Google’s Gboard is the default Android keyboard app and is used by millions of users worldwide because of handy features. Most people use its default settings and are unaware that it needs some tweaking out of the box to improve its functionality and disable its invasive privacy risks.

Changing your Gboard settings only takes a few minutes and can vastly improve the way it works. The app looks better, and your typing becomes faster. You can also stop worrying about your data being harvested and shared with third parties. That’s why you should always change these Gboard settings on an Android phone.

Layout

Improve your typing efficiency

Gboard’s default layout isn’t bad, but it is still worth customizing to have faster access to the keys. The first thing I do on Gboard is add the number row to the top of the interface, so I don’t need to press a shortcut button to access it.

Doing this is easy and all you need to do is tap the Gboard Settings icon, tap on Preferences, then use the slider to add the number row. While you’re on this page, you can also ensure the comma and full stop key sliders are also enabled.

A once-size-fits-all keyboard isn’t practical because everyone has different fingers and vision. Making the font size larger or smaller can make the keyboard more user-friendly and visible for many users.

I always adjust the Gboard font size by navigating to Gboard Settings => Preferences in the Gboard app and using the slider to increase or decrease the font size. For me, bigger is better because the keys have a larger surface area and are easier to see.

Themes

Brighten up your keyboard

Let’s face it, the standard black or white keyboards are boring and lack flair. You can use Gboard’s built-in customization options to spice up your keyboard to match your phone’s theme or wallpaper.

To do this, go to Gboard Settings => Preferences => Themes. You’ll see a list of the default themes, as well as custom options like Colors, Light and Dark Gradients, and Landscapes. Tapping on the one you like will open up a preview window to show you what it will look like once activated.

You can also set a photo as a keyboard theme if you don’t like the built-in options. Tap the + at the top of the display to access your photos. Select the one you want to use as a keyboard theme, then tap on Done. A window will open displaying the photo, and you can pinch to scale or drag it to highlight a certain area. Then press next to view the preview. Use the slider to adjust the brightness, then tap on Done and Apply to set the photo as your keyboard theme.

Dictionary

Add words it doesn’t know

Gboard’s autocorrect feature works pretty well, but often gets local slang and other words wrong. This can be annoying because it sometimes automatically inserts the incorrect word while I’m typing a message or email. I get past this issue by adding slang and other technical terms to Gboard’s Dictionary so they’re in the system and the app doesn’t need to guess.

I navigate to Gboard Settings => Preferences => Dictionary. I then select my preferred language and tap on it. Then I tap on the + sign in the top right corner to add words to the dictionary. I can then type the word and a shortcut. Then I tap the Blue tick icon on the bottom of the keyboard to save the words in the dictionary.

Key Tap

Personalize each press

The Gboard key tap settings let you customize each keypress to your liking. There are no right or wrong settings and it comes down to your own preferences. Tap on Gboard Settings => Preferences and scroll down until you get to the Key Tap section.

Then choose whether you want a sound or vibration on each press and adjust the volume and strength. You can also use a slider to enable the Key pop-up feature as a visual indicator of what you’re pressing and customize the length of the Touch and hold duration. I prefer keeping the sound off and setting a low vibration on each keypress.

Privacy

Don’t share your typing data

The privacy settings work in the background and don’t affect your typing experience. It’s still best to change them to prevent unnecessary data sharing with Google.

Tap on Gboard Settings => Privacy. Then scroll down and use the slider to disable Share usage statistics. Then do the same for Improve for everyone and Audio Donations. These features collect your typing statistics and other information, and it’s best to keep them off.