Apple says that iOS 8 is the biggest update since the launch of App Store, with hundred of new features including new Messages and Photos features, new Quick type keyboard, a new health app, Family Sharing, iCloud drive and many more. The one thing which I liked the most in iOS 8 is, it supports third party keyboards which means you can download your favorite keyboards from App Store and set the one which is convenient for you to type as a default keyboard of your iPhone or iPad. For those people who want to customize their iPhone keyboard, here is the complete guide on how to install third party keyboards in iOS 8 updated iPhone or iPad.
If you are the one who has switched to iOS from Android recently than there will be nothing new for you as android was having support to third party apps since years but if you have updated your iPhone to iOS 8 than you might have noticed the new Quick type Keyboard. Well if you are happy with that it is fine, but if you are willing to change it than here I have got complete step by step procedure to do that. Before proceeding to tutorial, let us talk about what actually third party integration in iOS 8 is ? and how can it allow us to install third party keyboard apps ? As I said earlier Android has this feature since many years and also it is highly customizable operating system. Apple also tried to make iOS 8 customizable. Yes, like android now you will be also able to download and install the keyboard apps from App Store. Not just that if you are using any photo editor than you will be able to access all the tools straight away from the Photos app. This is really a great thing which Apple introduced in iOS 8.
Now when we talk about keyboards than the most appreciated one is Swift Key keyboard. For this tutorial I am also going to install the Swift Key Keyboard and set that keyboard as default keyboard on my iPhone. Well if you want than you can choose another iPhone keyboards from here. Not wasting much of your time, let us now begin with the steps. Follow the simple below given steps on your iPhone or iPad and install third party Keyboards in iOS 8.
Install Third Party Keyboards in iPhone or iPad Running iOS 8
I would be changing keyboard on iPhone running iOS 8, if you are the one who wants to install keyboard on iPad than also you can follow the same procedure. Let us now begin with the steps.
1) Download and install keyboard app from App Store. Downloading procedure is same as downloading other normal apps so download the keyboard by entering your Apple ID or Touch ID and after installation you would also see the icon of that keyboard app on home screen similar to other apps on your iPhone or iPad.
2) After you download the keyboard app, just headover to the “Settings” in that go into “General” and scroll till the last and you will find there “Keyboard”.
Just for your Ease Follow this : Settings -> General -> Keyboard
Once you reach here tap on the “Keyboards” and it will show you currently active keyboards of your iPhone or iPad. In my case I have English (UK) and Emoji keyboard active right now. As we want to add new keyboard to iOS device tap on “Add New Keyboard…” (See below given image to have more idea).
3) Once you reach the screen to add new keyboard, find the section for third party keyboards and there you will see all the third party keyboards which you have installed. Just tap on the keyboard which you want to add and it will be automatically added to your active keyboards list. Check again your active keyboards screen and you will see that particular keyboard is added to the default list. Now once we do this much, we need to give this keyboard full access. To do that simply tap on the keyboard from the active keyboard list and turn on “Allow Full Access”.
4) That’s it! Now simply head over to Messages app or Whats App or even spotlight search and you will be able to use your new keyboard over there. Here also you will have to make a small setting, long press the keyboard choosing button on the keyboard and choose the keyboard which you want to use as default. In my case I would select “Swift Key Keyboard” as default. Now you will be able to use your new keyboard on your iPhone or iPad running iOS 8 (See below given image for proper understanding).
Now you will be able to use your new keyboard in each and every app on your iPhone. In this way you can easily install third party keyboards in iOS 8 running iPhone and iPad. Now the one thing which I don’t like in this new feature of iOS 8 is the icon which appears on the home screen is of no use. It just shows you tutorial on how to install that particular keyboard to your iPhone or iPad. It is useful at initial stage but afterwards it is of no use. Lets hope that Apple come up with the solution to this problem in next iOS update. Do tell me in comments how this tutorial goes for you and if you face any difficulties than feel free to ask me in comments. I will reply to your queries as soon as possible and don’t forget to share this tutorial with your friends.
Brijesh Gohil is the founder of Tech Brij, A popular Tech Blog which is focused on Tech tips & Buying Guides. You can follow him on Facebook, Twitter, Google + & LinkedIn.