How to Type in Arabic on Android (Layout + Translation)

Want to type in Arabic on your phone? Here is how to add the layout, switch languages fast, and translate as you type on Android.

Typing in Arabic on Android is easy once you add the layout — and even easier when your keyboard can translate between Arabic and other languages as you write. Here is how to set it up and message comfortably in Arabic.

Add the Arabic layout

1. 1Install SmartType and set it as your default keyboard.
2. 2Open keyboard languages and add Arabic to your layouts.
3. 3Switch between Arabic and your other language with the globe / language key.
4. 4Start typing — right-to-left is handled automatically.

Translate between Arabic and any language

Beyond the layout, SmartType translates across 369 languages, so you can type in Arabic and send in English (or the reverse), or translate an incoming message to understand it — all inside the chat, without a separate app.

Type across languages every day

If you switch between Arabic and another language often, a keyboard that handles both layouts and translation removes the constant app-switching. The same works for Urdu, Hindi, Persian, and hundreds of other languages.

The bottom line: add the layout once, and use translation to bridge any gap. See the full walkthrough in how to translate messages while typing on Android.