How to switch keyboards on your iPhone

You can add a new keyboard to your iPhone and switch between them while typing. Go to Settings, tap General, then Keyboard, then Keyboards. Tap Add New Keyboard and choose the language or layout you want. Once added, you can switch keyboards while typing by holding down the globe icon (or space bar, depending on your iOS version) and selecting the keyboard you need.

The globe icon appears on your keyboard once you have more than one keyboard installed. If you only see a space bar, press and hold it to see your keyboard options. The keyboard you use most recently will appear first the next time you switch.

Key Takeaways

  • Add keyboards through Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards > Add New Keyboard, then choose your language or layout.
  • Switch between keyboards while typing by tapping the globe icon or holding the space bar, depending on your iOS version.
  • You can add multiple keyboards for different languages, regional variants, and typing layouts like QWERTY, DVORAK, or Colemak.
  • Remove keyboards you no longer use by going to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards, tapping Edit, and swiping left to delete.

Adding a keyboard step by step

Open the Settings app and navigate to General. Scroll down and tap Keyboard. You will see a list of your current keyboards. Tap Keyboards at the top of the screen, then tap Add New Keyboard in the bottom right corner.

A list of available keyboards appears, organized by language. Tap the language or layout you want to add. Some languages offer multiple options — for example, you might see English (US), English (UK), or English (Australia). Select the variant you prefer. The keyboard is now installed and ready to use.

If you want to add a second variant of the same language — such as both Spanish (Spain) and Spanish (Mexico) — repeat this process. Each one appears as a separate keyboard you can switch to while typing.

Switching between keyboards while you type

Once you have installed more than one keyboard, a globe icon appears on your keyboard next to the space bar. Tap this icon to cycle through your keyboards one at a time. Each tap switches to the next keyboard in your list.

Alternatively, press and hold the globe icon to see all your installed keyboards at once. A menu pops up showing each one. Tap the keyboard you want to use. This method is faster if you have three or more keyboards and want to jump directly to one without cycling through the others.

On some older iOS versions, you may see a space bar instead of a globe icon. Press and hold the space bar to access your keyboard list. The behavior is the same — tap to switch or hold to see all options.

Removing keyboards you no longer need

Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards. Tap Edit in the top right corner. A list of your keyboards appears with a minus sign next to each one. Tap the minus sign next to any keyboard you want to remove, then tap Delete to confirm.

You must keep at least one keyboard installed. If you try to delete your last remaining keyboard, the delete button will not appear. If you want to switch to a completely different keyboard, add the new one first, then remove the old one.

Choosing between different keyboard layouts

Most languages offer the standard QWERTY layout, but some include alternatives. When you tap Add New Keyboard and select a language, look for options listed below the main language name. These might include DVORAK, Colemak, or other layouts designed for different typing speeds or hand positions.

If you use a non-QWERTY layout on a computer, adding the same layout to your iPhone lets you type the same way on both devices. You can install multiple layouts for the same language — for example, both QWERTY English and DVORAK English — and switch between them the same way you switch between languages.

Customizing keyboard settings beyond adding new ones

In Settings > General > Keyboard, you can adjust features that affect all your keyboards. Auto-Capitalization automatically capitalizes the first letter of sentences. Auto-Correction suggests corrections as you type. Check Spelling marks misspelled words with a red underline. You can turn any of these on or off.

Predictive Text shows word suggestions above your keyboard as you type. This feature works across all your keyboards, though the suggestions change based on which language you are using. Enable Dictation adds a microphone icon to your keyboard so you can speak instead of typing.

These settings apply globally. If you turn off auto-correction, it stays off for all keyboards. If you want different settings for different keyboards, you cannot do that — all keyboards share the same preferences.

Troubleshooting keyboards that do not appear or switch

If you added a keyboard but the globe icon does not appear, you may only have one keyboard installed. The globe icon only shows when you have two or more keyboards. Add a second keyboard and the icon will appear.

If the globe icon appears but tapping it does not switch keyboards, try closing and reopening the app you are typing in. Sometimes the keyboard list does not refresh until you restart the app. If that does not work, go back to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards and confirm your keyboards are still listed there.

If a keyboard you added is missing from your list, it may have been removed by a software update or a change to your iCloud settings. Add it again through the Add New Keyboard menu. If you use iCloud to sync settings across multiple Apple devices, check that your other devices have not removed the keyboard from your shared settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a third-party keyboard app instead of the built-in iPhone keyboard?

Yes. Third-party keyboard apps like Gboard, Microsoft SwiftKey, and others can be installed from the App Store. After installing, go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards > Add New Keyboard, find the app name in the list, and tap it. You can then switch to that keyboard while typing the same way you switch between built-in keyboards.

Will adding a keyboard use a lot of storage space on my iPhone?

No. Language and layout files are very small and built into iOS. Adding ten keyboards uses negligible storage. The only exception is third-party keyboard apps, which can be several megabytes depending on the app.

If I delete a keyboard, will I lose any text or data?

No. Deleting a keyboard only removes the keyboard itself from your device. It does not affect any messages, notes, or other data you have typed. You can add the keyboard back anytime through Settings.

Why does my keyboard switch automatically when I receive a message in another language?

Your iPhone does not automatically switch keyboards. If this appears to happen, you may have accidentally tapped the globe icon, or a third-party keyboard app may have a feature that changes keyboards based on context. Check your keyboard settings and third-party app settings to see if this behavior is enabled.

Can I set a default keyboard so it always appears first?

No. iOS does not have a setting to choose a default keyboard. The keyboard you used most recently appears first when you switch. If you want a specific keyboard to be your primary one, use it regularly and it will stay at the top of your keyboard list.