Install an Arabic keyboard on Mac

This guide explains how to install the Arabic keyboard on Mac, using System Settings on recent versions of macOS or System Preferences on older ones. You will also learn which layout to pick and how to switch between English and Arabic without reopening the settings.

How to use

Open the Apple menu, then System Settings > Keyboard. On older macOS versions, go to System Preferences > Keyboard > Input Sources.
In the Text Input section, click the Edit… button next to Input Sources (the exact wording can vary between macOS versions).
Click the + button at the bottom left of the window, then find Arabic in the list of languages or with the search field.
Select a layout: Arabic, Arabic – PC (matches the Windows Arabic keyboard) or Arabic – QWERTY (based on how letters sound), then click Add.
Turn on the option that shows the Input menu in the menu bar, so a small icon always tells you which language is active.
Switch between English and Arabic with Control + Space, with the Globe (fn) key on recent keyboards, or from the Input menu.
Open Notes or TextEdit and type a few words to check that the Arabic letters join correctly from right to left.

Which Arabic layout should you choose on Mac?

macOS includes several Arabic keyboards. The right one mostly depends on your habits and on any Arabic letters printed on your keys.

Layout	Best for
Arabic – PC	You already know the Arabic keyboard of a Windows PC, or your keys are printed with the standard PC Arabic layout.
Arabic	You learned to type Arabic on a Mac, or your Apple keyboard has Arabic engravings.
Arabic – QWERTY	You are a beginner and prefer to find letters by their sound.

Nothing stops you from installing two and keeping the one you like. To remove a layout, select it in the Input Sources list and click the − button.

Switching languages quickly on Mac

Depending on your Mac, three methods are available:

Control + Space returns to the previous input source, and Control + Option + Space moves to the next one.
The Globe key (often shared with fn) on recent Apple keyboards changes the language when it is set to do so in the keyboard settings.
The Input menu, at the top right of the screen, lists every installed language.

Tip: the Input Sources settings include an option that makes macOS switch automatically to the input source you last used in each document. It is handy if you write Arabic in one file and English in the others.

If something does not work

The letters do not match the ones printed on the keys. You are probably using Arabic while your keyboard follows the PC standard. Add Arabic – PC.
Text stays left-aligned in a word processor. Look for the paragraph direction setting (right-to-left) in the app’s Format menu or toolbar.
The Input menu has disappeared. Turn the menu bar option back on in the keyboard settings.
Older macOS versions use System Preferences. The path is the same; only some section names differ slightly.

No installation: the online Arabic keyboard

On a borrowed Mac, or if you prefer not to touch your settings, the online Arabic keyboard runs directly in Safari, Chrome or Firefox. Type with the Mac keyboard or click the on-screen keys, then copy your text with one click. Its Phonetic and Words modes suit anyone who writes Arabic in Latin letters.

Setting up a PC or a phone too? Follow our guides for Windows, Android and iPhone.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Arabic and Arabic – PC on a Mac?

The Arabic layout is Apple's own and places some keys differently. Arabic – PC reproduces the Windows Arabic keyboard, which is the one printed on most Arabic keyboards. If you often move between a PC and a Mac, choose Arabic – PC.

How do I change the keyboard language on a Mac?

Press Control + Space to go back to the previous input source, or press the Globe (fn) key if it is set to change the input source. You can also click the Input menu at the top right of the screen and pick a language.

Control + Space does not switch languages on my Mac. What should I do?

In the keyboard settings, open the keyboard shortcuts and check that the Input Sources shortcuts are ticked. Another app may already use the same key combination: turn it off there or choose a different shortcut.

How can I see where the Arabic letters are on a Mac keyboard?

Open the Input menu in the menu bar and choose the option that shows the Keyboard Viewer. A window displays the Arabic letter on each key and updates when you hold Shift or Option.

Which Arabic keyboard on Mac is best for typing by sound?

Arabic – QWERTY puts many letters on the Latin key with a similar sound, which helps beginners. To type Arabic entirely in Latin letters, such as 3 for ع and 7 for ح, the Phonetic mode of the online Arabic keyboard is simpler.

Arabic keyboard →