The iPhone has a hidden one-handed keyboard mode you can't access

It looks like a really useful feature for Plus-sized iPhone owners.
 By 
Raymond Wong
 on 
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

As iPhones have gotten bigger, typing with one hand has become nearly an impossible task, especially if you've got a Plus-sized iPhone.

Earlier this year, Google and Microsoft both released their own iPhone keyboards to make it easier to type with one hand. Google's Gboard smushed the keyboard to one side and Microsoft's Word Flow curved the keyboard into an arc for better reachability.

Apple has apparently had its own one-handed keyboard, but has never activated it, according to developer Steve Troughton-Smith, who discovered it using Apple's iOS Simulator tool.


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Troughton-Smith says the secret, unused one-handed keyboard has been hidden since iOS 8.

As you can tell from the screenshots he tweeted, the special keyboard resembles many other one-handed keyboards: Smushing the keyboard to either the left or right side and filing in the extra space with useful shortcuts buttons for things like cut and paste. You can see the keyboard in action below:

As mentioned earlier, Apple hasn't activated the keyboard, which means you won't be able to use it. But there's a workaround to enable the keyboard if you've got a jailbroken iPhone.

Topics iOS iPhone

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Raymond Wong

Raymond Wong is Mashable's Senior Tech Correspondent. He reviews gadgets and tech toys and analyzes the tech industry. Raymond's also a bit of a camera geek, gamer, and fine chocolate lover. Before arriving at Mashable, he was the Deputy Editor of NBC Universal's tech publication DVICE. His writing has appeared on G4TV, BGR, Yahoo and Ubergizmo, to name a few. You can follow Raymond on Twitter @raywongy or Instagram @sourlemons.

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