Arabic Keyboard on iPhone
Type Arabic on your iPhone right here in Safari — no setup — or follow the steps below to add the built-in Arabic keyboard from Apple. Tap the on-screen letters, type by sound, add harakat, then Copy and paste into WhatsApp, Instagram, Mail or any app.
Last updated: June 2026 · iOS 18
Quick answer: To add the Arabic keyboard on iPhone, open Settings → General → Keyboard → Keyboards → Add New Keyboard → Arabic. In any app, tap or press-and-hold the 🌐 globe key to switch to Arabic. (It’s under Keyboard, not Language & Region.) On a work or borrowed iPhone where you can’t change settings, just type in the keyboard above and copy your text.
Type Arabic on iPhone right now — no setup
The keyboard at the top of this page is a full Arabic keyboard for iPhone that runs in Safari. Tap the on-screen letters or switch to Transliteration and type by sound — salam becomes سلام. Add harakat, tap Copy, then paste into WhatsApp, Instagram, Mail or Notes. This is the fastest route on a work, school or borrowed iPhone (or any device locked by MDM) where you can’t add a keyboard, or when you just need one quick message.
How to add the Arabic keyboard on iPhone
- Open Settings → General → Keyboard.
- Tap Keyboards → Add New Keyboard…
- Scroll to and tap Arabic (or Arabic (Najdi), Arabic (QWERTY), etc.).
- Done — the Arabic keyboard is now available in every app via the globe key.
Arabic vs Arabic (QWERTY) — which to pick
iPhone offers two main Arabic keyboards:
| Keyboard | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Arabic | The native Arabic layout — letters in the standard Arabic positions | People who know the Arabic keyboard |
| Arabic (QWERTY) | Phonetic — each Arabic letter sits near its English-sound key (a = ا, b = ب) | Beginners and diaspora users who type English |
You can add both and switch between them with the globe key. Beginners usually find Arabic (QWERTY) far faster to start with.
Switch to Arabic with the globe key
In any app, tap the 🌐 globe key (bottom-left of the keyboard) to cycle through your keyboards. Press and hold the globe to see the full list and jump straight to Arabic. If you only added Arabic, a single tap toggles between English and Arabic.
How to type harakat (tashkeel) on iPhone
Apple’s Arabic keyboard hides the diacritics behind a long-press:
- Short vowels: press and hold the tashkeel key just to the right of the spacebar, then slide your finger to Fatha, Damma, Kasra, Sukun, Shadda or a Tanween and release.
- Hamza forms: long-press ا for أ إ آ, and the relevant letters for ؤ ئ ء.
- Taa marbuta / alef: long-press ه for ة, and ا for its variants.
If the long-press-and-slide feels fiddly — especially for Quran or learning — use the tap-to-insert harakat keyboard on this site and copy the finished text.
Speak Arabic with dictation
You can talk instead of type. Turn on Settings → General → Keyboard → Enable Dictation and make sure Arabic is one of your keyboards.
Predictive text and autocorrect
Turn predictions on or off in Settings → General → Keyboard → Predictive. Arabic suggestions are tuned to Modern Standard Arabic, so regional dialect spellings (including Darija) may not always autocomplete. If predictions stop after an iOS update, toggle Predictive off and back on.
Right-to-left and mixing Arabic, English and numbers
Arabic is written right to left, so when you switch to it the cursor jumps to the right and text aligns right. You can mix Arabic with English words and numbers freely — iOS reflows each run in the correct direction automatically. Pasting mixed text (for example a link inside an Arabic sentence) keeps each part in its natural direction.
Third-party Arabic keyboard apps — and when you don’t need one
The App Store has transliteration keyboards (type “salam” → سلام) and harakat keyboards. They can be handy, but most require Full Access, which lets the app send what you type off your device — a real privacy trade-off. For most people, Apple’s built-in Arabic keyboard plus our free, no-install, no-permissions online keyboard cover everything without that risk.
Troubleshooting — Arabic keyboard not working
The globe key or Arabic won’t appear
Re-check Settings → General → Keyboard → Keyboards and make sure Arabic is listed. You need at least two keyboards for the globe key to show.
Predictive text stopped working
Toggle Predictive off/on, or reset the keyboard dictionary in Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Reset → Reset Keyboard Dictionary.
Dictation won’t use Arabic
Long-press the microphone key (not the globe) and pick Arabic; make sure Arabic dictation is enabled.
Arabic keyboard on other devices
Also see our guides for Arabic on Windows, Arabic on Mac, Arabic on Android, typing Arabic on WhatsApp, or test your speed with the Arabic typing test. French speaker? Use the clavier arabe.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I add the Arabic keyboard on my iPhone?
Settings → General → Keyboard → Keyboards → Add New Keyboard → Arabic. It’s under Keyboard, not Language & Region.
How do I switch to the Arabic keyboard?
Tap the 🌐 globe key to cycle keyboards, or press and hold it to jump straight to Arabic.
How do I type harakat / tashkeel on iPhone?
Press and hold the tashkeel key right of the spacebar and slide to the mark, or use our tap-to-insert harakat keyboard and copy.
What’s the difference between Arabic and Arabic (QWERTY)?
Arabic is the native layout; Arabic (QWERTY) is phonetic (alif on A, ba on B) and easier if you know English key positions.
Can I type Arabic on iPhone without changing settings?
Yes — use the online Arabic keyboard on this page in Safari and copy the text. Ideal for a work, school or borrowed iPhone.
How do I dictate (speak) Arabic on iPhone?
Enable Dictation in Keyboard settings, then press and hold the microphone key (not the globe) and choose Arabic.
Why isn’t my Arabic keyboard predicting words?
A known post-update issue — toggle Predictive off/on or reset the keyboard dictionary.
Why does Arabic text move to the right when I type?
Arabic is right-to-left, so text and the cursor align to the right; mixed Arabic/English/numbers reflow automatically.
Do I need a third-party Arabic keyboard app?
Usually no — Apple’s built-in keyboard covers most needs. Third-party keyboards add features but may need Full Access (a privacy trade-off).