How to Type in Arabic on Windows, Mac and Phones
Quick answer: add Arabic as a keyboard language and switch to it with Win+Space (Windows) or Ctrl+Space (Mac). Type the letters in their basic form; the font joins them automatically. In Word, Ctrl+Right Shift makes a paragraph right-to-left. If punctuation lands on the wrong side in mixed text, insert a right-to-left mark.
Set it up
- Windows 10/11: Settings → Time & language → Language & region → Add a language → Arabic (choose your country). The common layout is Arabic (101). Switch with Win+Space or Left Alt + Shift.
- Mac: System Settings → Keyboard → Text Input → Edit → + → Arabic. Arabic – PC matches Windows keyboards; Arabic – QWERTY places letters by similar Latin sounds, which is easier without stickers.
- Phones: add the Arabic keyboard in the keyboard settings; switch with the globe key.
- No stickers? Open the Windows on-screen keyboard (Win+Ctrl+O) to see where each letter is.
How Arabic typing works
- Joining: you type each letter once; the font picks the right initial, middle, final or isolated form.
- Lam-alef: ل followed by ا becomes the ligature لا automatically; Arabic (101) also has a key for it.
- Short vowels (harakat): fatha, damma, kasra, sukun and shadda are on Shift positions of the letter keys in Arabic (101). They are usually optional in everyday text.
- Arabic punctuation: the Arabic question mark ؟ and comma ، are on the keyboard in Arabic mode.
Right-to-left in documents
| Where | How |
|---|---|
| Word | Ctrl + Right Shift = right-to-left paragraph; Ctrl + Left Shift = left-to-right |
| Google Docs | Right-to-left buttons appear in the toolbar when an RTL language is enabled (File → Language) |
| HTML | dir="rtl" and lang="ar" on the element |
Mixed Arabic and English
Punctuation, brackets and numbers are "neutral": they take the direction of the text around them, so a full stop after an English word inside an Arabic sentence can appear at the wrong end. Insert an invisible right-to-left mark (U+200F) after it, or a left-to-right mark (U+200E) inside English runs. In Word, type 200F and press Alt+X; on Windows with an RTL keyboard active, many apps also offer "Insert Unicode control character" in the right-click menu. More about invisible characters: invisible characters.
Numbers
Arabic text can use Western digits (0123) or Arabic-Indic digits (٠١٢٣). They are different characters. In Word, File → Options → Advanced → Numeral controls which digits are shown; on phones, the Arabic keyboard's number page usually offers both.
See the overview how to type in other languages. If letters appear unjoined or as boxes, see why symbols show as boxes.
Frequently asked questions
How do I type Arabic on a normal keyboard?
Add Arabic in the language settings and switch to it with Win + Space on Windows or Ctrl + Space on a Mac. Arabic letters are printed on stickers or shown in the on-screen keyboard; the computer joins the letters automatically.
How do I make a paragraph right-to-left in Word?
Press Ctrl + Right Shift for right-to-left and Ctrl + Left Shift for left-to-right, or use the paragraph direction buttons on the Home tab.
Why does punctuation jump to the wrong side in mixed Arabic and English text?
Neutral characters such as full stops and brackets take the direction of the text around them. Inserting an invisible right-to-left mark (U+200F) after the punctuation usually fixes it.
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