The fastest way to switch keyboards on iPhone

You can add a new keyboard to your iPhone in Settings, then switch between them by tapping the globe icon on your keyboard. Open Settings, tap General, then Keyboard, then Keyboards. Tap Add New Keyboard, choose the language or layout you want, and tap it again to confirm. Once you've added it, the globe icon appears on your keyboard's bottom left — tap it to cycle through your active keyboards.

The whole process takes about two minutes. You don't need to restart your phone, and you can add as many keyboards as you use regularly.

Key Takeaways

  • Add a new keyboard through Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards > Add New Keyboard, then select your language or layout.
  • Switch between keyboards by tapping the globe icon on the bottom left of your keyboard — each tap cycles to the next one.
  • You can add multiple keyboards at once and keep them all active, so you don't have to remove one to use another.
  • If you don't see the globe icon, you only have one keyboard installed — add a second one first.
  • Third-party keyboards like Gboard or SwiftKey can be installed from the App Store and set as your default in Settings > General > Keyboard.

Adding a keyboard step by step

Start in the Settings app on your home screen. Tap General — it's usually near the top of the list. Then tap Keyboard. You'll see a section labeled Keyboards with a list of keyboards you already have installed. Below that is a button that says Add New Keyboard.

Tap Add New Keyboard. A list appears showing every keyboard layout and language Apple includes on your phone. Scroll through to find what you need. If you're looking for a specific language, search by the first letter — for example, scroll down to find Spanish, French, German, or Japanese. Tap the one you want.

A second screen appears asking you to confirm. Tap the keyboard name again. It's now installed and appears in your Keyboards list. You can repeat this process to add as many as you need.

Switching between keyboards while typing

Once you have more than one keyboard installed, a globe icon appears on the bottom left of your keyboard, just to the left of the space bar. Tap it once to switch to your next keyboard. Tap it again to cycle to the one after that. If you have three keyboards installed, tapping the globe three times brings you back to the first one.

The keyboard name appears briefly at the top of the screen when you switch, so you know which one is active. This works in any app where you type — Messages, Mail, Notes, search boxes, or third-party apps.

Removing a keyboard you no longer use

Go back to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards. Find the keyboard you want to remove in the list. Tap Edit in the top right corner. A red minus sign appears next to each keyboard. Tap the minus sign next to the one you want to delete, then tap Delete to confirm.

If you only have one keyboard left, the globe icon disappears from your keyboard — you won't need it anymore. You can always add the keyboard back later using the same steps.

Installing a third-party keyboard from the App Store

Apple's built-in keyboards cover most languages and layouts, but you can also install keyboards made by other companies. Open the App Store, search for a keyboard by name — Gboard, SwiftKey, and Microsoft Swiftkey are popular options — and tap Get, then Install.

After installation, go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards > Add New Keyboard. The third-party keyboard now appears in the list. Tap it to add it. You can then switch to it using the globe icon like any other keyboard.

To make a third-party keyboard your default (so it opens automatically), go to Settings > General > Keyboard, scroll down to the section labeled with the keyboard's name, and toggle Allow Full Access on if you want it to learn your typing patterns. Some third-party keyboards require this permission to work fully.

Changing keyboard settings for a specific language

Some keyboards have options you can adjust. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards, then tap Edit. Find the keyboard you want to customize and tap it (not the minus sign). A settings screen opens where you can change things like auto-correction, capitalization, or spell-check for that specific keyboard.

These settings explore only to that keyboard. If you have both English and Spanish installed, you can turn auto-correction on for English and off for Spanish, for example. Tap Done when you're finished.

Troubleshooting: the globe icon isn't showing

If you don't see a globe icon on your keyboard, you only have one keyboard installed. Add a second one using the steps above, and the globe will appear. If you've added a second keyboard but the globe still isn't there, try closing and reopening the app you're typing in, or restart your phone.

If a third-party keyboard isn't appearing in your keyboard list after you install it, go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards > Add New Keyboard and look again — sometimes it takes a moment to show up. If it's still not there, try uninstalling the app and reinstalling it from the App Store.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set a keyboard as my default so I don't have to tap the globe every time?

No — iOS always starts with your first installed keyboard and requires you to tap the globe to switch. You can't set a permanent default. However, if you use one keyboard much more than others, you can delete the ones you rarely use, so you have fewer to cycle through.

Will changing my keyboard affect autocorrect or spell-check?

Each keyboard can have its own autocorrect and spell-check settings. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards, tap Edit, then tap the keyboard name to adjust these features individually for that keyboard.

What's the difference between a keyboard layout and a keyboard language?

A language keyboard (like Spanish or French) changes the letters and characters available. A layout keyboard (like QWERTY or Dvorak) changes the physical arrangement of keys. Most people add language keyboards; layout keyboards are less common unless you use a non-standard typing system.

Can I use two keyboards at the same time?

No — only one keyboard is active at a time. But you can switch between them when ready by tapping the globe icon, so it feels nearly seamless if you use two regularly.

Do I need to pay for third-party keyboards?

Most third-party keyboards are free to read from the App Store, though some offer paid upgrades for extra features. Check the App Store listing before you install to see the price.