Arabic Keyboard for Android
Use this Arabic keyboard for Android right here in your browser — no setup — or follow the steps below to add Arabic to Gboard or the Samsung Keyboard. Tap the on-screen letters, type by sound, add harakat, then Copy and paste into WhatsApp, Instagram or any app.
Last updated: June 2026 · Gboard & Samsung Keyboard
Quick answer: To add an Arabic keyboard on Android, open Settings → System → Languages & input → On-screen keyboard → Gboard → Languages → Add keyboard → Arabic. On Samsung, it’s Settings → General management → Keyboard list and default → Samsung Keyboard → Languages and types → Arabic. Then tap the globe key to switch. Don’t want to set anything up? Type in the keyboard above and copy your text.
Type Arabic on Android right now — no setup
The keyboard at the top of this page is a full Arabic keyboard for Android that runs in your browser. Tap the on-screen letters, or switch to Transliteration and type by sound — salam becomes سلام. Add harakat, tap Copy, and paste into WhatsApp, Instagram, Gmail or any app. It’s the quickest option on a work or shared phone, or when you just need one Arabic message.
3 ways to type Arabic on Android
| Method | Setup | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Online keyboard (this page) | None | A quick message, a shared/work phone, no install |
| Gboard (built-in) | ~1 min | Most Android phones (Google, Xiaomi, Oppo, Tecno…) |
| Samsung Keyboard | ~1 min | Samsung Galaxy phones (One UI) |
| Third-party app | Install + Full Access | Arabizi / themes (privacy trade-off — see below) |
How to add Arabic in Gboard (most Android phones)
- Open Settings → System → Languages & input → On-screen keyboard → Gboard.
- Tap Languages → Add keyboard.
- Choose Arabic, pick a layout (standard or QWERTY — see below) and tap Done.
You can also long-press the comma/settings key on the keyboard itself and open Languages from there.
How to add Arabic on the Samsung Keyboard (One UI)
- Open Settings → General management → Keyboard list and default → Samsung Keyboard.
- Tap Languages and types → Manage input languages.
- Find and enable Arabic (download it if prompted).
To make Samsung Keyboard (or Gboard) your default, use Keyboard list and default → Default keyboard.
Switch to Arabic while typing
- Tap the 🌐 globe key at the bottom of the keyboard to cycle languages.
- Or long-press / swipe the spacebar and choose Arabic.
- No globe key? It only appears once you’ve added two or more keyboard languages — add Arabic and it shows up.
Arabic layout vs Arabic phonetic (QWERTY)
When you add Arabic you can pick a layout:
| Layout | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Arabic (standard) | Native Arabic key positions | People who know the Arabic keyboard |
| Arabic (QWERTY) | Phonetic — Latin keys map to Arabic sounds | Beginners & diaspora typing salam → سلام |
How to type harakat (tashkeel) on Android
On the Arabic layout, long-press a letter to reveal its diacritic options, then slide to the mark and release:
| Mark | Name | Sound |
|---|---|---|
| َ | Fatha | short “a” |
| ُ | Damma | short “u” |
| ِ | Kasra | short “i” |
| ْ | Sukun | no vowel |
| ّ | Shadda | doubled consonant |
| ً | Tanween | “-an / -un / -in” |
On Gboard you can also reach some marks by long-pressing nearby keys. If the gesture feels fiddly, use the tap-to-insert harakat keyboard here and copy the result.
How to type hamza on Android (ء أ إ ؤ ئ آ)
| Form | Long-press |
|---|---|
| أ إ آ | long-press ا (alif) |
| ؤ | long-press و (waw) |
| ئ | long-press ي (ya) |
| ء | long-press the ء/ئ key |
For the rule on which seat the hamza takes, see how to type hamza in Arabic.
Voice typing & third-party apps
Voice typing: add Arabic to your keyboard, tap the microphone, and dictate — Gboard and Samsung both support Arabic speech-to-text once Arabic is enabled.
Third-party keyboard apps can add Arabizi conversion or themes, but most ask for Full Access, which lets the app read everything you type. Prefer apps that clearly state they collect no data — or stick with the built-in keyboards and the browser tool above, which ask for nothing.
Troubleshooting Arabic typing on Android
The globe key is missing
You need at least two keyboard languages. Once Arabic is added, the globe key appears; otherwise long-press the spacebar to switch.
“Show language switch key” is greyed out
Turn off the separate emoji switch key in your keyboard settings, which frees the language key.
Arabic letters appear in the wrong order / reversed
That’s a right-to-left rendering quirk in some apps — the characters are correct. Put Arabic on its own line, or before Latin text and numbers.
Arabic doesn’t show in one app
Switch the keyboard inside that app with the globe key; some apps default to the last keyboard used elsewhere.
Copy your Arabic into WhatsApp & other apps
Type above, tap Copy, then paste into WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger or Gmail. Arabic aligns to the right automatically — that’s correct, since it’s written right to left.
Arabic keyboard on other devices
Using more than one device? See our guides for iPhone, Windows and Mac, or test your speed with the Arabic typing test. French speaker? Use the clavier arabe.
Official resources for the Arabic Keyboard for Android
For device-specific setup, these official guides help you add and switch the Arabic keyboard for Android:
- Add or switch languages on Gboard (Google support)
- Gboard on Google Play
- Arabic keyboard layout (Wikipedia)
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I add an Arabic keyboard on Android?
Gboard: Settings → System → Languages & input → On-screen keyboard → Gboard → Languages → Add keyboard → Arabic. Samsung: Settings → General management → Keyboard list and default → Samsung Keyboard → Languages and types → Arabic.
Does adding Arabic change my phone’s language?
No — keyboard language is separate from the display language; your menus stay in English or French.
How do I switch to Arabic while typing?
Tap the globe key, or long-press the spacebar and choose Arabic. The globe key appears once you have two or more keyboards.
How do I type harakat (tashkeel) on Android?
Long-press a letter and slide to the mark (fatha, kasra, damma…), or use the harakat keyboard here and copy.
How do I type hamza on Android?
Long-press ا for أ إ آ, و for ؤ, and ي for ئ.
Arabic layout or Arabic phonetic (QWERTY)?
Standard for native typists; phonetic/QWERTY for beginners and diaspora typing by sound.
Can I type Arabic without installing anything?
Yes — use the online keyboard above and copy your text into any app.
Are third-party Arabic keyboard apps safe?
They often need Full Access and can read what you type. Prefer no-data-collection apps, or use the built-in keyboards / this tool.
Why does my Arabic look reversed when pasted?
A right-to-left rendering quirk in some apps — the text is correct; put Arabic on its own line or before Latin/numbers.