Preliminary information
If it is your intention to find out how to connect the keypad to the phone, you must first make sure that the operating system installed on your device is updated to the latest version available since, as you probably already know, Google and Apple continually add features to their respective operating systems and, among these, functions connected to the use of input devices, such as keyboards.
So, if yours is a smartphone animated by the operating system Android, go to the menu Settings> System> About phone> Advanced> System update, tocca il pulsating Look for updates and install any available updates. On iPhone you can get the same result by going to the menu Settings> General> Software Update of iOS.
Personally, I recommend that you perform system updates when the device is connected to an external power source (or when the remaining battery charge is above 60%) and in the presence of a Wi-Fi connection, to avoid unexpected shutdowns or the rapid drying up of the Giga available on your SIM.
Also, if you need to connect a USB keyboard to a terminal Android, you have to make sure that the latter is able to properly handle the technology USB OTG: it allows you to use external USB devices (such as keyboards, mice, memory sticks and other mass memories) by connecting them directly to the USB-C / microUSB port of the phone.
To do this, you can use an app such as USB OTG Checker, available for free on the Play Store and on the alternative stores: after downloading and installing it, start it and read the indication concerning the compatibility of the device analyzed with OTG. If you are interested in learning more about the matter, take a look at my guide on how to enable OTG on Android, in which I have been able to deal with this topic in an exhaustive way.
How to connect the keyboard to the phone: Android
If you have a terminal Android able to properly exploit the OTG technology, you will be pleased to know that compatibility with external keyboards (both Bluetooth and wired) has been ensured for a long time.
Bluetooth keyboard
As for wireless solutions, you will be pleased to know that there are Bluetooth mini keyboards compact, easy to carry and particularly suitable for use with smartphones (and tablets). Some of them also integrate a small touchpad that works like a real mouse.
If you are not particularly fond of compact devices, you can safely use a standard-sized Bluetooth keyboard, such as those that are generally used with the computer.
Once you have the most suitable input device for your case, all you have to do is carry out the pairing procedure with your smartphone in the most classic way possible. To begin with, turn on the keyboard and set it to pairing mode: in general, devices turned on for the first time automatically enter this state; for all the others, on the other hand, it is sufficient to press and hold the power button until the relative LED begins to flash rapidly. In any case, to get more precise information about the keyboard model in your possession, I suggest you take a look at the user manual supplied.
After setting the keypad in the correct mode, take the phone, unlock it and go to the menu Settings> Connected devices> Connection preferences> Bluetooth of Android. If necessary and move up ON the switch located at the top of the screen, to enable this type of wireless connectivity.
At this point, touch the item Pair new device, wait a few moments for the name keyboard appears in the list of available devices and, when this happens, tap on it to put the two devices in communication.
Once connected, you will be able to immediately use the keyboard within any app for typing content: no additional configuration is required at this juncture.
USB keyboard
Alternatively, you can also connect the classic ones to the phone USB keyboards, be they with cable or equipped with RF receiver (therefore wireless). Either way, you'll still need to get hold of a small adapter, named USB OTG, which allows the connection of the USB-A connector in the absence of a common port. Before proceeding with the purchase, check the connection port resident on your smartphone (USB-C o micro-USB), to avoid buying an unsuitable device.
Using this device, you can connect any standard size USB keyboard (even wireless) to your smartphone; if, however, you deem it appropriate to use a smaller input device and, consequently, easily transportable, you can consider purchasing a mini-keyboard, such as the ones I propose below.
See offer on AmazonWhatever solution you have chosen, you can make the connection between smartphone and keyboard in a very simple way: first, enter the USB connector or RF receiver of the keyboard into the appropriate input of the OTG adapter, connect it to the phone and, if necessary, switch on the keyboard. The latter will be automatically recognized by Android and will be immediately functional, without the need for any additional configuration. Happy?
How to connect a keyboard to the phone: iPhone
It is your intention connect a keypad to the phone branded iOS, that is to the iPhone, it is good to point out a fundamental aspect of the matter right away: although the most recent versions of iOS have introduced partial support for external USB devices other than those with Apple certification, the latter may not work properly. In any case, in order to use them, it is then necessary to equip yourself with a special one USB / Lightning adapter.
With regard to the Bluetooth, on the other hand, things are much better: it is possible to use keyboards and, starting from iOS 13, even Bluetooth mice without having to have Apple certification, by carrying out the common pairing procedure and then going to act on a precise setting of iOS.
So, to connect a Bluetooth keyboard to iPhone, start by setting the first one in pairing mode. Once this is done, unlock the screen of the "iPhone by" and go to the menu Settings> Bluetooth of the latter. If necessary, move up ON the switch located at the top right, wait for the name on the keyboard appears under the heading other devices and press on it to establish the connection.
If, despite the risks, you have opted for the use of a USB keyboard, connect it to the USB / Lightning adapter and insert the latter into the iPhone input of the same name. In some cases, you may see a message regarding the incompatibility of the inserted device: with a little luck, however, it may still work correctly.
Regardless of the connection mode of your choice, to take full advantage of the keyboard you should be able to activate full keyboard access in the menu Settings> Accessibility iOS: once in this section, tap on the items Keyboards e Full keyboard access and, finally, move up ON the homonymous lever resident in the next screen.
If necessary, adjust the settings relating to its use, using the menus and items on this screen and in the one immediately preceding it.
How to connect the keypad to the phone
