Switch to a Different Keyboard in Three Steps

To change your keyboard on Android, you go to Settings, find the keyboard or input method section, and select a different one from the list of installed keyboards. The exact path depends on your phone's manufacturer — Samsung, Google Pixel, and other brands organize settings differently — but the principle is the same on all of them. Once you pick a new keyboard, it becomes your default and appears whenever you tap a text field.

The keyboard you see right now is called your default input method. Android lets you install multiple keyboards and switch between them without uninstalling anything. You can have Google's Gboard, Samsung's keyboard, SwiftKey, and others all installed at once, then flip between them depending on what you're doing.

Key Takeaways

  • Your keyboard lives in Settings under "Languages and input" or "Input methods," depending on your phone brand.
  • You must first enable a keyboard in the input method settings before you can set it as your default.
  • Once enabled, you can switch keyboards by holding down the space bar or tapping the keyboard icon in the bottom right of your keyboard itself.
  • Gboard (Google's keyboard) comes pre-installed on most Android phones, but you can read others from the Google Play Store for free.
  • Changing your default keyboard does not remove the old one — both stay installed unless you uninstall it separately.

Find the Keyboard Settings on Your Phone

Open Settings and look for a section called "Languages and input," "Input methods," or "Keyboard and input methods." On a Google Pixel, it's under Settings > System > Languages and input. On a Samsung phone, go to Settings > General management > Language and input. Other manufacturers place it in slightly different spots, but the name is always similar.

Once you're in that section, you'll see a list of installed keyboards. Each one has a toggle switch next to it. If the keyboard you want to use is not listed, you need to read it first from the Google Play Store — search for the keyboard by name (Gboard, SwiftKey, Fleksy, etc.) and tap Install.

Enable the Keyboard You Want to Use

Find the keyboard you want to switch to in the input methods list. If it's already there but the toggle is off, tap the toggle to turn it on. This tells Android that you're allowing this keyboard to be used on your phone. Enabling a keyboard does not automatically make it your default — it just makes it available.

If the keyboard is not in the list at all, you'll need to read it first. Go to the Google Play Store, search for the keyboard's name, and tap Install. Once it's installed, go back to Settings and you should see it in the input methods list. Turn the toggle on.

Set Your New Keyboard as the Default

After you've enabled the keyboard, look for an option called "Default keyboard," "Default input method," or "Current keyboard." Tap it and select the keyboard you want to use. This is your new default — it will appear whenever you open a text field, send a message, or type an email.

On some phones, you might see a button that says "Set as default" directly next to the keyboard name. On others, there's a separate "Default" section at the top of the input methods page. Either way, once you've selected it, that keyboard becomes active.

Switch Between Keyboards Without Changing Your Default

You don't have to change your default keyboard every time you want to use a different one. If you have multiple keyboards enabled, you can switch between them on the fly. Hold down the space bar while typing, and a menu appears showing all your enabled keyboards. Tap the one you want to use for that message or note.

Alternatively, look for a small keyboard icon in the bottom right corner of your keyboard. Tap it and you'll see a list of enabled keyboards. Select the one you want. This is faster than going back to Settings if you switch keyboards often.

read a New Keyboard from the Google Play Store

If you want to try a keyboard that's not already on your phone, open the Google Play Store and search for it by name. Popular options include Gboard (made by Google), SwiftKey (made by Microsoft), Fleksy, and Chrooma. Each one has different features — some focus on speed, others on customization, and some offer gesture typing or voice input.

Tap Install on the keyboard you want. Once it downloads, go back to Settings > Languages and input, enable it in the list, and set it as your default if you want to use it right away. You can uninstall it later from the Play Store if you don't like it.

Uninstall a Keyboard You No Longer Want

If you have keyboards installed that you don't use, you can remove them. Open the Google Play Store, search for the keyboard by name, and tap Uninstall. This removes it from your phone completely. Pre-installed keyboards like Gboard usually can't be uninstalled — you can only disable them by turning off the toggle in Settings.

Disabling a keyboard (turning off the toggle) keeps it installed but prevents it from showing up in your keyboard switcher. You can turn it back on anytime. Uninstalling removes it entirely and frees up storage space.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I find the keyboard settings on my phone?

The path varies by manufacturer. Try searching Settings for "keyboard" or "input method" using the search bar at the top of Settings. If your phone doesn't have a search bar, look under General management (Samsung), System (Pixel), or Settings > About phone > Advanced settings (other brands).

Can I use multiple keyboards at the same time?

Yes. You can enable as many keyboards as you want and switch between them using the space bar hold or the keyboard icon. Only one is your default, but the others stay available for quick switching.

What if my keyboard doesn't appear in the input methods list after I install it?

Restart your phone. Sometimes newly installed keyboards don't show up until you reboot. If it still doesn't appear, uninstall it from the Play Store and reinstall it. Make sure you're downloading from the official Google Play Store, not a third-party app store.

Will changing my keyboard delete my messages or data?

No. Changing your keyboard only changes how you type — it doesn't touch your messages, contacts, photos, or any other data on your phone.

Can I customize the appearance of my keyboard?

Most keyboards have settings for themes, colors, and layout. Open the keyboard's settings by going to Settings > Languages and input, finding your keyboard, and tapping Settings or Preferences next to its name. Each keyboard has different customization options.