Yes — on iPhone you can add, reorder, or switch keyboards in seconds using Settings and the globe key.
Need a different layout, a new language, or a third-party option like Gboard? This walkthrough keeps it simple and accurate for current iOS versions. You’ll see how to add a keyboard, switch while typing, set your default order, choose QWERTY or AZERTY, try one-handed mode, and remove what you don’t use. Labels below match Apple’s menus, so you can finish this in a minute.
How Can I Change My Keyboard On My iPhone? (Quick Steps)
Quick start: Open Settings › General › Keyboard › Keyboards. Tap Add New Keyboard, pick a language or an installed app keyboard, then reorder with Edit. Long-press the globe while typing to switch.
- Add a language keyboard — Settings › General › Keyboard › Keyboards › Add New Keyboard › choose the language. Repeat for more.
- Switch while typing — Long-press the globe (or emoji) and pick a keyboard from the list.
- Reorder or delete — Settings › General › Keyboard › Keyboards › Edit › drag handles to reorder, or tap the red minus to remove.
- Change layout — Tap a language (e.g., English) › choose QWERTY, AZERTY, QWERTZ, or Dvorak if offered.
Change Your iPhone Keyboard Settings — What To Tap
Goal: keep only what you need, put your daily keyboard first, and make switching instant.
- Add new — Settings › General › Keyboard › Keyboards › Add New Keyboard, then pick a language or an installed third-party keyboard.
- Set the default order — Tap Edit at the top right, drag the handles to put your main keyboard first. iOS uses the first item as the default in most apps.
- Remove extras — In the same Edit view, use the red delete buttons. A short list speeds up the globe menu.
Nice touch: many language keyboards include multiple layouts. Tap the language name, then pick the layout that matches your muscle memory.
Switch, Layouts, And One-Handed: Use The Globe Menu
When a text field is active, the globe key sits at the bottom corner. A tap jumps to the next keyboard in your list. A long-press opens the full picker with extra options.
- One-handed layout — Long-press the globe (or emoji). Pick the left or right compact layout in the bottom row to bring keys closer to your thumb. Tap the edge of the keyboard to center it again.
- Emoji and dictation — The picker always lists Emoji. Tap the microphone on the keyboard to dictate, then keep typing without closing the keyboard.
- Hardware keyboard — Using Magic Keyboard? Press Control+Space to cycle through language keyboards and emoji. You can set the mapping in Settings › General › Keyboard › Hardware Keyboard.
UI note: if you only have one keyboard, the globe shows as an emoji key. Add a second keyboard to see the globe icon.
Add Third-Party Keyboards Safely (Gboard Example)
App Store keyboards add swipe typing, multi-language suggestions, and themes. Setup has two parts: install the app, then enable the keyboard in iOS.
- Get the app — Install your pick (e.g., Gboard) from the App Store, then open it once for onboarding.
- Enable in Settings — Settings › General › Keyboard › Keyboards › Add New Keyboard › pick the app under “Third-Party Keyboards”.
- Allow Full Access? — Many keyboards ask for Allow Full Access for features like network sync or custom GIFs. With Full Access off, the keyboard runs with strict limits. With it on, data can go to the developer’s servers under that app’s policy.
- Pick languages inside the app — Open the app (e.g., Gboard) › Languages › add up to the supported count, then test in Notes or Messages.
Safety tip: leave Apple’s keyboard near the top of your list. Some apps block third-party keyboards in password fields, so the system keyboard appears there by design.
Fix Problems Fast
Globe not showing — Add a second keyboard in Settings. The key turns into a globe when more than one keyboard is active.
One-handed option missing — Long-press the globe in a text field and look for the left/right icons. If nothing appears, open Settings › General › Keyboard › One-Handed Keyboard and pick Left or Right. If the option still hides, set Display Zoom to Default, then try again.
Dictation button gone — Go to Settings › General › Keyboard and toggle Enable Dictation. Return to a text field and try the microphone again.
Wrong layout inside apps — Settings › General › Keyboard › Keyboards › tap the language › pick the layout again. Then force-quit the app and retry.
External keyboard stuck on a layout — Settings › General › Keyboard › Hardware Keyboard › choose the mapping you want. On the keyboard, press Control-Space to switch languages.
Autocorrect habits went south — Reset the learned words: Settings › General › Transfer or Reset iPhone › Reset › Reset Keyboard Dictionary. Shortcuts and custom words will be cleared.
Speed And Accessibility Tweaks That Help Every Day
- Predictive text — In Settings › General › Keyboard, toggle Predictive. Leave it on for faster entry and fewer taps.
- Text replacements — Settings › General › Keyboard › Text Replacement. Add “omw” → “On my way.” Short triggers save keystrokes across apps.
- Haptics and clicks — Settings › Sounds & Haptics › Keyboard Feedback. Pick Haptic, Sound, or both.
- Hold-to-move cursor — Press and hold the space bar to turn the keyboard into a trackpad. Slide to place the caret with precision.
- Bilingual typing — Add two languages. iPhone can switch suggestions between your top pair as you type, so you don’t need to change keyboards every time.
- Full Keyboard Access — Using an external keyboard only? Settings › Accessibility › Keyboards › Full Keyboard Access lets you drive the phone with shortcuts.
How Can I Change My Keyboard On My iPhone? — Step-By-Step Table
Use this quick map when you need a refresher. It covers the taps you’ll use most.
| Task | Menu Path | What You’ll See |
|---|---|---|
| Add a language | Settings › General › Keyboard › Keyboards › Add New Keyboard | Language list with layouts |
| Switch while typing | Long-press the globe | Picker with keyboards, left/right one-handed icons |
| Change layout | Settings › General › Keyboard › Keyboards › tap language | QWERTY / AZERTY / QWERTZ / Dvorak (if offered) |
| Reorder keyboards | Settings › General › Keyboard › Keyboards › Edit | Drag handles and red delete buttons |
| Enable dictation | Settings › General › Keyboard | Enable Dictation toggle and microphone on keyboard |
| Hardware switch | Control-Space on Magic Keyboard | Cycles through language and emoji keyboards |
That’s the full playbook. Use these steps the next time a layout changes, a language shifts, or a new keyboard grabs your eye. If a friend asks “How Can I Change My Keyboard On My iPhone?”, you can point them here and save them a long menu hunt.