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how to change keyboard on android

You can change the keyboard on an Android phone through Settings, or quickly switch while typing using the small keyboard/globe icon in the navigation bar. Most devices follow the same basic steps, though menu names may differ slightly by brand and Android version.

Main steps in Settings

  1. Open the Settings app on your Android phone.
  2. Scroll to and tap System (or General management on some phones).
  1. Tap Languages & input.
  2. Choose On‑screen keyboard or Virtual keyboard.
  1. Tap Manage keyboards (if shown), then toggle on the keyboard app you want to use and off the ones you don’t.
  2. If asked, tap OK to allow the keyboard.
  1. Go back and tap Default keyboard (or similar), then select your new keyboard from the list.

Once this is done, any app that uses typing (Messages, WhatsApp, browser, etc.) will show your new keyboard automatically.

Switching keyboards while typing

You don’t always have to dig into Settings; Android lets you switch on the fly.

  • Open any app with a text field (for example, a chat or search bar).
  • Tap the text field so the keyboard appears.
  • Look at the bottom of the screen for a keyboard or globe icon in the navigation bar or in the notification shade.
  • Tap that icon to open the Choose input method popup, then tap the keyboard you want (Gboard, SwiftKey, Grammarly, etc.).

Many phones also let you:

  • Long‑press the space bar to bring up the list of keyboards.
  • Swipe left or right on the space bar to cycle through installed keyboards (varies by brand and keyboard app).

Installing a new keyboard app

If you want something beyond the default keyboard (themes, better autocorrect, swipe typing), you can install another keyboard from the Play Store.

  • Open Google Play Store.
  • Search for popular options like Gboard , Microsoft SwiftKey , or Grammarly Keyboard.
  • Install the app, then open it and follow the setup wizard (most will walk you through enabling and selecting it as default).
  • If needed, repeat the Settings steps above to make it the default keyboard.

For privacy and security , stick to well‑known keyboards from trusted developers and review their permissions and data collection policies in the app details.

Extra tips & customization

Modern Android keyboards support a lot of customization so you can type faster and more comfortably.

You can usually tweak:

  • Themes and layout : Change colors, backgrounds, and key size for better visibility.
  • Text correction : Turn autocorrect, spell‑check, and suggestions on or off under settings like Text correction or Smart typing.
  • Gesture / glide typing : Enable swipe typing to type by sliding across letters.
  • Personal dictionary : Add names or slang so they stop being auto‑corrected.
  • Clipboard & text shortcuts: Save phrases you type a lot and paste them quickly from a clipboard or shortcut system.

If your keyboard suddenly changes after an update or app install, you can follow the same Default keyboard steps to switch back, or remove the unwanted keyboard under Apps in Settings.

TL;DR:
Go to Settings → System → Languages & input → On‑screen/Virtual keyboard → Default keyboard, then select your preferred keyboard, or use the keyboard/globe icon while typing to switch instantly.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.