How do you connect a keyboard and mouse to a smartphone?

Updated on October 25, 2026

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To connect a keyboard and mouse to a phone, you have two options: a USB adapter (OTG) or Bluetooth. On Android, the keyboard layout is set in the physical keyboard menu. On iPhone, a mouse works through AssistiveTouch, an accessibility feature.

Common symptoms and causes

• The keyboard does not show up in the Bluetooth list: it is not in pairing mode, or it is not paired.
• Some physical keyboard menus are missing: they only exist from Android 14.
• Nothing happens with the USB cable: the phone does not support OTG, or the adapter is not pushed in fully or is not compatible.
• The mouse disconnects or stutters: the connection is unstable.

Before you start

Look at your phone’s charging port first. OTG (On-The-Go) lets you plug a USB device into a smartphone, using an adapter that matches the charging port: micro-USB or USB-C.

• Android: some physical keyboard settings need Android 14 or later, and menu names change from one brand to another.
• iPhone and iPad: a keyboard or mouse with a USB-A plug needs a Lightning or USB-C adapter, depending on the model.
• iPhone: the mouse only works with AssistiveTouch turned on.

To choose hardware, see our pick of the best keyboards for smartphones.

Solution 1: plug in a USB mouse with an OTG adapter

Samsung describes this method for a mouse on a Galaxy phone. It works on most models (S24, S25, Z Fold, Z Flip, A series), depending on each phone’s hardware and software.

1. Plug the OTG adapter into the phone’s charging port.
2. Plug the USB mouse into the adapter.
3. Tap Allow if a USB debugging window appears.

The pointer appears on the screen and the mouse responds right away.

If you do not have an adapter, here is a USB-C to USB-A model that suits an OTG-compatible phone.

UGREEN USB-C male to USB-A 3.0 female OTG adapter

Lets a phone with a USB-C port read a USB-A flash drive or card reader. Useful to copy a backup of your files to or from the phone.

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Solution 2: pair a Bluetooth keyboard or mouse on Android

Pairing links a Bluetooth device to the phone. The labels below come from Android’s own help pages and vary by manufacturer.

1. Put the keyboard or mouse in pairing mode, following the maker’s manual.
2. Open Settings > Connected devices > Pair new device.
3. Tap the name of the keyboard or mouse under Available devices.
4. If the keyboard has a touchpad, open Settings > System > Touchpad to adjust tap to click, scroll direction, bottom-right click and pointer speed.

The device moves to the list of connected devices.

Tip: most Bluetooth keyboards and mice leave pairing mode after a few minutes. If they do not appear in the list, start pairing mode again and refresh the search.

Got an old keyboard that came with a USB Bluetooth dongle? Our guide to Bluetooth dongles helps you pick the right one.

Solution 3: set the layout of an Android Bluetooth keyboard

The layout is set in the physical keyboard menu, with labels that also vary by brand. This matters mostly when the keys printed on your keyboard do not match what appears on screen, for example an AZERTY keyboard on a phone set to QWERTY.

1. Open Settings > System > Keyboard > Physical keyboard.
2. Tap the name of your keyboard.
3. Choose the language, for instance French or English.
4. Choose the layout in the list: AZERTY, QWERTY or the one printed on your keys.
5. If needed, adjust the options Use on-screen keyboard, Keyboard shortcuts and Modifier keys, which remap Caps Lock, Ctrl and Alt.

The on-screen keyboard language applies to the physical keyboard by itself after it connects.

Good to know: on a phone older than Android 14, some of these options do not exist.

Solution 4: connect a keyboard and mouse to an iPhone or iPad

On iPhone, the mouse depends on AssistiveTouch, which shows a pointer and a menu button on the screen. Apple advises connecting the mouse first, then turning on AssistiveTouch.

1. Put the Bluetooth mouse or trackpad in pairing mode.
2. Open Settings > Accessibility > Touch > AssistiveTouch > Devices > Bluetooth Devices.
3. Select the mouse in the list.
4. Turn on AssistiveTouch.
5. For a wired mouse, plug it into the Lightning or USB-C port, with an adapter if its plug is USB-A.
6. Set the pointer speed in Settings > General > Trackpad & Mouse.
7. On iPhone, change the pointer’s look in Settings > Accessibility > Touch > AssistiveTouch > Pointer Style; on iPad, in Settings > Accessibility > Pointer Control (colour, size, auto-hide delay).
8. To change what a button does, open Settings > Accessibility > Touch > AssistiveTouch > Devices, select the mouse, then the button, and pick the action in the list.

A round grey pointer appears on the screen, along with the AssistiveTouch button. To keep the menu showing alongside the pointer, turn on Always Show Menu.

A Bluetooth keyboard on its own normally pairs from Settings > Bluetooth, with the keyboard in pairing mode. The Apple page we checked does not detail this step.

Tip: Dragging Lock moves an item without holding the button down; click again to release it. With Mouse Keys, in the AssistiveTouch menu, the keyboard drives the pointer: press Option five times to turn it on or off, then adjust the initial delay and maximum speed.

Solution 5: if the keyboard or mouse does not respond

Samsung gives these checks for a mouse over OTG. They are worth trying before anything else.

1. Check that the OTG adapter is pushed in all the way and compatible with your phone.
2. Restart the phone.
3. Unplug and plug the mouse back in if it disconnects.

According to Samsung, OTG support can be checked in the developer options. The brand does not give the exact path.

If nothing works

Stop if the keyboard or mouse stays silent after a restart, another cable and another port. Test the accessory on a computer or tablet: if it works nowhere, the accessory is at fault. If it works elsewhere, the problem lies with the phone or the adapter.

Then contact the support team of the accessory maker or the phone maker. Before you call, write down the exact model of both devices and the Android or iOS version.

Take better care of your smartphone: our toolbox

These accessories make a keyboard and mouse more practical day to day.

Frequently asked questions

Can you plug a USB keyboard into a phone?

Yes, if the phone supports OTG, with a micro-USB or USB-C adapter depending on its port. Samsung, however, only describes this connection for a mouse on a Galaxy phone. On iPhone and iPad, a device with a USB-A plug needs a Lightning or USB-C adapter.

How do you change a Bluetooth keyboard layout on Android?

Open Settings > System > Keyboard > Physical keyboard, tap the keyboard’s name, then choose the language and layout, such as English (US) or French (AZERTY). Some of these options only exist from Android 14. The menu name can vary with the phone brand.

Can you use a mouse with an iPhone?

Yes, a Bluetooth or wired mouse works on iPhone through AssistiveTouch. Connect it from Settings > Accessibility > Touch > AssistiveTouch > Devices, then turn on AssistiveTouch. A round grey pointer appears on the screen.

Why does my keyboard not work with the OTG adapter?

Most often the adapter is not pushed in fully or is not compatible, or the phone does not support OTG: these are the causes Samsung gives for a mouse. Check the connection, restart the phone and plug the accessory back in. If it works on another device, the problem lies with the phone or the adapter.