There are three practical ways to write Urdu on a phone: install an Urdu keyboard, type in Roman Urdu and convert it, or speak and let voice typing do the work. Which one suits you depends on how often you write Urdu and how much you want to learn.
Option 1: Add an Urdu keyboard
An Urdu keyboard puts Urdu letters directly on your screen. It is the best choice if you write Urdu every day, but expect a week or two before you are fast with it.
On Android (Gboard)
- Make sure Gboard is installed. It comes with most Android phones; if not, install it from the Play Store.
- Open any app where you can type, and tap the gear icon on the keyboard to open Gboard settings.
- Go to Languages, then Add keyboard, and search for Urdu.
- Pick the layout you prefer and tap Done.
- Switch between English and Urdu with the globe key or by pressing and holding the space bar.
On iPhone
- Open Settings, then General, then Keyboard.
- Tap Keyboards, then Add New Keyboard, and choose Urdu.
- In any app, tap the globe key to switch to the Urdu keyboard.
Option 2: Type Roman Urdu and convert it
If you already type Urdu in English letters (aap kaise hain), you don’t need to learn anything new. Type your message as usual, paste it into our Roman Urdu to Urdu converter, and copy the Urdu script back.
This works best for longer texts: a Facebook post, a message to a teacher, a caption, a letter. The converter handles chat spellings like hy and nhi, and English words like phone and update. Words it is not sure about are highlighted so you can check them.
Option 3: Speak instead of typing
Voice typing is the fastest way to write a lot of Urdu. On Android, the microphone on Gboard can type in Urdu once Urdu is added as a keyboard language. On a computer or Android phone, you can also use our Urdu voice typing tool in Chrome, which adds Urdu punctuation buttons and a copy button.
Speak in full phrases, in a quiet place, and check names and English words afterwards. They are the most common mistakes.
Which option should you choose?
| If you… | Best option |
|---|---|
| write Urdu every day | Urdu keyboard |
| already type fast in Roman Urdu | Roman Urdu converter |
| need to write long texts quickly | Voice typing |
| write Urdu only now and then | Roman Urdu converter |
Why does my Urdu look different on some phones?
The letters are the same everywhere, but each phone draws them with its own font. Some phones use the flowing Nastaliq style, others the upright Naskh style. If you want your text to look exactly the same on every screen, for example on a WhatsApp status or an Instagram post, use the Save as image button in our converter to turn the text into a picture.