Gboard 18.2.4 for Android

Gboard 18.2.4.969776716 is Google's virtual keyboard app for Android. It replaces the on-screen keyboard you type with in every app, and you can download Gboard for free from Google Play; many Android phones already come with it installed.

Quick facts

What Gboard is

A keyboard app is the part of your phone you probably use most without thinking about it. Gboard, introduced by Google in 2016, handles everything you type: messages, search queries, passwords and notes. Because it is present in every app, the choice of keyboard matters more than it seems. A good keyboard makes typing faster and less error-prone, supports the languages you write in and respects your privacy. Gboard is a popular default on Android because it comes from the same company as the system, is updated regularly through Google Play and works across many devices, including watches running Wear OS. If you are happy with the keyboard your phone came with, there is no need to switch; if typing feels slow or your language is poorly supported, Gboard is worth trying.

Step-by-step setup

1. Install or update Gboard from Google Play.
2. Open the app and follow the prompts to enable it as a keyboard.
3. Select Gboard as the default input method in Android's keyboard settings.
4. Add the languages you type in.
5. Go through the remaining settings and keep only what you need.

Google's Gboard help centre explains settings in detail, and updates to Google's system apps are summarised in the Google System Services release notes.

Privacy tips

• Review the keyboard's privacy settings and decide which data may be shared to improve it.
• If you share the phone, check what personal data the keyboard keeps.
• Be careful with third-party keyboards from unknown developers: a keyboard can see everything you type, including passwords.
• Install Gboard only from Google Play.

If the keyboard misbehaves

If Gboard disappears or stops responding, restart the phone, update the app in Google Play and check that it is still set as the default input method. Clearing the app's cache fixes most glitches without losing your settings.

Typing faster

Give the keyboard a few days to adapt to the way you write before judging it. Use the suggestions above the keys instead of typing every word in full, and correct wrong suggestions so the keyboard learns. If you often write in two languages, add both so you do not have to switch manually. Larger keys or a slightly different height can also make a noticeable difference on small screens.

Pros and cons

• Pro: from Google, updated regularly.
• Pro: available on Android, iOS and Wear OS.
• Pro: free.
• Con: tied to Google's ecosystem.
• Con: many settings to go through.

Alternatives

Our listings include SwiftKey Keyboard, another keyboard app for Android, and Google Translate for translating text you type.