Google has just made a change to Gboard for Android that is starting to roll out now. It’s the little things that make a difference, and it means that when you type an apostrophe, the keyboard will automatically switch you back to the letters.
I hear you, Samsung’s default keyboard, and indeed the iPhone keyboard, have had this for a long time. But until now, things were more complicated on Gboard.
Why Typing Apostrophes Was So Clunky On Gboard
To switch from letters to punctuation meant tapping the “?123” key that sits at the bottom left of the keyboard. After you’ve tapped the apostrophe, you then needed to select the same key to get back to letters. You could also tap the space bar to achieve the same result.
With the new update, as soon as you’ve tapped the apostrophe, it snaps back to the letter keyboard ready for you to tap the “s” key, for instance.
Gboard Update Rolling Out In Beta
“Gboard can now ‘Automatically switch back to the letter keyboard after an apostrophe.’ Previously, you had to press the space bar or use the ‘?123’ key in the bottom-left corner,” 9to5Google reported.
The change is part of the M3 Expressive Settings redesign and is rolling out in beta now, so don’t be surprised if you don’t see it just yet.
There Was A Workaround — But This Is Better
Actually, there was another way to achieve the same result, with the current Gboard. Instead of tapping the “?123”, you could press and slide to the apostrophe key from there. Release and the keyboard snaps back to the letters.
When the beta rolls out to you, you’ll see a prompt that it’s happening and if you don’t like it (seriously, why would you not like this?) you can disable it in Settings by going to Preferences and then Shortcuts.
More Android Design Changes Are On The Way
There are other changes coming to the way Android looks in the Material 3 Expressive redesign as it rolls out.
Key changes include a newly designed, split notification and quick settings panel, increased use of blur effects, almost three dozen new components with morphing shapes and a more minimal, spacious interface.