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This is an archive article published on December 3, 2023

How to enable hidden trackpad/cursor on Gboard, the Google keyboard

Cursor on Gboard makes it easy to make last minute edits to your text messages.

GboardGboard also supports custom themes (Image credit: Google)

Gboard, Google’s official keyboard app for Android and iOS, is one of the best free smartphone keyboard apps available, offering a plethora of customisation options that make typing on a smartphone much more intuitive.

For those who are avid smartphone typists, enabling a trackpad/cursor on Gboard can greatly enhance the typing experience, particularly when editing the text.

This feature proves highly beneficial in scenarios where you’ve composed a lengthy essay on your phone and need to correct a word’s spelling. Due to the limited screen space, pinpointing a specific letter using your finger can be challenging. With this feature, you can precisely move the cursor to the desired position by gliding your finger across the space bar.

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Here’s how you can enable the hidden trackpad or cursor on Gboard, effectively transforming the spacebar into a capacitive trackpad reminiscent of the iconic Blackberry smartphones.

How to enable the Gboard cursor on Android and iOS devices?

Gboard Enabling Gboard cursor on an Android (Express Photo)

The cursor functionality is available on both the Android and iOS versions of Gboard. Ensure that you’re using the latest version of the app to activate this hidden trackpad feature.

To activate it, open the Gboard app by accessing any text box and long-press the comma button located to the left of the space bar. This action will open the Gboard settings menu.

Within the settings menu, navigate to ‘Glide typing’ and enable ‘Gesture cursor control.’ This action transforms your spacebar into a cursor, allowing swift movement between words.

Technology on smartphone reviews, in-depth reports on privacy and security, AI, and more. We aim to simplify the most complex developments and make them succinct and accessible for tech enthusiasts and all readers. Stay updated with our daily news stories, monthly gadget roundups, and special reports and features that explore the vast possibilities of AI, consumer tech, quantum computing, etc.on smartphone reviews, in-depth reports on privacy and security, AI, and more. We aim to simplify the most complex developments and make them succinct and accessible for tech enthusiasts and all readers. Stay updated with our daily news stories, monthly gadget roundups, and special reports and features that explore the vast possibilities of AI, consumer tech, quantum computing, etc.

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