Switch Your Keyboard in Settings

To change your iPhone keyboard, open Settings, then tap General, then Keyboard. From there, tap Keyboards to see which keyboards are currently installed on your phone. You can add a new keyboard by tapping Add New Keyboard, which shows you a list of available languages and keyboard layouts. Select the one you want, and it will appear in your keyboard list when ready.

Once you have added a keyboard, you can switch between them while typing. When you are in any text field—an email, a message, a note—look for the globe icon at the bottom left of your keyboard. Tap it once to cycle through your installed keyboards. Each tap moves to the next keyboard in your list. The name of the active keyboard appears briefly on the spacebar as you switch.

Key Takeaways

  • Add new keyboards in Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards > Add New Keyboard, then select the language or layout you want.
  • Switch between keyboards while typing by tapping the globe icon at the bottom left of your keyboard.
  • You can reorder your keyboards by going back to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards and dragging them into a new order.
  • Removing a keyboard you no longer use keeps your keyboard switcher uncluttered—tap Edit in the Keyboards list, then tap the red minus button next to any keyboard.
  • Third-party keyboards from the App Store can replace Apple's default keyboard if you prefer a different design or feature set.

Reorder Your Keyboards for Faster Switching

If you use multiple keyboards regularly, you can arrange them so your most-used one comes first. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards, then tap Edit in the upper left corner. You will see three horizontal lines next to each keyboard. Press and hold those lines, then drag the keyboard up or down to reorder it. Tap Done when you are finished.

The keyboard at the top of your list will be the one that appears first when you tap the globe icon. This saves you from cycling through keyboards you rarely use. If you have five keyboards installed but only use two regularly, moving those two to the top means you will reach them in one or two taps instead of five.

Remove Keyboards You No Longer Need

Keyboards you do not use take up space in your switcher menu and slow down your typing workflow. To delete one, go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards, tap Edit, and tap the red minus button next to the keyboard you want to remove. Tap Delete to confirm, or tap Done to cancel.

You can always add the keyboard back later by following the same steps you used to add it the first time. Removing a keyboard does not affect any text you have already typed in that language.

Install a Third-Party Keyboard from the App Store

Apple's built-in keyboards cover most languages and layouts, but if you want a different design, additional features, or a specialized keyboard, you can read one from the App Store. Search for the keyboard name—popular options include Gboard, SwiftKey, and Fleksy—and tap Get, then Install. You will need to use Face ID or your Apple ID password to confirm the read.

After installation, the app will prompt you to enable the keyboard in Settings. Tap Allow, and you will be taken to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards. The new keyboard will already be listed. Tap it to turn on the toggle switch, then return to any text field and tap the globe icon to use it. Third-party keyboards work the same way as Apple's—tap the globe to switch between them.

One important note: third-party keyboards may ask for permission to access your typing data or contacts. Read the privacy policy before you install one, and only grant permissions you are comfortable with. You can change these permissions later in Settings > Privacy.

Troubleshoot a Keyboard That Will Not Appear

If you added a keyboard but it does not show up when you tap the globe icon, the keyboard may not be enabled. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards and check that the toggle switch next to your keyboard is turned on (it should be green). If the toggle is already on, try turning it off and back on again.

If you are trying to use a third-party keyboard and it still does not appear, close the app completely and reopen it. Some third-party keyboards require you to grant full access before they work properly. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards, tap the third-party keyboard, and turn on the Allow Full Access toggle. This lets the keyboard access your clipboard and other typing data, which some keyboards need to function.

Use Predictive Text and Autocorrect with Your New Keyboard

When you switch to a new language keyboard, iPhone automatically adjusts its predictive text and autocorrect to match that language. You do not have to change any settings manually. If you are typing in English and switch to Spanish, the suggestions and corrections will be in Spanish.

If you find that autocorrect is too aggressive or making mistakes in a particular language, you can adjust it in Settings > General > Keyboard. You can turn off Auto-Correction entirely, or turn off Predictive to stop suggestions from appearing. These changes affect all your keyboards, so if you turn off autocorrect, it will be off for English, Spanish, and any other keyboard you use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use two keyboards at the same time?

No, you can only type with one keyboard at a time. However, you can install as many keyboards as you want and switch between them when ready by tapping the globe icon. This is useful if you type in multiple languages or prefer different keyboard layouts for different tasks.

Will changing my keyboard affect my saved passwords or data?

No. Changing your keyboard does not affect any of your personal data, passwords, or saved information. It only changes the layout and language of the keys you see on screen.

What is the difference between a keyboard layout and a keyboard language?

A keyboard language determines what characters appear and what autocorrect and predictive text suggestions you get. A keyboard layout determines the physical arrangement of keys—for example, QWERTY versus DVORAK. Most languages have one standard layout, but some languages offer multiple layouts to choose from.

Can I set a default keyboard so I do not have to switch every time?

iOS does not have a setting to lock a specific keyboard as default. However, the keyboard you used most recently will be the one that appears first when you open a text field. If you always start typing in English, your English keyboard will stay at the top of your rotation.

Do third-party keyboards work on all apps?

Most third-party keyboards work in any app where you can type, including Mail, Messages, Notes, and web browsers. However, some apps with custom security features—like banking apps or password managers—may not allow third-party keyboards for safety reasons. If a keyboard does not appear in a specific app, that app has restricted it.