Gboard Gets Smarter with New Toolbar and Voice Typing Features on Pixel Phones

April 17, 2025 — Google is rolling out a new update to its popular virtual keyboard app, Gboard, bringing significant improvements to voice typing on Pixel smartphones and select other Android devices. The update enhances hands-free functionality and introduces a redesigned toolbar interface, making it more intuitive and user-friendly in multitasking scenarios.

Smarter Voice Typing for Easier Hands-Free Input

While Gboard has supported voice typing for several years, the latest update introduces a more intelligent voice interaction system. Users can now give contextual voice commands to edit, delete, or send messages — all without touching the screen.

According to Google, supported voice commands include:

• “Send” to deliver a message

• “Stop” to turn off the microphone

• “Delete” to remove the last or selected word

• “Clear” and “Clear all” to erase sentences or full text

• “Undo” to revert the last action

• “Next” and “Previous” to navigate through text entries

In addition, users can insert emojis by describing them out loud, such as saying “smiling face with sunglasses” to automatically add .

Refreshed Toolbar Interface Enhances Multitasking

The update also introduces a new pill-shaped toolbar that appears at the bottom of the screen when voice typing is active. The minimalist design helps maximize screen space while keeping essential tools accessible. A hamburger menu on the left side opens up advanced voice options and display settings.

Through this menu, users can:

• Access Show voice commands

• Open the clipboard, emoji panel, or Google Translate

• Toggle a vertical toolbar orientation for improved workspace adaptability

• Restore the full-sized keyboard when needed

These additions aim to make Gboard more adaptive to user preferences, particularly for those who rely on voice typing while multitasking or using the device one-handed.

Availability and Supported Devices

The new voice typing and toolbar features are currently rolling out to Google Pixel devices, including the latest Pixel 9, and are expected to expand to select Samsung smartphones in the near future. While Google has not released a full list of supported models, the feature has been confirmed on several Pixel devices.

As Gboard continues to evolve, these voice-driven enhancements highlight Google’s commitment to accessibility, productivity, and seamless user experiences across Android devices.