How to change the keyboard on Android phones or tablets

The keyboard is, as usual, a function that comes by default on Android devices, although its model depends on the version or model of mobile or tablet you use.

Fortunately, it is possible to change the keyboard for a custom one. We mainly have two alternatives when we want to achieve it:

1. Through the Android system itself, with the phone's settings. We must bear in mind that here the customization options will be very limited.
2. Downloading and using third-party applications. This will allow you to customize your keyboard much more, and each application will offer you different possibilities.

We will go by parts: first, we will teach you how to change it (a little) directly from settings and, secondly, we will recommend you apps to change the keyboard for a much more original one.

How can you change Android keyboard?

Although almost all the procedures for keyboard modification are similar, there are differences in folder names and paths, but the most important thing is to know that basic changes are made from the mobile settings.

By the way, and if you want to change the entire interface and not just the keyboard, we recommend using launchers:

Related article:

Nova Launcher: what it is and how to install it

Likewise, it should be noted that the steps indicated below are the same, regardless of the brand of the device you own:

Steps to change keyboard Android version 4.4

1. As a first step, make sure you have another keyboard model installed in your operating system.
2. Then go to "Settings" through the application menu of your device.
3. Once done, click on "Language and text input", tab that will be found in the section "Personal".
4. Then go to the section of "Predetermined" which is located at the top.
5. Later, click on the name of the keyboard you want to set.
6. To finish just click on "To accept" on the pop-up menu that will appear.

Note: If the keyboard model you want to configure is an official Google or mobile phone, you can activate it in the lower boxes of the "Language and text input" section.

Steps to change keyboard Android version 5.0

1. Go to the section "Settings" that will be represented by a cogwheel in the tools menu.
2. Go down in the panel where you will appear.
3. Click on "Language and text input".
4. Then go to the section "Keyboard and input methods ".
5. Once done, head over to "Current keyboard".
6. Finally select the one you want to enable and click on "To accept".

Steps to change keyboard Android version 6.0

1. Access the "Configuration" of your mobile.
2. Click on "Language and text input" in the second section of said panel.
3. Go to "Default keyboard".
4. Click on the type of keyboard you want to enable.

Note: If the keyboard model is an official version, you have to go to "Input method settings" and activate it from this section.

Steps to change keyboard Android version 7.0

1. Go to "Settings".
2. Descend to the alternative "Language and text input".
3. Go to section "Keyboard and input methods".
4. Press on "Default keyboard".
5. Locate and click on the alternative you want.
6. To finish, wait for the enablement to complete.

Steps to change Android keyboard version 8.0 and higher

1. Sign in "Settings".
2. Go to the penultimate section.
3. Press on "General Administration".
4. Click on the first tab that will appear, which is known as "Language and input".
5. Access the section "Default keyboard".
6. Click on the box of the model you want to enable

Note: If the keyboard model is official, you can find it in the "On-screen keyboard" section and to enable it you must click on "Manage keyboards" directly.

The best keyboards for Android phones or Tablets

In addition to this, there are multiple ways to change the keyboard on Android. For example, using applications that with a few simple clicks, we can use. We summarize the best options below:

Gboard

It is one of the best official keyboards for Android, since has customizations included. Likewise, it contains a writing manager, with which you can slide your finger through the letters until you complete the words you want.

It also offers voice dictation, typing with bold and italic settings, as well as the ability to search from "Google" by simply pressing the "G" button.

In addition, I provided a large number of emojis available, as well as GIF's of different themes.

Fleksy keyboard

It provides <strong>economic data</strong> on the business environment. 20 colorful themes, as well as 3 different keyboard sizes that adapt to Android emulators, Tablets, and small devices.

It also has the writing manager included, capacity for more than 40 different languages ​​and the best thing is that it provides a permission manager on your system.

That is why if you need to collect your personal text data, I will ask for your permission with a pop-up window, although if you accept it, you can still disable it whenever you want.

SwiftKey

It is a very good option to change keyboard on Android, since it allows you to customize different physical aspects, adding more than 100 themes with different colors.

However, you can also create a theme and set it to your liking. In addition, it offers emojis, stickers, GIFs, and many other excellent alternatives.

Related article:

How to use iPhone emojis on your Android

It is one of the keyboards with the largest number of languages ​​available, managing up to 300 different languages, including enabling 5 on the keyboard at the same time.

AnySoftKeyboard

It is a perfect alternative to change keyboard in Android, since it provides the most complete configurations, as well as features of writing aids.

For example, it has multiple languages ​​that can be enabled at the same time, “Multi-Touch” support, compact mode, textual manager, night mode and energy saving.

Also allows store custom words in your dictionary in order to make predictions of the text that will be written next, and has a tool that allows you to select everything, copy and paste a text.

chroma

It corresponds to one of the fastest and lightest keyboards for Android. It has the particularity that the colors of the letters can be changed to taste (even with a futuristic and dark style).

In addition, it has artificial intelligence incorporated into its system, since it adapts to our way of writing to be able to predict it. It also presents emoticons and GIFs, with a built-in search engine that makes it easier to find them.

It has multidiomatic typography, allows you to enable the "One hand mode" to make it easier to use and has the "Gesture Writing" feature to be able to slide your finger through the letters until the words are formed.

Minuum Keyboard

It is one of the few paid keyboards available on Google Play, and it costs $ 3.01. It was part of the 12 best apps available for Android devices from the year 2014.

Likewise, it is highly sensitive to touch, has an intelligent emoji manager, and allows you to activate the "Write with one hand" section in its settings.

It has a large number of languages ​​available, as well as a cursor control, a keyboard size manager, a vocabulary control included and can be used in split screen within the device.

Cheetah Keyboard

It is a keyboard that provides artificial intelligence to make it easier to use. It allows you to set a background, as well as manage a font style and even the color it will have.

It has emojis, GIFs and also stickers of different types, as well as multidynamic themes that allow you to better configure the characteristics of the design.

You have auto correction function included, fast scrolling, sound themes included, and the best thing is that it supports devices with screens larger than 10 inches.

Procedure to download a keyboard on Android phones or Tablets

In order to change Android keyboard, you must first download a different model the one you have by default on your device, which you can achieve by two different methods. These are:

How to install the APK file

In this android installer package which can be obtained from a wide variety of official pages or royalty-free websites.

However, in order to download these files it is necessary to activate the alternative "Install unknown applications" from Google, since if this last procedure is not carried out, the system will not allow the installation.

This action can be achieved in versions prior to 7.0 as follows:

1. Access the "Settings" of your mobile.
2. Go to the section "Personal".
3. Go to the alternative "Security".
4. Then click on the first tab that will appear, which is described as "Unknown origins".
5. Press "To accept" in the pop-up message that will be shown on your screen.

However, after version 7.0, a change was made regarding the management of installations from unknown sources, and the resulting procedure would be as follows:

1. Access the tab "Settings".
2. Go to the fourth section and enter "Security".
3. Press on "Install Unknown Apps."
4. Go to "Google" or to any browser you use.
5. Finally press on "Allow from this source" and accept the terms.

What is the Google Play Store

It corresponds to the official store for Android devices, and despite not having as much variety of keyboards as Internet browsers, it is much safer to use.

This is because each and every one of its keyboards is verified against malware, tracking viruses, IP managers and many other threats thanks to the fact that it has a built-in antivirus for downloading content.

However, it is recommended have an antivirus activated for the moments of installation, in order to avoid the access of encrypted viruses or other mechanisms undetectable by this store.