Q: iOS 8 third-party keyboards not working

I've tried to install Swype and SwiftKey multiple times (restart, download, install keyboard, restart, try to use) with no luck. When I go into an app, such as Messages, and select the third-party keyboard all I get is a gray box where the keyboard should go. In some apps I just get a blinking cursor but no keyboard at all. I'm not connected to a bluetooth keyboard. If I remove the keyboard under settings then I get the standard and Emoji keyboards back. I can switch between those two just fine. It is only the third-party keyboards that I'm having problems with. I've having he exact same problem with my iPad (3rd gen). Any ideas?

Posted on Sep 17, 2014 9:40 PM

I have this question too

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by sproutworks,

sproutworks Sep 17, 2014 10:10 PM in response to BiOsLaSh
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Sep 17, 2014 10:10 PM in response to BiOsLaSh

I'm having this same problem on my iPhone 5S and 4th gen iPad, with Swype and Fleksy.
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by chun ghee,

chun ghee Sep 17, 2014 10:47 PM in response to BiOsLaSh
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Sep 17, 2014 10:47 PM in response to BiOsLaSh

i am having the same problem too on my iphone 5 with swiftkey and swype
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by martin_ustwo,

martin_ustwo Sep 18, 2014 5:30 AM in response to chun ghee
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Sep 18, 2014 5:30 AM in response to chun ghee

Same here with iPhone 5S A1457 with iOS 8 (12A365).

Edit: Working for me now. At first I reset the keyboard dictionary. I think this is not trick but I am not sure.

How to reset the keyboard dictionary:
Settings - General - Reset - Reset Keyboard Dictionary

Then I additionally allowed "full access" for the Minuum third party keyboard:
Settings - General - Keyboard - Keyboards - Minuum Keyboard - Allow Full Access

If I remove the full access the keyboard disappears again. So it must be this setting.

Let me know if that fixed your problem as well.
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by pm214,Helpful

pm214 Sep 18, 2014 6:06 AM in response to BiOsLaSh
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Sep 18, 2014 6:06 AM in response to BiOsLaSh

Solved the problem for me now!

I had activated the guided access in my Accessibility Settings. Now after deacivating this option the third-party keyboards appear insteed of the grey box

iOS: About Guided Access
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by martin_ustwo,Helpful

martin_ustwo Sep 18, 2014 6:29 AM in response to pm214
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Sep 18, 2014 6:29 AM in response to pm214

Also had Guided Access activated. Works for me now even without allowing full access.

Thanks!
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by BiOsLaSh,

BiOsLaSh Sep 18, 2014 6:56 AM in response to BiOsLaSh
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Sep 18, 2014 6:56 AM in response to BiOsLaSh

Yup, turned off Guided Access and it works like a charm. Thanks mp214! Must be a bug. I have a 2 year old so Guided Access is a must.
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by Brian Williams 8-),

Brian Williams 8-) Sep 18, 2014 12:02 PM in response to BiOsLaSh
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Sep 18, 2014 12:02 PM in response to BiOsLaSh

What is this guided access used for? It is turned off on my iPhone 5, so I wonder why it is turned on for so many others.
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by micahchaplin,

micahchaplin Sep 19, 2014 5:43 PM in response to Brian Williams 8-)
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Sep 19, 2014 5:43 PM in response to Brian Williams 8-)

Guided access is basically a kid safe version. You can turn off hardware buttons, restrict them from app switching and things like that. A must for those of us with two year olds.
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by Mhd Hani,

Mhd Hani Sep 20, 2014 10:04 AM in response to BiOsLaSh
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Sep 20, 2014 10:04 AM in response to BiOsLaSh

I had the same problem with my ipod touch too..but i solved it by Switching off Allow Full Access and turning it On again
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by JohnnyHD,

JohnnyHD Sep 21, 2014 1:46 PM in response to BiOsLaSh
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Sep 21, 2014 1:46 PM in response to BiOsLaSh

None of these solutions helped me. Any other solutions???
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by Lilbryan174,

Lilbryan174 Sep 21, 2014 6:09 PM in response to JohnnyHD
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Sep 21, 2014 6:09 PM in response to JohnnyHD

NOne of these worked for me too. Anybody has any other suggestion?? Please this is very annoying i have an iphone 5 and in trying to use Swype when i try to use the keyboard not even the main one would show up until I deactivate the third party keyboard
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by JohnnyHD,

JohnnyHD Sep 21, 2014 6:14 PM in response to Lilbryan174
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Sep 21, 2014 6:14 PM in response to Lilbryan174

SSame here. Also using iPhone 5.
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by Gargantubrain,

Gargantubrain Sep 21, 2014 8:40 PM in response to pm214
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Sep 21, 2014 8:40 PM in response to pm214

Turning off Guided Access WORKS! It fixed Swype not coming up!
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by JohnnyHD,

JohnnyHD Sep 22, 2014 4:54 AM in response to Gargantubrain
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Sep 22, 2014 4:54 AM in response to Gargantubrain

Guided access was never on for me. Tried checking and unchecking it anyhow. Sometimes I get the grey box where a keyboard should be, sometimes I see the swype keyboard but it's unresponsive.
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