Your Phone Speaks More Languages Than You Think
Every Android phone sold in Pakistan already contains Urdu, English and dozens of other languages built in — no app download is needed to use them. Changing the system language makes menus, settings and notifications appear in the language you read most comfortably, which is a real help for parents and anyone who finds English menus confusing. And adding an Urdu keyboard lets you type proper Urdu script in WhatsApp instead of Roman Urdu.
Both changes take a few minutes, both are free, and both can be reversed just as easily. Follow the parts you need.
Part 1: Change the Whole Phone Language
This changes the language of settings, menus and most apps that follow the system language.
- Open Settings.
- Go to System > Languages & input > Languages. On Samsung phones the path is Settings > General management > Language. On some Infinix, Tecno and Xiaomi models, search “language” in the Settings search bar at the top — the fastest route on any phone.
- Tap Add a language (or the + option) and select اردو (Urdu) or English, whichever you want.
- Drag your chosen language to the top of the list, or tap it and choose “Set as default” if that option appears. The top language is the one the phone uses.
- Wait a few seconds — menus and settings change immediately. Some apps need to be closed and reopened before they switch.
A few honest notes. Not every app supports Urdu; those that do not will simply stay in English, which is normal. Also, if you change the phone to a language you cannot read at all, getting back can be tricky — the Settings app keeps the same icon positions, so remember the path by position, not by words. When changing a parent’s phone, many families keep the system in English and add only the Urdu keyboard (Part 2), which gives most of the benefit with none of the confusion.
Just bought the phone? Run through our new mobile buying checklist first so hardware problems are caught while exchange is still possible.
Part 2: Add the Urdu Keyboard (and Type Urdu in WhatsApp)
Most Pakistani users type Urdu in Roman letters because they think Urdu typing needs a special app. It does not. The keyboard already on your phone — usually Gboard — can add Urdu in under a minute.
- Open any app where you can type, such as WhatsApp, and tap a message box so the keyboard appears.
- Tap the Settings (gear) icon on the keyboard’s top row. If you do not see it, go to Settings > System > Languages & input > On-screen keyboard > Gboard.
- Tap Languages.
- Tap Add keyboard and choose Urdu. Gboard offers layouts such as a standard Urdu keyboard — pick the default one suggested.
- Tap Done. Now, while typing, tap the globe icon next to the space bar (or hold the space bar) to switch between English and Urdu keyboards.
Urdu is written right to left, and the keyboard handles that automatically in WhatsApp and messaging apps — just start typing. Give yourself a week of practice; the letter positions become natural quickly, and most people find proper Urdu messages easier for family members to read than Roman Urdu.
Tip for faster Urdu typing: in the same Gboard settings, turn on Glide typing and check the Text correction options. Gboard also offers voice typing — tap the microphone on the keyboard and speak Urdu; it types surprisingly well and is a blessing for long messages, voice notes converted to text, and anyone who finds small keys difficult to press accurately.
Part 3: Useful Keyboard Settings Worth Changing
While you are in the keyboard settings, three small changes make everyday typing better:
- Number row: In Gboard Settings > Preferences, turn on Number row so digits are always visible above the letters — very handy for typing phone numbers and prices.
- Clipboard: Gboard’s clipboard (the icon on the keyboard’s top row) can save copied text. Turn on the option to keep copied items for an hour; it saves retyping addresses and account numbers. Remember that anything you copy stays visible there, so avoid copying passwords.
- Autocorrect and personal dictionary: If autocorrect keeps “fixing” Urdu or Roman Urdu words into wrong English words, reduce it in Text correction, and add your common words — names, your city, your shop’s name — to the Personal dictionary so the keyboard learns them.
- Keyboard height and size: If you keep hitting the wrong letters, your keyboard may simply be too small for your thumbs. In Gboard Settings > Preferences > Keyboard height, move it one step taller, and in the keyboard’s resize option you can widen it too. On large phones, one-handed mode — the shrinking icon on the keyboard’s top row — pulls the keys within thumb reach. These two-minute adjustments fix more “my typing is terrible” complaints than any typing practice does.
Your keyboard is not the only place with hidden switches — explore our 10 hidden Android features next.
Part 4: Change Language for One App Only (Newer Android)
On Android 13 and newer, you can set a different language for a single app without changing the whole phone. For example, keep the phone in English but run one app in Urdu if it supports it.
- Go to Settings > System > Languages > App languages (Samsung: General management > App languages).
- Choose the app and select its language.
Not all apps appear in this list — only those whose developers enabled per-app language support. If your app is not listed, the system language (Part 1) decides.
While you are in Settings, the tweaks in our Android speed settings guide take five more minutes and make the whole phone feel quicker.
Quick Summary
- Full phone language: Settings > System (or General management) > Languages — add Urdu/English and move it to the top.
- Urdu keyboard: Gboard settings > Languages > Add keyboard > Urdu; switch with the globe key.
- One app only: Settings > Languages > App languages (Android 13+).
- Better typing: number row on, voice typing for long Urdu messages, personal dictionary for your own words.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing the language delete anything on my phone?
No. Changing the system or keyboard language only changes what you see and type. Your photos, contacts, chats and apps stay exactly as they are.
My keyboard does not show a globe icon. How do I switch languages?
Hold the space bar — a language switcher usually pops up. If only one keyboard language is added, no switcher appears, so first add Urdu in Gboard’s Languages settings.
Can I type Urdu in apps other than WhatsApp?
Yes. Once the Urdu keyboard is added, it works everywhere you type — Facebook, SMS, notes, and search — because it is part of the phone’s keyboard, not of one app.
The phone is in Urdu now and I cannot find a setting. What should I do?
Settings items stay in the same positions and keep the same icons in every language. Follow the icons, or use the search bar at the top of Settings and type the English name of the setting — search works in both languages on most phones.
For more everyday settings explained simply, read our hidden Android features and our Android speed settings guide — both here on Ehsas Tips.
Sharjeel Rana manages Ehsas Tips and writes practical mobile guides in simple language.