Switch Your iPhone Keyboard to a Different Language in Three Steps

To change your iPhone keyboard language, open Settings, tap General, then Keyboard, then Keyboards. Tap "Add New Keyboard" and select the language you want. Once added, you can switch between languages while typing by tapping the globe icon on your keyboard, or by holding it to see all your active keyboards at once.

The process takes less than a minute and works the same way on all iPhone models running iOS 15 or later. You can add as many keyboards as you need and switch between them when ready without restarting your phone or closing any apps.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings, go to General > Keyboard > Keyboards, and tap "Add New Keyboard" to install a new language keyboard.
  • The globe icon on your keyboard lets you switch between active languages without leaving the app you are using.
  • You can hold down the globe icon to see all your keyboards at once and pick one directly instead of cycling through them.
  • Removing a keyboard you no longer use frees up space and reduces clutter in your keyboard switcher menu.

Finding the Keyboard Settings on Your iPhone

Start by opening the Settings app on your home screen. Tap the gray gear icon if you do not see it when ready — it is usually on the first or second page. Once Settings opens, look for "General" near the top of the list and tap it.

Inside General, scroll down until you see "Keyboard" and tap it. This screen shows all your current keyboards and gives you the option to add more. If you have never added a second keyboard, you will see only your default language listed here.

Adding a New Keyboard Language

On the Keyboard screen, tap the button that says "Add New Keyboard" at the bottom. A list of available languages appears — it includes dozens of options, from Spanish and French to Japanese, Arabic, and Mandarin Chinese. Scroll through the list and tap the language you want to add.

Some languages offer multiple keyboard layouts. For example, Spanish has both the standard layout and an alternative layout. If your language shows options, tap the one you prefer. Once you select it, the new keyboard is installed and ready to use when ready.

Switching Between Keyboards While You Type

When you open any app that uses text input — Messages, Mail, Notes, or a web browser — your keyboard appears at the bottom of the screen. If you have more than one keyboard installed, a globe icon appears on the keyboard, usually to the left of the space bar. Tap this globe icon once to switch to your next keyboard.

Each tap cycles to the next language in your list. If you have three keyboards installed, tapping the globe three times brings you back to the first one. To see all your keyboards at once and pick one directly, hold down the globe icon for a second until a menu pops up showing all your active keyboards.

Removing Keyboards You No Longer Need

If you added a keyboard but no longer use it, you can remove it to reduce clutter. Go back to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards. Find the keyboard you want to remove and swipe left on it. A red "Delete" button appears — tap it to remove that keyboard from your phone.

Removing a keyboard does not delete any text or messages you typed in that language. It only removes the keyboard layout from your list. You can always add it back later by following the same steps to add a new keyboard.

Using Predictive Text and Autocorrect in Multiple Languages

When you switch to a different keyboard language, your iPhone automatically switches its dictionary and autocorrect rules to match. This means if you type in Spanish, autocorrect will suggest Spanish words and correct Spanish spelling mistakes. The same applies to every other language you add.

Predictive text — the suggestions that appear above your keyboard — also changes based on your current language. If you notice that suggestions are not appearing or seem wrong, check that you are using the correct keyboard for the language you are typing. You can also turn predictive text on or off for each language separately in the Keyboard settings if you prefer.

Keyboard Shortcuts for Faster Language Switching

If you switch languages frequently, holding the globe icon is faster than tapping it multiple times. The menu that appears shows all your keyboards with their names clearly labeled, so you can jump directly to the one you need without cycling through them.

On some iPhone models, you can also customize which keyboard appears first in your list. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards, then tap "Edit" in the top left. Drag the three horizontal lines next to each keyboard to reorder them. Moving your most-used keyboard to the top means it will be the default when you open a new text field.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use two keyboards for the same language?

Yes. Some languages like English, Spanish, and Chinese offer multiple keyboard layouts. You can add both QWERTY and AZERTY layouts for French, for example, or both Pinyin and Handwriting for Chinese. Each appears as a separate option in your keyboard switcher.

What happens if I delete a keyboard by mistake?

You can add it back when ready by going to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards and tapping "Add New Keyboard" again. No data is lost — you are only removing the keyboard layout, not any messages or documents you typed.

Why is the globe icon not showing on my keyboard?

The globe icon only appears when you have two or more keyboards installed. If you see only one keyboard in your Settings, add a second one and the globe will appear. If you have multiple keyboards but no globe, restart your phone and try again.

Can I change the keyboard language for just one app?

No. Your keyboard languages are system-wide and explore to every app on your phone. However, you can switch keyboards when ready while typing in any app, so you can use different languages in different conversations without changing your settings.

Does changing keyboard language affect my phone's display language?

No. Keyboard language and display language are separate. You can have your iPhone display in English while using a Spanish keyboard, or any other combination. To change your display language, go to Settings > General > Language & Region.