7 underrated Gboard options you most likely aren’t utilizing

If you happen to’re like me, you most likely consider your Android keyboard as a spot to sort texts, emails, or search queries.

For years, I didn’t give mine a second thought. I put in Gboard, left it on default settings, and barely ventured past autocorrect.

However after I began exploring its menus, I spotted my keyboard was hiding excess of simply letters and emojis.

With a number of tweaks, it might probably prevent time, cut back repetitive typing, and even enable you to multitask higher.

Listed here are a few of the lesser-known options that may make Gboard do extra of the be just right for you.

Create textual content shortcuts for phrases you sort usually

Some issues by no means change, regardless of what number of messages or emails I ship in a day.

My electronic mail tackle, telephone quantity, residence tackle, or perhaps a customary reply like “I’ll get again to you quickly” have a tendency to point out up repeatedly. Typing these each time shortly turns into repetitive.

Some of the helpful productiveness instruments I found in Gboard is the flexibility to create textual content shortcuts. These shortcuts let me sort a brief set off phrase or abbreviation that mechanically expands into an extended phrase.

As an alternative of typing my full electronic mail tackle each time, I can enter one thing like addr and the keyboard replaces it with the whole textual content.

Setting this up solely takes a second. I opened the Gboard settings from the keyboard, went to Dictionary, and chosen Private dictionary. From there, I added a brand new entry with the complete phrase and assigned a shortcut that triggers it.

After I saved it, typing the shortcut began citing the complete phrase as a suggestion on the keyboard.

If you happen to can’t discover the settings in Gboard, open the keyboard, press and maintain the comma key, and faucet the cog icon to leap straight into the settings menu.

Edit textual content extra exactly on Gboard

Modifying textual content on a telephone was one in every of my greatest frustrations.

If I made a typo in the course of a sentence, putting the cursor precisely the place I wished usually become a guessing recreation. I might faucet the display screen repeatedly, solely to land one character too far ahead or backward.

I finally found that Gboard has a lot simpler methods to manage the cursor. The quickest trick is to carry the area bar, then slide my finger left or proper. The cursor strikes together with my finger, letting me place it exactly wherever I want it within the textual content.

There’s additionally a extra superior possibility if I want even finer management. By tapping the four-square menu icon on the keyboard toolbar and choosing Textual content enhancing, Gboard opens a panel with arrow keys that permit me transfer the cursor in any course.

If you end up utilizing this function usually, it’s also possible to drag the Textual content Modifying icon straight onto Gboard’s toolbar so it’s simpler to entry.

Use the floating keyboard once you want extra flexibility

One other function I ignored for a very long time in Gboard is the floating keyboard. After I attempted it, I spotted it may be surprisingly helpful in sure conditions.

As an alternative of staying locked to the underside of the display screen, the floating keyboard seems as a small movable window. I can drag it wherever on the show, which provides me extra flexibility relying on what I’m doing.

To allow it, open the keyboard, faucet the four-square menu icon on the toolbar, and choose Floating. The keyboard immediately detaches from the underside and turns into a smaller panel that I can transfer round.

I often drag it barely increased on the display screen so I can see extra of the dialog or doc beneath. It’s useful when replying to messages in lengthy chats or when typing notes whereas studying one thing on the display screen.

You can even resize the keyboard by dragging its edges, which helps steadiness visibility and typing consolation.

Use the built-in clipboard to reuse textual content

Gboard maintains a historical past of not too long ago copied textual content, making it simpler to reuse gadgets with no need to repeat them once more.

Now, every time I copy one thing vital, I open the clipboard from the toolbar above the keyboard (or you’ll be able to entry it by tapping the four-square menu icon). As an alternative of pasting the identical message or hyperlink repeatedly, I can faucet the saved merchandise and insert it immediately.

What makes the clipboard much more helpful is the choice to pin gadgets. I hold a number of items of textual content pinned there, like my electronic mail tackle, supply directions, and a brief message I usually ship.

Since pinned gadgets keep within the clipboard, they’re at all times prepared every time I want them.

Voice typing when your palms are busy

One other function I began counting on in Gboard is voice typing. I used to disregard it as a result of I assumed it will be inaccurate or awkward to make use of in on a regular basis conditions.

After attempting it a number of occasions, although, it shortly grew to become probably the most handy methods to sort when my palms are busy.

I now use voice typing every time I’m unable to sort comfortably on the display screen.

For instance, if I’m carrying groceries, strolling someplace, or shortly replying to a message whereas doing one thing else, tapping the microphone icon on the keyboard lets me dictate the message as an alternative of typing it.

Glide typing for quicker messages

I used to dismiss swipe typing as a gimmick, however after I gave it an sincere strive, I spotted it might probably dramatically velocity up one-handed typing.

Once I’m juggling groceries, holding a espresso, or mendacity on the sofa, dragging my thumb throughout the keyboard is quicker (and fewer error-prone) than pecking at tiny keys.

As an alternative of tapping particular person keys, I place my finger on the primary letter of a phrase and glide throughout the keyboard by way of the letters that type the phrase. Gboard acknowledges the gesture and mechanically predicts what I’m attempting to sort.

To allow it, faucet the gear icon in Gboard, go to Glide typing, and toggle Allow glide typing.

Activate one-handed mode for simpler typing

Trendy telephones have massive shows, that are nice for studying and watching movies, however they will make typing with one hand awkward. That’s after I began utilizing one-handed mode in Gboard.

One-handed mode shrinks the keyboard and shifts it to 1 facet of the display screen, making all of the keys simpler to succeed in along with your thumb. As an alternative of stretching throughout the complete width of the show, the keyboard sits comfortably inside thumb vary.

To show it on, open the keyboard, press and maintain the comma key, and faucet the one-handed keyboard icon. The keyboard instantly strikes to the left or proper facet of the display screen.

If the keyboard seems on the improper facet, you’ll be able to simply transfer it. Gboard options an arrow for switching the keyboard’s alignment primarily based in your hand desire.

There’s additionally an choice to barely resize the keyboard inside this mode, which helps fine-tune the format for consolation.

A couple of underrated instruments that make typing simpler

After I began exploring Gboard’s settings, I spotted what number of small instruments have been in-built to make typing simpler.

Textual content shortcuts save me from repeating the identical phrases, the clipboard lets me shortly reuse issues I’ve copied, and gestures like glide typing or the area bar cursor management make typing really feel a lot quicker.

If you happen to use your telephone to answer to messages, seek for issues, write notes, or ship emails, chances are high you spend extra time in your keyboard than you understand. Taking a couple of minutes to discover what it might probably do could make that point noticeably smoother.