Give Your Phone a Huge (and Free) Upgrade by Switching to Another Keyboard | WIREDSkip to main contentMenuSECURITYPOLITICSTHE BIG STORYBUSINESSSCIENCECULTUREREVIEWSMenuAccountAccountNewslettersApple MacBook NeoM5 MacBook Air ReviewBest REI Outdoor DealsBest Mountain E-BikesBest Paper PlannersDeals DeliveredSecurityPoliticsThe Big StoryBusinessScienceCultureReviewsChevronMoreExpandThe Big InterviewMagazineEventsWIRED InsiderWIRED ConsultingNewslettersPodcastsVideoLivestreamsMerchSearchSearchDavid NieldGearMar 22, 2026 6:30 AMGive Your Phone a Huge (and Free) Upgrade by Switching to Another KeyboardChange up the default keyboard in Android and iOS and feel the benefit.Photograph: picture alliance/Getty ImagesCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyYou see a lot of your phone's keyboard. It pops up whenever you need to enter text or numbers, it's your gateway to galleries of GIFs and emoji, and it’s a shortcut for voice dictation. It's an essential part of using a smartphone.While it might seem like the Android or iOS keyboard is a baked-in part of your mobile experience, it's actually something you can change. No matter what your make and model of phone, you can switch to a variety of third-party keyboards, with different layouts, themes, and features.Considering how much time you spend tap typing, upgrading the keyboard can make a real difference to how you use your phone. Here's how to switch—and some of the best options worth trying out from the Apple and Google app stores.How to Switch Your Phone's KeyboardThird-party keyboards can be installed just like regular apps. Open up the Play Store on Android or the App Store on iOS, search for keyboards, and you'll find a bunch available. Most are free to use or at least try, and some come with premium features you can pay for if you think you'll find them useful.Once you've installed a third-party keyboard, it may immediately ask to make itself the default keyboard for your phone (the one that pops up whenever there's typing to be done). You don't have to do this right away, and you can switch between installed keyboards whenever you want.You can switch between iPhone keyboards as needed.
Photograph: David NieldYou might also need to tap through and confirm some security permissions when you first install a keyboard. This is a reminder to only install keyboards from well-known developers you can trust—for clues, look at the developer history and online presence, how long the keyboard has been around, and how positive its reviews are.These apps can see everything you type, so you're trusting that this data isn't collected—just like you're trusting Google and Apple when it comes to their built-in keyboards. The audits carried out on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store should give you some level of protection against bad actors, but it still pays to be cautious. You should also check out the developer's privacy policies on the keyboard app listing.Selecting keyboards in Settings on Android.
Photograph: David NieldWhen you have multiple keyboards installed, you can manage them on iOS by opening Settings, then choosing General > Keyboard > Keyboards. To swap between keyboards you’ve installed, tap and hold the globe icon that appears in the lower left corner of all your keyboards.On Android, you can find your keyboards via System > Keyboard > On-screen keyboard from Settings. To switch between them, tap and hold on the globe icon that appears in the lower right corner whenever a keyboard is on the screen.The Best Phone Keyboards to TryGboard (Android, iOS) is a good option to start with here. It's preinstalled by default on Pixel phones, but it's also an excellent keyboard pick for iPhones and Android phones not made by Google. It's fast and clean, works really well for GIFs, emoji, and stickers, and supports glide typing (where you swipe over letters to form words rather than tapping on each individual letter).Then there's SwiftKey (Android, iOS), which is developed by Microsoft. As you might expect, there's Copilot AI integration built right in, so if you're stuck for something to say, you can use generative AI to do your writing for you. SwiftKey will also learn your writing style as you go, meaning autocorrections and suggestions get more accurate over time.SwiftKey comes with a range of settings to play around with.
Photograph: David NieldTypewise (Android, iOS) demonstrates how third-party keyboards can be a little out of the ordinary. It offers an unusual layout that makes use of hexagonal letter and character tiles, and which Typewise says can seriously speed up your typing speed. There's also support for multiple languages, AI integrations, and custom gestures.You may be familiar with Grammarly from the web and the desktop (and from the recent news about its missteps), but the grammar and spell checker service is also available as a keyboard on iOS and as a keyboard extension on Android. As well as checking on your writing, Grammarly puts AI front and center: You can get writing suggestions from a prompt, for example, or change the tone of an existing message with a couple of taps.If you're interested in customization options above everything else, then consider Mister Keyboard for iOS. It's stacked with ways to tweak the look and layout of your iPhone's keyboard, and to access features like emoji and the clipboard. Either pick one of the preset themes, or take pixel-by-pixel control over the keyboard.Mister Keyboard isn't available for Android, but there is theming support in Futo Keyboard for Android. It also includes smart autocorrect and text editing tools, and prides itself on its privacy. The keyboard app doesn't ask for permission to connect to the internet, so you know that your keystrokes aren't being sent anywhere.CommentsBack to topTriangleYou Might Also LikeIn your inbox: WIRED's most ambitious, future-defining storiesThe Tesla influencers leaving the cultBig Interview: Kalshi’s CEO says he’s not running a gambling siteWill AI kill the venture capitalist?Livestream AMA: Big Tech and the military—have your sayDavid Nield is a tech journalist from Manchester in the UK, who has been writing about apps and gadgets for more than two decades. You can follow him on X. ... Read MoreContributorXTopicshow-totipsAndroidiosphonessoftwareRead MoreWhich Google Pixel Phone Should You Buy?Here’s a guide to all the models—plus Pixel case recommendations and smart software tricks to try.Julian ChokkattuAndroid Auto’s Secret Superpower Is a Customizable Shortcut ButtonPut bespoke commands on the Android Auto home screen with this little-known feature.David NieldBack Up Your Android Phone Before It’s Too LateDo your future self a favor and back up all your precious photos, messages, and files before disaster strikes.Simon HillHuxe Will Give You a Personalized, Daily Audio Summary Powered by AIThe app reads your email inbox and your meeting calendar, then gives you a short audio summary. It can help you spend less time scrolling, but of course, there are privacy drawbacks to consider.David NieldMake the Most of Chrome's Toolbar by Customizing It to Your LikingThere are plenty of ways to customize Chrome to make it easier to navigate the web, manage your tasks, and make your workflow more efficient.David NieldUse Microsoft PC Manager to Speed Up Your Windows 11 ComputerCan you really get a Windows PC running like new again? Using this free tool from Microsoft, you can get pretty close.David NieldHow to Hide Google’s AI Overviews From Your Search ResultsYou can avoid Google’s AI summaries in your search results by simply adjusting your query. Or just switch search engines altogether.Reece RogersEverything Samsung Announced at Galaxy Unpacked 2026Samsung’s new phones all get AI enhancements, and the flagship Galaxy S26 Ultra has a Privacy Display that can block the screen from nosy neighbors.Julian ChokkattuYou Can Now Install—and Update—Microsoft Store Apps Using the Command LineBy typing simple, text-based commands into Windows' PowerShell, you can quickly install apps directly from the Microsoft Store—all without the typical ads or clutter.Justin PotThese 2 Apps Help Me Make Sense of My 100K ScreenshotsThe shameful pile of screenshots on my phone was as useless as it was disorganized. Rodeo and Swipewipe are helping to change that.Louryn StrampeSummon This AI Agent by Speaking Its Wake Word Mid-Phone CallDeutsche Telekom, the German cell provider—which holds a majority stake in T-Mobile—is partnering with ElevenLabs to enable an AI assistant on all of its network’s calls in Germany. No app required.Boone AshworthHow to Avoid Getting Locked Out of Your Google AccountMake a recovery plan now to avoid losing access to your account in the future.David NieldWired CouponsSquarespace Promo CodeSquarespace Promo Code: 20% Off Annual Acuity SubscriptionsLG Promo CodeLG Discount Code: 10% Off Any PurchaseDell Coupon Code10% Off Dell Coupon Code for New CustomersSamsung Promo Code30% Samsung Coupon - Offer Program 2026Canon Promo Code10% Off Canon Promo Code + Up to 30% OffDoordash Promo Code50% Off Doordash Promo Code for New & Existing UsersWIRED is obsessed with what comes next. Through rigorous investigations and game-changing reporting, we tell stories that don’t just reflect the moment—they help create it. When you look back in 10, 20, even 50 years, WIRED will be the publication that led the story of the present, mapped the people, products, and ideas defining it, and explained how those forces forged the future. WIRED: For Future Reference.More From WIREDSubscribeNewslettersLivestreamsTravelFAQWIRED StaffWIRED EducationEditorial StandardsArchiveRSSSite MapAccessibility HelpReviews and GuidesReviewsBuying GuidesStreaming GuidesWearablesCouponsGift GuidesAdvertiseContact UsManage AccountJobsPress CenterCondé Nast StoreUser AgreementPrivacy PolicyYour California Privacy Rights© 2026 Condé Nast. All rights reserved. WIRED may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast. Ad ChoicesSelect international siteUnited StatesLargeChevronItaliaJapónCzech Republic & SlovakiaFacebookXPinterestYouTubeInstagramTiktok

Switching your phone’s keyboard is a surprisingly impactful way to enhance your mobile experience, offering customization and features beyond the default options provided by Apple and Google. The process is straightforward – simply download a third-party keyboard app from the App Store or Google Play Store. These apps, often free or offering a trial period, provide a range of layouts, themes, and capabilities, allowing users to tailor their typing experience. David Nield highlights the prevalence of these apps and emphasizes that the ability to change keyboards is an often-overlooked aspect of smartphone customization. The process of installing a keyboard involves similar steps to installing other apps, requiring security permissions that users should carefully review, focusing on developer history and app reviews to ensure trust. Managing multiple keyboards is facilitated through system settings – on iOS, users can access keyboard settings via Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards, while Android users navigate to Settings > System > Keyboard > On-screen keyboard. To easily switch between installed keyboards, a user can tap and hold the globe icon in the lower left corner (iOS) or the lower right corner (Android).

Several noteworthy keyboards are discussed, each offering distinct advantages. Gboard, pre-installed on Google Pixel phones, is praised for its speed, GIF and emoji support, and glide typing functionality. SwiftKey, developed by Microsoft, incorporates Copilot AI integration for assisted writing, learning user writing styles for improved autocorrect, and offering a range of customizability settings. Typewise introduces a unique hexagonal letter layout, touted to potentially accelerate typing speeds. For those seeking a highly customizable experience, Mister Keyboard offers a pixel-by-pixel editing approach for iOS, while Futo Keyboard for Android provides similar theming options and smart autocorrect. Grammarly, a well-known writing assistant, is available as a keyboard extension allowing for real-time grammar and spelling checks, along with AI-powered writing suggestions and tone adjustments.

Ultimately, the ability to swap keyboards provides users with considerable control over their mobile typing experience, enabling them to choose an interface that best suits their individual needs and preferences.