Android · 4 min read
How to Add an Arabic Keyboard on Android
Android settings differ among phone makers, and the steps depend on the keyboard app you use. Most people add Arabic in Gboard’s language settings or in the settings for the phone’s default keyboard.
Add Arabic in Gboard
Open Gboard settings from the keyboard’s gear icon or from your phone’s Settings app. Find Languages, choose Add keyboard, select Arabic, and choose a layout if Gboard offers alternatives. Confirm the selection to return to the language list.
On many Android devices, the route is Settings → System → Keyboard → On-screen keyboard → Gboard → Languages. Menu names can vary by Android version and manufacturer; searching Settings for “Gboard” or “Languages” may be quicker.
Switch the keyboard language
Open a text field. Depending on your Gboard settings, switch languages by touching and holding the space bar, tapping the Globe key, or using the language key. If you cannot see a language switch, check Gboard’s preferences for the language-switch key setting.
Samsung and other keyboards have their own language menus. In Samsung Keyboard settings, look for languages and types or manage input languages; the wording varies across One UI versions. Add Arabic there, then use the keyboard’s language control.
Check the layout before relying on it
The displayed Arabic layout and available variants depend on the keyboard app. Type a short test phrase and compare a few known key positions. If your device has a physical keyboard, confirm that its Arabic layout matches the selected software layout.
If you cannot install or adjust a system keyboard, harf’s browser-based visual keyboard works with taps and can map an English physical keyboard to Arabic for short tasks.
Put what you learned into practice.
Open the harf keyboard and try a short phrase. Click the letters or use your physical keyboard.
Open the keyboard