I just got a Zagg keyboard and it is great for typing long sections of text on the iPad. But a big drawback is that it does not have an Escape ⎋ key. All the top row keys are mapped to iPad-specific features. This is bad when using vim or remoting into a Windows machine. Does anyone know how to get the Escape ⎋ key to work? Or is there a better iPad keyboard out there that has the Escape ⎋ key?
asked Jul 20, 2012 at 4:04
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Purely out of curiosity, why do you need an escape key, and what does it do on the iPad? I know the eject button raises/lowers the keyboard, and the functions keys manage brightness, media playback, etc., but I've never used Esc apparently.– Jason SalazJul 20, 2012 at 11:49
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3The OP says that its for use when remoting into other systems, and in particular mentions VIM which uses the escape key to switch from editing to command modes. It's understandable that an iPad keyboard does not have the key as it is unlikely to be used, and why many remote access apps include it as an extra on the on screen keyboard (which will be hidden if using a hardware keyboard)– KevinJul 20, 2012 at 15:41
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4Command + period (⌘ + .) is the answer in 2020 for most iPad keyboards. I’m not sure if it’s interpreted by the keyboard or the iPad but I’ve not seen it not work across multiple keyboards in the last year or so. ((( I can’t put this as an answer b/c I don’t have enough points because I haven’t put enough answers. 🙄 Oh stackexchange, how you protect us... )))– Still.TonyFeb 10, 2020 at 14:28
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1@Still.Tony's solution worked for me. Thanks.– Leon ShanerApr 29, 2020 at 18:22
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10 Answers
Give Ctrl and [ a try that should send the same as Esc (ASCII 27).
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1@ShaneHsu works perfect for me in terminal (switching to command mode) on OSX 10.8.3 May 13, 2013 at 4:39
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works great for me with a logitech bt keyboard on a 4th gen ipad. Thanks for the tip. Dec 4, 2013 at 20:34
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I have a zagg keys cover keyboard for ipad mini and this answer works great for me– dvtoeverFeb 1, 2014 at 11:56
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I have a Microsoft keyboard (the foldable one), and I want to use escape key in safari. Is there a way to do that? I sometimes use vim in safari, with sharelatex or leetcode. Let me know if there is a way.
Ctrl + [did not work for me. Jun 18, 2018 at 15:25
Try fn and the square button (where the Esc key would be)
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Thanks so much for this. This works great with my Logitech keyboard. I have been looking for this for weeks. It works just like the esc key on the Mac; i.e. It hits the Cancel button. Thanks again!– CalionFeb 13, 2017 at 23:17
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Awesome. I have a Zagg for my iPad mini and the fn+Home (i.e, square key) did it for me. Feb 16, 2017 at 21:39
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After much research I cound not find a solution to get the key to work. My solution was to return the Zagg keybard and simply get a standard wireless keyboard from the Mac store. It feels solid and works great. A tad more bulky than the Zagg, but I love that it works with more than just the iPad.
answered Jul 22, 2012 at 5:01
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1i thought your solution was going to be to re-evaluate your life and join a monk monastery in Himalayas Nov 8, 2018 at 21:52
For shell-level stuff I use an app called Prompt to SSH into servers and it has ESC and other commonly used VI keyboard sequences.
I am still looking for an escape key for use with the Amazon web services console, when it randomly tosses up a "Please wait..." browser dialog box which it also says to press Esc to end it. No solution yet with either Chrome or Safari that I know of so far. I could use my Mac keyboard, but don't usually have it with me.
Fn+Home = Escape ⎋. Easiest thing ever.
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1Does this relate to the Zagg keyboard used by the asker or is this a general answer? I'm not sure that Zagg keyboards for iPads even have FN/Home keys.– nohillside ♦Jul 8, 2013 at 6:59
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1My zagg keyboard does. fn + home does equate to Esc. But it's awkward - a very long reach, and requires removing 1 hand from the keyboard. This makes it not ideal for vim. I've gotten in the habit of just staying in "insert" mode, and moving the cursor letter by letter using arrow keys. Incredibly inefficient, but saves mental energy and awkwardness. Another user recommended ctrl + [, which also works, and is a little easier to type. Hopefully easier enough that I train myself to use it, and switch modes more often than I have lately. Feb 13, 2018 at 20:53
If you have a keyboard with the "keyboard key" the fourth from the left On the top row of keys. This functions like the escape key on other keyboards.
The Zaggkeys keyboard for the iPad mini works well with vim.
On starting the program touch the centre of the screen twice and then press i for insert mode.
To leave insert mode and enter command mode use the backslash character. This can be obtained by holding the fn key and pressing the key that has the characters ]\} and | on it.
I haven't worked out how you get a \ character into your text.
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This works on a Logitech ultrathin mini keyboard (for iPad mini). It has a separate backslash key, which functions like Esc in Vim. (Now I just have to figure out how to type a backslash.)– MarsMay 17, 2015 at 20:57
Take 3 fingers and swipe down on your i-pad screen. That brings up a menu bar at the bottom of the screen that has an escape button on it. Touch the escape button on your screen.
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You must have one of those Samsung i-pads? I am not seeing anything like this.– beroeOct 20, 2013 at 6:32
Ctrl-[ (Ctrl + left bracket) is identical to Esc. Am using the Zagg with a Galaxy Tab 10.1 and really love it.
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1Welcome to Ask Different! This is a site focussed on Apple products, see the faq.– nohillside ♦Mar 4, 2013 at 7:05
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1As a user of both iPad and Galaxy Tab I can confirm that this answer relates equally to both (mostly because the feature is from the common software). So the comment and downvotes seem needless knee-jerking– seheMay 18, 2019 at 22:04
I don't know if the Zagg keyboard has a Control, but my iPad keyboard has one, and if I do Control-C, it forces Vim to quit (at least on my VPS).
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