Learning to type in Persian is an essential step when studying the language.

You need a proper Persian keyboard layout to communicate with friends, search for vocabulary, and complete online exercises.

Setting up a Persian keyboard on your devices only takes a few minutes.

This guide will show you exactly how to add the keyboard to your phone and computer.

I’ll also explain some unique typing rules you need to know, like right-to-left formatting and hidden characters.

How to add a Persian keyboard on your smartphone

Smartphones make it incredibly easy to switch between languages.

Both Apple and Android devices have excellent built-in Persian keyboards.

iPhone and iPad (iOS)

Open your Settings app and tap on General.

Scroll down and select Keyboard.

Tap on Keyboards at the very top of the screen.

Select Add New Keyboard from the menu.

Scroll through the list or use the search bar to find Persian.

Tap Persian to add it to your active keyboards.

You can now switch to the Persian keyboard at any time by tapping the globe icon on your screen.

Android devices

Open your Settings app.

Scroll down and tap on System.

Select Languages & input from the menu list.

Tap on Virtual keyboard and then choose Gboard (or your phone’s default keyboard).

Select Languages, then tap the Add keyboard button.

Search for Persian (Farsi) and add it to your active list.

You can switch languages by holding down the spacebar or tapping the globe icon on your keyboard.

How to set up a Persian keyboard on your computer

Typing on a physical keyboard takes a bit more practice.

You can easily add the Persian language pack to both Windows and Mac operating systems.

Windows 10 and 11

Click on the Start menu and open Settings.

Select Time & Language from the settings menu.

Click on Language & region.

Under the Preferred languages section, click Add a language.

Type Persian in the search bar, select it, and click Next.

Click Install to finish the setup process.

You can switch between English and Persian quickly by pressing the Windows key and the Spacebar together.

Mac (macOS)

Open your System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions).

Scroll down and click on Keyboard in the left sidebar.

Under the Text Input section, click the Edit button next to Input Sources.

Click the plus (+) button in the bottom left corner of the window.

Search for Persian in the left column.

Select standard Persian or Persian - ISIRI 2901 and click Add.

You can switch languages by clicking the flag icon in your top menu bar or by pressing Control and the Spacebar.

Important tips for typing in Persian

Typing in Persian is quite different from typing in English.

The Persian alphabet is written from right to left.

When you switch your keyboard to Persian, your cursor will automatically jump to the right side of the screen.

Finding the extra Persian letters

The Persian alphabet has four unique letters that don’t exist in Arabic.

These letters are peh (پ), cheh (چ), zheh (ژ), and gaf (گ).

Depending on your specific keyboard layout, these letters might be placed in unexpected spots.

Here’s a quick reference table showing where these four letters are typically located on a standard Windows Persian keyboard.

Using the half-space

Persian grammar requires a special formatting tool called a “half-space” or nim-faseleh.

A half-space prevents certain letters from physically connecting, but it keeps the word grouped together visually.

You’ll use this frequently for plural suffixes, prefixes, or compound words.

On a Mac, you can type a half-space by pressing Shift and Space together.

On a Windows computer, you can type it by pressing Ctrl, Shift, and 2 simultaneously.

On your smartphone, the half-space is usually a dedicated key located right next to the regular spacebar.

Skipping the short vowels

Written Persian generally leaves out short vowel marks entirely.

You don’t need to type the symbols for a, e, or o in everyday digital communication.

If you ever do need to add them for pronunciation clarity, you can access them on a smartphone by long-pressing the letter keys.

On a computer keyboard, these vowel marks are typed using the Shift key combined with various letters.

Once your keyboard is ready to go, you can start typing your first sentences on Talk In Persian.