Changing the keyboard language in WhatsApp is easy and can be done right from the app’s settings. This allows you to type in different languages within the chat app. Here are the steps to change the WhatsApp keyboard language on both iPhone and Android.
What languages can I use in WhatsApp?
WhatsApp supports over 60 languages that you can select as your keyboard input language. Some of the most popular languages include:
- English
- Spanish
- French
- German
- Italian
- Portuguese
- Arabic
- Hindi
- Chinese
- Japanese
So whether you need to chat with your family in your native language or message friends abroad in their language, you can easily switch between different keyboard languages on WhatsApp.
Steps to change WhatsApp language on iPhone
Follow these steps to change the keyboard language on WhatsApp for iOS:
- Open WhatsApp and go to the Settings tab.
- Tap on Language.
- Select the desired language from the list.
- WhatsApp will now change the keyboard input to match your selection.
This will change the language across WhatsApp so you can type messages and captions in your selected language. The interface of WhatsApp will still be in English.
Setting different keyboard for specific chats
If you need different languages for different chats, here are the steps:
- Open the individual or group chat.
- Tap on the Contact or Group name at the top.
- Scroll down and tap on Language.
- Choose the language you want for that chat.
This lets you customize keyboard languages for each WhatsApp conversation separately. The language settings for each chat will override the main language set in WhatsApp Settings.
Changing WhatsApp language on Android
On Android devices, you can change the WhatsApp keyboard language using these steps:
- Open WhatsApp and go to Settings.
- Tap on Language.
- Select from the list of languages available.
- WhatsApp will now switch the keyboard language.
This changes the default language for your keyboard across WhatsApp. You can set different languages for individual chats by following these steps:
- Open the chat.
- Tap the contact or group name.
- Tap Language.
- Choose the desired language.
This customizes the keyboard language only for that specific chat or group.
How to add keyboard languages
WhatsApp comes with many languages pre-installed that you can directly select for the keyboard. If you want to add more keyboard languages that are not already available:
On iPhone
- Go to iPhone Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards.
- Tap Add New Keyboard and select the desired language.
This adds the language to your overall iPhone keyboard options. It will now show up in WhatsApp as well.
On Android
- Go to Android Settings > System > Languages & input > Virtual keyboard.
- Tap on Gboard > Languages.
- Enable the language you want to add.
Added languages will be available for WhatsApp after enabling them here. Note that some older Android devices may have slightly different keyboard settings menus.
Troubleshooting WhatsApp keyboard language
Changing the keyboard language is usually straightforward but sometimes you may run into issues like:
Keyboard language not changing in WhatsApp
- Verify you selected the correct language in WhatsApp Settings > Language.
- Force close and restart WhatsApp to apply the new language setting.
- On Android, make sure the language is enabled under Gboard keyboard languages.
- Check if you have any third party keyboards installed that may override the language.
Special characters not showing correctly
- Make sure you select the right variant of the language that matches your alphabet.
- The font size may be too small to render certain intricate characters. Increase chat font size.
- A WhatsApp update may have disrupted special character rendering. Update WhatsApp to the latest version.
Can’t find the language in WhatsApp
- WhatsApp may not support that language yet. Check WhatsApp’s list of supported languages.
- On Android, enable the language from Gboard keyboard languages first before using in WhatsApp.
- On iPhone, add the keyboard language under Settings first before using in WhatsApp.
- Update WhatsApp which may add more new language support.
Using keyboard shortcuts
Typing in other languages can be faster with these handy keyboard shortcuts within WhatsApp:
| Keyboard Shortcut | Function |
|---|---|
| Spacebar double tap | Insert full stop |
| Spacebar triple tap | Insert comma |
| Shift + Spacebar | Insert newline |
| Backspace double tap | Delete previous word |
Make good use of these to quickly punctuate and format your messages in any language.
Conclusion
Changing the keyboard language in WhatsApp only takes a few taps in Settings. You can set different languages for different chats as per your preference. Make sure to enable the keyboard languages first before using them in WhatsApp. Utilize keyboard shortcuts for faster typing. With support for over 60 languages, WhatsApp makes it easy to converse with anyone around the world in their own native language.
