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Gboard is the default keyboard option for a staggering number of Android smartphones across the globe, and it’s not just limited to Pixels. If you have an Android device, you’ve probably used Gboard for years without giving it a second look. The default setup is good, the predictive text suggestions work, and in a pinch, you can swipe to type.
But like other seemingly basic Android apps and features, a lot more is hiding behind Gboard’s surface simplicity. Explore the menus, tweak the settings, and learn some gestures, and you’ll uncover a ton of useful features that can make it faster and easier to use—without switching to an entirely new keyboard. Here are my favorite tips, tricks, and hacks for Gboard.
Pin frequently used text in the clipboard for instant access
Credit: Khamosh Pathak
You don’t need to go looking for ad-filled clipboard manager apps on Android: Gboard is hiding a capable clipboard manager in plain sight, but it’s not enabled by default. In the Gboard app, tap the Menu button and choose the Clipboard option. On your first try, enable the feature. Now you will see all your copied items here in a handy list. Gboard automatically deletes clipboard entries every hour (a nice security feature), but you can pin any and every entry in the clipboard using the long-press menu. Once pinned, the entry will stay put. You can use this feature to copy and paste items you use frequently, like email templates or your mailing address.
Use Personal Dictionary to quickly expand long phrases
Credit: Khamosh Pathak
If you’re an Android power user, or if you manage your business or college work via your Android smartphone, you might want a faster way to input long strings of text. On Mac and Windows, you might be familiar with text expansion features and apps. Gboard for Android offers something similar, only it’s called Personal Dictionary for some reason.
Here, you can add any custom phrase and an associated shortcut. The shortcut, when entered, will show the expanded phrase in the suggestion bar. Go to Gboard Settings > Dictionary > Personal Dictionary and tap the Plus button to add a new phrase.
Use these swipe and hold gestures for faster inputs
The Backspace (or Delete) key on the Pixel isn’t static. If you swipe left from the backspace key, you’ll start to delete entire words, instead of just letters. Similarly, you can move the cursor around using the space bar: Hold the space bar and move your finger left or right to precisely move the cursor around. And if you want to avoid switching views to enter symbols, just hold the Period (dot) key to reveal the full symbols keyboard. Swipe to the symbol you wish to enter, let go, and you’re done.
Use this gesture to quickly input numbers without switching keyboards
If you need to enter numbers on Gboard, you can go two ways about it. First, there is a hidden gesture, where you flick keys to enter alternative symbols. So if you swipe down on the letter “e”, it will type in the number “3” instead. Super handy, and can be enabled from Settings > Preferences > Flick keys to enter symbols.
But if you type numbers all the time, nothing can beat a dedicated numbers row to Gboard (though that will take up extra space). From Preferences, you can enable the Number row to get quick access to the number keys.
Use one-handed mode to make typing easier on big phones
Credit: Khamosh Pathak
Tap the Menu button in the Gboard keyboard, and choose the One-handed option. You will now see a smaller keyboard, tucked to one edge. You can tap the Arrow button to change the docking position. You can also tap the Edit button to freely move and resize the keyboard (make it smaller or bring it closer to the bottom edge).
Resize keyboard height to reclaim screen real estate on cramped layouts (or make it huge)
Credit: Khamosh Pathak
If you don’t like the default size for the Gboard keyboard, you can shorten it, or choose to have it take up half of the screen, with larger keys. Tap the Menu button in the Gboard toolbar, and choose the Resize option. Now, you can drag the handlebar to make the keyboard taller or shorter (you can’t change the width in this feature).
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Use the floating keyboard to type anywhere on-screen
Credit: Khamosh Pathak
On a big-screen phone or an Android tablet, trying to enter text while seeing what’s under the keyboard can be a hassle, especially if you’re using multi-app view. But Gboard doesn’t have to be docked to the bottom of the screen. From the Gboard Menu, tap the Floating button to detach the keyboard. Now, you can grab the handlebar to move it across the screen to wherever you want. You can also resize the keyboard to make it smaller.
Use Gboard’s editing feature to adjust text anywhere
Credit: Khamosh Pathak
On a computer, text editing is easier and faster. You have arrow keys to move around, a mouse for precise selection, and shortcuts for copying and pasting. Google might have realized this gap on smartphones and tablets, which is why the Text Editing feature in Gboard’s Menu exists: When triggered, it replaces the keyboard with big buttons dedicated to selecting and manipulating text.
The new keyboard features a big directional pad with arrows, and a Select button right in the middle. You can use the arrow to move the cursor letter by letter, or press and hold to jump between words. Once the text is selected, use the Cut, Copy, and Paste buttons to manipulate text without ever having to fiddle with long-press gestures or swipes on the screen.
Use Emoji Kitchen to create brand new emojis
Credit: Khamosh Pathak
Emojis are kind of boring in 2026, and picking the right GIF feels like an enormous task. Gboard’s Emoji Kitchen is somewhere in between. Go to the Emoji tab in Gboard, select two emojis, and Google combines them into a unique emoji sticker. You’ll see multiple pairing options so you can choose the one you like.
Add an Undo button to the toolbar to quickly delete text
Credit: Khamosh Pathak
Pasted in some text that you now need to delete? Don’t do the text selection dance. Instead, use Gboard’s built-in Undo button. Tap the Menu button, and you should see Undo in the features list. To make this habit stick, add the button to the toolbar by tapping the Edit button, and dragging the Undo button to the top toolbar. Save the arrangement, and now you have a dedicated undo/redo button in easy reach.