You can change your iPhone keyboard in Settings, and you have three main routes: add a new keyboard language, switch to a different keyboard app entirely, or adjust how your current keyboard works

The fastest change is adding a second language keyboard. Open Settings, tap General, then Keyboard, then Keyboards. Tap Add New Keyboard and pick a language — Spanish, French, Mandarin, whatever you need. Once added, you switch between them by holding the space bar or tapping the globe icon while typing.

If you want a completely different keyboard app — Gboard, SwiftKey, or Fleksy, for example — you read it from the App Store, open Settings, go to General > Keyboard > Keyboards, tap Add New Keyboard, find the app you installed, and toggle it on. The app then appears as an option when you tap the globe icon during typing.

You can also change how your current keyboard behaves: turn off autocorrect, adjust text size, enable one-handed mode, or switch between QWERTY and other layouts. All of these live in Settings > General > Keyboard.

Key Takeaways

  • Adding a language keyboard takes two minutes and lets you switch between them by holding the space bar while typing.
  • Third-party keyboard apps like Gboard or SwiftKey must be downloaded from the App Store first, then enabled in Settings under Keyboards.
  • Once a new keyboard is added, you switch to it using the globe icon that appears on your keyboard during typing.
  • You can customize your current keyboard's behavior — autocorrect, text size, one-handed mode — without downloading anything new.

Adding a Second Language Keyboard

Open Settings on your home screen. Tap General, then scroll down and tap Keyboard. You will see Keyboards listed — tap it. The screen shows your current keyboard (usually English). Tap the blue Add New Keyboard button at the bottom.

A list of languages appears. Scroll through and tap the one you want — Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Arabic, or dozens of others. Some languages offer multiple regional variants (English US, English UK, English Australia). Pick the one that matches where you are or what you prefer. The keyboard is now added to your list.

When you type in any app, a globe icon appears on the keyboard. Tap it to cycle through your keyboards, or hold down the space bar to see all of them at once and pick one. The keyboard switches when ready. You can add as many language keyboards as you need — there is no limit.

Installing and Using a Third-Party Keyboard App

Third-party keyboards like Gboard (Google's keyboard), SwiftKey (Microsoft), or Fleksy offer different features: Gboard includes Google search and GIF insertion, SwiftKey learns your typing style, Fleksy focuses on gesture typing. Open the App Store, search for the keyboard you want, and tap Get, then Install. You will need to authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or your Apple ID password.

Once installed, open Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards. Tap Add New Keyboard. The app you just installed now appears in the list. Tap it, then toggle the switch to on. A permissions screen may appear asking if you want to allow full access — this lets the app learn your typing patterns and sync data. You can toggle this on or off depending on your privacy preference.

The new keyboard now appears in your keyboard switcher. Tap the globe icon while typing and select it, or hold the space bar to see all options. You can keep multiple third-party keyboards installed and switch between them the same way you switch language keyboards.

Changing Keyboard Settings Without Installing Anything New

If you want to keep your current keyboard but change how it works, go to Settings > General > Keyboard. You will see toggles for Auto-Correction, Predictive, Check Spelling, and Caps Lock. Turn any of these off if they annoy you — for example, many people disable Auto-Correction because it changes words they did not intend to change.

Character Preview shows a larger version of each letter as you tap it; turn this off if you find it distracting. Keyboard Feedback controls whether you feel a vibration when you tap keys. Scroll down and you will find One-Handed Keyboard — toggle this on and your keyboard shrinks and slides to one side of the screen, useful if you are typing with one hand.

If you want to change your keyboard layout from QWERTY to DVORAK or another system, tap Keyboards, tap English (or your language), and you will see layout options. Most people stick with QWERTY, but the option is there if you need it.

Switching Between Keyboards While You Type

Once you have added multiple keyboards, switching is straightforward. While typing in any app, look at the bottom left of the keyboard — you will see a globe icon. Tap it once to switch to your next keyboard. Tap it again to cycle to the next one. If you have many keyboards, hold down the globe icon (or the space bar on some keyboards) and a menu appears showing all your keyboards at once. Tap the one you want.

The keyboard switches when ready. Your text input continues in the new keyboard — nothing you typed is lost. This works in Messages, Mail, Notes, web browsers, and any other app where you type.

Removing a Keyboard You No Longer Use

Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards. Tap Edit in the top right corner. Red minus signs appear next to each keyboard. Tap the minus sign next to any keyboard you want to remove, then tap Delete. Tap Done when finished.

You must keep at least one keyboard enabled at all times — you cannot delete your last keyboard. If you want to remove a third-party keyboard app entirely, you can also delete it from your home screen or from the App Store, but removing it from your keyboard list in Settings is faster if you just want to stop using it for typing.

Troubleshooting Keyboards That Do Not Appear

If you added a keyboard but it does not show up in your switcher, go back to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards and check that the toggle next to it is turned on. A gray toggle means the keyboard is disabled. Tap it to turn it on.

For third-party apps, make sure the app itself is fully installed and updated. Open the App Store, go to Updates, and check if the keyboard app has a pending update. Install it if it does. If the keyboard still does not appear, delete the app and reinstall it — sometimes a fresh install fixes the problem.

If the globe icon does not appear while typing, restart your iPhone. Hold down the power button and volume button together, slide to power off, wait a few seconds, then hold the power button again until you see the Apple logo. This resets the keyboard system and usually fixes the issue.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No — iOS always defaults to your first keyboard in the list. If you want a different keyboard to be the default, go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards, tap Edit, and drag the keyboard you want to the top of the list. It will now be your starting keyboard each time you open a text field.

Do third-party keyboards slow down my iPhone?

Not noticeably. Third-party keyboards use minimal processing power. The only real impact is storage — Gboard uses about 100 MB, SwiftKey about 80 MB. If your iPhone is low on storage, uninstalling unused apps will free up more space than removing keyboards.

Can I use emoji keyboards or special character keyboards?

Yes. The emoji keyboard is built in — tap the globe icon and look for it, or tap the smiley face icon on your keyboard if it appears. For special characters, add a language keyboard that includes them (Greek, Arabic, Cyrillic, etc.). Some third-party apps like Gboard also include symbol packs.

What happens if I turn off full access for a third-party keyboard?

The keyboard still works, but it cannot learn your typing patterns, sync data to the cloud, or access certain features. Gboard, for example, needs full access to use Google search from the keyboard. You can toggle full access on or off anytime in Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards, then tap the app name.

Can I use different keyboards in different apps?

No — your keyboard choice applies to all apps. When you switch keyboards, that keyboard becomes active everywhere until you switch again. Some third-party apps have their own built-in text input fields that may use different keyboards, but the system keyboard is global.