How to Add a Spanish Keyboard (or Any Language) on iPhone

To add a Spanish keyboard on an iPhone, open Settings, tap General > Keyboard > Keyboards, tap Add New Keyboard, and choose Spanish. While typing, touch and hold the globe key (or the emoji key) and pick the keyboard you want. The same steps work for any language, such as Chinese, French, or Japanese.

This guide covers iPhone with the current iOS. The steps come from Apple’s Add or change keyboards on iPhone and Type with the onscreen keyboard guides. Apple says you can add keyboards for typing or for using Dictation in different languages.

How to Add a Keyboard Language

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap General, then Keyboard.
3. Tap Keyboards.
4. Tap Add New Keyboard.
5. Choose Spanish from the list. Some languages, like Spanish, list more than one regional keyboard, such as Spanish (Latin America). Repeat to add more keyboards.

Result: The new keyboard appears in your Keyboards list and is ready to use. Apple notes that adding a keyboard for another language also adds that language to your Preferred Languages list.

How to Type Two Languages Without Switching

For select language pairs, such as English (U.S.) and Spanish (Latin America), Apple offers a bilingual keyboard. Tap Add New Keyboard, then tap Add to [language] Keyboard. Apple says the keyboard then switches automatically between the two languages you use most often.

How to Switch Keyboards While Typing

1. Tap in any text field.
2. Touch and hold the globe key (Switch Keyboard key) or the emoji key at the bottom of the keyboard.
3. Tap the keyboard you want.

Result: The keyboard changes to the language you picked. Switch back the same way.

How to Type Accents Like é and ñ

Apple says to touch and hold the letter related to the character you want. For example, touch and hold e, then slide your finger to é and release. This works on the English keyboard too, so you can add an occasional accent without switching keyboards.

Tips for Chinese, Japanese, Arabic and Thai Keyboards

• Chinese, Japanese or Arabic: Apple says to tap a suggested character or candidate at the top of the keyboard to enter it, or swipe left to see more. Tap the up arrow on the right to see the full candidate list, and the down arrow to go back.
• Thai: To choose native numbers, touch and hold the related Arabic number.
• Other characters: You can add more characters with the emoji keyboard. See how to add and use the emoji keyboard on iPhone.

How to Reorder or Remove Keyboards

• Reorder: In Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards, tap Edit, drag the reorder handle next to a keyboard to a new spot, then tap Done.
• Remove: On the same screen, swipe left on a keyboard and tap Delete.
• Change the layout: Tap a language in the list and pick an alternative layout.

Your Preferred Languages list lives in Settings > General > Language & Region. Apple says reordering that list changes how apps and websites display text. It doesn’t change your keyboards.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will adding a Spanish keyboard change my iPhone’s language?

No. It adds Spanish to your Preferred Languages list, but your iPhone keeps its current language unless you move Spanish to the top of that list.

Can I dictate in Spanish?

Yes. Apple says the keyboards you add can be used for Dictation in those languages.

Related: How to Change iPhone Keyboard Settings (Auto-Correction and More).

Related: how to make the keyboard appear on iPad and how to type a degree symbol on iPhone.

Typing a lot in another language? You can also use an Apple wireless keyboard with your iPhone and switch keyboards with Control-Space.