- This app lets you turn your existing Mac keyboard into a Bluetooth keyboard for an iOS device. It will even work on Apple TV, so you can control any of them from your MacBook, or even the desktop.
- Typeeto - iOS keyboard app that turns Mac keyboard into a Bluetooth keyboard for iPhone, iPad, Apple TV or Bluetooth keyboard for Android and Windows gadgets. With this Mac Bluetooth keyboard app you can type on all gadgets that support Bluetooth connection from Mac or MacBook.
- This is made possible through a smartphone app and PC app combo called Unified Remote. The app on your phone connects to the server app on your PC, which allows it to send mouse, keyboard, and other remote control-type input.
![App App](/uploads/1/2/6/8/126885918/216743439.jpg)
Your iPhone’s tiny screen doesn’t make for a great keyboard. Fortunately, you can use your MacBook or Apple keyboard to type on your iPhone or iPad, without wrestling with the touchscreen.
Best Wireless Keyboard For Mac
With iOS 8, Apple finally introduced third-party keyboards for iPhones and iPadsiOS 8 Lets You Replace Your iPhone Or iPad's Keyboard – Here's HowiOS 8 Lets You Replace Your iPhone Or iPad's Keyboard – Here's HowWith iOS 8, you can finally change your iPhone's keyboard, and you have some awesome options.Read More. And no doubt, they do make typing easier. But it still doesn’t match up to the experience of typing on your MacBook.
What we are looking for here is a seamless shift between typing on your computer and typing on your phone or tablet. And they should work with any Mac keyboard, like some of the best wireless all-in-one keyboardsThe 10 Best Wireless All-in-One Keyboards for Mac and PCThe 10 Best Wireless All-in-One Keyboards for Mac and PCWireless all-in-one keyboards can turn any boring computer into an exciting home theater PC. Which one should you buy?Read More.
Connecting A Bluetooth Keyboard
The Bluetooth Designer Desktop is designed to perform as beautifully as it looks. With its ultra-thin and modern look, the Designer Bluetooth® Desktop complements the look of your desk. It wirelessly pairs to your laptop or tablet with the latest Bluetooth Smart technology– instantly connecting without wires or dongles to manage.
These apps function by posing as real Bluetooth keyboards, so it helps if you know how to connect a Mac to your iPhone or iPad. It’s pretty simple. Ny times app for mac.
- Click the Bluetooth icon in the customizable Mac Menu BarPimp Your Mac's Menu Bar With The Best Tweaks & AppsPimp Your Mac's Menu Bar With The Best Tweaks & AppsThose icons at the top-left of your computer? You're not using them enough, and that's too bad. This area of your Mac can be a great way to quickly find information or even get work..Read More and make sure Bluetooth is On
- On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Bluetooth and switch it On too. You can also use Control Centre (accessed by swiping up from the bottom of the screen) to access a Bluetooth toggle.
- On your Mac, click the Bluetooth icon in your menu bar thenOpen Bluetooth Preferences > Pair
- You’ll get a confirmation message on your iPhone or iPad, tap “Pair” again
That’s it! Couldn’t be easier, right?
1Keyboard ($9.99)
1Keyboard is our favourite option for sharing your Mac’s keyboard with your iPhone. Install the app and it sits quietly in the Menu bar. It’s best to keep it there and have it become one of your favourite Mac Menu bar utilities11 Tiny and Useful Free Menubar Applications for Mac11 Tiny and Useful Free Menubar Applications for MacRead More.
Connect your iPhone or iPad to your Mac via Bluetooth and 1Keyboard will recognise it. You can connect multiple devices too, and easily toggle between them using the menu bar icon.
Click the menu bar item, select the device, and start typing. Your letters will show up on the selected device. Click somewhere on your Mac’s screen and start typing to switch back to the computer. It’s one of those “it just works” apps that is an absolute delight to use.
1Keyboard also adds the ability to copy and paste clipboard content to your touchscreen device. For example, if you copied a few lines of text online, you could press Shift+Command+V to paste it on your iPhone. It’s a nice useful feature, but not as powerful as other tools to share and sync the clipboard between iOS and MacSync Your Mac & iOS Clipboard With Command-C & ScribeSync Your Mac & iOS Clipboard With Command-C & ScribeTransferring the contents of your Mac's clipboard to your iPhone or iPad usually involves sending yourself an email or message, but that's cumbersome and inefficient.Read More.
You can set a custom shortcut to activate 1Keyboard, as well as further shortcuts for each device, toggling between all as needed.
Type2Phone ($5.99)
In many ways, Type2Phone works like 1Keyboard. Download the app, connect your phone via Bluetooth, fire it up and start typing. It even automatically disconnects when not in use, and reconnects to the last device when you start using it.
More importantly, Type2Phone offers a whole lot of control over Function keys and lets you set small key sequences, like deleting a word to the left or right of where your cursor is. You can already use Option+Backspace on your Mac keyboard, and now you can do the same on your iPhone. Neat! Of course, it’s not got the full power of all the Mac OS X keyboard shortcutsEverything You Need To Know About Mac OS X Keyboard ShortcutsEverything You Need To Know About Mac OS X Keyboard ShortcutsNo matter what operating system or program you're using, keyboard shortcuts are a tool you can use to make things quite a bit easier for yourself. Simply not having to take your hands off the..Read More, but it’s still pretty good.
This app also includes voice dictation, but that doesn’t seem to be particularly useful, especially since Siri already does a fantastic job of it on iOS 8Type Superfast With Real Time Voice Dictation in iOS 8Type Superfast With Real Time Voice Dictation in iOS 8It's time to do less typing and more talking with the new real time voice-to-text feature in iOS 8.Read More.
The only problem with Type2Phone is that it seems more intrusive than 1Keyboard, what with its floating window and the big icon sitting in your dock.
What Should You Get?
If you have a Mac and an iPhone or iPad, and if you type often on the latter, then these apps are worth it. For example, if you’re having a long conversation on WhatsApp, you’d be stuck. But while Android users can get WhatsApp on their PCHow to Use WhatsApp on Your PC and Sync With Your PhoneHow to Use WhatsApp on Your PC and Sync With Your PhoneHere is the best way to use Whatsapp on your desktop and have it sync with Whatsapp on your Android phone or tablet.Read More, you can now use your Mac keyboard to type directly into WhatsApp on your iPhone or iPad.
Of the two apps, my preferred choice is 1Keyboard, but that’s purely because of its unobtrusive nature. Type2Phone’s shortcuts and control over function keys seems like it might be the better tool for power users.
And if you’re looking to turn things around, here’s how to remotely access your Mac from your iPhoneHow To Remotely Access Your Mac From Your iOS DeviceHow To Remotely Access Your Mac From Your iOS DeviceRead More.
Image credit: Denys Prykhodov / Shutterstock.com
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Android Bluetooth Keyboard App
- does the return key work?
I paired my keyboard with my iPhone, but never was able to use the return (enter) key. So had to do it manually every time.
Also when my iPhone's Bluetooth is on, I can not access the on-screen keyboard on my phone. Then I have to manually turn off my bluetooth - Layouts of 1keyboard are wrong. Money wasted.