iOS 8 to Include Support for System Wide Third-Party Keyboards - MacRumors
Skip to Content

iOS 8 to Include Support for System Wide Third-Party Keyboards

by

Apple today announced at its Worldwide Developers Conference that iOS 8 will support system wide third-party keyboards.

ios8_third_party_keyboards
The company showed something that appeared to resemble the popular-gesture based keyboard Swype running on iOS 8, as software chief Craig Federighi noted that keyboards have the most restrictive sandbox to ensure user privacy and safety.

To this point, third-party keyboards such as SwiftKey Note and Flesky have launched for iOS, although their integration has been limited to note-taking in a separate app and allowing app developers to incorporate their keyboard, respectively. With this announcement, it is likely that both keyboards will launch for iOS with full integration at some point in the future.

Support for third-party keyboards will be included with iOS 8, with the new mobile operating system expected to launch this fall.

Related Forum: iOS 8

Top Rated Comments

kdarling Avatar
161 months ago
The first third party keyboard I want, is one that actually changes the letter case on the keys depending on shift mode... just like every other software keyboard on the planet.

It's always been insane that, especially after mocking physical keyboards, Apple's own soft keyboard acts like a physical one by staying in uppercase.

(Plus I've lately had to explain to new iPad users why they're not typing what they think. Especially when iOS goes into auto-uppercase at the beginning of a sentence. That's can be very confusing to new iOS users, because while it's nice when you get used to it, it's unexpected, and they try to hit Shift which actually puts in back into lowercase mode.)
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Snowy_River Avatar
161 months ago
wonder why they dont allow the same extension API to let dev put "widgets" in the notification center

Uh... They do...
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NightFox Avatar
161 months ago
Come on! Extensions is MASSIVE - interaction between apps is here! This is SO much more than just third party keyboards!
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Parasprite Avatar
161 months ago
The first third party keyboard I want, is one that actually changes the letter case on the keys depending on shift mode... just like every other software keyboard on the planet.

It's always been insane that, especially after mocking physical keyboards, Apple's own soft keyboard acts like a physical one by staying in uppercase.

(Plus I've lately had to explain to new iPad users why they're not typing what they think. Especially when iOS goes into auto-uppercase at the beginning of a sentence. That's can be very confusing to new iOS users, because while it's nice when you get used to it, it's unexpected, and they try to hit Shift which actually puts in back into lowercase mode.)
The worst is when you leave on autocapitalize and you intend to type a key which normally requires you press the shift key (?) but instead it presses the non-shifted variety (.)... so instead you have to press it twice...except not too quickly or it turns into caps lock and still doesn't type the character you wanted. :rolleyes:
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nooaah Avatar
161 months ago
Bye jailbreak
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jrswizzle Avatar
161 months ago
Yes but the difference is google likely won't sure apple over swype.

Google didn't invent Swype typing.....that would be Nuance - at least their app, Swype, was around before Google added it to the default Android keyboard.

Actually, Google took a bunch of 3rd party keyboard ideas and mashed them into the stock keyboard. Don't think there's anything "original" there.

Yet again shows, there's nothing new - its all been done in one form or another. Its the implementation that counts. In this case, Apple opening up to 3rd party devs isn't copying - simply shifting direction. They're also being far more cautious about it it seems with a specific extensions api that allows this type of thing in a highly sandboxed environment.

Implementation =/= feature.

----------

I was just about to say this. Swype typing is so hard to give up. And if a bigger iphone comes out, they will have me as a customer for life (especially if they figure out the Reminders app bugs)

I'll be all over the Swype keyboard if they release it on iOS. Loved that about my Android phones. Looking forward to it on my iPhones and iPads!
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

macOS 27 next to MacBook Pro Running macOS 27

Apple Announces 'Full Disk Access' Changes on macOS Due to AI Agents

Friday October 2, 2026 12:59 pm PDT by
In a post on its developer news website today, Apple announced that it will be introducing "additional controls" for the "Full Disk Access" setting on macOS due to new risks posed by AI agents. This announcement comes amid the rise of always-on AI agents like Meta's Muse and OpenAI's Dots, which have prompted privacy concerns. "Some developers are using Full Disk Access in ways that could...
iPhone 18 Pro Max Glacier Camera

Apple Says iPhone 18 Pro Max Users With AT&T Cellular Issue Need to Have Device Replaced

Friday October 2, 2026 8:21 pm PDT by
Apple today confirmed that a "small number" of iPhone 18 Pro Max users on the AT&T network have experienced an issue that causes the device to lose cellular service, thereby preventing phone calls, text messages, and data from working. Thousands of users complained about the issue across the Apple Support Community and other platforms. Apple said it released iOS 27.0.1 earlier this week and...
iPhone 18 Pro Max ATT

AT&T Acknowledges iPhone 18 Pro Max Issues: Update 'Immediately'

Thursday October 1, 2026 8:42 pm PDT by
In a text message sent to customers today, AT&T acknowledged that some iPhone 18 Pro Max devices on its network are experiencing cellular issues. AT&T said that customers should immediately update to iOS 27.0.1, despite the fact that many affected users have said that the update does not resolve the issues. There are now at least thousands of users that have experienced this problem,...
Latest Stories
Apple Watch Prime Day Deals Arrive With New All-Time Low Prices for Series 12 and Ultra 4
Apple Watch Prime Day Deals Arrive With New All-Time Low Prices for Series 12 and Ultra 4
15 minutes ago
Apple Releases MagSafe 3 Charging Cable Firmware Update
Apple Releases MagSafe 3 Charging Cable Firmware Update
16 minutes ago
AirPods Max 2 Drop to $429 in All Colors for Prime Day
AirPods Max 2 Drop to $429 in All Colors for Prime Day
36 minutes ago
Apple Quietly Triples iCloud Mail Alias Limit to Nine
Apple Quietly Triples iCloud Mail Alias Limit to Nine
1 hour ago
Mac Users Can Reclaim Storage With Apple Intelligence Removal Tool
Mac Users Can Reclaim Storage With Apple Intelligence Removal Tool
2 hours ago
iPhone Duo Makes Focus Modes Easier to Toggle From the Lock Screen
iPhone Duo Makes Focus Modes Easier to Toggle From the Lock Screen
3 hours ago
EU iPhone and iPad Users Could Still Face Months-Long Wait for Siri AI
EU iPhone and iPad Users Could Still Face Months-Long Wait for Siri AI
3 hours ago
Today Marks the 15th Anniversary of Steve Jobs' Death
Today Marks the 15th Anniversary of Steve Jobs' Death
4 hours ago
iPhone 18 Pro's Triple Live Activity Support Comes With a Catch
iPhone 18 Pro's Triple Live Activity Support Comes With a Catch
5 hours ago
Apple's New CEO John Ternus is Making Product Design a 'Major Priority'
Apple's New CEO John Ternus is Making Product Design a 'Major Priority'
11 hours ago
Apple Hiring 'iCup' Specialist
Apple Hiring 'iCup' Specialist
11 hours ago
MacBook Pro With OLED Display Rumored to Be 'Significantly Lighter'
MacBook Pro With OLED Display Rumored to Be 'Significantly Lighter'
12 hours ago
Apple Event Reportedly Planned for October 13
Apple Event Reportedly Planned for October 13
13 hours ago
Amazon Launches Early Prime Day Discounts on AirPods, iPad, MacBook Air, and More
Amazon Launches Early Prime Day Discounts on AirPods, iPad, MacBook Air, and More
14 minutes ago
AirPods Pro 3 Hit Record Low $179 Price During Early Prime Day Sale
AirPods Pro 3 Hit Record Low $179 Price During Early Prime Day Sale
22 hours ago
Top Stories: Apple Smart Home Launch on October 13, iPhone Duo Production Issues, and More
Top Stories: Apple Smart Home Launch on October 13, iPhone Duo Production Issues, and More
2 days ago
Apple Says iPhone 18 Pro Max Users With AT&T Cellular Issue Need to Have Device Replaced
Apple Says iPhone 18 Pro Max Users With AT&T Cellular Issue Need to Have Device Replaced
2 days ago
Apple Announces 'Full Disk Access' Changes on macOS Due to AI Agents
Apple Announces 'Full Disk Access' Changes on macOS Due to AI Agents
3 days ago
AT&T and Apple Just Took Steps Toward Fixing iPhone 18 Pro Max Issue
AT&T and Apple Just Took Steps Toward Fixing iPhone 18 Pro Max Issue
3 days ago
AT&T on iPhone 18 Pro Max Issues: 'We Are Working With Apple'
AT&T on iPhone 18 Pro Max Issues: 'We Are Working With Apple'
3 days ago
Upgrading From an Older Apple Watch? Here's How the New Features Stack Up
Upgrading From an Older Apple Watch? Here's How the New Features Stack Up
3 days ago
Beats 360 Cushion Kits and Apple Accessories See Early Prime Day Price Drops
Beats 360 Cushion Kits and Apple Accessories See Early Prime Day Price Drops
3 days ago
Apple Store in UK Reopening on iPhone Duo Launch Day
Apple Store in UK Reopening on iPhone Duo Launch Day
3 days ago
AT&T Acknowledges iPhone 18 Pro Max Issues: Update 'Immediately'
AT&T Acknowledges iPhone 18 Pro Max Issues: Update 'Immediately'
3 days ago
New 'AirFly Drive' Accessory Turns Wired CarPlay Into Wireless CarPlay
New 'AirFly Drive' Accessory Turns Wired CarPlay Into Wireless CarPlay
4 days ago
Apple Shares Photos Shot on iPhone Duo
Apple Shares Photos Shot on iPhone Duo
4 days ago
Apple Says iPhone Duo Has Replaceable 'Cover Layer'
Apple Says iPhone Duo Has Replaceable 'Cover Layer'
4 days ago
Apple's Smart Home Camera Will Apparently Have 'No Video Recording'
Apple's Smart Home Camera Will Apparently Have 'No Video Recording'
4 days ago
Apple TV Just Updated Its Selection of 'Bonus' Movies
Apple TV Just Updated Its Selection of 'Bonus' Movies
4 days ago
iPhone 18 Pro Colors Buyer's Guide: Which Should You Choose?
iPhone 18 Pro Colors Buyer's Guide: Which Should You Choose?
4 days ago