If you’re a proud owner of an iPad Pro, congratulations on your amazing piece of technology! The iPad Pro decided to depart from the iPads that came before it, changing a multitude of features on the device. The Home button and Touch ID are both gone, and users can enjoy edge-to-edge screens with Face ID for added security. There is also an Apple Pencil that’s surprisingly easy to store and charge, along with a Smart Keyboard Folio.
All of these features have certainly taken iPad users a lot of time to get used to, but no one ever complained about having to spend more time with their iPad, right? Here are some tips and tricks that will have you using your iPad Pro like a pro in no time.
Tap to Wake/Unlock With Face ID
With the Home Button no longer a thing, waking up your iPad is as easy as tapping the iPad Pro’s screen. Once you tap the screen, Face ID will immediately begin to search for your face. Line your face up with the iPad screen, and it should unlock. If Face ID doesn’t happen to work, don’t worry. All you have to do is swipe up to try again. Face ID works best in portrait mode, but the TrueDepth camera is intelligent enough to recognize your face, no matter the direction. If the camera is on the bottom, the iPad will prompt you to look down. As an added bonus, you can also attach the Smart Keyboard Folio, double-tap the spacebar, look at the screen, and you’re in.
Charge Apple Pencil Magnetically
The Apple Gods listened to everyone’s prayers when designing the 2nd Generation Apple Pencil. No longer does it have the annoying cap, or need to be charged via Lightning Connector. With the 2nd Generation Apple Pencil, all you have to do is put it on top of the iPad when it’s in Landscape mode, and it magnetically attaches to the iPad. Once connected, the Apple Pencil will start to charge wirelessly. You can always guarantee your Apple Pencil will be charged, as long as it’s connected to the iPad.
Customize Apple Pencil’s Functions
The Apple Pencil serves as a sort of mouse for the iPad Pro. It can also serve as a drawing device, allowing you to easily take notes or create illustrations for your project. Apple has included a lot of features in this little accessory, making it a must-have.
If you need to take notes quickly, tap the Apple Pencil on the iPad screen to automatically wake it up and open a blank notepad in the Notes app. You can also customize the Apple Pencil’s buttons to switch between multiple functions in many of your iPad’s programs.
Mirror iPad Display With USB-C
Although plenty big, sometimes users need a bit larger of a screen to work with than what the iPad Pro offers. Thanks to iPad Pro switching to the USB-C cable, you no longer need a dongle, or an Apple TV to mirror your iPad’s display. All you need is a USB-C to HDMI cable, plug it into the iPad Pro, and the device you want to mirror to and screen mirroring will instantly begin. By utilizing your Smart Keyboard Folio, you now have a fully functioning desktop computer!
Charge Devices Using iPad
Gone are the days of being stuck out and about with a dying piece of technology and no way to charge it. Turn your iPad Pro into a portable charger with a USB-C to Lightning cable! This cable will allow you to charge pretty much any device; from your iPhone, Apple Watch, Airpods, and even your Nintendo Switch! If you’re looking for an accessory that will really turn your iPad Pro into a charging machine, invest in the Anker 7-in-1 USB-C adapter. Perfect for airport travel, where chargers are often harder to find than a seat.
View All The Keyboard Shortcuts For An App
Watch your productivity soar as you discover all the shortcuts an app has. While Apple introduced keyboard shortcuts in their operating system awhile ago, it wasn’t until recently that more and more third-party apps began to add keyboard shortcuts.
Did you know there’s a keyboard shortcut to show a listing of keyboard shortcuts for the app that you’re currently using? If you want to see the available shortcuts, press and hold the Command (⌘) key. This will take you to a list of available shortcuts.
Take Depth Effect Selfies/Make Your Own Memoji Character
The iPad Pro’s True Depth Sensor makes for some beautifully detailed selfies! Open the iPad’s camera app, switch to the front-facing camera, and choose Portrait mode. Along with this, you can also turn yourself into an animated character. The iPad Pro supports the Animoji and Memoji programs. In the Messages app, go into an iMessage conversation and click on the Animoji option. From here, you can create your very own Memoji character, customizing everything from nose, eyes, hairstyle, face structure, and even glasses.
Monitor Your Screen Time
As people spend more and more time on their electronic devices, it’s becoming even more important to disconnect from them for your mental and physical well-being. This is especially true with children. Apple has taken note of this and created a Screen Time feature.
The feature allows you to know exactly how much time you’re spending on your device and on what apps on a given day. If one app is causing a lot of productivity issues, you can disable that app or add a time limit for usage.
Scan, Sign And Send Documents
Anyone knows how downright annoying and time consuming it is to sign documents. You have to print, sign, scan, then send. You’re even more out of luck if you don’t own a printer/scanner, having to trudge down to a print shop or the library to complete the task. With the iPad Pro, this task can now be done in a fraction of the time it used to take. All you need to do is open the Notes app, tap the plus sign in the bottom-right corner, select Scan Documents, and take a photo of the document. Your iPad then converts it into a PDF that you can quickly sign with your Apple Pencil. How slick is that?
Copy And Paste From Your iPhone To iPad
This is a new feature from Apple, and it is downright impressive. Whether you’re wanting to copy a recipe link from your iPhone onto the meal planning app on your iPad, or you need to add groceries from one device to the next quickly. Apple has recently released the ability to copy and paste between devices, and it requires minimal setup. All you need to do is ensure both devices are connected to the same iCloud account, and Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are enabled. Once that’s set up, select the information, press and tap Copy. Then press on the other device and tap Paste.
