Learn about four ways to add a number row to the top of your iPhone keyboard so you can type digits faster and more conveniently.
Unlike the stock keyboard on most Android phones, the iOS English keyboard does not include a number row. To enter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 0, you have to first tap the 123 button and then select a digit.
However, if your work involves entering numbers quickly and regularly, then here are some ways to do that on iPhone.
Use Microsoft SwiftKey
SwiftKey is a third-party keyboard app that offers excellent predictions, theme customization, swipe-to-type, and the option to show a number row above the QWERTY layout.
I have been using SwiftKey on my iPhones for 12 years, pretty much the day Apple allowed third-party keyboards on iOS. But you’ll definitely have to get used to it for a few days before you’re fully comfortable.
Follow these steps to set up SwiftKey and show a number row:
1) Download the latest version of SwiftKey on your iPhone.
2) Open the app and tap Get Started. You may avoid signing into your Microsoft account by tapping Not Now. You can also choose not to share your typing data with Microsoft.
3) Now, tap the ‘Take me there’ button, which will open the Settings app.
4) Tap Keyboards, enable the switch next to SwiftKey, and then ‘Allow Full Access.’
Alternatively, you can go to iPhone Settings > General > Keyboard > Add New Keyboard, search for SwiftKey, and allow full access.
5) Open the SwiftKey app again, and it will ask you to touch and hold the globe key and switch to SwiftKey. Then, tap Next on the Installation Successful screen.
6) Go to the Settings tab of SwiftKey and turn on Number Row.
7) Now, open Notes, Messages, or another app and start typing. You’ll have an easy numeric row to enter digits without tapping the 123 key first.
In case you don’t like extra buttons like the Copilot icon, return to the SwiftKey app settings and turn off one or more of these options:
- Voice Typing
- Always Show Copilot Icon
- Show Menu Button Left
- Show default toolbar
Then force-quit and reopen the app where you were typing for new keyboard changes to take effect.
Once you’re accustomed to SwiftKey, you can return to iOS keyboard settings and remove the stock Apple keyboard, leaving just SwiftKey (and maybe the Emoji keyboard) there.
Use Google Gboard
Gboard doesn’t offer a dedicated number row like SwiftKey, but you can turn on ‘Show number row’ in its app settings, which lets you enter 0-9 by touching and holding the keys in the top qwertyuiop row.
Use Apple’s Vietnamese keyboard
If you don’t want to use third-party keyboards, consider this tip.
The Vietnamese VNI and Arabic Transliteration keyboards on iPhone show a native number row.
Arabic Transliteration not only types from right to left but also changes what you type in English into Arabic, which will defeat the purpose. So that keyboard is out of the question for English typers. That leaves us with the Vietnamese keyboard.
However, be mindful that even though you can type in English using the Vietnamese keyboard, it will not offer English word predictions and may even mark correct English words as incorrect, as those are not Vietnamese words. So it’s best to turn off both of these features (I will show you below).
Follow these steps to add the right Vietnamese keyboard on your iPhone that shows a number row.
1) Go to iPhone Settings > General > Keyboard > Add New Keyboard.
2) Scroll to the bottom and tap Vietnamese.
3) Tap Add New Keyboard instead of adding it to your English keyboard.
4) Select VNI layout (as that’s the one that shows the number row) and tap the checkmark icon.
5) Open Notes, Messages, or another app and start typing. Touch and hold the globe icon and switch to the Vietnamese keyboard. You’ll see a number row at the top of the keyboard.
To turn off unnecessary Vietnamese word suggestions, go to Settings > General > Keyboard and turn off Auto-Correction, Predictive Text, and Check Spelling and Grammar.
To remove the Vietnamese keyboard, return to the iOS keyboard settings, swipe left, then tap Delete. Be sure to add another keyboard before you do this.
Use a hardware keyboard
Lastly, you can connect a wireless (Bluetooth) or wired keyboard to your iPhone, which should have a dedicated numeric keypad. While not helpful for regular folks, this tip can be useful if you need to enter numbers for hours on end for your work (I have this HP 350 keyboard that supports up to 3 devices).
Aside from using a third-party keyboard, a non-English stock keyboard, or a hardware keyboard, there is no other way to have a dedicated number row for your typing needs on an iPhone running iOS 27 or older.
Hopefully, Apple takes note of this and adds a dedicated number row in iOS 28.
Also, check out: 17 tips to type quickly and accurately on iPhone