Prerequisites

• I have read the Contributing Guidelines.
• I agree to follow the Code of Conduct.
• I have searched for existing issues that already include this feature request, without success.

Describe the Feature Request

ion-datetime (wheel) + ion-picker supports a “numeric input mode” when the user taps a numeric column: the picker focuses an internal , shows the OS keypad, and lets users type to update both hour and minute columns.

There’s currently no public API to trigger the same behavior programmatically (e.g., from a button or accessibility shortcut).

Describe the Use Case

• Accessibility: provide a keyboard/assistive-tech control to enter numeric mode.

• UX: offer an “Edit time” button that behaves exactly like a tap.

• Automated testing & consistency across platforms.

Describe Preferred Solution

Expose a safe, documented method:

// on ion-picker (and used by ion-datetime internally)
enterInputMode(column?: HTMLIonPickerColumnElement | 'hour' | 'minute', options?: { focus?: boolean }): void;
exitInputMode(): void;

// or on ion-datetime (delegates to internal picker)
enterInputMode(scope?: 'all' | 'hour' | 'minute', options?: { focus?: boolean }): void;

Behavior should mirror a real tap:

• Set internal input-mode state (multi-column when scope === 'all').

• Emit the same event columns currently listen for.

• focus the hidden input to open the keypad.

Describe Alternatives

No response

Related Code

Any datetime/picker

Additional Information

Without a public API, it’s impossible to trigger numeric input mode via assistive technology (e.g., VoiceOver/ TalkBack actions, hardware keyboard shortcuts, or custom accessibility buttons). This can prevent certain users from easily adjusting time values, especially those with motor impairments who find wheel scrolling difficult.