Keyboard and trackpad
Type with the on-screen keys or a hardware keyboard, and point with a trackpad or mouse.
The keys bar
The toolbar's keys send what the iPhone keyboard doesn't have: Escape, Tab, Return, the arrows, Home, End, Page Up and Page Down, and these menus:
- Edit: Undo, Redo, Cut, Copy, Paste, Paste and Match Style, Select All.
- Commands: Application Windows, Desktop, Mission Control, Move Left a Space and Move Right a Space; Minimise, Hide, Hide Others, Close Window or Tab and Quit; Force Quit…, Lock Screen and Log Out User….
- Function keys: F1 to F12.
- Mission Control and Spotlight.
- Type User Password: types the Mac password saved for this Mac, for example at a login window. BoxView asks first; Settings › Privacy can also ask for Face ID.
Modifier keys
Fn, Shift, Control, Option and Command work like sticky keys:
- Tap once: the key applies to the next key or click, for example ⌘ then a click for ⌘-click.
- Tap twice quickly: it stays on (locked), shown with a bar under it.
- Tap again: off.
A small note above the toolbar says whether a key is held for the next key or locked.
With Fn on, the arrows send Page Up, Page Down, Home and End, and Delete deletes forwards.
A hardware keyboard
Keys go straight to the Mac, Command included. Option combinations are made by the Mac, so they follow the Mac's keyboard layout.
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Switch Apps with ⌘-Return | iOS keeps ⌘-Tab for itself. With this on, ⌘-Return sends ⌘-Tab to the Mac. |
| Local Option Key | Keeps the left or right Option key on the iPhone, so iOS types accented characters such as é. |
| Key Repeat | Repeats a held key, with its own interval and delay. |
| Swap Cmd ⌘ and Control ⌃ Keys | In the Mac's Advanced settings, for keyboards laid out for Windows. |
Shortcuts:
| Keys | What they do |
|---|---|
| ⌥Esc | Show or hide the toolbar |
| ⌥⇥ | Open the Quick switcher |
| Hold Esc and press = or - | Zoom in or out around the pointer |
| Hold Esc and press 0 | Fit every display |
A plain Escape still reaches the Mac when you let go of it.
A trackpad or mouse
On iPhone, turn on AssistiveTouch first (Settings › Accessibility › Touch › AssistiveTouch). iOS then passes the pointer to BoxView, which says Trackpad pointer detected.
The trackpad moves, clicks, right-clicks, drags and scrolls on the Mac, with smooth scrolling. Moving past the edge of the screen moves the view.
Dictation
Tap Dictation and speak: BoxView types what you say on the Mac. The first time, allow Speech Recognition for BoxView.