If you use Gboard (most phones)
- 01
Open Gboard's settings
The fastest way: open any app and bring up the keyboard. Tap and hold the comma key, then tap the gear icon. Or go to Settings → System → Languages & input → On-screen keyboard → Gboard.
- 02
Tap Languages
You'll see your current languages. Tap Languages.
Fig. gboard settings → languages - 03
Add keyboard
Tap Add keyboard. Search for "Arabic."
- 04
Pick a layout
You'll see Arabic with several layout options at the bottom — usually Arabic, AZERTY, QWERTY, and PC. Pick PC if you're learning the standard Arabic 101 layout (recommended). Otherwise the default Arabic layout is fine.
Fig. arabic layout selection in gboard - 05
Done
Tap Done. Arabic is now installed.
If you use Samsung Keyboard
Go to Settings → General management → Samsung Keyboard settings → Languages and types → Manage input languages. Find Arabic in the list and toggle it on. Download if prompted.
How to switch to Arabic when typing
Open any app and bring up the keyboard. Tap the globe icon (🌐) on the bottom row — usually next to the spacebar. Each tap cycles to the next language. If you don't see the globe icon, tap and hold the spacebar instead — most keyboards show a language picker that way.
The Arabic 101 keyboard layout
Gboard supports the same standard Arabic 101 (PC) layout as desktop systems. If you also type Arabic on a laptop, the desktop layout reference still applies.