switching hardware keyboard language in IOS 9

By Mohammed Al-shara, 17 September, 2015

Forum
iOS and iPadOS

Hi.

in all prior IOS versions you used to be able to switch between language with a bluetooth keyboard with command plus the space bar. In IOS 9, however, this shortcut jumps to spot light search.

anyone knows the new shortcut to switch between languages using a hardware keyboard?

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Comments

By Mohammed Al-shara on Saturday, October 10, 2015 - 14:44

Hi.

I have found the answer. the new shortcut to switch between languages using a bluetooth keyboard is now ctrl+shift + space.

command + space now activates the spotlight search.

By me! on Saturday, October 10, 2015 - 14:44

In reply to by Mohammed Al-shara

i have a belkin keyboard, and i still can't figure out how to change languages since the update. My keyboard doesn't have any control key on it... and of course, the language key doesn't work.

By bebby on Saturday, October 10, 2015 - 14:44

It's just frustrating how Apple makes accessories so fast absolete and how belkin seems to be unprepared for it. I hope belkin offers a firmware update for this issue.
I also did not find any way to customize the keyboard layout. Any idea?

By Meli R. on Saturday, October 10, 2015 - 14:44

The control key should be the language key with the little globe, unless your keyboard has an actual control key.

To switch languages press and hold Ctrl/language + Shift + Space.
When the language selection box pops up you can tap the Language key to move the selction down, or the shift key to move the selection up.

By raaj on Saturday, October 10, 2015 - 14:44

I have an anker bluetooth keyboard. I can switch languages with the control key on this one. Pressing and holding the control key giving me options.

Raaj.

By bgraves on Tuesday, November 10, 2015 - 14:44

I also have a Belkin keyboard for my iPad, and just like the other use, the switch language shortcut worked until the most recent update.

On the keyboard, there is a little globe button, but it shares the same key as the colon and semi-colon, so one can't push it without making those punctuation marks.

Any other suggestion on how to do this?

By cktung on Thursday, December 10, 2015 - 14:44

The only solution I found is to call out the soft keyboard Fn-5 and then use the onscreen keyboard to switch language for Belkin keyboard iOS9 if there is no control key.

By Swissami on Wednesday, February 10, 2016 - 14:44

In reply to by Mohammed Al-shara

You are correct that is the new keyboard shortcut to change language for the ipad with a magic keyboard 2 is ctrl + shift + space. One Caveat - one must be in a text input box/field for it to work. I mention it because I tried it from Safari and it just moved me up one screen, which is also useful if you do not want to reach over and flick back to the post above. Thanks for posting it.

By Victor Tsaran on Sunday, April 10, 2016 - 14:44

So, pressing FN+F5 and then tapping the "next keyboard" button on the touch screen actually works, but rather lengthy. Pressing CTRL+SHIFT+Space does announce keyboard names, but I find that VoiceOver oftentimes announces the wrong language. Not sure if this is a bug with VoiceOver or the shortcut key doesn't work properly. Anyone?

By Mohammed Al-shara on Sunday, April 10, 2016 - 14:44

Hi.

yes, your observation is correct. sometimes voiceover announces the wrong language even if you have just 2 enabled. I didn't find a work around other than having to live with it. Maybe others?

By Adam Samec on Wednesday, August 10, 2016 - 14:44

Hi,

It's possible to switch between languages just by pressing: Control + Space bar. Shift is not needed.

If pressed once, it will switch the keyboard to the previously used language. Subsequent presses of the same key combination will switch it to the next language in the list in the order set in Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards, provided you have not typed any characters in the meantime. Otherwise, it will bring you again to the previously used language. When combined with Shift, it will move in the list in the reverse order.

Holding down the keys of the shortcut will cycle through the list of languages according to the key repeat rate as set in Settings > General > Accessibility > Keyboard > Key Repeat, which will be very fast by default and thus unusable.

At least this is how it works on iPhone with iOS 9.3.3 and Logitech Bluetooth Keyboard K380.

And yes, sometimes it speaks the wrong language while switching it.