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
  • 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
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
iOS 26 presented at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June 2025.
Phones 5 smaller but super-helpful iOS 26 tricks you may have missed
  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
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
Best note-taking app for iPad Pro
Best note taking app for iPad of 2025
Latest in iOS
Visual Intelligence providing a summary in iOS 26
I’m a serial iPhone screen-shotter, and I can’t wait to use these 3 new features when iOS 26 launches
Collage of iOS 26 features
The iOS 26 public beta now has a possible release date, and it’s later than usual
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
Latest in How Tos
People wave flags at the Royal Albert Hall in west London on September 7, 2013 during the last night of the Proms. US conductor Marin Alsop became the first woman to conduct the Last Night of the Proms in its 118-year history. AFP PHOTO/CARL COURT (Photo credit should read CARL COURT/AFP via Getty Images)
How to watch First Night of the Proms 2025: live stream for free online from anywhere
MLB All-Star Game Logo
How to watch MLB All-Star Game 2025 — watch baseball online from anywhere
The Great British Sewing Bee season 11 contestants
How to watch The Great British Sewing Bee season 11 for free online from anywhere
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 12: Wimbledon tennis balls sit ready on the Queens Club practice court at The Queen's Club on June 12, 2025 in London, England.
How to watch Sinner vs Alcaraz Wimbledon on BBC iPlayer (it's free)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 11: Carlos Alcaraz of Spain plays a forehand volley against Taylor Fritz of United States during the Gentlemen's Singles semi-final match on day twelve of The Championships Wimbledon 2025 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 11, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
How to watch Alcaraz vs Sinner online: live stream Wimbledon 2025 men's final
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
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. 1
    This 34-inch business monitor is curved, fast, has Ethernet, Smart KVM, and a webcam — shame there’s no 5K option for creative users
  2. 2
    The Nintendo Switch 2 GameCube controller combines the best of the original gamepad and its wireless Wavebird counterpart into one faithful package
  3. 3
    I’m a serial iPhone screen-shotter, and I can’t wait to use these 3 new features when iOS 26 launches
  4. 4
    An Apple Watch Air would win the smartwatch game – again
  5. 5
    Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill" set to award $1 billion funding to "offensive cyber operations"

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...