You’ve started learning Korean, you can read a few Hangul characters — and now you want to actually type in Korean on your phone or computer. Good news: every major device already has a Korean keyboard built in. You just need to turn it on.
This guide walks through the exact steps to set up Korean typing on iPhone, Android, Mac, and Windows — plus tips on the keyboard layout so you’re not hunting for characters every time.
How to Add a Korean Keyboard on iPhone
The iPhone Korean keyboard takes about 30 seconds to enable. Here’s how:
- Open Settings → General → Keyboard → Keyboards
- Tap Add New Keyboard
- Scroll down and select Korean
- Choose between Standard (QWERTY-style) or 10-Key (phone-pad style)
The Standard layout maps Hangul consonants and vowels to a QWERTY layout — most learners find this easier because the positions are predictable. The 10-Key layout uses a 3×4 grid where you combine strokes, similar to old-school phone texting. Most Korean speakers actually prefer 10-Key for speed on phones, but Standard is more beginner-friendly.
To switch between keyboards while typing, tap the globe icon at the bottom left of your keyboard. You can also hold it to see all your active keyboards and jump directly to Korean.
How to Add a Korean Keyboard on Android
The exact steps vary slightly depending on your Android version and keyboard app, but for Gboard (Google’s default keyboard):
- Open Settings → System → Languages & Input → On-screen keyboard
- Tap Gboard → Languages
- Tap Add Keyboard and search for Korean
- Select your preferred layout and tap Done
If you’re using Samsung Keyboard, go to Settings → General management → Samsung Keyboard settings → Languages and types → Manage input languages, then toggle Korean on. Samsung’s Korean keyboard is excellent — it was built for Korean speakers, so the predictive text is very accurate.
Switch between languages while typing by tapping the globe/language key or swiping the spacebar left or right.
How to Type Korean on Mac
macOS has Korean input built in, and it supports the same 2-Set layout used on physical Korean keyboards:
- Open System Settings → Keyboard → Input Sources (or search “Input Sources” in System Settings)
- Click the + button
- Search for Korean and select 2-Set Korean
- Click Add
Switch between English and Korean input by pressing Control + Space (or click the input source icon in your menu bar). The 2-Set Korean layout puts consonants on the left side of the keyboard and vowels on the right — which mirrors how Hangul syllable blocks work. Once you internalize this, Korean typing becomes surprisingly fast.
How to Type Korean on Windows
Windows 10 and 11 both support Korean input natively:
- Open Settings → Time & Language → Language & region
- Click Add a language
- Search for Korean (한국어) and click Next → Install
- Once installed, the Korean IME appears in your taskbar
Switch between English and Korean input by pressing Alt + Shift (to switch languages) or Right Alt (to toggle Korean/English within the Korean IME). The Windows Korean keyboard uses the same 2-Set layout as Mac — consonants on the left, vowels on the right.
How Does the Korean Keyboard Layout Work?
The Korean 2-Set keyboard splits consonants and vowels across the keyboard. The left hand types consonants (ㅂ, ㅈ, ㄷ, ㄱ, ㅅ, etc.) and the right hand types vowels (ㅛ, ㅕ, ㅑ, ㅐ, ㅔ, etc.). When you type a consonant followed by a vowel, the computer automatically combines them into a syllable block.
For example, typing ㅎ + ㅏ + ㄴ automatically produces 한. You don’t need to do anything special — just type the individual characters in order and the system assembles them. This feels strange for about ten minutes, and then it clicks.
To type double consonants (ㄲ, ㄸ, ㅃ, ㅆ, ㅉ), hold Shift and press the consonant key. Same for the additional vowels like ㅒ and ㅖ.
Tips for Getting Faster at Korean Typing
Speed comes with practice, but a few things help the process along:
- Print a keyboard map and keep it next to your screen for the first week. You’ll need it less than you think after a few days.
- Practice with a typing game — sites like TypeRacer support Korean, or search for “한글 타자 연습” (Hangul typing practice) for Korean-specific trainers.
- Start texting in Korean — even if it’s just to yourself in your notes app. Real typing practice beats drills every time.
- Use Naver Dictionary to look up words and practice typing them — it doubles as vocabulary review and typing practice.
If you’re still getting familiar with the Korean alphabet itself, start with a complete Hangul chart before diving into typing. And if you’re looking for free resources to learn Korean, that guide covers the best apps and courses available right now.