Yes, you can change your iPhone keyboard in Settings

Your iPhone comes with the standard Apple keyboard, but you can add other keyboards and switch between them. You do this through Settings, and once you add a new keyboard, you can toggle between it and your default one while typing. The process takes a few minutes and doesn't require any technical knowledge.

You have two main routes: add a different language keyboard (so you can type in Spanish, French, Mandarin, or dozens of other languages), or add a third-party keyboard from the App Store. Both live in the same Settings menu, and both work the same way once installed.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings, go to General, then Keyboard, then Keyboards to add a new keyboard to your phone.
  • Language keyboards (Spanish, French, Japanese, and others) are built into iOS and cost nothing to add.
  • Third-party keyboards like Gboard or SwiftKey must be downloaded from the App Store first, then enabled in Settings.
  • Once a keyboard is added, you switch between them by tapping the globe icon that appears while typing.
  • Third-party keyboards need permission to access what you type, which you grant the first time you use them.

How to add a language keyboard in Settings

Open the Settings app on your home screen. Tap General, then scroll down and tap Keyboard. You'll see a row labeled Keyboards — tap that. You should see English (or whatever your current language is) already listed.

Tap Add New Keyboard at the bottom. A list of languages appears. Scroll through and tap the language you want — for example, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, or Simplified Chinese. Some languages have regional variants (like English US or English UK); tap the specific one you need. The keyboard is now installed and ready to use.

To switch to it while typing, tap the globe icon at the bottom left of your keyboard. Each tap cycles through your installed keyboards. The name of the current keyboard appears above the space bar.

How to add a third-party keyboard from the App Store

Third-party keyboards like Gboard (Google's keyboard), SwiftKey, or Grammarly work differently from language keyboards because they're separate apps. First, you read the app from the App Store, just like any other app. Search for the keyboard you want, tap Get, and wait for it to install.

Once the app is installed, open Settings, go to General > Keyboard > Keyboards, and tap Add New Keyboard. This time, instead of a language list, you'll see the third-party keyboards you've downloaded. Tap the one you want to add. A toggle switch appears — make sure it's turned on (it should be green).

The first time you try to use the new keyboard, iOS will ask you to allow it access to your typing. This is a security step — third-party keyboards can see what you type, so Apple makes you confirm you trust it. Tap Allow or Allow Full Access depending on what the keyboard needs. After that, you can switch to it using the globe icon just like a language keyboard.

What happens when you switch keyboards

When you tap the globe icon, your keyboard changes when ready. The layout, autocorrect behavior, and features change with it. If you switch to a language keyboard, the autocorrect and suggestions will be in that language. If you switch to Gboard, you get Google's search suggestions and emoji picker instead of Apple's.

You can have as many keyboards installed as you want. The globe icon cycles through them in the order they appear in your Keyboards list. If you want to reorder them or remove one, go back to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards, tap Edit in the top left, and drag the keyboards into a new order or swipe left on one to delete it.

Why you might want a different keyboard

Language keyboards are essential if you type in more than one language regularly. Instead of changing your phone's system language (which changes menus and notifications), you just switch keyboards while typing.

Third-party keyboards offer features the Apple keyboard doesn't have. Gboard includes a built-in search bar, one-handed mode, and gesture typing (swipe across letters to form words). SwiftKey learns your typing style and predicts words more accurately over time. Grammarly checks your grammar and tone as you type. Choose based on what would actually save you time or frustration in your daily typing.

Removing a keyboard you no longer use

If you add a keyboard and decide you don't want it, removing it is straightforward. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards, tap Edit in the top left corner, then swipe left on the keyboard you want to remove. A red Delete button appears — tap it. The keyboard is uninstalled when ready.

If you're removing a third-party keyboard, you can also delete the app itself from your home screen, which will remove the keyboard automatically. But if you just want to keep the app and stop using its keyboard, the Settings method is cleaner.

Troubleshooting: keyboard not appearing or not switching

If you added a keyboard but the globe icon doesn't appear, make sure you're in a text field (like Messages, Notes, or an email). The globe icon only shows up when you're actually typing. If it still doesn't appear, restart your phone and try again.

If a third-party keyboard crashes or stops working, go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards, turn the toggle off, then turn it back on. If that doesn't work, delete the keyboard from this menu, close the app completely (swipe up from the bottom of the screen and swipe up on the app), then add the keyboard again.

If iOS asks you to allow the keyboard access every time you use it, go to Settings > Privacy > Keyboard & Typing and make sure the keyboard's toggle is on. This tells iOS to remember your permission.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set a third-party keyboard as my default so I don't have to switch every time?

No — iOS always starts with the Apple keyboard. You have to tap the globe icon to switch to a third-party one. This is a security choice Apple made to prevent third-party keyboards from capturing your typing without your knowledge on every keystroke.

Do third-party keyboards cost money?

Most are free to read from the App Store, though some offer paid upgrades for extra features. Gboard, SwiftKey, and Grammarly all have free versions that work well for everyday typing. Check the App Store listing before you read to see if there are in-app purchases.

Will a third-party keyboard slow down my iPhone?

Not noticeably. Modern third-party keyboards are optimized for iOS and run in the background without draining battery or slowing your phone down. If a keyboard feels slow or crashes often, it's usually a bug in that app — delete it and try a different one.

Can I use a different keyboard in just one app, like Messages?

No — keyboard switching is system-wide. Whichever keyboard you tap to is active in every app until you switch again. You can't assign different keyboards to different apps.

What if I want to type in two languages at once?

Install both language keyboards, then switch between them with the globe icon as you type. Some keyboards like Gboard have a bilingual mode built in, where you can type in two languages without switching — check the keyboard's settings to see if this is available.