Instructions for installing the Hebrew (SIL) keyboard on mobile devices

Steps to install the keyboard for iOS and android devices

Note: this keyboard has been submitted to Keyman. Once implemented by Keyman, users will be able to install the keyboard within the Keyman app. Before then, you may follow the steps below for installation.

1. You need to install Keyman on a mobile device. Keyman is a free app.
• Click this link if you use android devices.
• Click this link if you use iOS devices.
2. Then you have two options to install the keyboard.
• Install the keyboard from the Kayman app ("official").
1. Open the Kayman app.
2. Click the Three dot icon at the uppoer-right corner.
• On android, you need further to click "Settings".
3. Click "Installed Languages".
4. Click the "+" sign to install new keyboard.
5. Type "Hebrew" in the search box.
6. You will see the "Hebrew (SIL)" keyboard. Click it to install.
• You may visit this page to see the keyboard layout for "SIL Hebrew".
• Follow the steps below to install the custom keyboard.
• Note:
• Mine is almost the same as the official keyboard. I made some adjustments to make the vowels and cantillation marks easier to recognize.
• Mine also has extra keyboard layers that I made to easily type the consonants and vowels.
• On your android device, click the download page, then download the keyboard layout file. After download, open the downloaded keyboard file in “Keyman”.
• the Hebrew (SIL) Keyboard download page (Latest release date: 02/01/2021, 12:29 PM ET)
• On an iOS device, see note below.
• Note: I have difficulty in installing the keyboard on an iPad. The only workable way I found is to install it via Telegram messenger:
  1. Send the link of this page to your Telegram messenger.
     • you may send it to “Saved Messages” or to any other chat in Telegram.
  2. In Telegram, click the link to view the page in Telegram.
  3. Click the link in Step 2.
  4. Click the “Download” button.
  5. Click “Open in Keyman” to start installation.
• Note: on iPad/iPhone, if you want to install a new version of the keyboard, you need first to close Keyman: Double press the Home key on your iPad/iPhone and then wipe up Keyman to close it. Then follow the steps described above to install the keyboard. Otherwise, the new version of the keyboard will not be installed. The old version will come back.
3. You need to add “Keyman” keyboard to your active keyboard list.
• On andoid, go to “System” → Languages & input → On-screen keyboard → Manage on-screen keyboards. Then activate “Keyman”.
• On iOS, go to “Settings” → “General” → “Keyboard” → “Keyboards” → “Add New Keyboard…” to add “Keyman” to your active keyboard list.
4. If Keyman does not work, you may need to grant "full access" in your settings.

Done! You may start using it now!

After installation, you may test your Hebrew typing at Hebrew Typing Test.

Keyboard Layout for the Hebrew SIL keyboard

The “Ctrl” and “Ctrl + Shift” Layers

The “Ctrl” layer contains all consonants and vowels. It is sufficient in most cases. The “Ctrl + Shift” layer marks some ambigous signs. It outputs the same results as the “Ctrl” layer.

It has both Qamets and Qamets Hatuph. The 1st vowel in the 1st row is Qamets. The 5th vowel in the first row is Qamets Hatuph.

Rows 2-4 follows the SIL Hebrew keyboard closely in most cases. The regular Holem is in the 2nd row, left to Peh. Type the regular Holem after Waw for “Holem Waw”. The last vowel in the 2nd row is “Holem for Waw”. It is only used when a Holem follows the consonantal Waw. For all other consonants, use the regular Holem.

The “Normal”, “Shift”, “AltGr/Opt”, and “AltGr/Opt + Shift” Layers

• Note: on Win, the “AltGr” key is the “right Alt” key.
• These layers follow the Hebrew (SIL) keyboard mapping. It is for more complicated Hebrew typing.

Support Keyman

The SBL Hebrew font is used with permission. See SBL Font End User License Agreement.