Thai Keyboard Setup: Complete Guide for Mobile/PC

Setting up Thai input takes only 3 minutes, and learning the Thai keyboard layout takes just 1 day. This guide provides detailed instructions for setting up Thai input methods on iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac, helping you start typing in Thai.

Mobile Setup

iOS (iPhone/iPad)

Step 1: Add Thai Keyboard

1. Open Settings > General > Keyboard
2. Tap Keyboards > Add New Keyboard
3. Scroll to find Thai and tap to add

Step 2: Switch Keyboard

• When typing, tap the 🌐 Globe icon on the bottom left of the keyboard
• Or long-press the Globe icon to select Thai

Step 3: Adjust Keyboard Settings

Android (Gboard Recommended)

Step 1: Install Gboard

If Gboard is not yet installed, download and install it from Google Play.

Step 2: Add Thai

1. Open Settings > System > Languages & input
2. Tap On-screen keyboard > Gboard > Languages
3. Tap Add keyboard, search for ไทย (Thai)
4. Select Thai and confirm

Step 3: Switch Input Method

• When typing, tap the Globe icon next to the spacebar
• Or long-press the spacebar to select the language

Gboard Thai Settings Tips

Computer Setup

Windows 10/11

Step 1: Add Thai Language

1. Click Start > Settings > Time & Language
2. Select Language & region
3. Click Add a language
4. Search for ไทย or Thai
5. Select Thai and install

Step 2: Switch Input Method

• Press Win + Space to switch languages
• Or click the language icon in the taskbar

Step 3: Choose Keyboard Layout

Thai has two common keyboard layouts:

Beginners are advised to use the Kedmanee layout.

Mac (macOS)

Step 1: Add Thai Input Source

1. Click Apple menu > System Settings
2. Select Keyboard > Input Sources
3. Click + to add
4. Search for Thai or 泰语
5. Select Thai and add

Step 2: Switch Input Method

• Press Control + Space to switch
• Or press Caps Lock for quick switching (needs to be enabled in settings)
• Or click the input method icon in the menu bar

Step 3: Show Input Method Menu

Ensure 'Show Input menu in menu bar' is checked in Keyboard settings.

Thai Keyboard Layout

Kedmanee Layout Diagram

The Thai Kedmanee keyboard layout is as follows:

未按Shift（小写）：
┌───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┐
│ _ │ ๅ │ / │ - │ ภ │ ถ │ ุ │ ึ │ ค │ ต │ จ │ ข │ ช │
├───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┤
│ ๆ │ ไ │ ำ │ พ │ ะ │ ั │ ี │ ร │ น │ ย │ บ │ ล │ ฃ │
├───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┤
│ ฟ │ ห │ ก │ ด │ เ │ ้ │ ่ │ า │ ส │ ว │ ง │
├───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┤
│ ผ │ ป │ แ │ อ │ ิ │ ื │ ท │ ม │ ใ │ ฝ │
└───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┘

Common Key Positions

Tone Mark Positions

Typing Practice Suggestions

Step 1: Familiarize Yourself with Key Positions

1. Spend 10 minutes daily typing while looking at the keyboard
2. Start with common letters: ก ม น ร ล ว
3. Then learn vowels: า ิ ี ุ ู เ แ ไ ใ

Step 2: Touch Typing Practice

Step 3: Practical Use

• Chat with friends in Thai
• Search in Thai on search engines
• Write a Thai diary or notes

Input Method Recommendations Compared

Mobile Devices

Desktop Computers

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Is the Thai keyboard very different from the English keyboard?

Answer: The physical keyboard layout is the same, but the letter mappings are completely different. Thai has 44 consonants, requiring almost all keys, including the number row. It's recommended to buy a set of Thai keyboard stickers or use a laser-engraved keyboard.

Q: Are there virtual keyboards available?

Answer: Yes! On Windows, you can press Win+Ctrl+O to open the On-Screen Keyboard. On Mac, you can enable it in 'System Settings' > 'Accessibility' > 'Keyboard'. Using a virtual keyboard as a reference is very convenient during the initial learning phase.

Q: How long does it take to learn to type Thai?

Answer: With 15-30 minutes of practice daily, you can typically achieve basic touch typing in about 2-4 weeks. The key is consistent daily practice, rather than infrequent, long sessions.

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Summary

Setting up Thai input is simple:

• iPhone: Settings > Keyboard > Add Thai
• Android: Gboard > Languages > Add Thai
• Windows: Settings > Language > Add Thai
• Mac: System Settings > Keyboard > Input Sources > Add

Learning to type Thai is an important step in your Thai language journey, so start setting it up now!