# NguyenKey — New Type Vietnamese Keyboard

> Vietnamese keyboard app for simplified input of consonants, vowels, and tone marks. (iPhone/iPad app by Takayuki Imai.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nguyenkey/id1359031306 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Takayuki Imai](https://appshunter.io/developer/998239550)
- Category: Utilities, Education
- Price: $2.99
- Rating: 3.00/5 from 2 App Store ratings · 2 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 15 · 2 MB
- Languages: American English, Japanese
- Released: 2018-03-15
- Data updated: 2026-06-01
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nguyenkey/id1359031306/reviews.md

## What is NguyenKey?

1. Introduction

 NguyenKey is a new type keyboard that inputs Vietnamese in consonants, vowels, and tone marks, not in letters. This has simplified the input of vowels with symbols, which was previously difficult. In addition, you can enter Vietnamese rhythmically by judging the types of consonants and vowels, and automatically switching between consonants and vowels screens.

2. Features

(1) Since Vietnamese is entered in consonants and vowels, not in letters, the number of taps is reduced.

(2) Consonants and vowels are on separate screens, making it easy to select letters.

(3)NguyenKey guesses whether the consonant is the Initial consonant or the final consonant. Determine whether the vowel is a single vowel, a diphthong, a semivowel, or a final consonant vowel with the pressed key, and the screen switching of consonants and vowels is almost automated.

(4) By pressing one of the six tone shift keys before entering vowels, all 21 vowel keys will have tone symbols, making it easier to enter vowels with tone marks and symbols.

(5) There are five input modes: consonants, vowels, numbers, symbols, and English characters. You can type Vietnamese sentences without switching to another keyboard.

(6) You can add phonetic symbols of consonants and vowels on top of the keys, which is convenient for Vietnamese learners.

(7) You can use the one-handed keyboard with the LCR key on the consonant screen. (iPhone) 


3. Compatible models and OS [2025.10]

(1) Compatible models
[iPhone] - iPhone SE2 to iPhone 17 series
[iPad] - iPad from the 5th generation to iPad A16

*iPhone includes Pro, Pro Max, Air, etc.
*iPad includes Pro, Air, mini, etc.

(2) Compatible OS

・iOS15 to iOS18.X and iOS26.X
・iPadOS15 to iPadOS18.X and iPadOS26.X

4. Initial settings

The following two settings are required to be able to use NguyenKey.

Additional keyboard settings

(1) Tap the "Settings" icon from the iOS home screen
(2) Go to [General] - [Keyboard] and select "Add a new keyboard"
(3) Tap “NguyenKey"

Setting to add sound when key tapping (allow full access to the keyboard)

(1) Select [Settings] - [Accessibility] - [Keyboard and Input]
(2) On the screen that appears, tap [Full Keyboard Access]
(3) Turn on the "Full Keyboard Access" switch on the screen

*If you make this setting, you can turn the tapping sound on and off with the tapping sound switch in the containing app.


5. Example

Example of entering the most common name "Nguyễn" in Vietnam

(1) First, check the structure of the word. In this case, the Initial consonant (Ng), the semivowel (u), the main vowel is diphthong (yê) and the final consonant (n), and the second character of the diphthong is added the tone mark of the wave symbol.

(2) Since the first letter of the Initial consonant is only a capital letter (Ng), so tap the white arrow shift key. →Then, only the first character of all consonants on the consonant screen will be capitalized.

(3) Tap (Ng). →Then (Ng) is entered, and the screen is automatically replaced by a vowel screen.

(4) Next, tap the semivowel (~u~) key. →The screen does not switch.

(5) Next, tap the tone shift key of the wave symbol. →Then all vowel keys on the vowel screen will have a tone symbol.

(6) Tap(yễ). →Then (yễ) is entered and automatically switches to the consonant screen.

(7) Enter the final consonant (n). →Entering the final consonant the screen don’t switch to the vowel screen. This is because NguyenKey infers that the consonant to be tapped next is the Initial consonant.

― That's it.


6. About the Creator

- Name: Takayuki Imai (今井 隆行)

- Email address: snowysap@gmail.com

Support site: https://superscript.sakura.ne.jp/


7. Privacy Policy
(1) The content entered by the user from the keyboard is not transferred to others via the Internet.
(2) We will not disclose or sell personal information such as the user's name and email address, as well as the contents of communication with us without permission.

## Key features

- Simplified Vietnamese input
- Automated consonant/vowel screen switching
- Tone mark entry
- Phonetic symbols for learners
- One-handed keyboard option (iPhone)
- Integrated input modes

## Recent user reviews (2 of 2)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nguyenkey/id1359031306/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Best of all keyboards

*2021-05-11, version 1.3*

Makes typing as easy as writing. Worth the low cost and time effort to write grammatically correct Vietnamese words.

### 1/5 — Do not buy

*2019-02-10, version 1.3*

The keyboard is so difficult to use, wasted my money !!

## Frequently asked questions about NguyenKey

### How do I set up NguyenKey?

To use NguyenKey, you need to add it as an additional keyboard in your iOS settings under General > Keyboard > Add New Keyboard. You also need to enable Full Keyboard Access in Accessibility settings to manage typing sounds.

### What devices are compatible with NguyenKey?

NguyenKey is compatible with iPhone SE2 through the iPhone 17 series, and iPads from the 5th generation to iPad A16. It supports iOS and iPadOS versions 15 through 18.X and 26.X.

### Does NguyenKey have ads?

No, NguyenKey does not contain advertisements. It is a paid application that offers an ad-free typing experience.

### What is the price of NguyenKey?

NguyenKey is available for a one-time purchase price of $2.99.

### How does NguyenKey simplify Vietnamese typing?

NguyenKey simplifies typing by inputting Vietnamese using consonants, vowels, and tone marks directly, rather than individual letters. It intelligently guesses consonant types and automates vowel screen switching.

### Can NguyenKey help with learning Vietnamese?

Yes, NguyenKey can assist Vietnamese learners by displaying phonetic symbols for consonants and vowels directly on the keys, making it easier to understand and input the correct sounds.

### How often is NguyenKey updated?

The latest version of NguyenKey is 4.0, last updated on October 14, 2025. Updates typically occur to ensure compatibility with newer OS versions and device models.

### What is the user sentiment for NguyenKey based on ratings?

Based on the provided data, NguyenKey has a rating of 3.0 stars from 2 ratings. This suggests a mixed to neutral user reception.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 4.0 — 2025-10-14

What’s New in Ver4.0
(1) The key layout has been improved.
(2) Now compatible with iPhone 17 series.
(3) The select SW of the southern and northern dialects of the phonetic symbols on the key has been moved to the containing app.

### 3.0 — 2022-05-08

What's New in Ver 3.0
(1)The key layout has been improved.
(2)Changed iOS conditions to iOS 13.1 or higher.
(3)Removed the talk mode.

### 2 — 2021-06-30

This is a big version up.
[ What's New in Ver 2]
(1) Improved the input method of vowels with a tone mark. Until now, a vowel letter without a tone mark was replaced with a vowel with a tone mark in the input area, but now they are converted into one character in the keyboard using the tone shift key system.
(2) The consonant and vowel connection rules are expressed in the keyboard layout.
(3) Talk mode has been added that allows you to enter commonly used phrases in Vietnamese.
(4) Floating keyboard for iPad is available.
(5) Compatible with new models.

### 1.3 — 2018-10-10

(1) Support for iPhone XS, XR and XS Max screen resolution
(2) Update iPhone compatible mode on iPad changed on iOS 12 (iPhone 4 -> iPhone 8)
(3) Small bug fix

### 1.0 — 2018-03-14

No release notes.

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## More apps by Takayuki Imai

- [Hanglin - KoreanKeyboard](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hanglin-koreankeyboard/id998239551)
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All apps by Takayuki Imai: https://appshunter.io/developer/998239550

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-01.*