How to Change Keyboard on Samsung Phone | Switch It in One Minute

Guides / By

Change the keyboard on a Samsung phone in Settings under General management → Keyboard list and default → Default keyboard.

Getting rid of Samsung Keyboard for something better is a two-step job: install the new keyboard first, then tell your Galaxy which one to use by default. Most people stop after step one and wonder why nothing changed. The full process takes about a minute, and the same settings path works on any Galaxy phone or tablet running Samsung’s Android interface.

Set a New Default Keyboard on Your Galaxy Phone

Samsung’s current US support path is the same everywhere on Galaxy devices: Settings → General management → Keyboard list and default → Default keyboard. That opens a list of every keyboard installed on the phone, and the one you tap wins.

The order matters. A keyboard app only appears in that list after you’ve installed it, and it only works as your keyboard once it’s both enabled and selected as default. Samsung’s own support page spells this out: a newly installed keyboard must be enabled and set as default before it will replace Samsung Keyboard.

Switch Keyboards While You’re Typing

There’s a faster route mid-typing. Open any app with a text field, tap the field so the keyboard appears, then look for the keyboard-switch button near the bottom. On One UI 6.1, that button sits in the lower-left corner of Samsung Keyboard when the keyboard settings allow it. Tap it to flip between every keyboard you have enabled.

How to Add a New Keyboard and Enable It

New keyboards come from the Google Play Store (some sources also mention the Galaxy Store). Pick one, install it, then walk the default-change path above. One catch: until you enable the new keyboard in the list, it won’t even show up as an option.

  • Install the keyboard app from the Play Store.
  • Open Settings → General management → Keyboard list and default.
  • Make sure the new keyboard is toggled on in the list.
  • Tap Default keyboard and select the new one.
  • Open any app with a text field to confirm it’s active.

A keyboard app can request broad input permissions during setup. One tutorial notes that a keyboard may be able to collect all text typed — that’s a standard Android input-method risk worth reviewing before you enable any third-party keyboard. If you’re weighing options, our tested roundup of the best phone keyboard apps covers which ones are worth the switch.

Keyboard Settings, Customization, and Troubleshooting

Once Samsung Keyboard is active, its settings live at Settings → General management → Samsung Keyboard settings. From there you can adjust languages, keyboard height and layout, and smart typing features. If the keyboard is on-screen, tap the Settings icon in the keyboard toolbar to jump straight into those same settings.

If a third-party keyboard misbehaves, Samsung’s troubleshooting guidance is to return to Settings → General management → Keyboard list and default → Default keyboard → Samsung Keyboard and work from there. A keyboard that won’t switch is almost always one that was installed but never enabled.

Problem Cause Fix
New keyboard won’t appear Not enabled in the keyboard list Toggle it on in Keyboard list and default
Keyboard switches back to Samsung Never set as default Tap Default keyboard and select it
Keyboard looks broken or won’t type App conflict or glitch Set Samsung Keyboard as default, then troubleshoot
Typing collects too much data Broad input permissions Review permissions before enabling

Menu labels vary slightly by One UI and Android version. On some devices you might find the setting under System → Language and input → Default keyboard, and localized interfaces sometimes translate the menu differently — Samsung’s own Russian support page lists General administration and List of keyboards and outputs for the same screen.

FAQs

Why won’t my new keyboard show up on my Samsung?

The most common reason is that the keyboard was installed but never enabled. Open Settings → General management → Keyboard list and default, make sure the new keyboard is toggled on, then tap Default keyboard and select it. Without both steps, Samsung keeps using Samsung Keyboard.

Can I use a different keyboard just for certain apps?

Samsung’s default keyboard setting applies phone-wide, not per app. You can switch between enabled keyboards while typing using the keyboard-switch button in the lower-left corner of the keyboard, but you can’t assign one keyboard to Gmail and another to messages permanently.

Does changing my keyboard affect my phone’s performance?

Only in a minor way. Third-party keyboards are separate apps that run while you type, so they use some memory and battery. The impact is small, but a heavy keyboard with extra features can feel slower on older Galaxy models than the built-in Samsung Keyboard.

References & Sources

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