Using Scrivener on an iPad or iPhone allows you to easily work on your writing projects on mobile devices. Using an external keyboard, especially with an iPad, makes this process much smoother.
When using Scrivener on an iPad or iPhone, you generally use the on-screen keyboard. But these devices allow you to use external keyboards, and if you use Scrivener on an iPad or iPhone, an external keyboard gives you at least five power-ups that make writing much smoother.
Using an external keyboard with an iPad or iPhone
While the very first iPad model supported an external Bluetooth keyboard, it is only in recent years that Apple has developed their own keyboards. Since 2015, Apple has sold keyboards designed to work seamlessly with different iPad models, and today they sell Magic Keyboards and Magic Keyboard Folios that connect directly to iPads, making the writing experience almost as good as working on a laptop. These keyboards also serve as protective cases. Other companies sell external keyboards that connect directly to the iPad, and you can pair any Bluetooth keyboard that is not specifically designed for the device.
You can also pair any Bluetooth keyboard with an iPhone. But it’s not as simple to work on an iPhone with an external keyboard, because of the smaller screen. You also need a stand for the iPhone when you’re working with an external keyboard, but this pairing isn’t that hard to set up, if you want to write on your iPhone on your lunch break, or on a train or plane. There are some Bluetooth keyboards with built-in stands for iPhones, but currently none from major brands.
Unfortunately, Apple’s iPad keyboards are expensive – for example, the Magic Keyboard for the 11″ iPad Pro costs $299 – but they are excellently designed, and also serve as protective cases. Logitech also has a line of keyboard cases, which are a bit less expensive. And, for an iPhone, Samsers makes folding keyboards, some of which comes with a stand and a small mouse, making them an ideal setup for working with an iPhone.
Power-Up #1: More screen real estate
The best reason to use an external keyboard with an iPad is screen real estate you gain. The two screenshots below show an iPad with the on-screen keyboard (top) and the same iPad with an external keyboard (bottom). In landscape mode, the keyboard takes up half the display.
In portrait mode, the on screen keyboard takes up less of the display but still doesn’t let you see as much of your writing as you would with an external keyboard.
On the iPhone, you don’t get as much of a bump with an external keyboard, but you can work in landscape mode, which is very difficult with the on-screen keyboard, since it takes up more than half the screen.
Power-Up #2: Better cursor control
If you work with an iPad on a stand, not holding it in your hands or on your lap, you need to raise your arm often to perform operations. External keyboards designed for with the iPad generally contain a trackpad, allowing you to control your cursor the same way you would on a laptop. These keyboards also hold the device at a good working angle. You can put them on your lap, on a desk, or on a tray table on an airplane.
If you’re using a standard Bluetooth keyboard that is not designed for an iPad, you can also pair a mouse for full cursor access. This requires a bit more space and is not as flexible, since you can’t easily put the iPad and keyboard on your lap and use a mouse.
Power-Up #3: Access to keyboard shortcuts
One of the biggest advantages of using an external keyboard on an iPad is having access to keyboard shortcuts, just as on a Mac or Windows computer. You don’t have to raise your hand and tap or sometimes tap and hold on items to access features. There is a full range of keyboard shortcuts available, from the basic Command-C to copy text and Command-V to paste text, to shortcuts to find text, navigate in the Binder, sync, and compile.
If you use Windowed Apps mode or Stage Manager on your iPad and move the cursor to the top of the screen, a menu bar appears, just like on a Mac, and these menus show available menu items and their keyboard shortcuts.
See the Keyboard Shortcuts & Gestures support document for a list.
Power-Up #4: The extended keyboard row becomes more powerful
As you saw in the screenshots above, Scrivener’s extended keyboard row sits above the on-screen keyboard. When an external keyboard is connected, the on-screen keyboard disappears but the extended keyboard row is still there. This row is fully customizable: just tap and hold any key and choose from the options in the palette that displays. You can combine character, formatting, and navigation shortcuts on any row, putting the keys you use most on any row, which you can access with a touch even while your external keyboard is connected.
Power-Up #5: Enhanced scriptwriting
If you use Scrivener on an iPad or iPhone for scriptwriting, you know that witching elements in scriptwriting mode requires tapping the screen. With an external keyboard, you can use the tab key to switch elements, as you would with Scrivener for Mac or Windows. This makes writing scripts and screenplays much easier.
If you work with Scrivener often on an iPad, you should try using an external keyboard. It’s more comfortable and you’ll be more productive. If you work on an iPhone, a folding, portable external keyboard with a stand can let you work almost anywhere. 
Kirk McElhearn is a writer, podcaster, and photographer. He is the author of Take Control of Scrivener, and host of the podcast Write Now with Scrivener. He also offers one-to-one Scrivener coaching.