Add a new keyboard language in Settings

To type in a different language on your iPhone, you first add that language as a keyboard through the Settings app. Open Settings, tap General, then tap Keyboard. At the bottom of the screen, tap Keyboards, then tap Add New Keyboard. A list of languages appears — scroll through and tap the language you want to add.

Your iPhone will show you keyboard options for that language. For example, if you choose Spanish, you can pick between Spanish (Spain) or Spanish (Latin America). Tap the version you want. The keyboard is now installed and ready to use.

You can add as many keyboards as you need. Most people add two or three languages they use regularly. Each one stays on your phone until you remove it, so you only have to do this once per language.

Key Takeaways

  • Add a new keyboard by opening Settings, going to General, then Keyboard, then Keyboards, then Add New Keyboard.
  • When you type in any app, hold down the globe icon on the keyboard to switch between your installed languages when ready.
  • You can add multiple keyboards for the same language if you use different layouts — for example, QWERTY and AZERTY French keyboards.
  • Removing a keyboard you no longer use frees up space and keeps your keyboard switcher less cluttered.

Switch between languages while typing

Once you have added a keyboard, switching to it is quick. In any app where you type — Messages, Mail, Notes, or anywhere else — look at the bottom left of the keyboard. You will see a globe icon with a country name or language code next to it. Tap and hold that globe icon.

A menu pops up showing all your installed keyboards. Tap the one you want to switch to. The keyboard layout changes when ready, and you can start typing in that language. Tap and hold the globe again to switch back.

If you only have two keyboards installed, you can tap the globe once instead of holding it — this toggles between your two languages without showing the menu. This is faster if you switch back and forth between the same two languages constantly.

Remove a keyboard language you no longer need

If you added a keyboard but no longer use it, you can delete it to keep your keyboard list clean. Open Settings, go to General, then Keyboard, then Keyboards. Find the language you want to remove and swipe left on it. A red Delete button appears — tap it to remove that keyboard.

Removing a keyboard does not erase anything from your phone. Your messages, notes, and typing history stay intact. You can always add the keyboard back later if you change your mind.

Customize keyboard settings for each language

Some languages have multiple keyboard layouts available. For example, French has both QWERTY and AZERTY layouts, and Arabic has multiple script options. When you add a keyboard, you choose the layout during setup, but you can change it later.

Go to Settings, General, Keyboard, Keyboards, then tap Edit in the top right. Find the language you want to adjust and tap it. A list of available layouts for that language appears. Tap the layout you prefer, and it updates when ready.

You can also add the same language twice with different layouts if you need both. For example, you might add French QWERTY and French AZERTY as separate keyboards, then switch between them the same way you switch between different languages.

Use predictive text and autocorrect in other languages

When you switch to a different keyboard language, your iPhone automatically switches its dictionary and autocorrect to match. If you type a word that is misspelled in that language, the phone suggests corrections in that language.

Predictive text — the suggestions that appear above the keyboard as you type — also changes to show words in the language you are using. This works for most major languages, though less common languages may have limited prediction.

If autocorrect keeps changing words you want to keep, you can turn it off for that specific keyboard. Go to Settings, General, Keyboard, then toggle off Auto-Correction. This affects all your keyboards, so you may want to leave it on and straightforward tap the X next to unwanted suggestions instead.

Troubleshoot when a keyboard language is not showing

If you added a keyboard but it does not appear when you tap the globe, restart your iPhone. Sometimes a newly added keyboard does not show up in the switcher until the phone restarts. Hold down the power button and volume button together, slide to power off, wait a few seconds, then turn it back on.

If the keyboard still does not appear after a restart, go back to Settings, General, Keyboard, Keyboards and check that the language is actually listed there. If it is missing, add it again. If it is listed but not showing in the switcher, try removing it and adding it once more.

If you are trying to add a keyboard but the language does not appear in the list, your iPhone may need a software update. Go to Settings, General, Software Update and install any available updates. New languages are sometimes added in iOS updates.

Switch keyboard languages on the lock screen

You can change your keyboard language even before you unlock your phone. When you are on the lock screen and tap to enter your passcode, the globe icon still appears at the bottom of the keyboard. Tap and hold it to switch languages, just as you would in any other app.

This is useful if you need to type a password or message in a different language before unlocking. The language you select stays active until you switch it again, so if you unlock and open an app, you will still be using the keyboard language you chose on the lock screen.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No — iOS always defaults to your first installed keyboard when you open a new app or restart your phone. The best workaround is to add only the keyboards you use regularly and arrange them in the order you use them most. You can reorder keyboards by going to Settings, General, Keyboard, Keyboards, tapping Edit, then dragging them into a new order.

Will changing my keyboard language affect my phone's system language?

No. Your keyboard language and your system language are separate. You can have your iPhone's menus and settings in English while typing in Spanish, French, or any other language you add. Changing one does not change the other.

What happens if I type a password in a different keyboard language?

Your password is stored exactly as you typed it, including the keyboard layout you used. If you set a password while using a French AZERTY keyboard, you must switch back to AZERTY to type that same password later. Write down which keyboard you used for any important passwords so you do not get locked out.

Can I use multiple languages in a single text message?

Yes. While typing a message, tap and hold the globe icon to switch languages whenever you need to. You can type a sentence in English, switch to Spanish for the next sentence, and switch back — all in the same message. The recipient sees exactly what you typed, regardless of which keyboards you used.

Do I need internet to use a different keyboard language?

No. Keyboard languages are stored on your phone and work offline. Predictive text and autocorrect work without internet too, though they may be slightly less accurate for less common languages if your phone has not downloaded the full language pack.