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Google has finally started pushing out the split keyboard option for Android tablets, to its Gboard app, of course. This change comes almost a year after the feature first started rolling out to foldables.
The split keyboard feature for Android tablets is finally a part of Gboard
Do note that the feature is not yet available in the stable version of Gboard, though. Folks over at 9to5Google spotted the change in the beta version of the app. To be more accurate, in Gboard v12.9.21, while they were using it on the Galaxy Tab S8.
By default, when the keyboard is split, you’ll get an equal number of keys on the left and right side. The ‘Split layout to include duplicated keys’ setting is turned on by default. You can control it via Settings -> Preferences -> Layout, within the Gboard app.
This option, when enabled, does the following: “When the keyboard is set to split layout, some keys will be duplicated on both sides”, which is the best setting for most people, which is why it’s turned on by default.
You can easily switch between ‘Standard’ and ‘Split keyboard’ modes
You can switch between the ‘Standard’ and ‘Split keyboard’ options from the toolbar tile. Well, presuming that this feature is available to you, you’ll need a specific version of the beta app, as already mentioned.
This change was expected, as Google announced its tablet during Google I/O quite recently. Chances are that this feature will roll out to the stable channel by the time the Pixel Tablet goes on sale next month.
Now, some of you may recall that Google also rolled out a redesigned toolbar to Gboard beta recently. The change is not yet available in the stable version of the app either. It may arrive alongside the split keyboard feature for tablets, we’ll see.