Gboard could soon get a useful feature you probably assumed it already had

Date:
Mon, 30 Mar 2026 09:54:06 +0000

Description:
A beta version of Gboard contains a Bluetooth microphone toggle, so you won't have to rely on your phone's mic for voice typing.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Tech Radar Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Become a Member in Seconds Unlock instant access to exclusive member
features. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting
your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Join the club Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards. Explore An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter Google appears to be working on support for Bluetooth microphones in Gboard This would allow you to use microphones in earbuds or headphones for voice typing Right now you have to use the phone's microphone, which isn't always ideal Gboard is a capable keyboard whether youre typing by hand or using your voice, but that latter mode could soon get substantially better, as it seems that Google is working on a feature that would let you use the microphone in your Bluetooth earbuds or headphones.

Currently, voice typing with Gboard is completely reliant on the phones microphone even if you have earbuds or headphones connected. Thats not
ideal. It means you have to bring your phone close to your face or speak loudly if youre in a noisy environment, and you might not even have realized that limitation was in place, leading to poor voice typing results when you have headphones on. Article continues below You may like OpenAI is developing an AI wearable with a strange twist, new leak claims Sony's XM6 buds are crammed with tech here's my top 3 hidden features A dedicated Now Playing
app could be coming for Pixel phones A new toggle (Image credit: Google / Android Authority) Thankfully, the days of this limitation could be numbered, as Android Authority has found evidence that Google is working on support for Bluetooth devices. The feature was found in a beta version of the Gboard app, as you can see in the screenshot above. The site claims to have been able to enable it and that it worked as expected.

That said, with the feature still being tested internally at Google, theres
no guarantee it will actually roll out in a finished Gboard build. But we
cant see why it wouldnt, since its a useful upgrade, and based on Android Authoritys findings it sounds like it works.

Given that the feature appears almost finished, theres a good chance that it will launch soon, if it does at all. We certainly hope so, as this is one of those things that feels like it should have been offered for years. Today's best phone deals Contract Deals Sim Free gift Apple iPhone 17 24 months Unlimited mins Unlimited texts 10GB data 19 upfront 34.99 /mth View at Mobiles.co.uk See all prices Apple iPhone 17 Pro 36 months Unlimited mins Unlimited texts 1GB data 100 upfront 62.37 /mth View at Vodafone Ltd See all prices Apple iPhone 16e 36 months Unlimited mins Unlimited texts 1GB data 12 upfront 20 /mth View at Sky See all prices Google Pixel 10 24 months
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