Add and replace text in Pages on iPad
There are a number of ways to add text to a document. You can replace placeholder text in a template; add text in a text box outside the main document body, such as in a sidebar; and add text inside a shape.
In a word processing document, you can have text in the main body of the document, then add text boxes for things like sidebars. In a page layout document, all text is contained in one or more text boxes.
Tip: If you have an iPad model with M1 or later, or iPad mini with A17 Pro, you can use Writing Tools with Apple Intelligence to summarise selected text with a tap, proofread your work, and create different versions of the same text to help you find the right wording and tone. You can also use ChatGPT with Writing Tools to compose and refine text. Select the text you want to work with, then tap 
in the toolbar. To learn more about Apple Intelligence, see the iPad User Guide.
Add text in a word processing document
Go to the Pages app
on your iPad.Open a document, then do one of the following:
Add text in a blank template: Just start typing.
Replace placeholder text: Tap the placeholder text to select it, then start typing.
The entire block of placeholder text is replaced by what you type. To remove placeholder text completely, tap it, then tap
.
Add text outside of body text: To add content such as a sidebar, add a text box, then add text (see the next task).
Some placeholder text is written in scrambled Latin words. The text you type will appear in the language you use for your computer.
In word processing documents, a new page is added automatically when you reach the end of the page or you can add a page break anywhere to start the next line on a new page. In a page layout document, you can add a blank page anywhere in your document. See Add pages.
Add text in a text box
Go to the Pages app
on your iPad.Open a document, tap
, then tap Text in the Basic category.A text box appears on the page (you can change how the text looks later).
Drag the text box to where you want it.
If you can’t move the box, tap outside the box to deselect the text, then tap the text once to select its text box.
Double-tap the placeholder text, then enter your own.
To resize the text box, do one of the following:
If the box is too small for the text: Select the text box, then drag the clipping indicator
until all text is showing. You can also drag a selection handle.If the box is too large for the text: Select the text box, then drag a selection handle to resize the text box.
To delete a text box, select it, then tap Delete.
You can also link a text box to another text box to accommodate overflow text. See Link text boxes.
A text box is an object that can be modified like most other objects; you can rotate it, change its border, fill it with a colour, layer it with other objects and more. You can also change the appearance of text within the box — including its font, colour, size and alignment.
You can also copy a text box and its contents from another document or from Keynote or Numbers.
Add text inside a shape
Go to the Pages app
on your iPad.Open a document with a shape.
Double-tap the shape to make the insertion point appear, then type your text.
If there’s too much text to display in the shape, a clipping indicator appears. To resize the shape, tap it, then drag any selection handle until all the text is showing.
You can change the look of text inside the shape just like any other text.
To add a caption or label to an object, see Create a caption for an image or other object.
If you have an Apple Pencil, you can use Scribble to turn handwriting into text. See Turn handwriting into text.