How to add a keyboard language on Android
2 min read · 5 steps · Updated 1 October 2026
Open Settings, tap System, Keyboard, On-screen keyboard, Gboard, then Languages and Add keyboard. Pick the language and layout and tap Done. Switch while typing by holding the space bar.
Most Android phones use Gboard, the Google keyboard. You can add as many languages as you like and switch between them while you type. Samsung phones use Samsung Keyboard, which has the same option under a different name.
Menu names below are from Google Pixel phones on a recent Android version. Samsung, Xiaomi and other brands rename some of them, so the Samsung name is given where it differs. The pictures are simplified diagrams of the screen, not screenshots.
Step by step
Open Settings and tap System
Scroll to the bottom of the main list and tap System. On Samsung, tap General management.
Tap Keyboard, then On-screen keyboard
On Samsung, tap Samsung Keyboard settings, then Languages and types.
Tap Gboard, then Languages
You see the languages that are already set up.
Tap Add keyboard and pick the language
Search or scroll to the language, choose a layout such as QWERTY, and tap Done.
Switch languages while typing
Open any app and bring up the keyboard. Hold the space bar and choose the language, or tap the globe key if you see one.
Good to know
The shortcut: with the keyboard open, tap the gear icon above the keys to jump straight into Gboard settings.
Gboard can suggest words in two languages at once. In Languages, tap a language and switch on Multilingual typing.
In short: Settings, System, Keyboard, On-screen keyboard, Gboard, Languages, Add keyboard.
- Gboard Help: Type in a different language
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