How to change your Gboard theme and customize your phone\'s keyboard with a photo or color
You can choose a Custom theme from your phone's image library or select one of Gboard's preset backgrounds to give your keyboard a new look.BigTunaOnline/Shutterstock
There are tons of advantages to using Google's keyboard app, Gboard, rather than your phone's default: You can use Google search within the keyboard, and it can automatically translate your sentences. Another cool capability is customization.
Unlike other keyboards, Gboard allows you to change its theme, meaning you can set a picture or color scheme as the keyboard's background. This might help you read it better or is just a fun way to be expressive whenever you type. Either way, it's easy to set up, whether you have an iPhone or an Android.
Here's how to change your Gboard theme. Advertisement
You can find this option on the Gboard app's home screen.Melanie Weir/Business Insider
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3. If you want a custom image to serve as your Gboard theme, select Custom.
The custom theme option will always be at the top of the Gboard Theme page.Abbey White/Business Insider
4. When your phone's photo library appears, select a photo. Advertisement
Select an image from your Moments, Recently Added, or another album currently available in your iPhone gallery.Abbey White/Business Insider
5. If you want to use a preset theme, tap the image within the Landscape or Gradient sliders to choose it.
Tap "Show All" to the right of each theme label to see more options.Abbey White/Business Insider
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6. For Custom themes, crop the image before tapping Choose.
This will tell Gboard what part of the image you want to appear as your keyboard theme.Abbey White/Business Insider
7. Adjust your Custom Gboard theme settingsAdvertisement
If you've selected a preset, you'll want to hit the pencil icon in the lower right corner of the image to make changes to the theme opacity, text color, borders, Glide typing, and more.Abbey White/Business Insider
8. Tap Done when you're finished customizing your theme.
How to change your Gboard theme on Android
1. Open your phone's Settings app.Advertisement
2. Scroll and tap System when you find it.
Accessibility, Account, and Security settings can also be set on this page.Melanie Weir/Business Insider
3. In the System menu, tap Languages & Input.Advertisement
You can also find menus for your phone's Date & Time and Backup settings here.Melanie Weir/Business Insider
4. Tap Virtual Keyboard.
This will let you access your voice typing and Gboard controls.Melanie Weir/Business Insider
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5. In the Virtual Keyboards menu, tap Gboard.
Gboard should be the first option on the menu list.Melanie Weir/Business Insider
6. In the Gboard settings menu, tap theme.Advertisement
Control your Gboard's Languages, Text Correction, and Search from this menu.Melanie Weir/Business Insider
7. Select a theme that you like from the listed presets or upload a Custom image.
When uploading a Custom image, the process is similar to the iPhone.Melanie Weir/Business Insider
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8. Preview your new theme, then tap Apply.
Gboard will let you see what your new theme looks like before you set it.Melanie Weir/Business Insider
