How to change Gboard keyboard settings on a Google Pixel (Android 17)

Device

Android

Shown on

Google Pixel 10a, Android 17 (build CP3A.261005.005)

App

Settings

Path

Settings › System › Keyboard › Keyboard apps › Gboard: Preferences (number row

Real screenshots

10 of 10 steps

What we did

Looked at each screen; changed nothing

Checked

October 2026

Sources

3 official, linked below

Step by step

1. 

   Open Keyboard apps

   Open Settings, tap System, then Keyboard. Tap Keyboard apps: Language and app settings for Gboard and Google Voice Typing. There was no On-screen keyboard row on ours.

   Done

2. 

   Tap Gboard

   Tap the Gboard name. Ours said English (US); its switch was on but dimmed. Autofill with Google was off and Google Voice Typing on.

   Done

3. 

   Open Preferences

   Gboard's Settings list starts with Languages, which was English (US) (QWERTY) on ours, then Preferences and Theme. Tap Preferences.

   Done

4. 

   Number row

   Under Keys, Number row always shows the numbers on QWERTY, QWERTZ and AZERTY layouts. It was off on ours. Number row for passwords, on, shows it only when you type a password.

   Done

5. 

   Emoji, comma and full stop keys

   Emoji key gives emoji a key of its own; the page says this hides the language switch key. Comma key and Full stop key show those keys for applicable languages. All three were on.

   Done

6. 

   Open Theme

   Back on Settings, tap Theme.

   Done

7. 

   Pick a theme

   Under Default are Dynamic colour, System auto, Default and Default dark. Ours was Dynamic colour. Colours, further down, has more. Google says to select a theme, then confirm it.

   Done

8. 

   Or make your own

   The + under My themes adds a theme of your own. We didn't open it.

   Done

9. 

   Typing and suggestions

   Corrections and suggestions, Glide typing, Voice typing and Emojis, stickers and GIFs each have their own page.

   Done

10. 

    Clipboard, Dictionary and Translate

    Further down are Clipboard, Dictionary and Translate, then Privacy, Share Gboard, Rate Gboard, About and Help and feedback.

    Done

If you do not see this option

• No On-screen keyboard row? Google's Gboard help still talks about the on-screen keyboard settings. On our Pixel with Android 17 that list is Settings, System, Keyboard, Keyboard apps. Source: Fix problems with Gboard
• Gboard not in the list? Google says Gboard can drop out of the keyboard list after an update. Turn it back on in the keyboard list in Settings. Source: Fix problems with Gboard
• Quicker way in? Google says you can open Gboard's settings from the keyboard: tap where you type, tap the Menu at the top of the keyboard, then Settings. Source: Change your keyboard theme, sound, or vibration

If this does not work

• Another keyboard keeps opening? Google says to use the globe key to switch back to Gboard. Show the keyboard switcher button, on on ours, also puts a switch button in the navigation bar. Source: Fix problems with Gboard
• Gboard lags or freezes? Google says to clear Gboard's cache, force stop it, and keep only one or two languages on. See how to clear an app's cache on a Google Pixel. Source: Fix problems with Gboard
• No vibration on key presses? Google says key sounds and vibration are under Preferences, Key tap, and that turning off the phone's vibration overrides Gboard's. Source: Change your keyboard theme, sound, or vibration

About this guide

Gboard is the keyboard that comes with a Pixel. Its settings change how keys look and what it suggests.

The screenshots are from our Google Pixel 10a with Android 17 (build CP3A.261005.005), in Dark mode. Gboard was set to English (US). We only looked and changed nothing.

Good to know

To type in a second language, Google says to open Gboard's Settings, tap Languages, then Add keyboard, and pick the language and layout.

In short: Settings, System, Keyboard, Keyboard apps, Gboard: Preferences (number row, keys), Theme, then typing, Clipboard and more.