7 underrated Gboard features you probably aren't using

If you're like me, you probably think of your Android keyboard as a place to type texts, emails, or search queries.

For years, I didn't give mine a second thought. I installed Gboard, left it on default settings, and barely ventured beyond autocorrect.

But when I started exploring its menus, I realized my keyboard was hiding far more than just letters and emojis.

With a few tweaks, it can save you time, reduce repetitive typing, and even help you multitask better.

Here are some of the lesser-known features that can make Gboard do more of the work for you.

Create text shortcuts for phrases you type often

Some things never change, no matter how many messages or emails I send in a day.

My email address, phone number, home address, or even a standard reply like "I'll get back to you soon" tend to show up again and again. Typing these every time quickly becomes repetitive.

One of the most useful productivity tools I discovered in Gboard is the ability to create text shortcuts. These shortcuts let me type a short trigger word or abbreviation that automatically expands into a longer phrase.

Instead of typing my full email address every time, I can enter something like addrand the keyboard replaces it with the complete text.

Setting this up only takes a moment. I opened the Gboard settings from the keyboard, went to Dictionary, and selected Personal dictionary. From there, I added a new entry with the full phrase and assigned a shortcut that triggers it.

After I saved it, typing the shortcut started bringing up the full phrase as a suggestion on the keyboard.

If you can't find the settings in Gboard, open the keyboard, press and hold the comma key, and tap the cog iconto jump straight into the settings menu.

Edit text more precisely on Gboard

Editing text on a phone used to be one of my biggest frustrations.

If I made a typo in the middle of a sentence, placing the cursor exactly where I wanted often turned into a guessing game. I would tap the screen repeatedly, only to land one character too far forward or backward.

I eventually discovered that Gboard has much easier ways to control the cursor. The quickest trick is to hold the space bar, then slide my finger left or right. The cursor moves along with my finger, letting me position it precisely wherever I need it in the text.

There's also a more advanced option if I need even finer control. By tapping the four-square menu iconon the keyboard toolbar and selecting Text editing, Gboard opens a panel with arrow keys that let me move the cursor in any direction.

If you find yourself using this feature often, you can also drag the Text Editing icondirectly onto Gboard's toolbar so it's easier to access.

Use the floating keyboard when you need more flexibility

Another feature I ignored for a long time in Gboard is the floating keyboard. After I tried it, I realized it can be surprisingly useful in certain situations.

Instead of staying locked to the bottom of the screen, the floating keyboard appears as a small movable window. I can drag it anywhere on the display, which gives me more flexibility depending on what I'm doing.

To enable it, open the keyboard, tap the four-square menu iconon the toolbar, and select Floating. The keyboard instantly detaches from the bottom and becomes a smaller panel that I can move around.

I usually drag it slightly higher on the screen so I can see more of the conversation or document underneath. It is helpful when replying to messages in long chats or when typing notes while reading something on the screen.

You can also resize the keyboard by dragging its edges, which helps balance visibility and typing comfort.

Use the built-in clipboard to reuse text

Gboard maintains a history of recently copied text, making it easier to reuse items without needing to copy them again.

Now, whenever I copy something important, I open the clipboard from the toolbar above the keyboard (or you can access it by tapping the four-square menu icon). Instead of pasting the same message or link repeatedly, I can tap the saved item and insert it instantly.

What makes the clipboard even more useful is the option to pin items. I keep a few pieces of text pinned there, like my email address, delivery instructions, and a short message I often send.

Since pinned items stay in the clipboard, they're always ready whenever I need them.

Voice typing when your hands are busy

Another feature I started relying on in Gboard is voice typing. I used to ignore it because I assumed it would be inaccurate or awkward to use in everyday situations.

After trying it a few times, though, it quickly became one of the most convenient ways to type when my hands are busy.

I now use voice typing whenever I am unable to type comfortably on the screen.

For example, if I am carrying groceries, walking somewhere, or quickly replying to a message while doing something else, tapping the microphone iconon the keyboard lets me dictate the message instead of typing it.

Glide typing for faster messages

I used to dismiss swipe typing as a gimmick, but after I gave it an honest try, I realized it can dramatically speed up one-handed typing.

When I'm juggling groceries, holding a coffee, or lying on the couch, dragging my thumb across the keyboard is faster (and less error-prone) than pecking at tiny keys.

Instead of tapping individual keys, I place my finger on the first letter of a word and glide across the keyboard through the letters that form the word. Gboard recognizes the gesture and automatically predicts what I'm trying to type.

To enable it, tap the gear iconin Gboard, go to Glide typing, and toggle Enable glide typing.

Turn on one-handed mode for easier typing

Modern phones have large displays, which are great for reading and watching videos, but they can make typing with one hand awkward. That is when I started using one-handed mode in Gboard.

One-handed mode shrinks the keyboard and shifts it to one side of the screen, making all the keys easier to reach with your thumb. Instead of stretching across the full width of the display, the keyboard sits comfortably within thumb range.

To turn it on, open the keyboard, press and hold the comma key, and tap the one-handed keyboard icon. The keyboard immediately moves to the left or right side of the screen.

If the keyboard appears on the wrong side, you can easily move it. Gboard features an arrow for switching the keyboard's alignment based on your hand preference.

There is also an option to slightly resize the keyboard within this mode, which helps fine-tune the layout for comfort.

A few underrated tools that make typing easier

After I started exploring Gboard's settings, I realized how many small tools were built in to make typing easier.

Text shortcuts save me from repeating the same phrases, the clipboard lets me quickly reuse things I've copied, and gestures like glide typing or the space bar cursor control make typing feel much faster.

If you use your phone to reply to messages , search for things, write notes, or send emails, chances are you spend more time on your keyboard than you realize. Taking a few minutes to explore what it can do can make that time noticeably smoother.

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