Gboard or Google keyboard is one of the most popular keyboard apps available for both Android and iPhone. If Gboard isn’t working properly on your mobile, you have landed at the right place. Whether Gboard keeps crashing, reopening, or its features like voice typing, GIFs, etc., aren’t working, this post will help. The article will also be useful if you get the “Unfortunately, Gboard has stopped” error.
1. Restart
Begin the troubleshooting journey to fix Gboard by restarting your Android or iPhone. Restarting the device fixes any temporary issues that could be causing Gboard to not work properly.
2. Update Gboard
After restarting the phone, if Gboard doesn’t work properly, you should update it. There are chances that a bug in the Gboard app could cause it to crash or wreck its features. On Android, open the Play Store and search for Gboard. Tap on the Update button if available. Similarly, look for Gboard in App Store on iPhone and hit the Update icon.
3. Re-enable Gboard
Disabling and re-enabling Gboard on your phone could also help in making it work properly. Moreover, updating the Gboard app could also disable it sometimes. You should enable it as shown below:
Adding Gboard on Android
On your phone go to “Settings → System → Languages & input → On-screen (or “Virtual Keyboard)”. Tap on the “Manage (on-screen) keyboards” option. On Samsung Galaxy phones, go to “Settings → General Management → Keyboard list and default”, as seen in the screenshots below.
If the toggle next to Gboard is off, turn it on. In case it is on, turn it off. Wait for 30 seconds and enable it again.
Tip: go to Default keyboard and select Gboard to make it the default keyboard.
Add Gboard on iPhone
On iOS, go to “Settings → General → Keyboard”.
Again, tap on Keyboards to see and manage the list of keyboards. Then, tap on the “Edit” button at the top.
Tap on the red “–” (remove) icon next to the Gboard and press the Delete button.
That will remove Gboard from your active keyboard list. Tap the Done button at the top to save the changes.
You will be taken to the Manage keyboard screen. Tap on “Add new keyboard”.
Scroll down to the third-party keyboard section and select Gboard. Gboard will now appear in the list of keyboards.
4. Switch to Gboard
If you have multiple keyboards on your phone, you need to switch to Gboard in order to use it.
- On Android, open any app that supports the keyboard. When the keyboard pops up at the bottom, tap on the Keyboard icon at the bottom-right or left corner.The Change input screen will show up. Select Gboard from the list of active keyboards.
On iPhone, the first thing you need to do to switch to Gboard so that it opens automatically, is to fire up the current keyboard.
Press the Globe icon on the keyboard and select Gboard from the list.
Go to “Settings→ General→ Keyboard-> Keyboards”. Tap on the Edit button. Drag Gboard using the three-bar icon next to it to the top of the list to make it the default keyboard on iPhone.
5. Allow Full Access (iPhone)
For all Gboard features to function properly, you must grant full access to Gboard on iPhone.
To do so, go to “Settings → General → Keyboard → Keyboards”.
Tap on Gboard. Enable the toggle for “Allow Full Access”.
6. Clear Cache and Data (Android)
If Gboard keeps crashing on Android, clearing its cache and data might be of great help.
Go to “Settings → Apps → Gboard”. If you don’t see Gboard under the list of apps, tap on the three-dot icon at the top and enable “System apps”. Then look for Gboard and tap on it.The Gboard app info screen will open. Tap on Storage followed by “Clear cache”. Now, restart your phone.
If the issue persists, tap on “Clear data” instead of “Clear cache”.
For the unaware, clearing data will not delete your Gboard data permanently. It will be restored automatically once you install it back as it’s synced to your Google account. However, any changes that you have made to Gboard settings will be reset to their default values.
Tip: try clearing cache and data for Google Play Store and Google Play Services as well.
7. Gboard Voice Texting Not Working
Gboard users often face issues related to voice texting. Sometimes, the microphone/voice typing icon is missing or the keyboard automatically switches to the iOS keyboard in the case of the iPhone.
To fix voice texting issues on Gboard, follow these solutions:
Enable Voice Typing
If the voice typing icon is missing in Gboard, there is a high probability of voice typing being turned off in Gboard settings.
To enable it on Android, open Gboard settings and tap on “Voice typing”. Activate the toggle for “Use voice typing”.
On iPhone, go to “Gboard settings → Keyboard settings”. Turn on “Voice input”.
Tip: go to iPhone’s “Settings → General → Keyboard”. Turn on the “Enable dictation” toggle for best results.
Grant Microphone Permission
In order to use voice typing, Gboard should have permission to use a Microphone on your phone.
- To verify and enable that on Android, go to “Settings → Apps → Gboard → Permission”. Grant the Microphone permission.
- For iPhone, go to “Settings → Gboard”. Enable Microphone.
Turn Off Power Saving Mode
Battery-saving modes on your phone can restrict the Gboard’s voice typing feature. You should try turning it off.
For Android, go to “Settings → Battery”. Turn off “Power saving mode” or “Battery saving”. On Samsung Galaxy phonea, you should also look for Sleeping apps. Remove Gboard from the list.
Similarly, on iPhone, go to “Settings → Battery”. Turn off “Low power mode”.
Allow Siri & Dictation in Screen Time (iPhone)
On iPhone, you need to go enable the “Siri & Dictation” option in “Allowed apps”.
Go to “Settings → Screen Time → Content & Privacy Restrictions”.
Tap on “Allowed Apps” and then turn on the toggle for “Siri & Dictation”.
8. Uninstall Gboard
If nothing helps in fixing Gboard not working issue, you should uninstall the Gboard app from your phone.
To uninstall Gboard from Android phones, open “Settings → Apps”. Tap on Gboard and hit the Uninstall button if available. Alternatively, press the three-dot icon and select “Uninstall updates” from the menu.
On iPhone, touch and hold the Gboard app icon on the home screen or in the App Library. Select “Delete app” from the menu. You might be asked whether you want to remove the app from the home screen or delete it from your phone. Select the latter.
After you uninstall it completely from your phone, re-install the app from the Play Store or App Store.
If re-installing also doesn’t help much, you should install an older version of Gboard using an APK file (on Android) instead of the new version.
9. Reset App Preferences
The last solution is to reset settings on your Android phone or iPhone. Doing this will not affect your personal files or data. However, any customized settings will be reset to default values, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, permissions, etc.
- To reset settings on Android, go to “Settings → System (General Management) → Reset → Reset settings (Reset app preferences).”
- On iPhone, go to “Settings → General → Transfer or Reset → Reset → Reset all settings.”
10. Try Alternate Keyboards
This one is not a solution but a suggestion. If the Gboard app keeps crashing after following all the above fixes, you should switch to a different keyboard app for some time. SwiftKey is a great alternative to Gboard, for instance.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why does haptic feedback or vibration not work in Gboard?
If Haptic feedback isn’t working in Gboard, you must enable it in settings first. Open Gboard settings on Android and go to Preferences. Turn on Haptic feedback. Similarly, on iPhone, go to “Gboard settings→ Keyboard settings” and enable Haptic feedback. Also, go to “iPhone Settings→ Accessibility→ Touch”. Make sure the Vibration toggle is active.
2. How to fix Gboard auto-correct if it’s not working?
On Android, enable auto-correct by going to “Gboard settings→ Text correction→ Enable Auto-correction”. For issues with auto-correct on iPhone, go to “Gboard settings → Keyboard settings. Turn on Auto-correction.
Mehvish is a tech lover from Kashmir. With a degree in computer engineering, she’s always been happy to help anyone who finds technology challenging. She’s been writing about technology for over six years, and her favorite topics include how-to guides, explainers, tips and tricks for Android, iOS/iPadOS, Windows, social media, and web apps.
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