As we are in crisis, perhaps the possibility of getting one of the cases that come with a keyboard is something that escapes our pocket so let's see how we can take advantage of a bluetooth keyboard and mouse that we have at home to turn our iPad into "Almost" a laptop.
The virtual keyboard of the iPad, despite its good performance, is a problem for some who miss the touch of a physical keyboard. Especially in the professional field, the possibility of having a conventional keyboard is a great addition to get the most out of a tablet. In addition, when working with documents such as spreadsheets or presentations, we can also miss the precision of a mouse pointer to mark text, cells or move objects.
What can we do with this tutorial?
This manual will allow you to connect and use a bluetooth keyboard and mouse to any Apple iPad. For this tutorial we have used Apple's Wireless Keyboard, as well as the Magic Mouse of an iMac, but it is possible to use any similar device that has this type of wireless connection.
First off, those who aren't drawn to the Apple scene can rest easy; jailbreaking isn't necessary for the keyboard. However, if you also want to use a mouse, you'll need to use one of the existing methods to unlock the iPad's system, as it requires installing the BTStack Mouse app , which can only be downloaded from Cydia.
Connecting bluetooth keyboard to iPad
The process could not be simpler in the case of the keyboard:
1. Open the preferences tab on your iPad , or any iOS device, and go to the Bluetooth menu . Obviously, the keyboard must not be connected to a computer , or the initial connection will not be possible.
2. We turn off the keyboard and turn it back on by pressing the power button for a few seconds until we see “Apple Wireless Keyboard” in the list of devices that the Bluetooth connection has found.
3. Click on it and a window will automatically appear displaying a random four-digit code . Enter this code using the numeric keys on your keyboard and then press "Enter" to complete the link.
Connecting bluetooth mouse to iPad
1. With a properly jailbroken iPad (you can jailbreak it using the tutorial we've prepared at this link), search for the "BTStak Mouse " application in Cydia. It comes in the default repositories, so it won't be difficult to find.
2. After installing BTStak Mouse, its icon will appear as a regular app . Opening it will automatically start searching for available Bluetooth devices .
3. Make sure the mouse isn't paired with another device and put it in "available " mode. After a few seconds, it will appear in the device list. Click on its name, and you'll see the cursor on the screen.
Keyboard shortcuts for iPad
OP = CMD key on Mac keyboards / Alt key on Windows keyboards
| Ctrl / OP + C | Copy |
| Ctrl / OP + X | Cut |
| Ctrl / OP + V | Take |
| Ctrl / OP + Z | Undo |
| (In word processor) Ctrl / OP + B | Bold type |
| (In word processor) Ctrl / OP + I | Italics |
| (In word processor) Ctrl / OP + U | Underlined |
| Ctrl + OP + S | Mute VoiceOver |
| Ctrl + OP + H | It's like pressing the "Home" button. It has the same function as this one, that is, one touch to return to the desktop, two to activate Spotlight or two quick ones for multitasking. |
| Ctrl + OP + I | Open the item selector. This will allow us to access any accessible element on the screen. If we activate it on the desktop, a list of folders and apps opens. |
| Ctrl + OP + dash ("-"): | Press twice. |
| Ctrl + OP + space bar | Press an item. |
| Right / Left Direction Keys | Activate or deactivate quick navigation. |
| Up / down arrow keys | Equivalent to a finger press on the screen on an item. |
| OP + Direction keys | To move both between the different app / folder screens, on a web in Safari or between open applications. |
| OP + Shift + Tab | Switching the app is equivalent to the gesture of four fingers to the left. |
| OP + Tab: | Switching the app is equivalent to the gesture of four fingers to the left. |