The fastest way to switch keyboard languages on iPhone

Open Settings, tap General, then Keyboard. Tap Keyboards (the second option in that menu), then tap Add New Keyboard. Scroll through the list, find the language you want, and tap it. The keyboard is now installed and ready to use.

Once you have added a keyboard, you can switch between languages while typing. When the keyboard is open, hold down the globe icon (or space bar, depending on your iOS version) until a menu appears showing all your installed keyboards. Tap the one you want. The next time you tap in a text field, that keyboard will be your default until you switch again.

If you have only one keyboard installed, the globe icon will not appear. You need at least two keyboards for the switcher to show up.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards > Add New Keyboard to install a new language keyboard.
  • Once installed, hold the globe icon (or space bar) while typing to see all your keyboards and pick a different one.
  • You can install as many keyboard languages as you want, and switch between them when ready while composing text.
  • Removing a keyboard you no longer use keeps your keyboard menu clean and faster to navigate.

How to remove a keyboard language you no longer need

Go back to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards. You will see a list of all installed keyboards. Tap Edit in the top-left corner, then tap the red minus sign next to any keyboard you want to remove. Tap Delete to confirm, then tap Done.

Removing a keyboard does not affect your text or messages. It only takes the keyboard off your switcher menu, so you will not see it when you hold the globe icon.

Switching keyboards while you are typing

The easiest method is to hold down the globe icon at the bottom of the keyboard. A small menu will pop up showing all your installed keyboards. Keep your finger on the globe and slide to the keyboard you want, then release. The keyboard will switch when ready.

On some older iPhone models or iOS versions, you may see a space bar switcher instead of a globe icon. The action is the same: hold it down, slide to your language, and release.

If you only have one keyboard installed, you will not see a globe icon at all. The switcher only appears when you have two or more keyboards active.

Setting a default keyboard language

iPhone does not have a permanent default keyboard setting. Instead, the keyboard you used last becomes the active one the next time you open a text field. If you always want to start in English, make sure English is the last keyboard you use before closing the app.

Some third-party keyboards (like Gboard or SwiftKey) have their own language settings within the app itself. If you are using one of those, you can set a preferred language inside that keyboard's settings, separate from the iPhone keyboard switcher.

Adding multiple regional versions of the same language

If you speak Spanish from Spain and Spanish from Mexico, or English from the US and English from the UK, you can install both. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards > Add New Keyboard, and you will see regional options listed under each language name. Tap the region you want, and it will be added as a separate keyboard.

Each regional keyboard has its own dictionary and autocorrect rules. Spanish (Spain) will correct differently than Spanish (Mexico), for example. This is useful if you switch between regions or want autocorrect tuned to your local spelling.

Troubleshooting keyboards that do not appear or switch

If you added a keyboard but it does not show up in the switcher, restart your iPhone. Hold the power button, slide to power off, wait 10 seconds, then hold power again until the Apple logo appears. This refreshes the keyboard system.

If the globe icon is not appearing at all, you likely have only one keyboard installed. Add a second one, and the switcher will appear. If you have two or more keyboards but still do not see the globe, go to Settings > General > Keyboard and make sure Enable Keyboard Shortcuts is turned on (it usually is by default).

If a keyboard is installed but typing in it produces no text, go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards, tap Edit, remove that keyboard, and add it again. This usually fixes corrupted keyboard data.

Using Siri or dictation in different languages

Siri and the microphone button on your keyboard use the language set in Settings > General > Language & Region. This is separate from your keyboard language. If you want Siri to understand Spanish but type in English, you can do that: set your system language to English, add a Spanish keyboard, and Siri will still respond in English.

To use Siri in a different language, go to Settings > Siri & Search > Language and pick a new one. The microphone button on your keyboard will then listen in that language, even if your keyboard is set to English.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use multiple keyboards at the same time?

Yes. You can install as many keyboard languages as you want and switch between them while typing by holding the globe icon. There is no limit to how many you can have active at once.

Will changing my keyboard language change my system language?

No. Your keyboard language and your system language (the language your menus and apps display in) are separate settings. You can type in Spanish while your iPhone menus stay in English, or vice versa.

What if I do not see the language I want in the keyboard list?

Most major languages are available. If you do not see yours, check under regional variants — for example, Chinese keyboards are listed as Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Cantonese, and others. If it truly is not there, that language may not have a dedicated keyboard on iOS.

Do I need to read anything to add a new keyboard language?

No. All keyboard languages are built into iOS. Adding a keyboard takes only a few taps in Settings and uses no additional storage.

Can I set different keyboards for different apps?

No. Your keyboard switcher is system-wide. Whichever keyboard you last used will be the active one in any app you open. You can switch it manually in each app, but you cannot assign a specific keyboard to a specific app.