The different options within the Google operating system sometimes seem infinite to us, something that also happens when talking about this tool that appears on the screen of smartphones. However, to be able to choose one of them, we will have to follow a few steps if we want to modify the default keyboard on Android , which is usually Gboard, but will also vary depending on the manufacturer or the customization layer that our phone uses.
Instead, this is more limited in terminals with iOS, but, in the same way, we also have the opportunity to modify it if we wish. However, the possibilities of the system allow us to choose a different keyboard on Android and the steps could not be simpler.
However, if our smartphone has a software layer, we may need to know the steps to change it on Samsung phones or choose a new one on Huawei. In the stock versions, the steps will be as we will see in the following images. In addition, we will also teach you how to install other alternatives on Apple phones so that you can give your iPhone a different touch.
download the one you want
To start with the process we need the keyboard that we want to use, no smartphone comes with more than one installed and, therefore, it will be essential that we go through Google Play or the App Store to download another tool from the store that meets all our needs, where among the most popular we find without a doubt Gboard or SwiftKey . We can choose one for its functionality, colors that are striking to us or because its aesthetics are more attractive to us than the one that comes by default on our Android phone or iPhone.
In all cases, the steps to follow will be identical. We do not even need to open the app that we have downloaded, as this would make the process different and, in some cases, following the configuration of the keyboard apps, the result would not always end successfully. So, next, we will show you how to change it on your devices.
And if you haven’t tried them yet, here are two options for you to download directly from the following links, both for Android and iOS:
Change it on your Android
As we have been warning you, within phones with Google’s operating system, the customization options seem endless. Therefore, we bring you the fastest and most complete way to modify this tool on our Android mobile.
Now what we have to do is based on the phone settings. Among the possibilities that will appear to us will be the keyboards that are installed on the smartphone, ready and willing to become the mobile’s on-screen writing system , once we configure the process. The steps we must follow then are these:
- We start by entering the Settings.
- Then, we look for the section called System.
- Next, we enter Languages and text input.
- We touch on On-Screen Keyboard.
- We choose the Manage on screen option.
This will allow us to see all the installed keyboards, combining those based on voice control, those designed to improve accessibility and the traditional on-screen ones. We just have to mark our favorite to use on Android and unmark the other that we have been using until now. To verify that the change has been applied, we access any app that will allow us to write and we will see how without doing anything else, we can already use it.
personalize it
Once you’ve chosen the one you like best, you can delve into its settings and preferences to change its color, mute or remove keyboard vibration, adjust its height, and much more so that you can have it more suited to your tastes and needs. To be able to enter its settings we must follow the following steps:
- We access the Settings.
- Click on the section called System > Languages and text input.
- Next, we enter Languages and text input.
- Tap on On-Screen Keyboard and tap on the one you want to configure as you wish.
Inside, we can find the Preferences section where we can edit its design and the keystrokes. Although, we will not only have those possibilities, but we must also add the options to change the theme, spell correction, writing by sliding the finger and many more possibilities that we can see in the following image.
Modify it on an iPhone
There is no doubt that this tool is a must-have nowadays on any phone, not just iPhones , as we are using them every day and for several hours. However, in the case of Apple, it is committed to a more sober keyboard style in which we find predictive software at the top, as well as an option dedicated to emojis. And although for many people this will be more than enough, the truth is that it may fall short in terms of customization for others.
The good side is that iOS makes it easy for us to switch between different keyboards, both internal and those that have been developed by third parties. But, to enjoy this second option, the first thing we must do is install one, like the ones we have left you a little above.
In this way, the system itself will be able to detect that there is another option available. Also, keep in mind that not all of them are stored internally on the device, but can be downloaded quickly. To make this change on the iPhone, we simply have to follow these steps:
- Access the Settings app.
- Enter the General section.
- Click on the Keyboard section.
- Tap on the option called Keyboards .
- Click on Add new.
Once here, you can choose the one you have installed or any of the options offered by iOS. The first section is intended for native speakers that you have installed on your smartphone. Instead, the next section is for those third-party tools that will be automatically detected by the terminal. And, in the last list all the extra iPhone keyboards that can be downloaded from Apple itself that correspond to different languages are already included.