How to Customise Gboard Keyboard Themes and Background Photos on Android

Because you tap your smartphone keyboard hundreds of times each day to send text messages, draft emails, and search the web, looking at an uninspired, generic keyboard design can feel dull. As the default virtual keyboard on millions of Android devices, Google’s Gboard offers deep aesthetic customization options. You can transform your typing experience using vibrant Dynamic Color palettes, sleek AMOLED dark themes, high-definition nature landscapes, or your own personal family photographs as custom keyboard wallpaper.

How to Access Gboard Theme Settings

You can enter Gboard’s customization hub directly from any active typing field:

1. Open any app where you can type (such as Messages, WhatsApp, or Notes) to bring up the Gboard keyboard.
2. Look at the suggestion shortcut bar directly above the top row of letter keys.
3. Tap the Palette icon (artist palette).
4. If the palette icon is not visible, tap the four-square menu icon or gear icon on the bar, then select Theme.
5. This launches the comprehensive Gboard Theme gallery.

Choosing Pre-Made Colors, Landscapes, and Gradients

Gboard provides several curated visual collections:

• Dynamic Color: On Android 12 and newer, selects colour tones derived automatically from your home screen wallpaper using Material You design.
• Solid Colors: Choose classic minimalist aesthetics like Pure Black (AMOLED friendly), Slate Grey, Coral, Navy, or Mint Green.
• Landscapes: Download free, high-definition photographic backdrops featuring snowy mountains, desert dunes, serene beaches, and forest trails.
• Light and Dark Gradients: Subtle colour transitions that give depth to your keyboard without overpowering key letter readability.

Setting a Personal Photo as Your Keyboard Background

To use your favourite vacation memory or pet portrait as your typing wallpaper:

1. At the top of the Gboard Theme menu under My themes, tap the + (Plus) icon.
2. Your device’s photo gallery will open. Select your desired image.
3. Pinch and drag to position the photo inside the rectangular keyboard crop box.
4. Tap Next.
5. Adjust the Adjust brightness slider (40% to 60% brightness is recommended so that white key letters remain clearly legible over your photo).
6. Tap Done.

Enabling or Disabling Key Borders

Before applying any theme, Gboard presents a preview screen with an essential toggle:

• Key Borders Toggled On: Outlines every individual key with a subtle rounded boundary box, providing classic physical keyboard definition.
• Key Borders Toggled Off: Removes individual outlines for a modern, flat, edge-to-edge aesthetic that lets your background artwork shine through cleanly.
• Tap Apply to commit your new keyboard style.