Safari for iPad has a wide variety of helpful keyboard shortcuts available in the app for when the iPad is connected to a physical keyboard. These are great to memorize as they’re sure to improve your Safari use, particularly if your iPad serves as a computer alternative or replacement.



Whether you’re using an Apple Smart Keyboard, a Bluetooth keyboard with iPad, or a keyboard case, these keyboard shortcuts will be available to you in the Safari app for iOS as long as the keyboard is connected to the iPad.

28 Safari for iPad Keyboard Shortcuts

New Tab – Command T

– Command T Close Tab – Command W

– Command W Open Split View – Command N

– Command N Show Previous Tab – Control Shift Tab

– Control Shift Tab Show Next Tab – Control Tab

– Control Tab Show Tab Overview – Shift Command \

– Shift Command \ Open Location / Website URL / Search – Command L

– Command L Go – Return

– Return Cycle between text inputs on page – Tab

– Tab Reload Page – Command R

– Command R Go Back – Command [

– Command [ Go Forward – Command ]

– Command ] Find on Page – Command F

– Command F Show / Hide Reader Mode – Shift Command R

– Shift Command R Show / Hide Sidebar – Shift Command L

– Shift Command L Add to Reading List – Shift Command D

– Shift Command D Scroll Down – Down Arrow

– Down Arrow Scroll Up – Up Arrow

– Up Arrow Scroll Left – Left Arrow

– Left Arrow Scroll Right – Right Arrow

– Right Arrow Scroll Down a Page – Spacebar

– Spacebar Scroll Up a Page – Shift Spacebar

– Shift Spacebar Scroll to bottom of a page – Command + Down Arrow

– Command + Down Arrow Scroll to top of a page – Command + Up Arrow

– Command + Up Arrow Cut – Command X

– Command X Copy – Command C

– Command C Paste – Command V

– Command V Exit Safari and return to iPad Home Screen – Command H (Shift Command H on some devices)

Recall that you can also hold down the COMMAND key while in the Safari app on iPad to see a cheat sheet of keyboard shortcuts for that app too.

You might notice that some of the keystrokes are universal in iOS (and the Mac for that matter), like copy, cut, and paste.

If Safari isn’t your primary web browser on the iPad, it’s fairly likely you’re using Chrome, in which case you might want to check out a list of Chrome for iPad keyboard shortcuts which include many similar functions as discussed here and even some cross-over in keystrokes, but for the Google Chrome browser instead of Safari.

If the idea of using a physical keyboard with iPad is new to you, there are many options available, from putting an iPad on a desk stand and using an iPad keyboard with it as a simple desk workstation setup, or using a good iPad keyboard case, or the Apple iPad Smart Keyboard, or any others. You can browse iPad keyboard options on Amazon if this interests you, there are no shortage of options out there. I personally use a Omoton iPad keyboard (iPad only) and an Apple Magic Keyboard (which works for both Mac and iPad, and iPhone too technically) for these purposes, depending on a variety of factors, but there are many great options out there.

Enjoyed this iPad keyboard shortcut roundup? Then you might also like learning handy keystrokes for Notes, Files, Pages, Numbers, Keynote, Word, Chrome, using the Escape key on iPad if it doesn’t exist on the keyboard, or any other collection of keyboard shortcut posts you can view here.

Do you know of any other handy tricks or keyboard shortcuts for Safari on iPad? Share them with us in the comments below!