Text entry is one of the most common operations that we perform on a smartphone, so the convenience of button placement and response speed directly affect the comfort of using the device. The standard keyboard pre-installed by the manufacturer does not always meet the needs of every user: some do not have enough swipes, others need a specific layout or improved spell check. Fortunately, the operating system Android provides complete freedom in choosing input tools, allowing you to replace the standard application with any analogue from the store. Google Play.
The process of changing the keyboard may seem complicated only at first glance, since the settings menu on different phone models (for example, Samsung, Xiaomi, Pixel) may have different item names. However, the general algorithm of actions remains the same for all versions of the operating system, starting with Android 6.0 and ending with the latest releases. In this article, we will look in detail at how to activate a new text input application, how to customize it for yourself, and what popular alternatives exist on the market.
Preparing to change the keyboard and choosing an application
Before you start changing system settings, you need to decide which application you want to use. The app store offers a variety of options, from minimalistic solutions to powerful AI-powered combines. The most popular choice remains Gboard from Google, which offers an excellent balance between functionality and speed, as well as deep integration with ecosystem services.
If standard capabilities do not suit you, you should pay attention to specialized solutions. For example, SwiftKey is famous for its advanced predictive typing algorithm, which “learns” from your writing style, and Fleksy allows you to customize control gestures with incredible precision. For those who love customization, open-source keyboards such as OpenBoard, which guarantee no telemetry collection, are suitable.
- 📱 Gboard - the best choice for most users due to stability and support for voice input.
- ⚡ SwiftKey - ideal for those who type with two thumbs and value the accuracy of auto-correction.
- 🎨 Facemoji or Kika —suitable for lovers of bright themes, emoji and personalization of the appearance of buttons.
Once you have decided on a candidate, go to the application store, find the desired app and press the button Install. Wait for the download and initial initialization to complete, but do not rush to open the application right away - first you need to activate it in the system security settings of the device.
Activating a new keyboard in the system settings
In order for a newly installed application to start working, it must be allowed in the Android security menu. The system blocks third-party input methods by default to prevent malware from intercepting passwords, so a manual activation step is mandatory. Navigation may differ slightly depending on the manufacturer's shell, but the logic remains the same.
Open the main Settings of your smartphone and find the section responsible for managing the system. On pure Android this is usually item System or Advanced settings, while on devices Xiaomi or Redmi you need to look for section Advanced settings. Inside this menu we are interested in the subsection Language and input, which contains all the parameters related to text and translation.
In the menu that opens, select Virtual keyboard or Manage keyboards. Here you will see a list of all installed text input applications. Find the name of the keyboard you downloaded in the list and move the switch to the active position. The system will warn you that a third-party keyboard can access your input data - this is a standard security measure, and if you trust the developer (for example, Google or Microsoft), feel free to click OK.
⚠️ Attention: Never activate keyboards from unknown developers downloaded from third-party sites, as they can intercept your passwords from banking applications and social networks.
☑️ Keyboard activation
Assigning the keyboard by default
Simple activation is not enough for the system to start using the new application automatically every time you touch a text field. You must explicitly tell the operating system which input tool should be the primary one. This is done in the same settings section where you just activated the application.
Go back to the menu Language and input and find the item Current keyboard or Default keyboard. When you click on this item, a list of available and active input methods will open. Select the name of your new keyboard from the list. After this action, the next time you type text, the system will automatically launch the selected application.
There is also a quick way to switch between keyboards without going into deep settings. When the keyboard is active on the screen, pay attention to the lower right or left corner of the input panel. There is often an icon in the form of a small key or a globe. By holding it down or pressing it once (depending on the model), you will see a pop-up menu that allows you to instantly switch to another active keyboard.
What if the "Default" option is greyed out?
If you cannot select a default keyboard, make sure that you have previously enabled it in the "Manage keyboards" list. Without prior activation (checkbox), the application will not appear in the selection list by default.
Fine-tuning input parameters and ergonomics
After successfully changing the input tool, it is recommended to spend a few minutes configuring it to suit your anatomical features and habits. Most modern keyboards allow you to change the height of the panel, which is critical for users with different hand sizes and smartphone screens.
Go to the settings of the keyboard itself (usually through the gear icon on the panel or through the system menu). Find the section Preferences or Layout. Here you can enable or disable number row, which speeds up entering numbers, but reduces the area for letters. It's also worth adjusting the keyboard height: select Highif you have large fingers, or Compactto see more content on the screen.
The adjustment of tactile feedback and sound deserves special attention. Enabling vibration when you press keys provides helpful feedback to confirm your character entry, even when you're not looking at the screen. However, this affects battery consumption, so you need to balance this function individually.
| Setting parameter | Impact on use | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Keyboard height | Determines the size of the buttons and the space occupied on the screen | Select individually to the size of the palm |
| Tap sound | Audio confirmation of character input | Disable in public places |
| Vibration response | Tactile press confirmation | Enable to improve accuracy |
| Auto-correction | Real-time typo correction | Enable, but check the dictionary |
Use the Floating keyboard function if you are uncomfortable reaching the center of the screen with your thumb on smartphones with a diagonal of more than 6.5 inches.
Setting up languages and dictionaries for multilingual input
One of the main advantages of third-party keyboards is convenient work with several languages at the same time. You no longer need to go to the phone settings to switch the layout from Russian to English or add a rare language, for example, Finnish or Turkish.
In the keyboard settings, find the section Languages. Here you can add the required language packs. After adding, switching between them is carried out by simply swiping on the spacebar left or right, or by short pressing the globe icon. This significantly speeds up typing in instant messengers when communicating with foreigners.
Don't forget to set up a personal dictionary. If the keyboard constantly corrects your specific words (nicknames, slang, professional terms) to something else, add them to exceptions. To do this, you usually just need to click on the word in the hint field or go to the section Personal Dictionary and make edits manually. This will make predictive input a truly useful tool, rather than a source of annoyance.
⚠️ Attention: When syncing your dictionary between devices via the cloud, make sure that your personal dictionary does not contain sensitive information, such as card numbers or passwords, accidentally saved as words.
Removing an old or unnecessary keyboard
Over time, several unnecessary keyboards may accumulate on the device, which only take up space in the list of settings and consume RAM in the background. If you have finally switched to a new application, the old one, for example, the manufacturer's standard keyboard, can be disabled or deleted.
To delete a downloaded keyboard, simply find its icon in the general list of applications, press and hold, then select Delete. However, you cannot do this with standard system keyboards - you can only disable them. To do this, return to the menu Manage keyboards in the system settings and turn off the switch next to the unnecessary application.
It is important to remember the safety rule: never disable the last active keyboard unless you have a spare one installed. Otherwise, you risk being left without the ability to enter text at all, which will make it impossible to even enter the settings to correct the situation. Always keep at least two active input methods.
Always leave one backup keyboard (such as the standard Gboard) enabled in case the main application starts to work incorrectly after an update.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Why the new keyboard does not appear when typing text?
Most likely, you installed the application, but forgot to activate it in the security settings or did not select it as the default input method. Check the section Settings → System → Language and input → Virtual keyboard and make sure that the switch next to the desired application is turned on.
Can you use two keyboards at the same time?
Yes, you can hold Active multiple keyboards and switch between them on the fly. This is convenient if one keyboard is better suited for the Russian language, and another is better suited for typing code or foreign characters. Switching is usually done through the globe icon or by swiping on the space bar.
Is it safe to use third-party keyboards to enter passwords?
Most popular keyboards (Gboard, SwiftKey) have a security mode that automatically disables data collection, text prediction and cloud synchronization when the focus is on the password input field. However, for maximum security of banking transactions, it is better to temporarily switch to the standard system keyboard.
How to return the factory keyboard if I don’t like the new one?
Go to the phone settings, select any other active keyboard as the default one. After that, you can simply delete the app you don't like through the app management menu or disable it in the input settings.
Why does the keyboard cover half of the screen?
This may be due to the keyboard height settings or the split screen mode being enabled. Go to the settings of the keyboard itself and change the height setting to "Medium" or disable the floating mode to return it to the bottom edge of the display.