Android Keyboard Settings: Adding, Changing, and Customizing Your Keyboard

I have an Android device and I use the keyboard, of course, to type in messages such as SMS and email. I use it for Messenger as well. Lately, I saw my friend’s Android smartphone and I noticed it has a different look to its keyboard. How do I set my keyboard and personalize it on my Android device?

~Android Device User

Part I: IntroductionPart II: Adding And Switching Keyboards To Your Android DevicePart III: Adding A New Language To Your Default Keyboard On AndroidPart IV: Customizing Your Keyboard On An Android DevicePart V: Top Keyboard Applications For Android DevicesPart VI: Conclusion

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Part I: Introduction

Android gives its users the ability to change its keyboard and even customize it to their liking. A lot of users wish to change their keyboards with styles that fit their preferences.

Luckily, if you are one of them, you can easily customize or change your keyboard on your Android device.

There are steps you have to follow in order to change your keyboard on your Android. But first, you need to set the keyboard up. Then, on your Android device, you can simply switch from one keyboard to another when you want to.

Part II: Adding And Switching Keyboards To Your Android Device

Adding A Keyboard

First, what you have to do is to add a keyboard to that of your Android device. You have to first search Google Play Store for a specific keypad that you wish to use.

There are multiple keypads available in Google Play Store. You just have to choose one that you like. At the end of this article, we will show you some of the top keyboards for Android devices.

Once you’ve already selected your preferred keyboard, simply download it from Google Play Store and install it. Don’t worry about how to use them, we’ll help you get through that.

Plus, the keypad will usually have on-screen prompts to help you set it up on your Android device.

Switching Keyboards

With your Android device, you can opt for changing the keyboard. If you’re in this article, you might wish to know how to modify our Android device’ keyboard.

If you wish to do so, first, you need to check out the default settings of the keyboard you are currently using. After which, you can simply follow the simple steps for switching keyboards on an Android device.

Here’s how to check the default keyboard settings of your Android device:

Step 01 - Go to Settings.

Step 02 - Go to the Personal section.

Step 03 - Go to Language & Input.

Step 04 - Go to the section Keyboard & Input Methods.

Step 05 - Within this page, you will see a list of different keyboards for your Android device. These are installed on your device currently.

You can see that one of these on the list has a check within its box. This means this is the keyboard currently being used. Press the Default option to allow you to switch to a specific keyboard you like.

Step 06 - Now, press the specific Android keyboard you wish to use.

With the steps above, you can simply switch to the keyboard of your preference. You can do this anytime you want to. If you’re tired of a particular keyboard style or layout, you can simply download, install, and set up another one.

Now, you have to check out the right side of the list of different keyboard themes for your Android device. You can see an icon there which is the keyboard settings for your Android.

If you wish to modify the Android device’ keyboard settings, simply tap this icon and select the keyboard settings that you want.

After you click the keyboard settings icon, press Appearance & Layout. Then, you should choose the Themes option. These options are just part of a lot of things you can do with the settings of your Android keyboard. With the steps we have just stated, you can simply modify the look and feel of your keyboard (e.g. its style and layout).

You have to remember though that there are multiple keyboards you can download for Android devices. This means that each keyboard itself has its own settings. One set, for example, is the message keyboard. Do not assume that one keyboard has the same setting as that of another.

Part III: Adding A New Language To Your Default Keyboard On Android

You can actually add a new language to that of your default keyboard on Android. This is true, “if” the specific Android device keyboard contains the options for the particular language you would like to use.

Here are the steps you can follow in order to do it:

Step 01 - Go to the Settings menu.

Step 02 - After which, press the option Language & Input.

Step 03 - Press the icon located on the right side of the default keyboard you use for your Android device.

Step 04 - Press the option Input Languages. This can be seen at the top part. Usually, it is the first one in a lot of options.

Step 05 - Your Android device will then display multiple languages that can be used for the current Android keyboard you are utilizing. Simply tick the language you wish to use. Tick the box located to the right of the language you wish.

How To Switch Languages On Your Android Keyboard

After you have been able to select a particular language, you will have the ability to switch keyboard languages on your Android device. Here are the steps you should follow in order to do so:

Step 01 - An application where it is necessary to input text must be launched. Depending on the type of keyboard you use, you can have two options.

One is to long press the Spacebar. Another is to press the World icon. The World icon can be seen on the left side of the keyboard. Both options will allow you to access a menu for changing keyboards.

Step 02 - A dialog box will be displayed after you have done Step 01. This dialog box will display various input language you can select from.

What you should do in this step is to press the circle located at the right side of the language in order to select it and be able to change your keyboard.

Step 03 - After which, the language you have selected will be shown within the Spacebar key. You will now know that the Android keyboard has already changed and is successful.

Part IV: Customizing Your Keyboard On An Android Device

You can actually customize your keyboard on your Android device. You have the option to select from a variety of keyboard themes and apps.

You can even select from different android keyboard layouts. Here are the steps you should follow in order to customize the keyboard on your Android device.

Step 01 - First, you need to activate Unknown Sources in order to be able to customize your keyboard on the Android device. Activating Unknown Sources will enable you to install applications that are not sourced from Google Play Store.

Step 02 - If you currently have a Google keyboard for Android, uninstalling it would be the next step. If you are able to uninstall it, you can then replace it with a fresh installation of a custom keyboard for Android.

In order to uninstall your current Google Android keyboard, go to Settings. After which, press More. Then, press Application Manager. After which, select Google Keyboard. Then press Uninstall.

Step 03 - After you have done step 02, it is necessary for you to go to the website of your preferred Android device keyboard. You will download the file necessary for the Android keyboard there.

Step 04 - Once files of the new custom keyboard have been downloaded, you should install them. Don’t fret about not being able to do it.

Only a three-step prompt will be found next. This will enable you to customize your keyboard for the Android device.

You might wish to personalize the keyboard on your Android device. For example, you might wish to place your own picture or a picture of your child on your keyboard.

Well, it’s possible. Below are the steps you can follow in order to place a picture within your Android keyboard:

Step 01 - First, go to Google Play Store. Find an Android keyboard application that will allow you to place pictures within your keyboard. Once you locate one, simply download it and install the application. Once you are finished installing the said app, you can press the icon called Themes. Usually, this is found at the upper right corner of the application.

Step 02 - From the Themes option, you will have the ability to modify keyboard settings. You can simply add pictures or modify skins of your Android keyboard.

Part V: Top Keyboard Applications For Android Devices

Most people who use Android devices utilize the default keyboard application that comes with it. Little do they know that there are multiple 3rd party keyboard applications for Android that you can find within the Google Play Store.

These other keyboard applications come with a lot of stuff such as unique themes, other features, layouts that are highly customizable, and swiping options that are advanced.

However, a lot of people might be thinking that these 3rd party keyboard for Android must be risky. It might lead to keyloggers and even malware.

However, a lot of these third-party applications are evolving continuously. And there’s always a need for a better piece of software down the road.

That’s why in this section, we will give you a list of various 3rd party keyboard applications for Android. These are trusted and even secure applications that can make your life easier and your Android experience smoother.

And, they can be a great alternative to that of your default application for inputting text.

Keyboard 01: SwiftKey

Download The Keyboard SwiftKey Here

One of the top keyboard applications for Android that is a great replacement for the default keyboard on both Android and iOS devices is SwiftKey.

More than 250 million consumers trust this keyboard application globally. It was actually acquired by the tech giant Microsoft for a huge sum of money.

SwiftKey utilizes artificial intelligence. This enables it to automatically learn and even predict the next word the person might plan to type. Features of SwiftKey include autocorrecting.

Plus, it allows gesture typing as well for a quicker input. SwiftKey is very intelligent as it learns more about your typing pattern every time you input into it. And, it adapts to this typing pattern of yours.

SwiftKey comes with a variety of GIFs (and a GIF search tool), themes, separate rows of numbers, emojis, and is a great tool for bilingual users.

SwiftKey also has its very own privacy policy. It does not remember the phrases or characters you input into password fields. Plus, it does not remember sensitive information such as credit card data.

You can actually choose to go for the cloud storage route and delete the information contained within it. SwiftKey is a totally great Android keyboard application that will make your typing experience better.

It is made available for free at the Google Play Store. Purchases within the application are also available if you want to get some extra themes.

Keyboard 02: Swype Keyboard

Download Swype Keyboard Here

Swype is a really good keyboard application for Android devices. It becomes smarter every single time you utilize it. Similar to the concept of that of SwiftKey, this Android keyboard application has been here for a lengthy period of time.

It was developed firsthand in about 2002. In 2011, it was acquired by the company Nuance Communication. From there, its evolution and development continued.

Swype utilizes an algorithm for error correction. Plus, it has a language model that continues to learn your own vocabulary. It even predicts the words you will input next.

These are all dependent on the user’s previous usage of the keyboard application.

Swype is very customizable. It has multiple collections of various themes and even emojis. It supports bilingual modes and even lets you input words that are of two different languages all at the same time.

Swype also has Dragon Dictation within it. This said tool is a speech recognition program. It has an accurate speech to text ability that enables you to input text just through talking with your own voice. Swype comes with a free version. However, many features are available if you opt for the paid premium version of this Android keyboard.

Keyboard 03: Gboard

Download Gboard Here

Last December 2016, Google updates its own Google keyboard app for users of Android devices to that of Gboard. This unique keyboard application has a lot of things to love about-- gesture typing, speed, reliability, voice typing, and a whole lot more.

Plus, the new version update even incorporates Google’s very own search engine. This allows for sharing of your search results from that of your keyboard real quick.

As you type with GBoard, it gives you suggestions on emojis and GIFs as well.

Gboard utilizes a minimalist design that is a perfect fit what that of its material design. Additional functionality includes various options for having a dark theme, putting your own image as the background of the keyboard, phrase prediction, voice dictation, and emoji recognition for those symbols drawn with hands.

Multilingual typing support is also included as well as support for more than 100 various languages. GBoard is fully free to download and use. It does not show advertisements and it does not have in-app purchases.

Keyboard 04: Fleksy + GIF Keyboard

Download Fleksy Keyboard Here

The fastest Android keyboard application in the entire world is Fleksy Keyboard. It brags of garnering the world record twice because of its typing speed.

It utilizes next-gen autocorrect and also gestures control. This allows you to type with accuracy quickly (using less amount of time).

Standard functions are controlled by swiping gesture. These include adding punctuations quickly, putting a space, deleting, and doing word corrections. Plus, this Android keyboard is highly customizable.

It has more than 50 various colorful themes, more than 800 emojis, three different keyboard sizes that are customizable, and even GIFs.

It even allows you to make keyboard shortcuts, navigate through different application just thru the keyboard, have quick access to that of the number row, and copy and paste. Plus, it has support for more than 40 separate languages.

Fleksy also has a privacy policy that is quite strict. Personal and sensitive data are not collected without the users' permission.

Overall, Fleksy is quite a great keyboard application for Android devices. It is available in the Google Play Store for free. Finally, it doesn’t show annoying pop-ups or ads.

Keyboard 05: Chrooma Keyboard

Download Chrooma Keyboard Here

Chrooma Keyboard is somewhat similar to that of Gboard, Google’s Keyboard. However, it has a whole lot more of its customizable options compared to the latter.

Essential features are included here such as gesture typing, swipe typing, autocorrect, predictive typing, and keyboard resizing.

Additional features include support for emojis, GIF search, a separate row for numbers, the mode for one hand, multilingual support, and a whole lot more.

It has a feature for Night Mode that enables you to change the color of the Android keyboard when activated. The Night Mode can also be programmed with that of a timer.

Artificial intelligence, again, powers Chrooma Keyboard. This results in better accuracy and contextual prediction during typing. Plus, there’s one thing that’s really fun about this keyboard application.

This is its color mode that’s adaptive. It adapts to the color of the particular app you are utilizing at the moment. This makes it looks like that the keyboard is actually part of the application.

Chrooma comes with a free version that you can download within the Google Play Store. It has in-app purchases as well.

The paid version of this Android keyboard gives you more options and features such as additional themes, further customization to the look and feel of the keyboard, and the ability to deactivate the action row.

Part VI: Conclusion

We’ve covered a lot in this article that will surely make you giggle and excited when it comes to customizing your keyboard within Android devices. Various settings can be done with your keyboard as well.

You can change its look and feel and you can even switch languages. Finally, you can go over out top keyboard applications to help you find the best Android keyboard for your needs.