If there’s one factor we Android-totin’ pterodactyls take as a right, it is simply how good we have it with regards to typing out textual content on our pocket-sized telephone machines.

It is all too simple to lose sight of over time, however Goog almighty, lemme inform ya: Typing on Android is an absolute delight. And all it takes is 10 seconds of attempting to wrestle with the on-screen keyboards on that different smartphone platform to understand our benefit.

We have got loads of distinctive keyboard selections ‘spherical these components, too, however Google’s Gboard keyboard has actually risen up as the very best all-around possibility for Android enter as of late. That is largely due to its top-notch typing fundamentals and its seamless integration of tasty Google intelligence, however it’s additionally due to all of the intelligent little shortcuts it has lurking beneath its floor.

So as a particular complement to my Android Shortcut Supercourse — a free six-day e mail journey that helps you uncover tons of time-saving Android treasures — be a part of me for this tour of excellent and out-of-the-way Gboard typing shortcuts. Verify ’em out, strive ’em out, after which come join the course for much more super-practical Android awesomeness.

Gboard shortcut No. 1: One second to one-handed

Look, there is no approach round it: Generally, if you’re typing, it’s essential depend on a single hand. (Let’s preserve the particular causes for that to ourselves, lets?) And Gboard’s bought an awesome one-handed typing mode that is extremely simple to entry.

So the subsequent time one in every of your grabbers is in any other case occupied, do that: Press and maintain Gboard’s Enter key for a few second. That’ll activate the Gboard one-handed system and shrink your on-screen keyboard right down to a smaller measurement. You possibly can then dock your fun-sized mini-keyboard to the left or proper facet of your display screen for exceptionally easy accessibility.

JR

If you wish to zap the keyboard straight into the left-of-screen place, you can even press and maintain Gboard’s comma key after which slide your finger over barely to the precise as a shortcut to that shortcut (whoaa….).

Both approach you go, you may then use the controls on the display screen to regulate the keyboard’s placement. And if you’re prepared, you can even snap it again into its regular full-width mode with one quick faucet.

Fairly helpful, would not ya say?

Gboard shortcut No. 2: Floating keyboard magic

Along with that one-handed keyboard contortion, Gboard has a full-fledged floating keyboard that permits you to transfer your QWERTY companion wherever in your display screen and even shrink it down right into a simpler-to-swipe super-miniature model of itself.

I imply, simply have a look at that factor. Is not it cute?!

JR

You possibly can fireplace up that fancy floating keyboard mode by discovering the icon that is imagined to be a keyboard floating over a line however really seems to be extra like a humorous robotic head. It will both be in Gboard’s prime row or tucked away within the menu you may get to by tapping the three-dot icon in that very same prime row.

As soon as your keyboard’s floating, you may contact and maintain your finger alongside its decrease edge to maneuver it — or slide your finger in or out alongside any of its corners to make it bigger or smaller, as illustrated above.

What I particularly wished to name out right here, although, is the shortcut related to that system: With Gboard in its floating mode, you may contact and maintain the decrease fringe of your keyboard after which slap the factor down towards the underside of your display screen to redock it in a flash and get it again into its regular state. See?

JR

It is quick, efficient, and damn-near therapeutic to do.

Gboard shortcut No. 3: The ol’ press-and-hold

One in all Gboard’s most handy Android typing shortcuts is the way in which the keyboard allows you to pull up each numbers and particular characters just by long-pressing common keys. It is a a lot quicker option to get to what you want than going by the assorted secondary screens to seek out stuff (particularly when you’re typing by tapping).

The key to this one resides in a tucked-away setting deep inside Gboard’s dank digital bowels. This is how you can discover and activate it:

  • Faucet the three-dot menu icon inside Gboard’s higher row. (And when you do not see that icon there, faucet the left-facing arrow at that row’s left edge to disclose it.)
  • Search for the gear-shaped Settings icon on the display screen that comes up.
  • Faucet “Preferences,” then scroll all the way in which right down to the underside of that display screen.
  • See the road labeled “Lengthy press for symbols”? Flip the toggle subsequent to that sucker to show it on — and whilst you’re at it, go forward and activate the toggle subsequent to “Popup on keypress” if it is not already activated, too.

Now simply again out of that menu and pull up Gboard once more, and you need to see a bunch o’ helpful secondary key choices throughout the corners of each key in your keyboard. You possibly can then press and maintain any key for a second or so to drag up its alternate possibility.

JR

When you’ve got a devoted quantity row on the prime of your keyboard, you would possibly even contemplate turning it off to make the keyboard smaller — since this setup serves the identical efficient function and makes these numbers each bit as accessible. The choice to try this is in the identical space of the Gboard settings we simply visited.

Gboard shortcut No. 4: The different punctuation station

That long-press methodology is hands-down the quickest option to entry hottest types of punctuation on Gboard, when you ask me — however a pair frequent characters are curiously lacking from that association. Amongst them is the standard slash (to not be confused with the standard Slash, who’s each bit as superior however not obtainable in keyboard type).

To uncover that easy slanted line all of us adore, press and maintain the Gboard interval key for a second, then slide your fingeroo over towards the left to seek out and activate the suitable image.

JR

Simply do not forget that this contains solely the elusive slash — not the elusive Slash. The closest you may get to to the latter inside Gboard is the highest hat emoji.

Gboard shortcut No. 5: A speedier path to settings

Talking of Gboard and punctuation, this is a splendid little shortcut price submitting into the again of your person-brain for future use: The subsequent time it’s essential get into Gboard’s settings, skip the multistep methodology we went over a minute in the past and as an alternative press and maintain the keyboard’s comma key for a break up second.

And by golly, wouldya look what occurs?

JR

Sport, set(tings), match.

Gboard shortcuts No. 6, 7, 8, and 9: The swipe sisters

This subsequent sequence of Gboard shortcuts comes from my broader Gboard tip assortment, and it is all about spectacular swipe-related time-savers to your favourite Android keyboard.

The rapid-fire abstract:

  • You possibly can swipe your finger alongside Gboard’s house bar to maneuver your on-screen cursor while in any textual content area.
  • You possibly can swipe up from the ?123 key to seek out and entry much more particular characters — and presumably additionally a num-pad, relying in your private preferences — within the blink of a watch.
  • Swiping up from Gboard’s Shift key will allow you to capitalize any letter shortly.
  • And swiping towards the left on the Gboard Backspace key offers you a straightforward option to delete a bunch o’ textual content without delay.

If any of that stuff is not working for you, look within the “Glide typing” part of Gboard’s settings and ensure all of the choices in that space are activated.

Gboard shortcut No. 10: The image searcher

Generally, an image actually is price a thousand phrases — or at the very least a pair hundred.

The subsequent time you are impressed to incorporate an illustration in one thing you are typing, faucet the smiley face image alongside Gboard’s backside row. (And when you do not see that image, head into the Gboard settings, faucet “Preferences,” and switch the toggle subsequent to “Present emoji change key” into the on place.)

Now:

  • Faucet the icon that appears like a field with a magnifying glass throughout the backside of the emoji panel that comes up.
  • Faucet the search field on the prime of that very same panel.
  • Sort in any time period that is in your thoughts.

And that is it: Gboard will present you a mixture of each emoji, sticker, and GIF associated to the time period you typed for straightforward, nearly effort-free entry.

And talking of symbols…

Gboard shortcut No. 11: The colour customizer

Anytime you are taking a look at emoji choices throughout the Gboard keyboard, preserve a watch out for a tiny diagonal arrow within the image’s lower-right nook.

Every time that arrow is current, you may press and maintain the emoji in query to drag up a hidden sequence of coloration selections for customizing the emoji’s look.

JR

Rock ‘n’ roll, child.

Gboard shortcut No. 12: The write stuff

Final however not least as we speak is one in every of Gboard’s least-known gems, and that is the keyboard’s surprisingly efficient system of on-screen writing enter.

That is proper (and likewise write): You possibly can really kind out textual content by scribbling it onto your display screen with a stylus, your finger, or every other appendage you want (cautious…). It may be a handy option to enter textual content in the precise form of state of affairs, and it is also only a enjoyable trick to strive.

To activate Gboard’s handwriting mode for your self, stomp your implausible footsies again into the keyboard’s settings, then faucet “Languages” adopted by the Add Keyboard button. Sort “English (US)” (or no matter language you favor), then make certain “Handwriting” is energetic and highlighted on the prime of the display screen.

Acquired it? Good. Now, simply hit the Performed button to use the modifications.

JR

Pull up Gboard as soon as extra, and you need to now have the ability to press and maintain the house bar or hit the newly current globe icon subsequent to it to toggle between the usual keyboard setup and your snazzy new handwriting recognition system.

And as soon as you’ve got bought that handwriting canvas open, all that is left is to jot down, write, write away and watch Google’s digital genie translate your illegible squiggles into common textual content nearly immediately.

JR

As you may see above, it really works even when your handwriting resembles the determined scrawls of a drunken toddler moose-baby. (That moose and I’ve loads in frequent.)

Keep in mind: There’s heaps extra the place this got here from. Come be a part of my free Android Shortcut Supercourse for six full days of efficiency-enhancing Android data — every little thing from quicker methods to get round your telephone to superior app actions, higher searching secrets and techniques, and oodles of different alternatives for superior Android data.

All of those saved seconds positively add up — and, equally essential, they make you’re feeling like a complete tech sorcerer.