If you are using an Apple Pencil with your iPad, constantly switching between writing notes and tapping the on-screen keyboard to perform web searches or send messages can break your workflow. Apple solved this friction with a powerful iPadOS feature called Scribble.
Scribble uses on-device machine learning to instantly translate your handwritten words into typed text. With this feature enabled, you can use your Apple Pencil to write directly into any standard text field across the entire operating system—from the Safari search bar to a Microsoft Word document—and the iPad will automatically convert your handwriting into text.
How to Enable Scribble
The feature is usually enabled by default if you have paired an Apple Pencil, but it is worth checking your settings to ensure it is active.
- Open the Settings app on your iPad.
- Scroll down the left-hand sidebar and tap on Apple Pencil.
- Look for the Scribble toggle switch and ensure it is turned On (green).
How to Use Scribble
Using Scribble is entirely intuitive; there are no special modes to activate.
- Take your Apple Pencil and navigate to an app with a text box (for example, open Safari and tap the URL address bar at the top of the screen).
- Instead of typing on the keyboard that appears, simply begin writing your search query directly over the text box with your Pencil.
- As you write, the ink will briefly appear on the screen, and then almost instantly vanish, replaced by the typed text version of your words.
Scribble works in almost any app that accepts text input, including Messages, Notes, Reminders, third-party email clients, and even complex web forms.
Essential Scribble Gestures
Because you are not using a keyboard, you cannot press the Delete or Spacebar keys if you make a mistake. Instead, Scribble relies on five very natural pencil gestures to edit the text you have just written.
1. Delete Text (Scratch Out)
If you misspell a word or want to delete a sentence, simply scribble over it. Draw a tight, horizontal zig-zag line directly through the typed word with your Apple Pencil (as if you were scratching out a mistake on a piece of paper). The word will instantly delete.
2. Select Text (Circle or Strike)
To highlight a word so you can copy it or change its formatting, draw a circle completely around the word. Alternatively, you can draw a single straight horizontal line through the word to select it.
3. Insert Text (Tap and Hold)
If you forgot to add a word in the middle of a sentence, tap and hold your Apple Pencil exactly where you want the new text to go. After a brief second, a small gap will open up between the words, giving you space to write the missing word.
4. Join Words
If Scribble accidentally split one word into two (e.g., writing “base ball” instead of “baseball”), draw a single, straight vertical line between the two words. The space will be deleted, joining the words together.
5. Separate Words
Conversely, if you wrote two words too close together and they were converted into a single block, draw a straight vertical line right down the middle of the block to insert a space.
Using the Shortcut Palette
When you are using Scribble, you will notice a small, floating pencil icon appear at the bottom of your screen. This is the Shortcut Palette.
You can tap this palette with your pencil or finger to quickly access formatting options (like bold or italic), an undo button, or a button to manually force the on-screen keyboard to appear if you decide you would rather type. You can also drag this palette out of the way if it is covering important content on your screen.