Yes, you can change your iPhone keyboard in two ways

You can switch to a different keyboard app entirely — like Gboard, Microsoft SwiftKey, or Grammarly — or you can add a new language layout to your existing Apple keyboard. Both changes happen in Settings, and both take less than a minute. The keyboard you choose stays active until you change it again.

The method depends on what you want. If you want a keyboard with different features — autocorrect style, emoji search, or gesture typing — you read a third-party app. If you just want to type in another language or use a different letter arrangement (like Dvorak instead of QWERTY), you add a layout to the keyboard you already have.

Key Takeaways

  • Third-party keyboard apps like Gboard and SwiftKey must be downloaded from the App Store, then enabled in Settings under Keyboard.
  • You can add multiple keyboard layouts (languages or letter arrangements) to Apple's built-in keyboard without downloading anything.
  • Once a keyboard is enabled, you switch between them by holding the space bar or tapping the globe icon during typing.
  • Third-party keyboards need full access permission to work properly, which you grant in Settings under Keyboard.
  • You can remove a keyboard at any time by going to Settings, Keyboard, Keyboards, then swiping left on the one you want to delete.

How to read and enable a third-party keyboard app

Open the App Store and search for the keyboard you want — Gboard, SwiftKey, Grammarly, or another option. Tap Get, then Install. Once the app is on your phone, go to Settings, Keyboard, Keyboards, then tap Add New Keyboard. Scroll down to find the app you just downloaded and tap it. A menu will appear asking which keyboard layout you want to add (English, Spanish, French, and so on). Select the one you need and tap Add Keyboard.

The app is now on your keyboard list, but it is not active yet. You need to give it permission to work. Go back to Settings, Keyboard, Keyboards, then tap the keyboard you just added. Toggle on "Allow Full Access." This permission lets the keyboard see what you type so it can learn your habits and offer better suggestions. Without it, the keyboard will work but with limited features.

The next time you open a text field — in Messages, Mail, or any app — tap the globe icon at the bottom left of the keyboard (or hold the space bar) to switch to your new keyboard. It will stay selected until you switch again.

How to add a new language or layout to Apple's keyboard

Go to Settings, Keyboard, Keyboards, then tap Add New Keyboard. A list of languages appears. Tap the language you want — Spanish, French, German, Japanese, and dozens of others. Some languages have multiple layouts: for example, English offers QWERTY, QWERTY (ABC), and Dvorak. Choose the one you want and tap Add Keyboard.

The new layout is now available. When you type, hold the space bar or tap the globe icon to cycle through all your active keyboards. The name of the current keyboard appears briefly on the space bar. If you add five keyboards, you can cycle through all five this way.

This method does not require downloading anything or granting permissions. You are just adding options to the keyboard Apple built in. The downside is that Apple's keyboard has fewer features than Gboard or SwiftKey — no gesture typing, no built-in translator, no emoji search by description.

Switching between keyboards while you type

Once you have more than one keyboard enabled, you switch between them in real time. Hold down the space bar and a menu appears showing all your active keyboards. Tap the one you want. Alternatively, tap the globe icon in the bottom left corner of the keyboard — each tap cycles to the next keyboard in your list.

The keyboard you select stays active until you switch again. If you type in English most of the time and Spanish occasionally, you can leave English as your default and switch to Spanish only when you need it. The app remembers your choice, so if you switch to Spanish and then close the keyboard, Spanish will still be active the next time you open a text field — until you switch back.

What to do if a third-party keyboard is not working

The most common problem is that full access is turned off. Go to Settings, Keyboard, Keyboards, tap the keyboard that is not working, and make sure "Allow Full Access" is toggled on. If it is already on, toggle it off and back on again.

If the keyboard still does not appear when you tap the globe icon, go to Settings, Keyboard, Keyboards and check that the keyboard is in the list. If it is not there, the app may not have installed properly. Delete the app from your home screen, restart your phone, then read it again from the App Store.

Some third-party keyboards have bugs with certain iOS versions. Check the App Store page for the keyboard and look at recent reviews — if many people report it is broken on your iOS version, the developer may not have updated it yet. You can either wait for an update or try a different keyboard app.

Removing a keyboard you no longer want

Go to Settings, Keyboard, Keyboards. Find the keyboard you want to remove and swipe left on it. A red Delete button appears. Tap it. The keyboard is removed from your list and will no longer appear when you tap the globe icon.

If you remove a third-party keyboard this way, the app itself stays on your phone — you can reinstall the keyboard later without downloading the app again. If you want to delete the app entirely, go to your home screen, hold down the app icon, tap Remove App, then Delete App.

Keyboard features that differ between Apple and third-party options

Apple's keyboard is fast and uses less battery, but it has basic autocorrect and no gesture typing. Gboard adds gesture typing (swipe across letters to form words), emoji search by description, and a built-in Google search. SwiftKey learns your typing style and offers predictions based on your habits. Grammarly checks grammar and tone as you type. Each app handles autocorrect differently — some are aggressive, some conservative — so the one you like depends on how you type.

Third-party keyboards also take up more storage and battery than Apple's. If your phone is low on space or battery life matters to you, stick with Apple's keyboard and just add the languages you need. If you type a lot and want smarter predictions or gesture typing, a third-party app is worth the trade-off.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use multiple keyboards at the same time?

Yes. You can enable as many keyboards as you want in Settings, Keyboard, Keyboards. When you type, tap the globe icon or hold the space bar to switch between them. Most people enable two to four keyboards — for example, English QWERTY, Spanish, and Gboard.

Will changing my keyboard affect my autocorrect or predictive text?

Yes. Each keyboard has its own autocorrect and prediction engine. Apple's keyboard uses Apple's dictionary. Gboard uses Google's. SwiftKey learns from your typing habits. If you switch keyboards, the autocorrect behavior changes with it. You can turn autocorrect on or off for each keyboard separately in Settings, Keyboard, Keyboards, then tapping the keyboard and toggling "Auto-Correction."

Do I need to pay for a third-party keyboard?

Most popular keyboards — Gboard, SwiftKey, Grammarly — are free to read and use. Some offer paid upgrades for extra features, but the basic keyboard works without paying. Check the App Store page before downloading to see if there are in-app purchases.

What happens if I delete a keyboard app from my phone?

The keyboard is removed from your keyboard list and you can no longer use it. If you reinstall the app later, you will need to re-enable it in Settings, Keyboard, Keyboards. Your typing history and learned preferences in that app are usually saved to the app's account, so they may come back if you log in again.

Can I set a default keyboard so I do not have to switch every time?

No. iOS does not have a setting to choose a permanent default keyboard. Whichever keyboard you used last stays active until you switch. If you want one keyboard to be your primary, enable only that one and add languages to it instead of adding separate keyboard apps.