How to use the Scribble Shortcut Palette with Apple Pencil on iPad

Scribble Shortcut Palette in email on iPad

We’ve been telling you about some great new features that came with iPadOS 14 and Scribble that you can use with or without an Apple Pencil. You can copy and paste handwritten notes as typed text and use handwriting in text boxes like search fields. But there’s more!

The Scribble feature comes with a Shortcut Palette that you can use to perform actions faster and without opening your keyboard. You can do things like add a date to a to-do in Reminders or change the font in an email in Mail. Here’s how to use this cool tool, the Scribble Shortcut Palette, on your iPad.

Accessing the Scribble Shortcut Palette

When you’re using Scribble with your Apple Pencil in an app like we mentioned, you’ll see a small Apple Pencil icon appear in the bottom corner.

  • Tap that icon or drag it to open the Scribble Shortcut Palette which will then display at the bottom.
  • You can move the Palette to the top if it’s easier for you or leave it at the bottom. Just drag it where it best suits you.
  • To close it, drag it toward one of the corners of your screen. It’ll then return to the Apple Pencil icon.

Using the Scribble Shortcut Palette

The Shortcut Palette contains a handful of actions that vary depending on the app you’re using. For example, if you’re composing an email in Mail, you can tap to change the formatting, insert a photo, scan a document, capture a picture or video, attach a file, and add a drawing. And if you want the keyboard, there’s an icon for that too.

Scribble Shortcut Palette in Mail on iPad

In Reminders, the Shortcut Palette is super handy! You already know you can handwrite your to-dos, but with the Palette you can quickly add a due date, include a location, mark the priority, or insert a photo or scan.

Scribble Shortcut Palette in Reminders on iPad

In Pages, you can change the font style or size, adjust the alignment, and insert breaks or footnotes. In Numbers, you can enter dates, times, and numbers, and adjust fonts and alignment like in Pages. This certainly isn’t the end of the list, so open your app with your Apple Pencil ready to go. If you see that Apple Pencil icon for the Scribble Shortcut Palette, give it a try!

Wrapping it up

If there are some practical and useful updates for Scribble on iPad, those that let you continue using your Apple Pencil without having to open the keyboard have to be at the top of the list. Let us know what you think about the Scribble Shortcut Palette and how useful you find it!

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