How To Set Up & Use Google Keyboard on iPhone [Full Guide]

Gboard, also known as Google Keyboard, is Google’s own virtual keyboard app for mobile devices. It provides a more powerful and customizable typing experience compared to the default iOS keyboard.

Using Google’s Gboard keyboard on your iPhone provides several benefits over the default iOS keyboard. Gboard offers smarter auto-correct and predictions, emoji search, GIF support, and more.

In this guide, I’ll show you how to easily set up and start using Gboard on your iPhone for a better typing experience.

Quick Answer:

Here are the quick answers in bullet points:

Install Gboard:
Search in the App Store, download, and open
Enable full access when prompted
Set as default:
Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Default Keyboard
Select Gboard
Switch keyboards:
Tap the globe icon to select Gboard or iOS keyboard
Top features:
Emoji/GIF search
Glide typing
Themes and customization
Smarter predictions
Minimal battery impact
Works offline once installed
Delete Gboard:
Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards
Tap Edit, delete Gboard
Gboard is secure to use

Key benefits of using Gboard on iPhone:

Smarter autocorrect and next-word predictions
Emoji search to quickly find relevant emoji
Support for GIFs right from the keyboard
Glide typing for faster typing
Customizable themes and layouts

Below, I’ll walk you through the quick process to get Gboard installed and set up on your iPhone. I’ll also cover how to enable full access so you can take advantage of all the features.

Step 1: Install Gboard from the App Store

The first step is to download Gboard from the App Store on your iPhone:

Open the App Store app.

Search for “Gboard”. Make sure it’s offered by Google LLC.

Tap Get to download and install it.

The app is free to use.

Step 2: Open Gboard and Tap “Get Started”

Once Gboard finishes installing, open it from your home screen. You’ll be presented with a “Get Started” prompt:

Tap Get Started to begin the setup process.

This will show you an overview of all the Gboard features to get an idea of what’s possible with the keyboard.

Step 3: Allow Full Access to Enable All Features

To get the most out of Gboard, you need to enable full access to the keyboard. This allows features like emoji and GIF search to work properly.

Here’s how to enable full access:

On the feature overview screen, tap Enable Full Access.

Tap Enable Full Access again on the permission prompt.

On the keyboard screen, tap Allow Full Access.
Finally, turn on the switch for Allow Full Access and tap OK.

That’s it! Gboard now has the necessary permissions to enable all features.

Step 4: Set Gboard as the Default iPhone Keyboard

At this point, Gboard is installed but not yet set as your default keyboard. Here’s how to switch your default to Gboard:

Go to the iPhone Settings app.
Tap General, then Keyboard.
Under Keyboards, tap Add New Keyboard.

Select Gboard from the list.

Now you can switch between the default keyboard and Gboard by tapping and holding the globe icon on the keyboard and selecting the one you want.

I recommend fully switching to Gboard by selecting it as your default:

Go back to Settings > General > Keyboard.
Under Keyboards, tap Gboard.
Turn on the switch for Default Keyboard.

Gboard is now set as your default iPhone keyboard to use automatically whenever text entry is required.

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How To Use Gboard on iPhone

Now that you have Gboard installed and set up, here are some of the top features to take advantage of:

Search Emoji Faster

Tap the emoji icon on the keyboard.
Type a keyword for the emoji you want to find.
Tap the emoji in the search results to insert it.

Find the Perfect GIF

Tap the GIF icon on the keyboard.
Browse trending GIF categories or search for a keyword.
Tap a GIF to add it to your message.

Use Glide Typing

To glide type, move your finger smoothly between letters without lifting it off.
Glide typing enables faster typing without tapping each letter.

Customize Themes

Go to Gboard’s settings page.
Tap Themes to select colors and background images.
Try different key borders, key press sounds, and vibration strength.

With Gboard fully set up, you can now enjoy a significantly better typing experience on your iPhone. Use the steps in this guide anytime to get Gboard installed and activated on additional iOS devices.

FAQs:

Here are answers to some common questions about using Gboard on an iPhone:

Does Gboard work on all iPhones?

Yes, Gboard is compatible with all modern iPhone models running iOS 10.0 or later. It works on iPhones dating back to the iPhone 5 and newer.

Is Gboard better than the default iOS keyboard?

Gboard is generally considered superior thanks to its smarter predictions and corrections, emoji/GIF search, glide typing, and customization options lacking on the default keyboard.

How do I switch back to the default iOS keyboard?

Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Default Keyboard and change it back to “Apple Keyboard”. You can still keep Gboard installed as a secondary option.

Does Gboard drain iPhone battery life?

Gboard has minimal impact on battery life. The keyboard only activates when text entry is required. Many users report identical or improved battery life after switching.

Can I use the Gboard keyboard offline?

Yes, Gboard works offline once downloaded. Internet is only required periodically to sync saved data like new words and phrases you’ve typed.

Does Gboard work with all apps?

Gboard will automatically function as the default keyboard in all apps that utilize standard system text input on iOS. It may not work in some specialized apps.

Conclusion:

Getting Google’s Gboard keyboard set up on your iPhone is quick and easy. Follow the steps in this guide to install it, enable full access, and set it as your default iOS keyboard.

Gboard provides an excellent typing experience with smarter autocorrect, emoji/GIF search, glide typing, themes, and other great features. It’s free to use and available on any modern iPhone model running iOS 10 or later.

Switch to Gboard for a major typing upgrade on your iPhone today!