The fastest way to switch keyboards on iPhone

To change your keyboard on iPhone, open Settings, tap General, then Keyboard, then Keyboards. Tap "Add New Keyboard" at the bottom, choose the keyboard you want from the list, and tap it. The new keyboard will appear in your keyboard menu the next time you type. You can switch between keyboards by tapping the globe icon on your keyboard while typing.

If you don't see a globe icon, you only have one keyboard installed. Once you add a second keyboard, the globe appears and lets you cycle through your options with a single tap. You can also hold the globe icon to see all available keyboards at once and jump directly to the one you want.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards > Add New Keyboard to install a different keyboard layout or language.
  • The globe icon on your keyboard lets you switch between installed keyboards while you are typing.
  • You can hold the globe icon to see all keyboards at once instead of tapping through them one by one.
  • Third-party keyboards from the App Store work the same way but require you to grant them permission to access your typing in Settings > Keyboard > Keyboards.
  • Removing a keyboard is done in the same Keyboards menu by swiping left on the keyboard name and tapping Delete.

Where to find the keyboard settings menu

Open the Settings app on your home screen. Tap General, which is usually near the top of the list. Scroll down and tap Keyboard. You will see a list of your current keyboards and an option to "Add New Keyboard" at the bottom.

If you are using an iPad, the path is the same: Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards. The process works identically on both devices.

Adding a built-in Apple keyboard

Tap "Add New Keyboard" and you will see a list of keyboards Apple includes with iOS. These include different languages (Spanish, French, German, Mandarin, Japanese, and many others), different layouts for English (QWERTY, DVORAK, COLEMAK), and specialized keyboards like Emoji. Tap the one you want to add.

Some languages have multiple options. For example, Spanish offers both Spain Spanish and Latin American Spanish. Japanese offers both Hiragana and Romaji input. Choose the version that matches how you type, then tap it. The keyboard is now installed and ready to use.

Switching between keyboards while typing

When you have more than one keyboard installed, a globe icon appears in the bottom left corner of your keyboard, just to the left of the space bar. Tap it once to switch to your next keyboard. Tap it again to cycle to the next one, and keep tapping to rotate through all installed keyboards.

If you want to see all your keyboards at once instead of cycling through them, hold your finger on the globe icon. A menu pops up showing every keyboard you have installed. Tap the one you want to use when ready. This is faster than tapping the globe multiple times if you have three or more keyboards.

Installing third-party keyboards from the App Store

You can also read keyboards made by other companies. Open the App Store, search for a keyboard (examples include Gboard, SwiftKey, or Fleksy), and tap Get to read it. Once installed, go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards > Add New Keyboard, and you will see the third-party keyboard in the list. Tap it to add it.

Third-party keyboards require permission to work. When you first try to use one, iOS will ask if you want to allow it to access your typing. You must tap Allow for the keyboard to function. You can change this permission later in Settings > Keyboard > Keyboards by tapping the keyboard name and toggling "Allow Full Access" on or off.

Removing a keyboard you no longer use

Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards. Find the keyboard you want to remove and swipe left on it. A red Delete button appears. Tap Delete to remove it. The keyboard is uninstalled when ready and will no longer appear in your keyboard menu.

You cannot delete your default keyboard (usually English QWERTY) if it is your only keyboard. You must have at least one keyboard installed at all times. If you try to delete your last keyboard, iOS will prevent it.

Changing your default keyboard

iOS does not have a setting to choose which keyboard appears first when you start typing. Your default keyboard is always the one you used most recently. If you want a different keyboard to be your default, use it for a few messages or emails, and iOS will learn your preference over time.

Alternatively, you can always tap the globe icon once or twice to reach the keyboard you want before you start typing. This is faster than waiting for iOS to learn your habit.

Frequently Asked Questions

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 only see one keyboard in Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards, add a second one and the globe will appear. You need at least two keyboards for the switching feature to work.

Can I use a keyboard from another country on my iPhone?

Yes. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards > Add New Keyboard and scroll through the list. Apple includes keyboards for dozens of languages and regions. Tap the one you want and it will be added to your menu. You can switch to it anytime using the globe icon.

Do third-party keyboards slow down my iPhone?

Third-party keyboards use a small amount of memory and battery, but most users do not notice a difference. If you find a third-party keyboard is slowing down your typing or draining battery quickly, remove it in Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards by swiping left and tapping Delete, then go back to Apple's built-in keyboards.

What happens if I delete a keyboard by mistake?

You can reinstall it when ready. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards > Add New Keyboard and tap the keyboard name again. It will be restored to your menu. No data is lost because keyboard settings are not stored on the keyboard itself.

Can I customize the layout of my keyboard?

Apple's built-in keyboards cannot be customized. However, some third-party keyboards from the App Store offer customization options like different themes, key layouts, or gesture controls. read one and check its settings to see what options are available.