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Where to find the '.com' button in Safari on iOS 7

The popular shortcut to enter a URL extension in Mobile Safari has disappeared with the update to iOS 7. Or has it? Here's where you can find it.

Jason Cipriani Contributing Writer, ZDNet
Jason Cipriani is based out of beautiful Colorado and has been covering mobile technology news and reviewing the latest gadgets for the last six years. His work can also be found on sister site CNET in the How To section, as well as across several more online publications.
Jason Cipriani

Jason Cipriani/CNET

After updating to iOS 7 and launching Safari for the first time, you may notice the .com button is gone. This is the button you could tap and hold to bring up other domain extensions, without having to type them out as in previous versions of iOS.

Comparing Safari keyboards from iOS 6 (left) and iOS 7 (right) Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET

iOS 7 combines the search and address field in Safari into one "smart search" field, allowing you to enter either a search query or a URL using the same keyboard layout. You'll no longer see common URL characters on the keyboard, along with the disappearance of the extension shortcut key.

Now when entering a URL in Safari on iOS 7, you'll see the standard keyboard layout. Don't be fooled, however, the shortcut to quickly add .org or .com to the URL is still there. But where?

Just tap and hold. Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET

Easy. Tap and hold on the period key until the shortcuts show up. The list defaults to .com, but you can slide your finger to select another extension. The selected text will be entered when you release your finger.

It's hidden, but really simple to use. During early betas of iOS and even onstage at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference, the .com button was still present at the expense of shrinking down the spacebar. Developers often complained of accidentally hitting the shortcut key instead of the spacebar when typing a search query and thus Apple came up with this solution.