tried-and-tested process.

The on-screen keyboard is essentially constrained by the screen size. As for the iPadOS 26 keyboard, my own (likely representative of the majority with a large screen) looks like this:

The proportions of those on-screen keys are skewed tall and narrow, with the letters proportionally larger.

I’m also unclear about that “streaking A” icon in the upper right. It looks like a font and size selection control, but I don’t have that on the on-screen keyboard on the local iPad Pro. (Or the key and location and payment card bar shown in some screenshots.) Is this an Apple keyboard, or a third-party keyboard, or is there a physical keyboard around?

This definitely looks like an accessibility or screen-size setting somewhere. But I don’t know of any accessibility reset control. Or it’s a small-sized iPad display — but your footer shows iPad Pro, and those are all mid- or large-sized.

Hi folks,

none of the solutions suggested here worked for me. I still have a very small space bar on my keyboard (image below) since iOS’s 26.1. It’s not a zoom or split keyboard issue, the keyboard is full size. Does anyone have a solution? It’s super annoying.

thanks

iOS 26…



I have followed all the steps before posting, they didn’t work.