How to fix Gboard keyboard changing layout bug (temporary workaround)

Last month, I highlighted a concern with Gboard where the text on the keyboard started appearing tiny. This visual bug is triggered after disconnecting from Android Auto. Now, rather than a fix, it seems the bug has taken a different form. Instead of making the text tiny, the Gboard keyboard layout gets messed up. Most reports I found online don’t mention Android Auto being used before the layout changes. However, it’s likely tied with the same issue and affected users just didn’t put two and two together yet.

During my research into the bug, I spotted several posts on Reddit and even complaints on X. Some users see a big enter key on the right with other buttons squished to the left. Others claim that all the buttons are misplaced and everything is jumbled. Here’s one good example from an affected user:

As you can see in the screenshots shared on X, the keyboard layout is completely botched. Affected users say the layout glitch started happening after a recent Gboard update. Some even say that it gets resolved on its own and comes back intermittently throughout the day. But luckily, are a few potential workarounds that’ll fix the problem temporarily.

The first and quickest way to fix the issue is simply rotating your phone to landscape and then bring it back to portrait mode. Make sure that you have auto-rotate enabled on your phone first. This tip fixed it for several users.

Another workaround is to clear Gboard’s storage. To do this, go to Settings > Apps > Gboard > Storage and cache > and tap on ‘Clear storage’. Once done, try typing in a text field again. You should notice that the layout of Gboard has reverted back to how it should be.

While Google says they’re aware of the bug, it’s not clear how long it’ll take for a fix to go live. That said, I’ll keep track of the situation and will post an update if and when there are any new developments.

If you found this article useful, please consider liking the post. In case you feel I missed a useful workaround, please feel free to share it in the comments section below. That’s it from my side!

Featured image credits: u/Affectionate-Arm-405 / Reddit