How to Turn Off the Character Popups on the iOS 9 Keyboard

When you tap a key on the iOS keyboard, it will “pop up” so you know what key you’re pressing. This preview has long been a feature that you had to live with whether you liked it or not, but in iOS 9, you can disable it.

To begin, tap “Settings” on the Home screen.

Tap “General” on the Settings screen.

On the “General” screen, tap “Keyboard”.

In the “All Keyboards” section, tap the “Character Preview” slider button so it turns white instead of green.

Now you won’t see the character popups when you tap keys on the keyboard. The ability to turn off the character popups is also a security enhancement. With the “Character Preview” setting on, anyone who can see your screen while you’re typing can more easily see which keys your tapping. Turning off the setting will better mask your keystrokes.