iAvro — Free Bangla Keyboard for macOS

iAvro brings the beloved Avro Bangla typing experience to macOS — so yes, you can type Bangla on a Mac, free of charge. iAvro is open source under the MPL-2.0 license and offers both Avro Phonetic (type Bangla the way it sounds) and the UniBijoy fixed layout, giving Mac users the same workflow Windows users have enjoyed for years.

For a long time, Bangla typing on the Mac lagged behind Windows. iAvro closes that gap: it installs as a native macOS input source, so once it is set up you can type Bangla in any app exactly as you would type English.

Features

• Avro Phonetic input for fast, intuitive Bangla typing on Mac.
• UniBijoy fixed layout for Bijoy-style typing.
• Lightweight macOS input source that works across native apps.

Features deep-dive

Because iAvro registers as a system input source rather than a standalone app window, your Bangla typing follows you everywhere — text fields in Safari, document editors, chat apps, and the search bar all accept Bangla once iAvro is the active source. The Avro Phonetic engine mirrors the desktop scheme (ami → আমি, kh → খ), so anyone who has used Avro on Windows feels at home instantly. The UniBijoy option is there for users who need fixed Bijoy key positions for office or exam work, and it outputs clean Unicode.

How to install iAvro

1. Download the macOS build.
2. Move iAvro to your Applications folder and open it.
3. Allow it in System Settings → Privacy & Security if prompted.
4. Add iAvro under Keyboard → Input Sources and switch with the input menu.

First-time setup and switching input methods

After you open iAvro the first time, macOS may show a prompt asking you to allow it — approve it under Privacy & Security. Then go to System Settings → Keyboard → Input Sources, click the add (+) button, and select iAvro. From that point on, the input menu in your menu bar lists English and iAvro side by side. Click the menu, or use the system input-switch shortcut, to flip between them. To choose between Avro Phonetic and UniBijoy, set the layout from iAvro's preferences.

System requirements

A recent version of macOS. Because input methods touch system text services, grant the permissions macOS requests on first launch.

Common problems and fixes

• Bangla not appearing when you type: the most common cause is a missing permission. Open System Settings → Privacy & Security, make sure iAvro is allowed, then quit and reopen the app. Re-select iAvro from the input menu.
• iAvro is not in the Input Sources list: confirm iAvro is in your Applications folder and has been launched at least once; only then does macOS expose it as a selectable input source.
• Layout not switching: verify which input source is active in the menu bar. If you are getting English while expecting Bangla, the input menu is still on the English source — switch it explicitly.
• Characters look wrong in design apps: install a Unicode Bangla font like SolaimanLipi and apply it in the app; iAvro emits standard Unicode, so this is a font-selection issue.

iAvro vs the LearnType browser approach

Need	iAvro	LearnType (browser)
System-wide Bangla input	Yes	No (in-page practice)
Install required	Yes	No
Phonetic typing practice	Yes	Yes
Structured lessons and scoring	No	Yes

Who iAvro is best for

iAvro is ideal for Mac users who need Bangla everywhere — writers, students, and professionals composing documents and emails. If your main goal is to learn phonetic typing rather than enable system input, LearnType's browser lessons work on the Mac with no install.

Tip

Install a Unicode font like SolaimanLipi for the best look in design apps. New to phonetic typing? LearnType's Avro lessons work in any browser on your Mac — practise at our courses, study key positions at the Avro phonetic chart, and check speed with the WPM calculator while iAvro handles system-wide input.

Last updated: June 2026.