Gboard Introduces New Toolbar and Enhanced Voice Typing Features for Pixel and Select Devices

Google’s Gboard app is introducing new voice typing features for Pixel smartphones and select other devices, making it even easier for users to dictate messages and interact with their phones without having to touch the screen. While Gboard has long supported voice typing, the latest update brings several enhancements aimed at improving the overall experience, particularly when users are unable to use their hands to type. With these new features, Gboard expands the functionality of voice typing, enabling users to perform a wider variety of actions using just their voice.

One of the key improvements is the addition of a new toolbar for voice typing on Pixel devices. Previously, when voice typing was activated, the Gboard keyboard would remain visible on the screen, allowing users to edit text as they dictated. However, with the new update, the voice typing toolbar is now minimized and appears as a pill-shaped icon at the bottom of the screen when activated. This change frees up more space for the user to interact with the text, offering a cleaner and more intuitive experience while dictating messages.

Additionally, the new toolbar includes a hamburger menu on the left side that provides quick access to various dictation tools. One of the standout features is the “Show voice commands” option, which displays a list of available voice commands users can issue. For example, users can say “Send” to send a message, “Stop” to turn off the microphone, and “Delete” to remove the last word or highlighted word. There are also commands for clearing the last sentence or all of the text, as well as an “Undo” command to reverse the last action. These voice commands make it easier for users to manage their text hands-free.

Moreover, Gboard now allows users to insert emojis using voice descriptions. For instance, users can simply say the name of an emoji, like “smiling face with heart eyes,” and it will be added to their message. This new feature not only streamlines the typing process but also provides a fun and efficient way to personalize messages without needing to touch the screen. With these updates, Gboard’s voice typing feature becomes even more versatile, offering Pixel users and others a powerful tool for hands-free communication.