Delete an International Keyboard on iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

Removing an international keyboard stops it appearing in the keyboard switcher when you type; it does not delete the language from your device or change existing text. You can remove a keyboard in Settings on an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, and add it again later if needed.

What You’ll Need

• Your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, unlocked.
• Access to the Settings app. You do not need an internet connection to remove a keyboard.

Step-by-Step

1. Open Settings. Find and tap the gray Settings app on your Home Screen or in the App Library. If you are using an iPod touch, the same general steps apply, though menu wording can differ on older software.
2. Go to the keyboard settings. Tap General, then tap Keyboard. On some software versions, the list of keyboards is available by tapping Keyboards on this screen. If you do not see the list, continue to the next step.
3. Open the installed keyboard list. Tap Keyboards. You should see the keyboards currently available for typing, such as English, another language, emoji, or a third-party keyboard.
4. Choose how to remove the keyboard. Either tap Edit in the upper-right corner and look for the red remove button beside the keyboard, or swipe left on the keyboard you want to remove. The available controls depend on your iOS or iPadOS version.
5. Remove only the intended entry. Tap the red minus button, if shown, then tap Delete to confirm. If you swiped left, tap the resulting Delete button. Check the keyboard name before confirming, especially if you have several similar layouts.
6. Finish editing. If you used Edit, tap Done. Return to the previous screen when you are finished.
7. Check that it is gone. Open an app with a text field, such as Notes or Messages, and bring up the on-screen keyboard. Tap or press and hold the globe or emoji key, depending on your device, to view available keyboards. The removed keyboard should no longer appear. Do not send a message just to test this; you can use a blank note.

Common Mistakes

• Removing the wrong language or layout. A language may have multiple layouts, and the names can look alike. Read the full entry in Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards before deleting it. If you remove the wrong one, you can add it back.
• Looking for a delete button in the wrong place. The red minus and Edit controls appear on the installed-keyboards list, not necessarily on the main Keyboard settings screen. Open Keyboards first.
• Expecting the device language to change. Removing a keyboard only changes the choices used for typing. It does not change the language used for menus, Siri, or other system features.
• Confusing a keyboard with autocorrect or text replacement. Removing a keyboard does not necessarily remove its dictionary preferences, saved text replacements, or language settings. Those are separate settings.
• Deleting the emoji keyboard by mistake. Emoji is listed alongside language keyboards. If you still want the emoji keyboard, do not remove that entry.

Tips

• Remove only the layout you no longer use. If you still type in that language but want fewer choices, check whether another layout for the same language better suits your needs.
• You can keep several keyboards installed. Removing one is optional; it can be useful if you often switch accidentally, but keeping it does not require you to use it.
• To add a keyboard again, open Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards, tap Add New Keyboard, choose a language, and select a layout if prompted.
• If you use an external hardware keyboard, removing an on-screen keyboard may not affect the physical keyboard’s language or layout. Check the device’s keyboard settings separately if the keys produce unexpected characters.
• Menu labels and gestures can vary with software version. Look for the installed Keyboards list under General if your screen does not match these instructions exactly.

Troubleshooting

You cannot find Keyboards: In Settings, open General and then Keyboard. On some versions, you may need to tap Keyboards again to see the installed list. If you are using Settings search, search for “Keyboards” and open the result that leads to the General keyboard settings.

There is no Edit button: Swipe left on the keyboard entry. If a Delete control appears, tap it. You can also try tapping Edit if it appears after the list finishes loading. Some older software uses a different arrangement of these controls.

The keyboard still appears when typing: Return to the installed-keyboards list and confirm that the intended entry is gone. Make sure you did not remove one layout while leaving another layout for the same language. Close and reopen the app you were using, then check the keyboard switcher again. Restarting the device is a reasonable next step if the list is updated in Settings but the keyboard picker seems stale.

You cannot delete a keyboard entry: Confirm that you are in the editable list of installed keyboards, not viewing a list of languages to add. If the device is managed by a school or workplace, configuration settings may affect what you can change; ask the device administrator for help. Otherwise, restart the device and try again. Avoid erasing or resetting the device just to remove a keyboard.

You removed the wrong keyboard: Add it back from Add New Keyboard. Select the language and layout you previously used. Settings and saved text are not erased by removing a keyboard.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does deleting a keyboard delete the language from my iPhone or iPad?
No. It removes that keyboard option from the typing switcher. It does not remove the system language or delete text already entered.

Can I remove one layout but keep another for the same language?
Yes. If the list shows separate entries, remove only the layout you do not want and leave the other entry installed.

Will removing an international keyboard change my existing messages?
No. Messages, notes, and other saved content remain as they are. The change affects which keyboards are available for future typing.

Can I add the keyboard back later?
Yes. Open the installed-keyboards list, tap Add New Keyboard, then choose the language and layout.

Why does the globe key still appear after I remove a keyboard?
The globe or emoji key can remain because it is used to switch among other installed keyboards, including emoji. Check the keyboard picker to confirm which options remain.

Do these steps work on iPod touch?
They apply to iPod touch models with the relevant Settings menus. Older software may use slightly different labels or controls, but look under General and Keyboard.