Google May Let Android 17 Users Disable Gboard Globe Icon, Adds New Keyboard UI in QPR1 Beta 3
Updated
Updated · Android Authority · May 25
Google May Let Android 17 Users Disable Gboard Globe Icon, Adds New Keyboard UI in QPR1 Beta 3
3 articles · Updated · Android Authority · May 25
Android 17 code points to a new Gboard setting that hides the globe key even when multiple languages or keyboard apps are enabled, a long-requested change for users annoyed by the icon.
Long-pressing the space bar would still switch languages and keyboards in Gboard, preserving the main function after the globe icon is removed.
The change has limits with some third-party apps: SwiftKey, for example, does not support space-bar switching, so users may need to re-enable the globe key or remove SwiftKey to get back to Gboard.
QPR1 beta 3 also contains a redesigned keyboard switcher UI compared with beta 2, though the APK teardown means neither change is guaranteed to ship in the stable Android 17 release.
As Google streamlines Gboard, will its new shortcut break compatibility with other third-party keyboards?
Will hiding Gboard's globe icon improve the user experience or create confusion for millions?
Could the EU's probe into 'long-press' access hinder the rollout of Google's new Gboard feature?