Add or change keyboards on iPad (2024)

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iPad User Guide

You can add keyboards for writing or using Dictation in different languages on your iPad. You can also change the layout of your onscreen or external keyboard.

If you add keyboards for other languages, you can type in two languages without having to switch between keyboards. Your keyboard automatically switches between the two languages you use most often. (Not available for all languages.)

Add or remove a keyboard for another language

Go to Settings > General> Keyboard.
Tap Keyboards, then do any of the following:
- Add a keyboard: Tap Add New Keyboard, then choose a keyboard from the list. Repeat to add more keyboards.
- Remove a keyboard: Tap Edit, tap next to the keyboard you want to remove, tap Delete, then tap Done.
- Reorder your keyboard list: Tap Edit, drag next to a keyboard to a new place in the list, then tap Done.

If you add a keyboard for a different language, the corresponding language is automatically added to the Preferred Language Order list. You can view this list and add languages to it directly in Settings> General> Language& Region. You can also reorder the list to change how apps and websites display text.

Switch to another keyboard

On the onscreen keyboard: Touch and hold or , then tap the name of the keyboard you want to switch to.
You can also tap or to switch from one keyboard to another. Continue tapping to access other enabled keyboards.
On an external keyboard: Press and hold Control, then press the Space bar to cycle between English, emoji, and other keyboards you add for another language.
With MagicKeyboard for iPad and SmartKeyboard, you can also press to switch from one keyboard to another.

Assign an alternative layout to a keyboard

You can use an alternative keyboard layout that doesn’t match the keys on your keyboard.

Go to Settings > General> Keyboard> Keyboards.
Tap a language at the top of the screen, then select an alternative layout from the list.

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