When you change your smartphone, you sometimes find yourself with a new interface to learn and understand. One of the changes that can be the most confusing is the virtual keyboard. When you have become used to a particular keyboard, it is difficult to adapt to a new organization of the keys and you lose efficiency. Fortunately, it is possible to change the virtual keyboard on Android and iOS devices. Here are the steps to follow.
For our examples, we chose the SwiftKey keyboard, which is one of the most popular. Of course, there are plenty of alternative keyboards, each offering their share of customization and specific functions. The procedure is the same regardless of which keyboard you have selected.
On iOS (from iOS 8)
Since the switch to iOS 8 in 2014, iPhones and iPads may have a non-Apple keyboard. Some do not see any interest and are satisfied with what is already there, others can finally look elsewhere.
A keyboard is managed like an application. To start, you have to download it by going to theApp Store. In the search field, enter the name of the keyboard you want, then press "Obtain"And"Installer".
Once the application has been downloaded, go to "Settings","General"and go down to"Keyboard".
Press the first menu "Keyboards"then do"Add a keyboard". Under "Third party keyboards", you should find the one (s) you just downloaded. Tap on it.
You then find yourself on the previous page which lists the keyboards installed. Click on the newcomer and activate "Allow full access", then do"To allow"on the pop-up window. Note that if you choose not to give your authorization, the keyboard will be partially usable, a message asking you to do so appearing instead of the suggestions. Apple is warning us that the entries made may be sent to the keyboard developer A risk that you should take into account.
The default keyboard is the one at the top of the list. To pass the new one to this place, tap on "Edit", at the top right of the screen. To drag keyboards in the list, hold your finger on the 3 horizontal bars to the right of the keyboard name and drag it to the top. Press"OK" to validate.
Now when a virtual keyboard is displayed, it is the one you have chosen. A keyboard like SwiftKey can be personalized, and like any app, there's an icon on the home screen. In it, you access the language, color or layout settings.
On Android
In the same way as for iOS, third-party keyboards can be downloaded from the Android Play Store. Type the name of the app in the search box, tap on the app and do "Installer".
Then go to the "Parameters", then"Languages and input"and touch"Current keyboard".
Done "Select keyboards"then activate the cursor next to the name of the one you downloaded. Back on the previous screen, check the chosen keyboard.
Like what we find on iOS, it is here possible to customize the keyboard installed by clicking on the application icon.
