How to Change the Keyboard Layout on Your Phone

Edited 1 week ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

Keyboard LayoutCustomizationSmartphoneTypingAndroidiPhoneUser InterfaceAccessibilityLanguage SettingsDevice Management

Changing the keyboard layout on your phone can help you type in different languages, use alternative keyboard styles, and improve your overall typing experience. Whether you have an iPhone or an Android device, changing the keyboard layout is a straightforward process. This comprehensive guide will guide you through the steps to change the keyboard layout on both types of devices, and provide helpful tips along the way.

Why change the keyboard layout?

There are several reasons why you might want to change the keyboard layout on your phone:

• Typing in multiple languages: If you speak more than one language, you may need different keyboard layouts to type efficiently in each language.
• Special characters: Some layouts provide easy access to special characters or symbols that are not available on the default keyboard.
• Personal preference: You may prefer a different keyboard layout for aesthetic reasons or because you feel more comfortable.

Changing the keyboard layout on iPhone

iPhone users have the option to change their keyboard layout through the device's settings. Here's how you can do it:

Step-by-step guide

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Scroll down and tap General.
3. Select Keyboard.
4. Select Keyboards to view a list of currently paired keyboards.
5. Tap Add new keyboard... to see a list of available keyboards.
6. Select the keyboard layout you want to add. You can choose from a variety of languages and layouts.
7. Once you choose a keyboard, it will be added to your list of keyboards. You can switch between them while typing.
8. To change keyboards while typing, tap and hold the globe icon on your keyboard and select the desired keyboard layout from the list.

Example

Let’s say you want to add the Spanish keyboard layout to your iPhone:

1. Open settings.
2. Go to General and then Keyboard.
3. Tap Keyboards and select Add New Keyboard...
4. Select Spanish from the list of available keyboards.
5. The Spanish keyboard layout will now be added to your keyboard. You can switch to it by pressing the globe icon while typing.

Changing the keyboard layout on Android

Android devices offer a variety of keyboard apps, and the steps to change the keyboard layout may vary slightly depending on your device and the keyboard app you're using. Here, we provide a general guide that works for most Android devices that use the standard Google Keyboard (Gboard).

Step-by-step guide

1. Open the Settings app on your Android device.
2. Scroll down and tap System.
3. Select Languages & input.
4. Select On-screen keyboard, then tap Gboard (or your current keyboard app).
5. Tap the language.
6. Tap Add keyboard to view available keyboard layouts.
7. Select the language and layout you want to add.
8. You can also customize the layout style, such as QWERTY or AZERTY.
9. Once added, you can switch between keyboards while typing by pressing the space bar and selecting the desired layout.

Example

Let's add the French keyboard layout to your Android device using Gboard:

1. Open settings.
2. Go to System and then select Languages & input.
3. Tap On-screen keyboard and select Gboard.
4. Select languages and then tap Add keyboard.
5. Select French from the list of available languages.
6. Choose the layout style you want, such as AZERTY or QWERTY.
7. The French keyboard layout will now be added to your available keyboards. Press and hold the space bar while typing and select the French layout.

Tips and tricks

Here are some additional tips and tricks to help you manage your keyboard layout:

• Delete a keyboard layout: If you no longer need a keyboard layout, you can delete it from the keyboard settings on both iPhone and Android devices.
• Rearrange the keyboard order: On iPhones, you can rearrange the order of your keyboards by tapping Edit in the Keyboards menu and using the drag handle.
• Third-party keyboard apps: Both iPhone and Android devices support third-party keyboard apps that offer additional layouts and features, such as SwiftKey or Grammarly Keyboard.
• Hotkeys: Some keyboard apps let you assign hotkeys or shortcuts for frequently used phrases or special characters.

Common problems and troubleshooting

Sometimes you may encounter some problems when changing your keyboard layout. Here's how to troubleshoot common problems:

Keyboard not switching

If your keyboard won’t switch to the new layout, try the following steps:

• Make sure the new layout is added correctly.
• Restart your phone to refresh the settings.
• Update your keyboard app to the latest version.
• Reset the keyboard settings to default and try adding the layout again.

Missing special characters

If you can't find special characters in the new layout, consider the following:

• Check if the keyboard layout supports those characters.
• Find the additional character menu by pressing the keys.
• Switch to a third-party keyboard app that offers more extensive character support.

Slow typing experience

If your typing experience becomes slow or unresponsive:

• Clear the keyboard app's cache.
• Reduce the number of active keyboards by removing unused keyboards.
• Consider switching to a lighter keyboard app.

Conclusion

Changing the keyboard layout on your phone is a useful skill that can improve your typing experience substantially, especially if you frequently switch between languages or need access to special characters. Whether you're using an iPhone or Android device, the steps to change the keyboard layout are simple and easy to follow. With this guide, you'll be able to add, switch, and manage your keyboard layouts efficiently. Happy typing!

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