How to Use Hover Typing on iPhone (and Why You Might Want to)

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Each new version of iOS brings a slew of new tools to the iPhone, and Apple has released them a bunch of new features with iOS 18. A particularly useful tool is the new Hover Typing. This accessibility option allows users to view a larger version of the text they type in real time, making it easier to resend a text message or email before hitting “Send.” When Float Typing is turned on, a floating toolbar appears above the onscreen keyboard, showing what you’ve typed in larger text. You can even adjust the settings to give it a more personalized look.

This may not be a required feature for everyone with 20/20 or better vision, but those who have a harder time reading small text on their iPhone screen will benefit greatly from it. Even if you have good vision, this wouldn’t be a terrible feature to use if you’re prone to typos. Let’s be honest, your iPhone’s autocorrect settings do not always provide the most customized experience. And don’t confuse this new feature with Hover Text, which was available in previous versions of iOS.

Hover text required connect an Apple Magic Mouse or a similar device that acts as a pointer and enlarges words as you move the pointer over them. It is mainly intended for reading. Instead, Float Typing displays larger words as you type and doesn’t require a pointing device. If you want to enable Hover Typing, read on.

How to set up floating typing

iPhone settings menu for floating typing

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If Hover Typing seems like a feature for you, follow these steps to enable it:

Go to the Settings app.
Click Accessibility.
Scroll down until you find Keyboards & Typing and tap it.
A menu will appear with Hover Typing as an option at the top. By default this is set to Off. Tap it.
Now you should see the entire range of Hover Typing options. The tab at the top next to Floating Typing is grayed out. Tap it to enable Float Typing. Now the tab should be green.

Every time you type a new word, a larger version of what you type is visible. From the same menu you can also configure various aspects of Hover types. You can customize almost everything else about Floating Typing, from the color that highlights a misspelled word to the background color of the toolbar where enlarged words appear. You can also change the size of the text. There is no one-size-fits-all here. The default enlarged text may be too small for you, so go ahead and change that by clicking ‘Size’. It takes you to a new menu with a slider. Simply adjust it until you are happy with the size. Moreover, you can hide the toolbar by swiping on it. Don’t worry, it will be back the next time you go to type something.

If you choose to change the display mode, you can easily choose where the Hover Typing box appears. It may appear at the top of the screen or directly above the on-screen keyboard.