Damien Wilde / Android Authority
In short
- Google is testing a new keyboard switcher button in Android 15 QPR1.
- A single tap on the new keyboard switcher instantly changes the current keyboard, while a long press opens the keyboard switcher menu.
- In contrast, a single tap or long-press of the old keyboard switcher button always opened the keyboard switcher menu.
A lot of the talk around Android 15 lately has been about how small an update it feels like. I couldn't disagree more, but I can understand why many users feel this way. This seems to be because a lot of Android 15's new features and changes are still hidden, as Google is either targeting them for next year's release or preparing them for one of the upcoming quarterly platform releases. For example: There's a new keyboard switcher hidden in the first quarterly platform release of Android 15 that's not only faster to use but also much easier to use with one hand.
The keyboard switcher is a button that can appear in the navigation bar when you pull up the software keyboard. It only appears if you have multiple Android keyboards installed, however, the purpose of the button is to let you quickly change Android's default keyboard. Tapping the keyboard switcher button opens the “Choose input method” dialog in the middle of the screen with radio buttons allowing you to choose the input method you want.
While Android's keyboard switcher button is certainly useful, it's a bit clunky. First, it takes two taps to change the current input method. Second, one has to reach into the middle of the screen to tap one of the radio buttons. Third, its design is outdated and doesn't fit in with the rest of the OS. Google wants to solve all three of these problems in Android 15 QPR1, the first quarterly platform release of Android 15.
With a little tinkering, I managed to fully enable a new keyboard switcher in Android 15 QPR1 Beta 1. As you can see below, the new keyboard switcher dialog looks more modern and fits better with the rest of the Material You-themed UI elements. It's placed much lower on the screen, making it easier to select a different keyboard with one hand.
Mishal Rahman/Android Authority
Most importantly, the button itself has been changed. The button's icon is no longer an abstract keyboard, but a wireframe globe. Tapping it once instantly changes the current keyboard app. Tapping the button repeatedly switches between all enabled input methods, no matter how many are installed. Finally, pressing and holding the button brings up the keyboard switcher dialog.
Although I don't know when this new keyboard switcher experience will actually launch, I can bet we will see it very soon since it is already fully functional. I hope that is the case because this new experience in Android 15 QPR1 is much better than the existing one.