Have you noticed that the keyboard works differently since iOS 26? Apple has decided to disable the preview of characters on the keyboard by default. This feature previously showed a magnified image of the letter, number or punctuation mark you touched while typing.
This feature was especially useful for users who required extra accuracy when entering text. This made it easier for users to avoid mistakes, making for a smoother typing experience. Fortunately, it’s easy to turn this handy feature back on through the settings.
What is preview sign?
The preview feature shows a magnified image of the key you touch on the iPhone keyboard as you type. This provides visual feedback and helps with accurate typing, especially when selecting punctuation or special characters.
Until iOS 18, this feature was enabled by default. Since iOS 26, Apple has decided to disable preview by default. Fortunately, you can turn character preview back on.
Enable character preview
To turn keyboard character preview back on, do the following:
- Open the ‘Settings’ app on your iPhone
- Go to ‘General’
- Select ‘Keyboard’
- Enable the ‘Character Preview’ option
After switching on, you will see a magnified image of every key you touch while typing. This makes it easier to avoid typos, especially when selecting the correct punctuation marks.
The preview feature is only available on iPhone. This function is not available on the iPad due to the larger keyboard and screen. In iOS 26 and newer you can choose whether or not you want to use the preview. Users who do not need the feature do not need to take any action.