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Urdu Keyboard – Type in Urdu Online

Type Urdu with your normal English keyboard or tap the on-screen keys. Each Latin letter types the Urdu letter that sounds like it, and your text never leaves your browser.

a → ا, b → ب, s → س. Hold Shift for related letters: S → ص, T → ٹ, D → ڈ, N → ں.

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How to type in Urdu

  1. Start typing in the box. With phonetic typing on, English letters become Urdu letters as you type, written right to left.
  2. Use Shift for extra letters such as ٹ, ڈ, ڑ, ص, خ and ں, or tap the on-screen Shift key to see them on the keyboard.
  3. Tap the on-screen keys if you prefer. Space, New line and Delete sit on the bottom row.
  4. Switch on Urdu digits if you want numbers as ۱۲۳ instead of 123.
  5. Copy your text or download it as a .txt file, ready to paste into WhatsApp, Facebook, Word or an email.

The phonetic layout

Most letters sit on the English key that sounds most like them. The keys that surprise people are worth learning first:

  • Vowel letters: a = ا, Shift + A = آ, w = و, i = ی, y = ے, e = ع, u = ء
  • The three he letters: o = ہ (gol he), h = ح (bari he), Shift + H = ھ (do-chashmi he)
  • Heavy retroflex sounds: Shift + T = ٹ, Shift + D = ڈ, Shift + R = ڑ
  • Other shifted letters: Shift + S = ص, Shift + K = خ, Shift + G = غ, Shift + J = ض, Shift + Z = ذ, Shift + X = ژ, Shift + C = ث, Shift + V = ظ
  • Unshifted surprises: x = ش, c = چ, v = ط, q = ق
  • Noon ghunna and endings: Shift + N = ں, Shift + O = ۃ, Shift + Y = ۓ, Shift + U = ئ
  • Punctuation: comma gives ، full stop gives ۔ semicolon gives ؛ and the question mark gives ؟

So پاکستان is p, a, k, s, t, a, n, and شکریہ is x, k, r, i, o.

Features

  • Phonetic typing from a physical keyboard or your phone's keyboard.
  • On-screen Urdu keyboard in the familiar q w e r t y order, with each key showing its Urdu letter and the English key it sits on.
  • Diacritics (zabar, zer, pesh, shadd, jazm, do-zabar, khari zabar and hamza above) on Shift.
  • Urdu or English digits, your choice.
  • On-screen-only mode that hides the phone keyboard so it doesn't cover the page.
  • Live character and word count under the box.
  • Copy, download as .txt and clear in one tap.
  • Nastaliq-friendly display with large, right-to-left text.

Why use Fileora's Urdu keyboard

You don't need to install a keyboard app, change your computer's language settings or learn the official government layout. If you already write Roman Urdu, the phonetic keys will feel natural within minutes.

It's free, needs no sign-up and works on phones, tablets and computers. Everything happens in your browser, so your words stay on your device.

Want to see how fast you are? Try the Urdu typing test. If you'd rather type the way you text, paste your words into the Roman Urdu to Urdu converter, and to turn your text into a picture in Nastaliq, use the Urdu font generator.

Tips for faster Urdu typing

Short vowels are usually not written in Urdu, so type only the letters you would see on paper: محبت is m, h, b, t, with no vowels in between. Learn the three he keys early, because they are the most common source of spelling mistakes. And remember that the on-screen Shift key turns itself off after one letter, just like a phone keyboard.

Frequently asked questions

How do I type Urdu with an English keyboard?

Keep phonetic typing switched on and type as the word sounds. The letter a gives ا, b gives ب, k gives ک, and so on. For letters English doesn't have, use Shift: Shift + T gives ٹ, Shift + D gives ڈ, Shift + R gives ڑ and Shift + N gives noon ghunna ں.

Which key types the choti ye and bari ye?

The i key types choti ye ی and the y key types bari ye ے. Shift + Y gives ۓ and Shift + U gives ئ (ye with hamza). The u key on its own types a plain hamza ء.

How do I type do-chashmi he, as in بھائی or تھا?

Press Shift + H for do-chashmi he ھ. The o key types gol he ہ, and the plain h key types bari he ح, so بھائی is b, Shift + H, a, Shift + U, i.

Can I add zabar, zer and pesh?

Yes. Shift + F adds zabar, Shift + I adds zer and Shift + P adds pesh. Shift + W adds shadd, Shift + Q adds jazm and Shift + B adds do-zabar. On the on-screen keyboard these marks are shown on a dotted circle so you can see them.

Does it work on a phone?

Yes. You can type with your phone's own keyboard and the letters still turn into Urdu, or switch on "Use only the on-screen keyboard" to hide your phone keyboard and tap the large Urdu keys instead.

I already have an Urdu keyboard installed. Can I use it?

Yes. Switch phonetic typing off and the text box accepts whatever your own keyboard types, whether that's a system Urdu layout or a phone app. You still get the character and word count, copy and download.

Is what I type saved or uploaded?

No. The text stays in the box in your browser tab and disappears when you close it. Nothing is sent to a server, so you can safely write private messages, letters or notes.

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