Direct answer
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.
What this covers
- The observed symptom matches this record
- Customer-accessible settings, connections and external components
- Diagnosis before reset, deletion or component replacement
What it does not cover
- ×A model-specific error code with a different documented meaning
- ×Internal electrical, battery-cell, gas, refrigeration or sealed-component repair
- ×A guarantee that every model exposes the same control label
Capture 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.
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Visible sources support the visible claims. Home Product Support records the publisher, the fact used and the review date; community reports can suggest an issue but do not become a published fact on their own.
Exact questions
Common follow-ups
What should I check before resetting anything?+
Check for the keyboard handle and whether the problem appears in every app and orientation.
What is the safest isolation test?+
Return the keyboard to docked/full size using its handle or keyboard menu, then rotate and reopen the app.
When should I stop troubleshooting?+
Do not reset the iPad for a layout failure isolated to one app.
Answer for the exact device and software version shown above.