The fastest way to switch keyboard languages

Open Settings, then tap System or System and device (the exact name depends on your phone maker). Look for Languages and input or Input and language. Tap Virtual keyboard or On-screen keyboard, then select your keyboard app — usually Gboard if you use Google's keyboard. Tap Languages and toggle on the language you want to use. Once you add it, you can switch between languages by tapping the globe icon on your keyboard while typing.

If you use a different keyboard app like SwiftKey or Samsung Keyboard, the steps are similar but the menu names change slightly. The principle is the same: go to Settings, find the keyboard app, add the language, and use the globe icon to switch while typing.

Some phones let you set a default language for each app, so your email keyboard might use English while your messaging app uses Spanish. This happens in the same Settings menu under keyboard preferences, though not all phones support it.

Key Takeaways

  • Most Android phones use Gboard, where you add languages through Settings > Languages and input > Virtual keyboard > Gboard > Languages.
  • Once you add a second language, a globe icon appears on your keyboard that lets you switch between them while typing.
  • Different keyboard apps (SwiftKey, Samsung Keyboard, etc.) have slightly different menu names but the same basic process.
  • You can add as many languages as you want, and switching between them takes one tap on the globe icon.

Adding a language to Gboard step by step

Open Settings on your phone. Scroll down and tap System (on some Samsung phones, this is called System and device). Tap Languages and input. You should see your current keyboard listed — usually Gboard.

Tap Gboard (or whatever your keyboard app is called). Tap Languages. You will see a list of languages already on your phone. Tap Add language or the plus icon. Scroll through the list and tap the language you want. If the language has regional variants (like English US or English UK), choose the one you prefer.

Once you add it, you are done. The language now appears in your keyboard settings. The next time you open a text field and tap the keyboard, you will see a globe icon at the bottom. Tap it to cycle through your languages.

How to switch languages while you are typing

When you have more than one language added, a globe icon appears on your keyboard, usually at the bottom left or bottom right depending on your keyboard layout. Tap it once to switch to your next language. Tap it again to cycle to the next one. Keep tapping until you reach the language you want.

Some keyboards show you which language is active in the space bar itself — you might see "ENG" or "ESP" displayed there. This helps you know which language your next keystroke will use. If you have three languages added, tapping the globe cycles through all three.

You can also long-press the globe icon on some keyboards to see a menu of all your languages at once, which is faster if you have many languages added. Try holding your finger on the globe for a second to see if a menu appears.

Adding languages to Samsung Keyboard

If you use a Samsung phone with Samsung Keyboard, the process is slightly different. Open Settings, tap General management, then Language and input. Tap On-screen keyboard or Virtual keyboard, then tap Samsung Keyboard.

Tap Languages and types or Languages. You will see a list of languages you can add. Tap the plus icon or Add language. Select the language you want. Once added, the globe icon on your keyboard will let you switch between them.

Samsung Keyboard works the same way as Gboard once the languages are added — tap the globe to cycle through them, or long-press to see all options at once.

Using SwiftKey or other third-party keyboards

SwiftKey is another popular keyboard app. To add languages, open the SwiftKey app itself (not Settings). Tap the gear icon for settings. Look for Languages or Keyboard languages. Tap the plus icon to add a new language. Select your language and confirm.

SwiftKey also uses a globe icon to switch languages while typing. The switching process is identical to Gboard — tap the globe to cycle through your languages. SwiftKey can also learn your typing patterns in each language separately, so it gets better at predicting your words the more you use it.

If you use a different keyboard app, look for a settings or preferences option within the app itself. Most third-party keyboards follow the same pattern: open the app, find the language settings, add your language, and use the globe icon to switch.

Removing a language you no longer need

If you added a language by mistake or no longer use it, you can remove it. Open Settings, go to Languages and input, tap your keyboard app, then tap Languages. Find the language you want to remove and tap the minus icon or swipe left on it. Confirm the removal.

Once removed, that language will no longer appear when you tap the globe icon. You can add it back anytime by following the same steps to add a language.

What to do if the globe icon does not appear

If you added a second language but the globe icon is not showing on your keyboard, try closing and reopening your keyboard. Open any text field and tap it to bring up the keyboard, then close it and try again. Sometimes the keyboard needs to refresh to show the new language option.

If the globe still does not appear, check that you actually added the language. Go back to Settings > Languages and input > your keyboard app > Languages and confirm the language is listed there. If it is, try restarting your phone. If it is not, add it again.

On some older Android phones or custom keyboards, the globe icon might be in a different location — check the top row of your keyboard or look for a language abbreviation (like "EN" or "ES") that you can tap to switch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set different languages for different apps?

Some Android phones and keyboards support per-app language settings, but it is not standard across all devices. Check your keyboard settings under language preferences to see if this option exists. If it does, you can usually set a default language for each app separately. Most phones do not have this feature, so you will switch languages manually as needed.

What if my language is not in the list?

Most major languages are available in Gboard and Samsung Keyboard. If your language is not there, try searching for a regional variant — for example, if you want Portuguese, you might find Portuguese (Brazil) or Portuguese (Portugal). If your language truly is not available, consider switching to SwiftKey or another third-party keyboard, which sometimes has a wider language selection.

Will switching languages affect my autocorrect or word predictions?

Yes. Each language has its own dictionary and prediction model. When you switch to a different language, your keyboard will predict words and correct spelling based on that language's rules. This is why switching languages is useful — your keyboard learns what is correct in each language separately.

Can I use two languages at the same time in one message?

You can type in two languages in the same message by switching between them with the globe icon, but your keyboard will only predict words based on whichever language is currently active. Some advanced keyboards like SwiftKey can detect when you are mixing languages and adjust predictions accordingly, but this is not standard.

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

No. Languages are built into your keyboard app and do not require separate downloads. When you add a language through Settings, you are straightforward turning on a language that is already on your phone. The only exception is if you switch to a completely different keyboard app like SwiftKey, which you would read from the Google Play Store.