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Google started testing the stylus handwriting support feature for Gboard on tablets in August, and was earlier available only to a handful of beta testers. Now, the tech giant has reportedly started rolling out the feature for Android tablets that supports the stylus writing.
According to a post by Mishaal Rahmann on social media platform X, Google is finally starting to roll out stylus handwriting support for Gboard and its working on the Pixel Tab.
9to5Google has also claimed in a report that the latest beta version (13.7) of Gboard on both Pixel and Samsung tablets now supports the stylus writing feature. The feature also worked on a Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 which was running Android 14.
How to use the feature
Samsung and Pixel tablet users can find a new “Write in text fields” menu in Gboard settings. This menu explains how “your handwriting will be converted to text that you can edit or delete.” Here, users can launch a tutorial by tapping “Try it”. These are the editing actions that will be available for users :
- Delete: “Use your stylus to scratch out a letter, word, or phrase to delete.”
- Select: “Draw a circle around a letter, world, or phrase to select it.”
- Insert: “Use your stylus to draw a caret or arrow where you’d like to add a new text.”
- Join: “Draw a “|” [vertical line] between text to insert a space or merge the text before and after the space”
- New line: “Draw down, then left with your stylus to move text to a new line”
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When users try writing with this feature, they’ll be able to see a floating “keyboard toolbar” with Delete, Enter, Emoji (floating window), and a hamburger key that will note the current language (if more than one is set). This will offer shortcuts to:
- Settings
- Try handwriting demo
- Show on-screen keyboard: Mini floating keyboard
- Show clipboard
- Show translate
- Language picker
Google will also allow users to move the pill-shaped panel anywhere on the screen. However, it will default to the perimeter with vertical and horizontal layouts offered. When it's docked to the bottom, a persistent strip will appear on the screen. Other settings will also allow users to adjust handwriting speed and stroke width.
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