The on-screen keyboard may be docked, floating or split depending on model and settings. An app layout bug can look similar, so test the same field in Notes. Look for the keyboard handle and the keyboard menu to return it to the docked layout.
Differential
Likely causes of “iPad keyboard covers a form or will not move”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
The keyboard is floating or split rather than docked
What separates it The keyboard sits in the middle of the screen or is in two halves, and a handle shows at its bottom edge.
How to confirm Look for the keyboard handle and the keyboard menu to return it to the docked layout.
- 2
The app's layout does not adjust when the keyboard appears
What separates it The field is hidden only in one app and Notes works correctly with the same keyboard.
How to confirm Type in the same kind of field in Notes and compare.
- 3
A setting in split view or Stage Manager reduces the space
What separates it The app is in a narrow window and the keyboard covers most of it.
How to confirm Make the app window larger or return to a full-screen view.
- 4
The orientation makes the field fall under the keyboard
What separates it The problem appears only in landscape, where the keyboard takes half the screen.
How to confirm Rotate the iPad and test the field in both orientations.
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Whether the problem occurs in every app and orientation.
- The keyboard layout: docked, floating or split.
- The app and the iPadOS version.
Try in this order
0 of 4 completedCapture the exact symptom
ReversibleCheck for the keyboard handle and whether the problem appears in every app and orientation.
Run the smallest isolation test
ReversibleReturn the keyboard to docked/full size using its handle or keyboard menu, then rotate and reopen the app.
Correct only the proven cause
ReversibleKeep the layout that exposes the field; update the one app if Notes behaves correctly.
Verify before changing anything else
ReversibleType in fields near the top and bottom of two apps without content being hidden.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !Keep the layout that exposes the field, and update the single app if Notes behaves correctly.
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
How do I get my iPad keyboard back to full size?+
Drag or pinch the keyboard handle to dock it, or use the keyboard button's menu to choose Dock. Then rotate and reopen the app to check the field.
Why does the keyboard cover a form?+
Some apps do not scroll to keep fields visible.
Can I undock the keyboard?+
Yes, using the keyboard button and dragging it away from the bottom.