Gboard Update: Auto-Switch After Apostrophes and Material 3 Redesign Enhance Android Typing

Google’s Gboard, the popular virtual keyboard for Android devices, has received a significant update focused on improving typing efficiency and user experience. The latest version introduces an “auto-switch after apostrophes” shortcut and continues the rollout of the Material 3 Expressive redesign.

Auto-Switch After Apostrophes: A Streamlined Typing Experience

A key improvement in the latest Gboard update is the “auto-switch after apostrophes” feature. This functionality automatically switches the keyboard back to the letter input mode after a user types an apostrophe. Previously, users had to manually switch back using the space bar or the ‘?123’ key, which could interrupt the flow of typing, particularly when forming contractions or possessive nouns. The feature, initially spotted in the beta channel (version 16.6) in January 2026, has now been widely rolled out to stable users with version 16.7 and is enabled by default.

Users have the option to disable this shortcut through the Gboard settings: Settings > Preferences > Shortcuts.

Material 3 Expressive Redesign Continues

Alongside the modern shortcut, Gboard is also continuing its rollout of the Material 3 Expressive redesign. Introduced in version 16.5, this visual update modernizes the keyboard’s settings menu by utilizing containers to group related options, improving organization and ease of navigation. Individual pages within the settings have also been updated as part of this modernization effort.

Further Enhancements in Development

Google is actively testing further refinements to Gboard, including a redesign of the shortcuts page and the implementation of rounded keys. These changes are currently being tested in the beta channel and are not yet available to all users.

Availability

The “auto-switch after apostrophes” feature and the Material 3 Expressive redesign are currently available to users with the latest version of Gboard on Android. Updates are typically rolled out in phases, so availability may vary depending on the device and region.