Skip to main content
Tech Radar TechRadar the technology experts
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
RSS
Asia
flag of Singapore
Singapore
Europe
flag of Danmark
Danmark
flag of Suomi
Suomi
flag of Norge
Norge
flag of Sverige
Sverige
flag of UK
UK
flag of Italia
Italia
flag of Nederland
Nederland
flag of België (Nederlands)
België (Nederlands)
flag of France
France
flag of Deutschland
Deutschland
flag of España
España
North America
flag of US (English)
US (English)
flag of Canada
Canada
flag of México
México
Australasia
flag of Australia
Australia
flag of New Zealand
New Zealand
  • Phones
  • Computing
  • TVs
  • AI
  • Streaming
  • Health
  • Audio
  • VPN
  • More
    • Cameras
    • Home
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Opinion
    • How to
    • Versus
    • Deals
    • Coupons
    • Best
Tech Radar Pro
Tech Radar Gaming
Trending
  • Amazon Prime Day
  • Back to school
  • Nintendo Switch 2
  • Best VPN
  • ChatGPT
  • NYT Wordle today
  • Best laptop
  • Best web hosting
Recommended reading
An iPad Pro and Apple Pencil on a violet background.
Phones How to connect and use an Apple Pencil on iPad: tips, tricks, best apps, and more
an image of an iPhone 16 Pro Max on a black table showing the Passwords app
iPhone My favorite iOS 18 app is a tool you're probably not using – and I suggest you try it right away
Using Apple Products
iOS This is my favorite 'hidden' iPhone feature and if you also own a Mac, you should be using it right now
Translate via the Action button on the iPhone 16 Pro
iPhone This overlooked iPhone feature helped me level up my Duolingo learning – here's how
Apple WWDC 2025
iOS How to download the iOS 26 developer beta
Apple iPhone 16 Pro REVIEW
Artificial Intelligence I tried iOS 26's best new AI tool, and now conversing with my Italian in-laws is a breeze
Best note-taking app for iPad Pro
Pro Best note taking app for iPad of 2025
  1. Phones
  2. iOS

How to install a third-party keyboard on iOS

How-to
By James Peckham published 9 July 2015

Let's make life easier

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

How to install a third party keyboard on iOS

How to install a third party keyboard on iOS

Apple's keyboard isn't the best. Even the big A knows that, so with iOS 8 it has enabled you to install third party keyboards so you can change it for something a little more useful.

Third party keyboards can offer a lot more than you'd expect – some record your strokes and writing styles to improve suggestions and it makes the writing experience a whole lot easier.

Here we'll talk you through the hoops you'll have to jump through to get a new keyboard on your iPhone or iPad. We promise it isn't too hard, just follow these simple steps and you'll be tapping away with a third party offering in no time.

Page 1 of 6
Page 1 of 6
Step 1 - Choose a keyboard

Step 1 - Choose a keyboard

There are so many different keyboards vying for your attention. When you finally choose which developer you want to go with each will then have a big selection of keyboards to choose from.

Options include the colour, the functionality and whether you want a free option. You'll find a variety of keyboards by typing in keyboard in the App Store search bar but your best bet is to have a look through our favourite keyboards and choose one of them.

Page 2 of 6
Page 2 of 6
Step 2 - Install and activate the keyboard

Step 2 - Install and activate the keyboard

You know how to download an app – it's much the same. Hit the "Get" button to the side of it and the app will install on your iOS device. It'll install a separate app but you can use this to set up your preferences within the keyboard.

Some will ask you to sign up for an account whilst others will be asking you for settings and whether it can read details such as your email to trace your writing style.

When you're ready to start using the keyboard head out of the specific app and head into the Settings app – the one with the grey cog. In here scroll down to General and in there you'll find a section called "Keyboards".

Press here and hit "Add New Keyboard" where it'll give you all the Apple options and there's also a section near the top called third-party keyboards that will display the one you've just downloaded.

Tap on that and it'll appear in your list of keyboards.Tap on the keyboard again, press "allow full access" and then you'll be asked one more time to approve the access.

Page 3 of 6
Page 3 of 6
Step 3 - Getting to grips

Step 3 - Getting to grips

Now when you enter apps the Apple keyboard will still be the default – you need to hit the globe icon in the bottom left hand corner of the keyboard. After that you'll find the new keyboard will spring into action. Simple.

Then it's just a case of getting used to the new keyboard. The best thing to do is to play around with it for a while, get used to the layout, the spacing of the keys and the location of symbols and numbers.

Page 4 of 6
Page 4 of 6
Step 4 - How to make it default

Step 4 - How to make it default

If you like the keyboard you're using it's time to make it the default. To do this you need to head into 'Keyboards' under 'Settings' and find the installed keyboards. If you swipe left on the Apple keyboard it'll give you the option to delete it and then that's gone ready for the next keyboard to jump in and become the default.

Remember Apple's keyboard will still appear in some situations, such as when you're entering bank details or passwords, but the vast majority of the time you'll be treated to the third party keyboard.

Page 5 of 6
Page 5 of 6
Step 5 - How to switch back

Step 5 - How to switch back

If you ever grow tired of the third party keyboard you can always switch back. To do so you want to swipe left and delete the third party keyboard within the Settings menu, and then press "add new keyboard." Select the keyboard you want to reinstall from the list of Apple options and give it full access.

Boom, you're back to the keyboard you want.

Page 6 of 6
Page 6 of 6
TOPICS
Apple
James Peckham
James Peckham
Social Links Navigation

James is the Editor-in-Chief at Android Police. Previously, he was Senior Phones Editor for TechRadar, and he has covered smartphones and the mobile space for the best part of a decade bringing you news on all the big announcements from top manufacturers making mobile phones and other portable gadgets. James is often testing out and reviewing the latest and greatest mobile phones, smartwatches, tablets, virtual reality headsets, fitness trackers and more. He once fell over.

See more Phone How Tos
Read more
An iPad Pro and Apple Pencil on a violet background.
How to connect and use an Apple Pencil on iPad: tips, tricks, best apps, and more
an image of an iPhone 16 Pro Max on a black table showing the Passwords app
My favorite iOS 18 app is a tool you're probably not using – and I suggest you try it right away
Using Apple Products
This is my favorite 'hidden' iPhone feature and if you also own a Mac, you should be using it right now
Translate via the Action button on the iPhone 16 Pro
This overlooked iPhone feature helped me level up my Duolingo learning – here's how
Apple WWDC 2025
How to download the iOS 26 developer beta
Apple iPhone 16 Pro REVIEW
I tried iOS 26's best new AI tool, and now conversing with my Italian in-laws is a breeze
Latest in iOS
Google Chrome logo on desktop and mobile
How to private browse in Chrome on Windows, Android and ChromeOS
Using Apple Products
This is my favorite 'hidden' iPhone feature and if you also own a Mac, you should be using it right now
A hand holding an iPhone with the iCloud logo on screen.
iCloud was down – Here's everything we know about issues with Apple's web apps, Photos, and more
Collage of iOS 26 features
New iOS 26 beta fixes the one thing everyone hated about Liquid Glass
Apple Journal
Apple's Journal app is finally coming to the iPad and Mac with 6 new features – and they could be the reason I switch from Notes
Visual Intelligence providing a summary in iOS 26
Visual Intelligence is getting a big upgrade with iOS 26, and here's why I can't wait to use it again
Latest in How Tos
Amanda Anisimova of the United States celebrates her victory with her nephew Jackson after her victory against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the Quarter-Finals of the Ladies' Singles Competition
How to watch Wimbledon women's final on BBC iPlayer (it's FREE) today
Owen Farrell in training for British & Irish Lions.
AUNZ Invitational vs Lions FREE streams: How to watch British & Irish Lions tour live online from anywhere
Three members of staff wave towards a red helicopter in Billion Dollar Playground
How to watch Billion Dollar Playground season 1 for free online from anywhere
Jofra Archer in practice for England cricket.
How to watch England vs India 3rd Test: Live stream cricket online – scores level on 387 after both first innings
The girls have a serious chat in Love Island USA season 7
How to watch Love Island USA 2025 Finale for FREE
The Amazing Race Canada presenter standing in front of the season 11 cast in an American Football stadium.
How to watch The Amazing Race Canada season 11 online FREE from anywhere
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. 1
    What a claim! This KVM docking station switch can handle two 8K monitors - yes, you heard it right, that's 66 million pixels (or 32 Full HD displays)
  2. 2
    Want a quad-socket server with 768 cores? Sure, Intel's 192-core Diamond Rapids Xeon CPU will deliver that in 2026 — but I wonder whether it will be too little, too late
  3. 3
    Good news, movie fans! Sony's gone deals-crazy with its soundbars, and I'd rate these 5 as the best affordable home theater upgrades
  4. 4
    7 Amazon-beating appliance deals at Walmart and Best Buy knock up to $200 off air fryers, coffee makers, and more
  5. 5
    Apple deals still running! These 15 huge deals on AirPods, Apple Watch, MacBooks and more didn't end with Prime Day – don't miss out!

TechRadar is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Web notifications
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...