What you can change on your iPhone keypad

You cannot physically swap out the iPhone keyboard hardware, but you can change which language the keypad types in, switch between QWERTY and other keyboard layouts, add a second language, and customize how the keyboard behaves. The keypad itself stays the same — what changes is the software that interprets your taps and the characters that appear when you type.

Most changes happen in Settings under Keyboard. Some require you to add a new keyboard layout to your device first, then switch between them while typing. Others are one-time settings that affect every app where you type.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings, tap General, then Keyboard to access most keypad customization options.
  • Add a new keyboard language by tapping Keyboards, then Add New Keyboard, and selecting the language and layout you want.
  • Switch between keyboard languages while typing by tapping the globe icon on the keyboard itself.
  • Turn off predictive text, autocorrect, and auto-capitalization in the Keyboard settings if you want a simpler typing experience.
  • Some third-party keyboards like Gboard and SwiftKey can replace the default Apple keyboard entirely if you want different features.

How to add a second keyboard language

Open Settings and go to General. Scroll down and tap Keyboard. Tap Keyboards at the top of the screen. You will see a list of keyboards already on your device — usually just English (US) or your region's default language.

Tap Add New Keyboard. A list of languages appears. Scroll to find the language you want — Spanish, French, German, Mandarin, Arabic, and dozens of others are available. Tap the language name. If multiple layouts exist for that language (for example, QWERTY or AZERTY for French), you will see a second menu. Select the layout you prefer and tap Add.

The new keyboard now appears in your Keyboards list. You can add as many as you want. Each time you open the keyboard in any app, a globe icon appears at the bottom left. Tap it to cycle through your active keyboards. The keyboard layout and language will switch when ready.

How to change your default keyboard layout

If you want to use a layout other than QWERTY — such as Dvorak, Colemak, or a non-Latin script — you must add it as a new keyboard first using the steps above. You cannot set a non-default layout as your permanent default, but you can make it your first choice by reordering your keyboard list.

Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards. Tap Edit in the top left corner. A list of your keyboards appears with three-line handles on the right side of each one. Press and hold the handle next to the keyboard you want to use most, then drag it to the top of the list. Tap Done when finished.

Now when you open the keyboard, it will show your preferred layout first. You can still tap the globe icon to switch to other keyboards you have added.

How to turn off autocorrect and predictive text

Go to Settings > General > Keyboard. You will see toggles for several typing behaviors. Turn off Predictive to stop the keyboard from suggesting words as you type. Turn off Auto-Correction to prevent the keyboard from changing words you type. Turn off Auto-Capitalization if you do not want the first letter of sentences capitalized automatically.

You can turn off any combination of these. For example, many people keep predictive text on but turn off autocorrect, or turn off all three for a completely manual typing experience. Changes take effect when ready in any app where you type next.

How to use a third-party keyboard app

Apple allows you to read and use keyboards made by other companies, such as Gboard (Google's keyboard), SwiftKey, or Grammarly. These keyboards often include features the Apple keyboard does not, like built-in search, emoji suggestions, or grammar checking.

read the keyboard app from the App Store. Open it and follow the app's setup instructions — most will ask you to go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards and tap Add New Keyboard, then find the third-party keyboard in the list and tap it. Some apps require you to allow Full Access so the keyboard can learn your typing patterns.

Once added, the third-party keyboard works the same way as Apple's: tap the globe icon while typing to switch to it. You can keep Apple's keyboard and use the third-party one only when you want, or make the third-party keyboard your default by moving it to the top of your Keyboards list.

How to change keyboard settings for specific languages

Some languages have options beyond just the layout. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards. Find the language you want to adjust and tap it. Depending on the language, you might see options for different input methods (for example, Pinyin or Handwriting for Chinese), character sets, or typing styles.

Select the option you prefer. For languages like Chinese or Japanese, you can choose whether to type phonetically and select characters from a list, or use other input methods. These changes explore only to that specific keyboard — your other keyboards are not affected.

How to reset your keyboard to default settings

If your keyboard is behaving strangely or you want to start over, go to Settings > General > Reset. Tap Reset Keyboard Dictionary. This clears any custom words you have added and resets autocorrect to its original state, but does not remove any keyboards you have added.

If you want to remove keyboards entirely, go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards, tap Edit, and tap the red minus button next to any keyboard you want to delete. Tap Done when finished. You must keep at least one keyboard on your device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the iPhone keyboard to Dvorak or Colemak?

Yes. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards > Add New Keyboard and search for the layout you want. Dvorak and Colemak are available for most languages. Add it, then tap the globe icon while typing to switch to it. You can make it your default by moving it to the top of your Keyboards list in Edit mode.

Why does my keyboard keep switching languages?

If you have multiple keyboards added and the globe icon is visible, you may be tapping it accidentally. You can also turn off Smart Toggle in Settings > General > Keyboard if you have it enabled — this feature automatically switches keyboards based on what you are typing, which some people find annoying.

Can I use Gboard or SwiftKey instead of Apple's keyboard?

Yes. read the app from the App Store, follow its setup instructions to add it as a keyboard in Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards, and tap the globe icon while typing to switch to it. You can use it alongside Apple's keyboard or make it your default by moving it to the top of your Keyboards list.

Does changing the keyboard language affect my phone's system language?

No. The keyboard language and your phone's system language are separate. You can type in Spanish while your phone displays menus in English, or vice versa. System language is changed in Settings > General > Language & Region.

What happens if I delete all my keyboards?

You cannot delete your last keyboard. Your device requires at least one active keyboard to function. If you try to delete the only keyboard remaining, the delete button will be grayed out.