Text & Editing Shortcuts
Compare Text & Editing keyboard shortcuts across iOS, Android, with actions, key combinations, and usage notes.
How to use this reference
Use this category reference to compare the same kind of task across your devices. Start with the section for your operating system, read the action and description, and try the shortcut in an appropriate application. Keys joined with a plus sign are held together; alternatives let you choose the combination that works on your keyboard. A gesture requires a compatible touchpad or touch screen rather than a physical keyboard.
Before practicing, check which window has focus. Text fields, browser tabs, terminal sessions, and system dialogs can interpret the same keys differently. Save any open work before testing commands that close a window, delete content, or change system settings. Accessibility commands may need to be enabled in settings first, and a laptop may require the Fn key for function keys. If a combination is intercepted by an application or a custom keymap, consult its built-in help and your operating system settings. Follow the full platform guide for related commands and additional context.
iPhone
| Action | Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Precision Cursor Movement | Long Press Spacebar → Slide | Long press the spacebar to turn the keyboard into a trackpad for precise cursor placement |
| Select Text (Trackpad Mode) | Spacebar hold + tap 2nd finger | While in trackpad mode, tap with a second finger to start selecting text |
| Select a Word | Double Tap on Word | Double tap any word to select it instantly |
| Select a Paragraph | Triple Tap on Paragraph | Triple tap to select the entire paragraph |
| Cut (gesture) | Three-Finger Pinch (close) | Pinch closed with three fingers to cut selected text |
| Copy (gesture) | Three-Finger Double Pinch (close) | Double pinch closed with three fingers to copy selected text |
| Paste (gesture) | Three-Finger Spread (open) | Spread three fingers outward to paste from the clipboard |
| Undo | Shake Device | Shake the iPhone to trigger an Undo prompt |
| Undo (gesture) | Three-Finger Swipe Left | Swipe left with three fingers to undo the last action |
| Redo (gesture) | Three-Finger Swipe Right | Swipe right with three fingers to redo the last undone action |
| Dictation | Microphone key on Keyboard | Tap the microphone on the keyboard to dictate text by voice |
Android
| Action | Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Select a Word | Double Tap on Word | Double tap any word to select it and display selection handles |
| Select All Text | Long Press → Select All | Long press in a text field, then tap Select All from the popup |
| Cut | Select text → Cut | Select text and tap Cut — or Ctrl+X on a connected keyboard |
| Copy | Select text → Copy | Select text and tap Copy — or Ctrl+C on a connected keyboard |
| Paste | Long Press → Paste | Long press where you want to insert, then tap Paste — or Ctrl+V on a keyboard |
| Clipboard History (Gboard) | Gboard → Clipboard icon | Tap the clipboard icon in Gboard's toolbar to browse and paste from recent clipboard history |
| Precision Cursor (Gboard trackpad) | Long Press Spacebar → Slide | Long press the Gboard spacebar and slide to move the cursor precisely |
| Voice Input | Microphone key on Keyboard | Tap the microphone on any keyboard to dictate text using Google's speech recognition |
| Emoji Picker | Emoji key on Keyboard | Tap the emoji / smiley key to browse and search the full emoji panel |
| Undo (Shake) | Shake Device | Shake the device to trigger the Undo prompt in some apps |