Ideas and tips for the very best Android keyboard

Odds are, there is a good probability you are utilizing Gboard. We expect Google’s keyboard app is the very best the platform has to supply for most individuals because it’s packed stuffed with goodies to make stickers, GIFs, copying, and pasting straightforward. Typically, nevertheless, Gboard will get in the best way of what you wish to kind – a few of this default behaviour is definitely supposed. So, what’s there to do about it? Lots.

We at Pocket-lint haven’t solely been longtime Gboard customers, however we additionally maintain tabs on the most recent characteristic bulletins popping out of Google. All of that is to say that we have just a few toggles you possibly can swap on or off within the settings that can assist make your enter expertise faster and dependable. If that appears like one thing you will get together with, carry on studying.

What’s Gboard?

Earlier than we get too forward of ourselves, a few of our readers may be questioning what Gboard is. Merely put, it is a keyboard app that’s on each Android as well as iOS. Many producers like Google with its Pixel collection, Motorola and Lenovo throughout their telephones and tablets, and different manufacturers will really pre-load it because the inventory keyboard app. Probably the most notable exception on the Android facet of issues is Samsung – the corporate supplies its personal app because the default, although it’s styled very similar to Gboard. As well as, laptops and desktop machines operating ChromeOS even have the choice to make use of a digital keyboard that is just about a fork of Gboard. I’ve written up an accessibility information to ChromeOS speaking about this for our sister web site, XDA-Developers.

In case you aren’t utilizing it already, yow will discover it on the App Store or Play Store.

Apart from built-in Google net search, considered one of Gboard’s core features is suggesting phrases as you are typing, whether or not it is ending a phrase or persevering with a sentence. It is even capable of counsel phrases within the zeitgeist because of Google’s incorporation of federated studying into the app – the idea mainly sources anonymized Gboard output from all of its customers after which updates the app’s dictionary via common updates versus having a dwell server connection. I’ve additionally lined this idea for an additional sister web site, Android Police.

Past the “good options,” you are capable of kind all of the script and emoji you need with Gboard. You even have entry to a repository of free stickers in addition to a search engine for GIFs to stuff in all kinds of beautiful artwork and transferring footage into your messaging threads.

Gboard really took place for iOS first in 2016 earlier than coming to Android later that 12 months, supplanting the prevailing and, on the time, similarly-featured – however for all intents and functions, a distinct app – Google Keyboard from 2013. In keeping with Android Authority, it appears that evidently app carried the typing expertise that the Google-designed Nexus collection of smartphones had on the time.

How do I get to Gboard’s app settings?

Longtime Android customers may be acquainted with diving into Gboard’s settings since they need to manually activate the quantity row each time they arrange a brand new system – we expect it is a primary necessity in any enter context, however Google apparently would not. In any case, possibly you’ve got flipped on the setting that takes the Gboard app icon off your launcher, and also you’re on the lookout for the simplest strategy to entry Gboard’s settings. You possibly can navigate your system settings and seek for “enter strategies” or, as a substitute, choose a textual content subject to open the keyboard, then hit the four-square icon on its top-right nook. After these steps, hit the button labeled Settings.

From there, you possibly can dive into the submenus and make Gboard yours. For instance, if you happen to really feel like Gboard is contributing to the general litter in your launcher scenario, you possibly can choose to make it disappear. Faucet into the Preferences part after which scroll all the best way all the way down to the toggle for Present app icon.

Which Gboard settings ought to I swap first?

Alright, you’ve got entered the settings, now to the great half. Just under Languages is the Preferences part and it is acquired a lot of the levers you may wish to push and pull. Here is what you may most likely wish to search for first:

• Quantity row – It is a self-explanatory toggle, nevertheless it applies solely to QWERTY, QWETZ, or AZERTY layouts. In excessive edge instances, it’s possible you’ll determine to maintain it off if you happen to’re involved concerning the peak of the keyboard intruding into your view of the textual content subject.
• Present emoji swap key and/or present language swap key – These change the behaviour of the important thing within the bottom-left nook subsequent to the important thing that switches the keyboard to the numbers and symbols array. Each toggles can’t be turned on concurrently – both might be on or each might be off. In case you’re transferring throughout emoji and languages regularly, think about enabling the emoji swap key after which short-holding the spacebar to change between languages.
• One-handed mode – The keyboard is laterally squished for simpler thumb-only entry and is oriented in opposition to both the left or proper edge, relying on what you’ve got chosen as your dominant facet.
• Lengthy press for smybols – When on, hinted symbols will seem within the higher portion of every key. You’ll be able to enter these symbols by tapping and holding these keys. Within the numbers and symbols board, you possibly can maintain a key to entry an expanded image financial institution. Transfer your finger to the image you need, then let go to enter.
• Present app icon – In case you’d quite not see the Gboard icon in your launcher’s app drawer, maintain this toggle off.

The Textual content correction submenu has some key settings.

• Block offensive phrases – That is a necessary toggle to show off when you have auto-correction turned on, however do not desire a bunch of ducking shot in your extra expressive missives. Glide typists, that is doubly so.
• Counsel Contacts – In case you use Google Contacts to retailer contacts, it’s possible you’ll discover it helpful to have these names pop up within the suggestion bar.
• Undo auto-correct on backspace – Typically, you simply wish to bash your keyboard or provide you with imaginary phrases and don’t need auto-correct barging into your vibe. With out this toggle turned on, urgent backspace will take away the complete phrase. I’ve personally had this toggle turned off for means too lengthy.

You may need these two toggles within the Glide typing menu turned on and do not even notice it since you by no means use their related options:

• Allow gesture delete – You’ll be able to delete complete phrases instantly by swiping left from the delete key.
• Allow gesture cursor management – You’ll be able to transfer your enter cursor by holding down the spacebar and swiping left or proper upon it. Terrific for choosy textual content editors.

For Voice typing, you possibly can mainly simply toggle the characteristic on or off after which decide whether or not to allow Sooner voice typing – Gboard will obtain voice information in order that its language recognition engines work sooner and for whenever you’re not linked to the web.

The Emojis, Stickers & GIFs menu is the final that options gadgets you may work together with every day.

• Emoji fast-access row or Emojis in symbols keyboard – That is mainly Gboard’s strategies strip, however as a substitute of for phrases, it is for emoji. Turning both or each on will add a row of recommended emoji both on the primary keyboard or within the symbols keyboard.
• Strategies whereas typing – It’s also possible to have emoji strategies seem in the primary strategies strip to avoid wasting on house. There are subtoggles for Emojis and Stickers.
• Emoji Stickers – You’ll be able to ship emoji as stickers – this turns them from a Unicode character to a PNG picture.

What are some Gboard tips to learn about?

There’s extra to getting the very best efficiency out of Gboard than simply flicking toggles, although. Listed here are some tips that you just may wish to incorporate into your messaging workflow.

Copying and pasting pictures

The clipboard is a godsend for frequent copy-pasters, however it will possibly additionally deal with pictures, too.

First, you may wish to go to the Textual content correction part of Gboard’s settings and make sure the Present suggestion strip toggle is flipped on. Again out of that menu, then transfer to the Clipboard part and activate the next choices:

• Present lately copied textual content and pictures in strategies bar
• Save current screenshots in clipboard

if you happen to’ve lately taken a screenshot or have copied a picture from any supply, you will note a chip in Gboard’s suggestion row that rests atop the precise keyboard containing that picture. Tapping on that chip will then insert it into no matter context you are at present in. Within the case of most messaging apps, it is going to be uploaded as an attachment. Fb Messenger customers, be forewarned: utilizing this shortcut robotically sends the image as a standalone merchandise.

Private dictionary pre-fill shortcut

You’ll have customized phrases or phrases that you just use with your loved ones, mates, D&D teams, or important others. You may already know that you may log these phrases into Gboard’s customized dictionary in order that they will not get auto-corrected into one thing else.

Head to the Dictionary part of Gboard’s settings, choose Private dictionary, after which, if relevant, choose an enter language (All languages could also be your best option generally).

To start out on a private entry, hit the plus (+) icon on the top-right nook. You’ll be able to enter a phrase within the prime subject, after which a shortcode for that phrase within the backside one. Hit the arrow on the top-left nook to avoid wasting your entry.

If in case you have spell examine turned on, you’ll not see that squiggly purple line beneath “blurgleflurg” or no matter you’ve got put into the dictionary. However for full impact, you may wish to guarantee Gboard’s suggestion strip is turned on (it is in Textual content correction), then enter your customized entry’s shortcode. It ought to seem as a suggestion within the second slot of the bar. Faucet it, and your phrase or phrase will seem.

All of that rationalization appears a bit of milquetoast for what we’re shaping as much as be a “tip” or “trick,” however the energy is available in what you set in as your customized entry. For instance, in my line of labor, I’ve to log many Pocket-lint article URLs on my cellphone in locations that are not net browser deal with bars. So, I’ve made a customized dictionary entry for pocket-lint.com with a shortcode connected to it. That means, I need not flip between the letter board and the punctuation and symbols boards each time I must enter our web site title. You’ll have your individual makes use of for this little hack, however hopefully, we have impressed one thing for you.

Altering emoji pores and skin tone

In 2020, Gboard adopted The Unicode Consortium’s Emoji 15.1 commonplace, permitting customers to change between 5 truer-to-life pores and skin tones the place relevant (suppose faces on individuals and any physique components) along with the default yellow we have all been accustomed to. All you should do when choosing emoji is faucet and maintain on an emblem till a context menu seems after which choose the pores and skin tone you wish to use. It is a helpful trick, however if you happen to have a tendency to make use of emoji as a type of self-representation greater than the rest, you ended up having to undergo the switching course of for every emoji you wanted to vary.

Google recognized this gap in usefulness and, in October 2023, it modified Gboard’s pores and skin tone-switching behaviour in order that altering one emoji’s pores and skin tone additionally modified all the opposite emoji’s pores and skin tones. The one main exception is with the handshake emoji the place you are capable of customise the pores and skin tones of each fingers.