Google redesigns the Gboard toolbar with new customization options: Report

Google may soon bring some updates to the stock Android keyboard in an attempt to unify its design language. Google has reportedly started redesigning the look and feel of Gboard and giving consumers more customization options, as noted in the 12.6.06.491625702 beta. Previously, to customize the buttons that appeared on Gboard’s quick access bar, users had to tap a three-dot menu icon near the top-right corner of the keyboard. This option has now been moved to the left edge of the menu bar and replaced with a button that represents four squares with rounded corners.

An android police report said that the new features on the Gborad Designed by Google are accessible by tapping the revamped menu button. It added that users would now notice an emoji option and a language selector that were previously unavailable. They can also rearrange the icons in this overflow menu by dragging them around, and can still drag items in and out of the quick access bar to change what options appear when they first open the keyboard.

The report added that users are not limited to four shortcuts, but can add as many as they like to the Quick Access Toolbar. However, the voice search button has seen the most significant change — users can now drag any item into that slot to replace the microphone icon with a personalized entry, according to the report.

Additionally, this update adds a new privacy menu to Gboard’s settings, the report added. This menu doesn’t include any new options — in fact, it’s mostly cluttered with settings accessible in the now-defunct Advanced menu — but a separate entry for how Google’s data collection is handled is effective.

These features were discovered in the latest Gboard beta update, version 12.6.06.491625702, but there appears to be a server-side component that restricts access. Users can get the update on the beta channel by pressing Connect button on Gboards Load game book page or can load sideways the latest edition of APKMirror.