Updated: April 25, 2025

iPhone Keyboard Settings: Top 7 Tips & Tricks for Faster Typing 2025

Your iPhone’s keyboard is like a secret superpower—once you know how to use it properly, you can type faster, fix annoying glitches, and even make it look cool!

Whether you’re texting friends, writing school essays, or posting on social media, these seven tips will help you master your keyboard in 2025. Let’s dive in!

1. Fix Keyboard Glitches Like a Pro

Problem: Lagging, freezing, or missing keys? Don’t panic!

Solutions:

  • Force Restart Your iPhone:
    Quickly press Volume Up → Volume Down → Hold Side Button until the Apple logo appears. This reboots your phone without losing data.

  • Reset the Keyboard Dictionary:
    Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Reset Keyboard Dictionary. This clears custom words (like slang or typos) but keeps your photos and apps safe.

  • Update iOS:
    Outdated software can cause bugs. Check for updates in Settings > General > Software Update. For a deeper dive into managing updates, check out our guide to iPhone general settings.

2. Customize Your Keyboard’s Look

Want a neon pink or space-themed keyboard? Here’s how:

  • Use Dark/Light Mode:
    Your keyboard automatically matches your phone’s theme. Toggle this in Settings > Display & Brightness.

  • Try Third-Party Apps:
    Apps like Gboard or SwiftKey let you pick fun themes:

    1. Download Gboard from the App Store.
    2. Tap the 🌐 icon on your keyboard, hold it, and select Gboard.
    3. Open Gboard’s Themes section to choose designs.

3. Change Font Style (iOS 18 Workaround)

Note: iPhones don’t support system-wide font changes yet, but here’s a trick:

  1. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Keyboards > Hover Typing.
  2. Toggle it On and pick a font (e.g., Comic Sans).
  3. Open Messages and type—your font will appear as hover text!

This won’t change fonts everywhere, but it’s great for showing off in chats!

4. Master Basic Keyboard Shortcuts

Type faster with these hacks:

  • Swipe to Type:
    Glide your finger across letters (e.g., swipe from H → I →! for “Hi!”).

  • Quick Punctuation:
    Hold the .?123 key and slide to symbols (e.g., hold for ★ or ™).

  • Dictation:
    Tap the 🎤 icon and speak—your phone turns speech into text.

  • Emoji Search:
    Tap the 😊 icon, then type keywords like “pizza” to find 🍕 fast.

5. Tweak Keyboard Settings for Speed

Optimize your keyboard in Settings:

  • One-Handed Mode:
    Perfect for small hands! Enable it under Settings > General > Keyboard > One-Handed Keyboard.

  • Text Replacement:
    Create shortcuts (e.g., type “omw” to auto-fill “On my way!”).

  • Auto-Correction:
    Toggle this On in Settings > General > Keyboard to fix typos instantly.

For more ways to personalize your iPhone, explore our ultimate iPhone settings guide.

6. Add Multiple Languages

Great for bilingual typers!

  1. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards.
  2. Tap Add New Keyboard and select a language (e.g., Spanish or French).
  3. Switch between languages by tapping the 🌐 icon while typing.

Pro Tip: Adjust your language & region settings to improve autocorrect accuracy for different languages.

7. Use Hover Typing for Cool Fonts

Make your texts stand out:

  1. Enable Hover Typing under Settings > Accessibility > Keyboards.
  2. Pick a font style (e.g., Chalkboard or Avenir).
  3. Start typing in Messages—your text will float with the selected font!

Note: This works best in apps like Messages or Notes.

FAQ: iPhone Keyboard Settings (2025)

1. How do I fix a laggy or frozen keyboard?

Answer: Try these steps:

  • Force Restart: Press Volume Up → Volume Down → Hold Side Buttonuntil the Apple logo appears.
  • Reset Keyboard Dictionary: Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Reset Keyboard Dictionary.
  • Update iOS: Check Settings > General > Software Update. For more help managing updates, visit our guide to iPhone general settings.

2. Can I change my keyboard’s background color?

Answer: Yes, but you’ll need a third-party app like Gboard or SwiftKey. These apps let you choose themes and colors. The default iPhone keyboard only changes with light/dark mode.

3. Why can’t I change fonts everywhere on my iPhone?

Answer: iPhones don’t allow system-wide font changes yet. However, you can use Hover Typing (under Settings > Accessibility > Keyboards) to show custom fonts in apps like Messages.

4. How do I type in two languages on my keyboard?

Answer:

  1. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards.
  2. Tap Add New Keyboard and select your language.
  3. Switch between languages by tapping the 🌐 icon while typing.
    For more tips, adjust your language & region settings to improve autocorrect accuracy.

5. Why isn’t voice dictation (🎤 icon) working?

Answer:

  • Check microphone access: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone and ensure your keyboard app has permission.
  • Restart your iPhone or update iOS. Learn how to free up storage space if updates fail due to low storage.

Conclusion

Your iPhone’s keyboard is full of hidden tricks to save time and boost your typing game. Whether you’re fixing glitches, adding languages, or spicing up your texts with fun fonts, these tips will make your phone feel brand new.

For even more ways to customize your device, check out our complete guide to iPhone settings. 

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