Google’s keyboard has many features that facilitate both text entry and content sharing.
Whether used on an Android smartphone or to replace the native iPhone keyboard, Google’s keyboard is undoubtedly one of the most complete. And for good reason, the application offers a very large number of features allowing the user to free themselves from the use of third-party applications.
Gboard includes the Google search engine, YouTube, Google Maps, but also GIFs, stickers, emoji, and even themes. Thanks to this plethora of features, it stands out as one of the most practical alternative keyboard since it limits the number of maneuvers to be performed when it comes to sharing content.
But Gboard, as simple as it is to learn, contains many subtleties which, once taken in hand, will save you precious time.
- Download Gboard for Android (Free)
- Download Gboard for iPhone / iPad (Free)
On Android, if your smartphone does not already use it, you will need to go to Settings> System> Language & input> Virtual keyboard> Gboard. It is also from this menu that you will be able to modify the keyboard preferences. Note that it is possible to quickly access the keyboard settings directly from the keyboard. To get there, press the G button, then the three small dots.
Before starting to use it on iOS, it will be necessary to authorize the keyboard to have full access to your device.
To do this, open the iOS Settings, then go to the General> Keyboard> Keyboards> Gboard menu to Authorize full access and then validate your choice by pressing Authorize. In principle, the first time you start Gboard will guide you directly to activate it.
Unlike Android, on which Gboard is integrated into the settings, on iOS, the keyboard is made up of two main elements: the keyboard, which can be used anywhere where it is possible to enter text, and the application, which provides access to the settings. keyboard layout.
1. Type text quickly by sliding your finger
Gesture typing is one of the key features of the Gboard keyboard. To type text faster, you don’t need to lift your finger to type all the letters in a word. Just drag it from letter to letter to see the word appear on the screen.
2. Enable haptic feedback when typing text
This feature, absent from the native iOS keyboard, has only just appeared in the latest version of Gboard for iPhone. Thanks to it, a slight vibration is felt each time you tap a key.
To take advantage of it, open the Gboard app, enter Keyboard Settings, and choose to Enable haptic feedback for each key.
On Android, haptic feedback is, in principle, enabled by default. You will find the setting in the Preferences menu of Gboard Settings.
3. Use a dark theme
You don’t like the clear keyboard theme, similar to the native keyboard? It is perfectly possible to customize the color of it. Open the Gboard app on iOS, or go to Gboard Settings on Android, and enter the Themes menu.
Choose the dark theme, or made in the originality by opting for a personalized theme using an image from your filmstrip, a landscape, etc.
4. Insert an emoji, sticker, or GIF into a conversation
Gboard allows you to animate your conversations by inserting a whole bunch of elements. Press the button with an emoji to access the dedicated emoji panel. At the very bottom of the keyboard, you can switch between emoji, stickers, GIFs, ASCII decorations, and even handwriting.
Even better, Gboard even allows you to create personalized stickers to illustrate your conversations.
5. Enter numbers quickly
You may have noticed, on the first line of letters, that each of the keys displays the numbers from 0 to 9. Gboard offers the possibility of entering numbers quickly without having to go through the secondary keypad. All you have to do is keep your finger pressed briefly on one of the keys for the number to be entered automatically.
6. Quickly access punctuation
At the bottom of the Gboard keyboard, just next to the space bar, is the key to put a period at the end of a sentence. But this key is capable of much more. By letting your finger press for a few moments, you can quickly access all the current punctuation.
7. Insert an emoji by typing its name
Would you like to illustrate your conversation by inserting an emoji, but have no idea what the one expressing fatigue looks like? Open the emoji access panel, then in the search box displayed at the top of the keyboard (where it says “Search for emoji”) type the sentiment you want to express. Gboard will then automatically display all matching emoji.
8. Use the space bar as a trackpad
Although old, the function to transform the native iOS keyboard into a trackpad had moved more than one when it was unearthed a few months ago on social networks. Gboard also takes advantage of this feature on the iPhone. Keep your finger pressed anywhere on the keyboard to move the cursor to where you need to make a correction.
9. Type text in multiple languages
Gboard is multilingual. With it, you can enter text in multiple languages, without having to change the language configuration of your keyboard.
To add additional languages and take full advantage of the various dictionaries and automatic corrections, open the Gboard application on iPhone or go to settings on Android, enter the menu dedicated to Languages, and tap Add a language. Gboard will then automatically download the associated dictionary.
The keyboard also allows you to change the keyboard layout if you want. This can come in handy, for example if you are used to writing in English from a QWERTY keyboard. To switch from one keyboard layout to another, all you have to do is press the icon representing a world map. Gboard then automatically indicates on the space bar, the selected primary keyboard.
If, however, you want to keep the same keyboard layout, you don’t have to do anything. The two or three configured languages will all be recognized automatically when you type text, without you having to tap the world map to switch languages and keyboard layouts. This will allow you to take full advantage of correction and automatic suggestion without having to lift a finger.
10. Use voice dictation
Here again, the function already exists on the native iOS keyboard, but it is clear that Google’s voice dictation is formidable in efficiency. After authorizing Gboard to access your device’s microphone, on iOS, you just need to do a long press on the space bar to start the voice dictation.
On Android, the button to trigger voice dictation is displayed at the top right of the keyboard suggestions. Best of all, voice dictation is also multilingual.
11. Use Google search directly from the keyboard
You’ve probably noticed the big G button located at the top left of the keyboard. By activating it, you will open a search field allowing you to directly launch a query on Google. Then you just have to select the result that suits you to quickly share it with a partner.
12. Share YouTube videos or geographic location
In the iOS version of Gboard, it is possible to share YouTube videos or Google Maps geographic locations directly from the keyboard.
To do this, press the G button, select the type of data you want to share and type your search in the field provided. You just have to tap on one of the suggested results to share it in a message.
13. Create your own GIFs
To illustrate your conversations in a more personal way, Gboard offers you the possibility of generating your own GIFs.
To do this, go to the section dedicated to emoji, go to the GIF tab, and go to the My GIFS category and press Create GIF.
Once the GIF is generated, it will automatically be added to the conversation on Android. On iOS, you need to paste it into the conversation before you can send it. Any custom GIFs you create will be kept in the My GIFs category.
14. Delete your keyboard history
When you launch queries on Google through the Gboard keyboard, a history of your searches is automatically kept.
You can delete it very easily by going to Gboard Settings and then choosing Clear Gboard Search History from the Search Settings menu.
15. Type text in Morse code
Do you know the basics of Morse code? Rejoice, you will be able to put your knowledge to work thanks to the Google keyboard which is able to write Morse code.
To take advantage of it, you must first add an additional keyboard to Gboard. Open Keyboard Settings and access the menu to manage Languages. Search for Morse Code and select the one that suits you.
You can activate it from the keyboard by pressing the world map icon.
16. Display the one-handed usable keyboard
Small hands having trouble reaching all of the keyboard keys on a large screen will appreciate it. Gboard offers, on Android only, a mode allowing it to be used with one hand.
To activate it, press G, then the three small dots. Then select One Free Hand. The keyboard is automatically aligned to the right or left of the screen. A tap on the small arrow will allow you to swing it from side to side. The small icon at the bottom allows you to move the keyboard over a larger area, but also to change its size.
You can go even further by choosing to display the floating keyboard. Press G, then the three small dots and choose Floating.
Depending on your use, you will be able to resize the Gboard keyboard, but also move it anywhere on the screen. To exit the floating keyboard, you will need to drag and hold it at the bottom of the screen.
17. Translate what you write into another language
On Android, Gboard integrates Google Translate. To activate it, press G, and select the Google Translate icon. Select an input language (or let Gboard detect it automatically) and choose an output language. The text you type is then translated in real time in the text box.
18. Use the text editing tool
Do you sometimes type a lot of text and have to edit it? The Android version of Gboard includes a tool entirely dedicated to text modification. To activate it, press G, then the three dots, and choose Edit Text.
The keyboard displays directional buttons for easy navigation in long text, but also allows you to select text with precision.