Add Spanish to your iPhone keyboard in Settings

You can type in Spanish on your iPhone by adding a Spanish keyboard layout to your device. Open Settings, tap General, then Keyboard, then Keyboards. Tap Add New Keyboard and scroll down to find Spanish. Tap it, then choose which Spanish variant you want — most people choose Spanish (Spain) or Spanish (Latin America) depending on where you are or who you write to. The keyboard appears in your list when ready and is ready to use.

The difference between variants matters if you use special characters or punctuation. Spanish (Spain) includes the Ñ key in a slightly different position than Spanish (Latin America). Both work perfectly for typing Spanish text — the choice is about which layout feels natural to you or matches the Spanish you speak.

Key Takeaways

  • Spanish keyboards are added through Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards > Add New Keyboard, and you choose between Spanish (Spain) and Spanish (Latin America) based on your preference.
  • Once added, you switch between your English and Spanish keyboards by tapping the globe icon that appears on the keyboard itself.
  • The Spanish keyboard includes the Ñ character and accented vowels (á, é, í, ó, ú) as dedicated keys, not hidden behind long-presses.
  • You can add multiple Spanish variants if you write to people in different countries, and iOS remembers which one you used last.
  • Removing a keyboard you no longer use is done in the same Settings menu by swiping left on the keyboard name and tapping Delete.

Switch between English and Spanish while typing

Once you have added a Spanish keyboard, a globe icon appears on the bottom left of your keyboard, next to the space bar. Tap it once to switch to Spanish. Tap it again to switch back to English. You can tap it as many times as you need within a single message or document — iOS remembers which keyboard you were using last and defaults to it the next time you open that app.

If you add more than two keyboards, tapping the globe cycles through all of them in order. You can also long-press the globe icon to see a list of all your keyboards and jump directly to the one you want, which is faster if you have three or more languages installed.

Find Spanish letters and accents on the keyboard

The Spanish keyboard layout includes keys you will not see on an English keyboard. The Ñ appears as its own key on the right side of the letter row. Accented vowels — á, é, í, ó, ú — are also separate keys, positioned above the number row. This means you do not have to long-press or hunt for them; they are as quick to type as any regular letter.

If you need an upside-down question mark (¿) or exclamation point (¡) at the start of a sentence, long-press the question mark or exclamation point key. A menu appears with the inverted versions. Tap the one you need and it inserts into your text.

Add multiple Spanish keyboard variants

You can add both Spanish (Spain) and Spanish (Latin America) to the same iPhone if you write to people in different regions. Go back to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards > Add New Keyboard, and repeat the process for the second variant. Both appear in your keyboard list, and you can switch between them using the globe icon just as you would with English and Spanish.

This is useful if you work with teams across different Spanish-speaking countries or if you want to match the spelling and punctuation conventions of the region you are communicating with. You can delete one later if you find you only use one variant — swipe left on its name in the Keyboards list and tap Delete.

Use Siri and dictation in Spanish

If you have a Spanish keyboard added, you can also use Siri and dictation in Spanish. When the Spanish keyboard is active, tap the microphone icon on your keyboard to dictate text instead of typing it. Siri will transcribe your speech in Spanish as long as your device language or the active keyboard is set to Spanish.

To change your device language to Spanish entirely, go to Settings > General > Language & Region and select Spanish. This changes menus and system text to Spanish as well. You do not have to do this just to type in Spanish — adding the keyboard alone is enough — but it is an option if you prefer to use your iPhone primarily in Spanish.

Troubleshoot if the Spanish keyboard is not appearing

If you added a Spanish keyboard but it is not showing up, restart your iPhone. Press and hold the side button and either volume button until the power-off slider appears, then drag it to turn off the device. Wait a few seconds, then press and hold the side button again until the Apple logo appears. The keyboard should be available once the device restarts.

If the keyboard still does not appear after a restart, go back to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards and check that Spanish is listed there. If it is not, tap Add New Keyboard again and select Spanish. If you see it listed but it is grayed out or inactive, tap it once to set up it. You should then see the globe icon on your keyboard the next time you open a text field.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the Spanish keyboard layout to QWERTY instead of the default?

iOS does not offer layout options within the Spanish keyboard itself — you get the standard Spanish layout when you select Spanish. If you strongly prefer QWERTY, you could add English and type Spanish words using English keys, but you would lose the Ñ and accented vowels as dedicated keys. Most people find the Spanish layout intuitive after a few days of use.

What is the difference between Spanish (Spain) and Spanish (Latin America)?

The main difference is the position of some keys and how certain letters are arranged. Spanish (Spain) reflects the keyboard layout used in Spain, while Spanish (Latin America) reflects layouts common in Mexico, Central America, and South America. Both include the Ñ and accented vowels. Choose based on where you are or which Spanish you speak — either one works for typing Spanish text correctly.

Do I need to remove my English keyboard to add Spanish?

No. You can keep both keyboards active at the same time and switch between them with the globe icon. Most people keep English and Spanish both available so they can type in either language without having to add or remove keyboards.

Will adding a Spanish keyboard change my iPhone's language to Spanish?

No. Adding a keyboard only affects typing — your iPhone menus, settings, and system text stay in whatever language your device is set to. You can type in Spanish without changing your device language at all.

Can I use voice dictation to type Spanish text?

Yes. When your Spanish keyboard is active, tap the microphone icon on the keyboard and speak in Spanish. Your iPhone will transcribe your speech into Spanish text. Make sure you are speaking clearly and in a quiet environment for the best results.