Use bidirectional text

Keynote supports bidirectional text, so you can enter and edit text written from left to right (such as in English or Chinese) and from right to left (such as in Arabic or Hebrew). You can use bidirectional text in paragraphs and in a selected shape or table cell.

To use another language in your presentation, you must set up a keyboard for the language on your iOS device. In Settings, tap General, tap International, tap Keyboards, then tap the language. To learn about using different languages and keyboards, see the user guide for your device.

Note:  If you add a new input source to your computer while Keynote is open, reopen Keynote so that it recognizes the source.

Use another language in Keynote

Change paragraph text direction

The ruler and its tab stops always match the direction of a paragraph, so when you change the text direction, the ruler also changes.

  1. Tap in a paragraph or list, or select text in a paragraph or list.

  2. Tap Languages button on the keyboard to change the language, or tap Format button, tap Style, then tap Paragraph direction button.

  3. Enter text, then tap Return at the end of the paragraph.

    The next paragraph continues in the same direction. To change its direction, tap Paragraph direction button, or change the language in the keyboard.

If you select multiple paragraphs with different text directions and then tap Paragraph direction button, the paragraphs are formatted to match the first paragraph in the selection.

Changes to margins and indents apply proportionally to both text directions. For example, if you increase the first line indent on the right for a right-to-left paragraph, the first line indent on the left also changes for left-to-right paragraphs.