Bangla Keyboard Guide (2026): Bijoy, Avro, UniBijoy — Layouts, Downloads, and Comparison

This is the complete guide to Bangla / Bengali keyboards — what the layouts are, how they differ, which to pick, and where to install each one across Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, and iOS. It’s the page I wish existed when I first started typing Bengali on a non-Windows machine.

If you already know what you want, jump to:

• Install UniBijoy in Avro Keyboard (Windows, free)
• Install Bangla keyboard on Ubuntu / Linux

The rest of this page is the comparison and decision tree.

The five Bangla keyboard layouts you’ll meet

There are five layouts that get mentioned interchangeably online — they are not the same thing.

Two practical distinctions:

• Fixed vs phonetic. Fixed layouts (Bijoy, UniBijoy, Provat) map each English key to a specific Bengali letter — same idea as QWERTY for English. Phonetic layouts (Avro Phonetic) convert romanised words (“bangla” → “বাংলা”) on the fly.
• ANSI vs Unicode. ANSI Bengali (Bijoy) needs a matching Bijoy font to display correctly. Unicode Bengali (UniBijoy, Provat) renders everywhere modern — web, Office, phones — without special fonts.

If you’re picking fresh today and don’t have legacy ANSI documents, always pick a Unicode layout. It’s portable.

Which Bangla keyboard should you pick?

A short decision tree:

Do you already type Bijoy at school/work?
├── Yes ──> Stay on the Bijoy key map
│   ├── Want it free?     ──> UniBijoy via Avro
│   └── Need paid Bijoy?  ──> Bijoy Bayanno (Bijoy 52)
└── No, you're new to Bengali typing
    ├── Just want it to work, occasionally?
    │   └── Avro Phonetic (type "bangla" → "বাংলা")
    └── Want to invest in a fixed layout for speed?
        └── UniBijoy (free) or Provat (Avro's own)

For 80% of readers, UniBijoy via Avro Keyboard is the right answer. It’s free, Unicode, cross-platform, and the same key map you’d learn for Bijoy — so if you ever need to switch to Bijoy Bayanno later, your fingers are ready.

The Bangla key map

This is the Bijoy / UniBijoy / Provat fixed layout — every Bengali consonant, vowel, and modifier mapped to a QWERTY key:

Highlights:

• Vowels on the right half, consonants on the left.
• G → Bengali full stop । (dari).
• Numerals 0–9 automatically convert to Bengali numerals ০–৯ when the layout is active.
• Shift + key → aspirated / conjunct forms.

Install guides by platform

Windows

• Free + Unicode → Install UniBijoy in Avro Keyboard (download a .avrolayout, double-click, restart Avro).
• Paid + ANSI/Unicode → Bijoy Bayanno (Bijoy 52) on Windows 11 — the paid option; the .NET Framework 3.5 prerequisite is the only gotcha.

Linux

• Free + Unicode → Install Bangla keyboard on Ubuntu. IBus + m17n-db ships the Bijoy layout under the name “Bengali (Unijoy)”. Works on Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, Arch, Mint, Pop!_OS.

macOS

• Free + Unicode → On macOS, iAvro from OmicronLab ships UniBijoy + Avro Phonetic — add it from System Settings → Keyboard → Input Sources.

Android

Gboard ships a Bangla (Bijoy) layout. Settings → System → Languages & input → Languages → Add language → Bangla, then in any text field, long-press the spacebar to switch.

For phonetic Bangla on Android, install Ridmik Keyboard from the Play Store — it’s the most popular phonetic Bangla keyboard for mobile.

iOS

iOS only ships phonetic Bengali natively. Settings → General → Keyboard → Keyboards → Add New Keyboard → Bengali.

For a fixed Bijoy layout, install Ridmik Keyboard or Avro Keyboard for iOS from the App Store.

Layout-specific deep dives

These posts go further on a single layout or platform:

• UniBijoy keyboard layout for Avro Keyboard (Windows) — free download + step-by-step install.
• Bangla keyboard on Ubuntu / Linux — IBus + m17n setup.

FAQ

What’s the difference between Bijoy and UniBijoy? Same physical key positions; different output. Bijoy outputs ANSI legacy Bengali; UniBijoy outputs Unicode. UniBijoy is what you want for any modern app.

Is Bijoy Bayanno free? No — it’s paid (BDT ~1,500). Avro + UniBijoy is the free alternative with the same layout.

Can I learn Bijoy without paying for Bijoy Bayanno? Yes — install Avro Keyboard and add the UniBijoy layout. Identical key positions to Bijoy, free.

Which is faster, Bijoy or Avro Phonetic? Bijoy after you’ve built the muscle memory — same reason QWERTY beats hunt-and-peck. Avro Phonetic is faster for occasional typists who don’t want to learn a layout.

Related

• BTRC IMEI check — verify your phone in Bangladesh — separate topic but useful if you also bought a phone in Bangladesh recently.

Stuck on a specific platform or layout? Drop a comment below.