Gboard Surpasses Global Population in Downloads

In the world of technology, only a handful of apps achieve billions of downloads. Google’s Android keyboard, Gboard, has officially joined the elite club of apps with over 10 billion downloads, making it one of the most downloaded applications in history.

This astonishing number means that Gboard has been downloaded more times than there are people on Earth. The app first launched in 2013 under the name Google Keyboard, before being rebranded to Gboard in 2016—just before the release of Google’s first Pixel phone. With this milestone, Gboard joins an exclusive group of apps, including YouTube, Google Maps, Google Photos, and Google Play Services, which have also surpassed 10 billion downloads.

How Gboard Became One of the Most Downloaded Apps in History

One of the biggest reasons behind Gboard’s massive adoption is that it comes pre-installed as the default keyboard on most Android devices. However, Google hasn’t just relied on this advantage. Over the years, the company has continuously improved the app, transforming it from a simple keyboard into a powerful productivity tool.

Why Android Users Love Gboard’s Advanced Features

Gboard offers a suite of powerful features that go far beyond basic typing. Some of the most notable functionalities include:

✔ Offline voice typing on all Android devices
✔ Built-in Google Translate for seamless multilingual communication
✔ OCR text scanning to extract text from images
✔ A clipboard manager for easier copy-pasting
✔ Customization options like themes, keyboard resizing, and one-handed mode
✔ A rich set of emoji tools, GIFs, stickers, and Emoji Kitchen for creative expression

Pixel phone users enjoy even more exclusive features, such as Assistant-powered voice typing, smart text corrections, and screenshot integration. Gboard is also available on Wear OS smartwatches and Google TV devices, and even offers a special keyboard for Google Automotive.

Gboard's Latest Innovations in the Mobile Keyboard Market

Google continues to refine Gboard, frequently testing new features in its beta version. Some of the upcoming updates include:

🔹 A voice typing bar with Google Assistant support
🔹 Undo and redo buttons for easier text editing
🔹 Enhanced Emoji Kitchen with more combinations

Last month, a major update introduced a simplified Dynamic Theme, making UI customization more intuitive. More features are expected to roll out gradually, though—as with most Google updates—it might take some time before they reach all users in the stable version.

Still, Gboard has already proven its dominance in the market. With 10 billion installations (and counting), it stands as clear proof that even something as simple as a keyboard can become one of the most-used apps in the world.