iPhone (iOS) · Devices
Customize the Keyboard on iPhone
Keyboard settings let you add languages and layouts, configure autocorrect and predictive text, and connect a physical Bluetooth or Magic Keyboard for a more traditional typing experience.
How to open Keyboard
- Open Settings → General → Keyboard.
- Tap 'Keyboards' to add a new language or layout, or remove ones you don't use.
- Tap 'Text Replacement' to add custom shortcuts that expand into longer phrases.
- Toggle Autocorrection, Predictive Text, and other typing preferences to taste.
What you should know
- Multiple keyboards (different languages or layouts like emoji) can be added and switched between with the globe key.
- Autocorrect, Predictive Text, and Check Spelling can each be toggled independently based on typing preference.
- A paired Bluetooth or Magic Keyboard is managed from the same screen, including custom key mappings on supported models.
- Text Replacement lets you create shortcuts, like typing 'omw' to automatically expand into 'On my way!'.
Removing a keyboard you're not using also removes its associated dictionary and text replacements for that language until it's added back.
Why it matters
Keyboard settings directly affect typing speed and accuracy for one of the most repetitive interactions on the device, so a poorly tuned autocorrect or missing language keyboard creates daily friction that compounds over thousands of taps. Text Replacement in particular is a genuinely powerful time-saver for anyone who types the same addresses, phrases, or signatures repeatedly, turning a few characters into a full sentence instantly. For bilingual users or anyone pairing a physical keyboard, this screen is also where language switching and external hardware behavior get configured correctly.
Best practices
- Add every language you regularly type in as a separate keyboard, rather than relying on autocorrect to guess between languages incorrectly.
- Set up Text Replacement shortcuts for information you type often, like your email address or a common closing line, to save real time over weeks of typing.
- Turn off Predictive Text if you find the suggestion bar distracting rather than helpful, since it's an independent toggle from Autocorrect.
- Enable 'Text Replacement' iCloud sync so your shortcuts are available immediately on a new or additional device rather than re-entering them manually.
Common problems and fixes
- Autocorrect keeps changing a name or word you type correctly and intentionally
- Add that specific word as a Text Replacement with itself as both the shortcut and phrase, which teaches the keyboard to stop 'correcting' it.
- Can't find the option to switch to a different language keyboard while typing
- Tap and hold the globe icon at the bottom-left of the keyboard (or bottom-right depending on layout) to see and select from all added keyboards.
- A connected Bluetooth keyboard types the wrong characters or has swapped keys
- Check Settings → General → Keyboard → Hardware Keyboard and confirm the correct keyboard layout matches your physical device's language and region.
- Text Replacement shortcuts don't appear on a second iPhone or iPad
- Confirm both devices are signed into the same Apple Account with Text Replacement sync enabled under Settings → [Your Name] → iCloud → Saved to iCloud.
Tips and tricks
- Use the one-handed keyboard mode (long-press the globe or emoji key) to shrink the keyboard to one side for easier reach on larger iPhones.
- Swipe across letters instead of tapping each one individually if your keyboard supports QuickPath gesture typing, for noticeably faster input on longer messages.
Frequently asked questions
How do I type in more than one language on the same iPhone?
Add each language as a separate keyboard under Settings → General → Keyboard → Keyboards, then switch between them by tapping and holding the globe key while typing.
Can I use a physical keyboard with my iPhone?
Yes, most Bluetooth keyboards, including Apple's Magic Keyboard, can be paired under Settings → Bluetooth and will then appear as a connected hardware keyboard option.
What happens to my custom Text Replacement shortcuts if I remove a keyboard?
Text Replacement shortcuts are generally tied to your account rather than a specific keyboard, so removing an unrelated language keyboard typically won't delete them, though language-specific dictionary words can be affected.
Related settings
- Accessibility SettingsAccessibility settings on iPhone include VoiceOver screen reading, Zoom magnification, Voice Control, and many vision, hearing, mobility, and cognitive features.
- Siri & SearchSiri & Search settings control how you activate Siri (voice, button press, or typing), what each app can contribute to Spotlight search and Siri Suggestions, and how much Siri learns from your usage patterns.
- Bluetooth DevicesBluetooth settings let you pair AirPods, headphones, speakers, keyboards, and other accessories, and manage previously connected devices.
More Devices guides for iPhone (iOS)
- AirPods SettingsOnce AirPods are paired, a dedicated settings page appears for them with controls for noise control modes, spatial audio, press-and-hold gestures, and battery levels for each earbud and the case.
- Apple WatchPairing an Apple Watch is done through the dedicated Watch app on iPhone, which then manages the Watch's settings, apps, and complications, while the paired connection itself is visible under Bluetooth.
- HandoffHandoff lets you start something — a webpage, email, document, or FaceTime call — on your iPhone and instantly pick it up on a nearby iPad or Mac signed in with the same Apple ID, without saving or sending anything manually.
- Bluetooth AccessoriesBeyond audio devices, the Bluetooth settings screen manages any paired accessory — external keyboards, game controllers, car infotainment systems, fitness sensors, and more — under the 'My Devices' list.
- CarPlayCarPlay settings let you pair a vehicle, arrange which apps appear on the CarPlay screen, configure Siri and notification behavior while driving, and control automatic connection when you get in the car.
- MagSafe & Charging AccessoriesMagSafe and wireless charging settings show connected chargers and battery accessories, support Optimized Battery Charging to protect long-term battery health, and can trigger automatic behaviors when a MagSafe accessory attaches.