Tamil Keyboard for Android: Gboard and Samsung Setup

Tamil Keyboard for Android: Gboard and Samsung

ஆண்ட்ராய்டில் தமிழ் தட்டச்சு

Your Android mobile almost certainly has a Tamil keyboard already. It just needs switching on. Steps for Gboard and Samsung Keyboard, plus the fixes people need most.

Short answer

In Gboard, tap any text box, tap Settings at the top of the keyboard, then Languages, Add keyboard, Tamil, pick a layout and tap Done. On a Galaxy phone, open Samsung Keyboard settings, tap Languages and types, Manage input languages, and turn Tamil on. No extra app is needed.

No Keyboard Set up? Type Here

Type in English letters, press space, and copy the Tamil. It works in Chrome with nothing to install.eppadiஎப்படி

Try

0 wordsSaved on this device

Not sure which keyboard you have? Gboard is Google’s keyboard and comes on Pixel phones and many others. Galaxy phones use Samsung Keyboard by default. If you are not sure, open Settings and search for “keyboard”: the on-screen keyboard list shows which ones are on.

Add Tamil to Gboard (Google’s Keyboard)

Open any app you can type in, such as Gmail or Keep, and tap where you type.
At the top of the keyboard, tap Settings (the gear icon).
Tap Languages, then Add keyboard.
Choose Tamil.
Pick the layout you want (see below) and tap Done.

You can do the same from the phone’s Settings app: System > Keyboard > On-screen keyboard > Gboard > Languages. The first part of that path varies a little between phone makers. Google notes that some steps need Android 7.0 or later, and that changing Gboard’s language does not change your phone’s language.

Gboard’s Tamil Layouts

When you add Tamil, Gboard shows its layouts as previews you can swipe through, and you can turn on more than one. The ones most people use:

English letters (QWERTY) to Tamil. Spell the word as it sounds, such as vanakkam, and Gboard writes வணக்கம். Google added this transliteration for Tamil and 21 other Indian languages in April 2017. If you already write Tamil in English letters, start here.
Tamil script. Tamil letters on the keys, for people who know the script and want to type it directly.
Handwriting. Write letters with your finger. Google says handwriting is not available in every language, so if there is no Handwriting preview for Tamil on your phone, it is not offered.

Layout names change between Gboard versions, so pick by the preview picture rather than by name.

Switch Languages in Gboard

Touch and hold the space bar to switch languages. For a dedicated key, touch and hold the comma, slide to Settings, tap Preferences, and turn on Show language switch key. If that option is greyed out, turn off Show emoji switch key first. Google’s own tip is to keep one or two languages active for smoother typing.

Add Tamil to Samsung Keyboard

Open Settings, search for Samsung Keyboard and open it. You can also tap the Settings icon in the keyboard’s toolbar.
Tap Languages and types, then Manage input languages.
If Tamil needs downloading, tap the download icon next to it.
Turn on the switch next to Tamil.

To switch, tap the globe-shaped language key on the keyboard; each tap moves to the next language. Samsung notes that screens vary with software version and phone model, so look for the nearest match.

Other Android Tamil Keyboards

If Gboard and Samsung Keyboard do not suit you, these are free on Google Play. We have no connection with any of them. For ads, update dates and data labels side by side, see our Tamil keyboard app comparison.

Other Android keyboards that support Tamil
Keyboard	Made by	Worth knowing
Microsoft SwiftKey	Microsoft	Supports Tamil transliteration. Its Tamil-script layout follows the Tamil 99 convention, which suits Tamil99 typists.
Desh Tamil Keyboard	Desh Keyboard	A Tamil and English keyboard built around Tanglish typing, with voice and handwriting input.
Swarachakra Tamil	IDC, IIT Bombay	Consonants sit in a textbook-style grid. Touch one and a wheel of its vowel forms (கா, கி, கீ…) pops up; slide to the one you want.

After installing one, turn it on in Settings > System > Keyboard > On-screen keyboard. A keyboard app sees everything you type, including passwords, so install only ones you trust.

When Something Goes Wrong

The Keyboard Vanished After an Update

Google notes that Gboard can disappear from the keyboard list when it updates. Go to Settings > System > Keyboard > On-screen keyboard and turn it back on.

Tamil Is Not in the Language List

Update Gboard from Google Play, or Samsung Keyboard from the Galaxy Store, then look again.

Voice Typing Does Nothing

Give Gboard microphone access: in the phone’s Settings, tap Apps, Gboard, Permissions, Microphone, and choose Allow only while using the app. Then check that Voice typing is on in Gboard’s settings. Google also notes that talk-to-text does not work for every language.

Gboard Crashes or Freezes

Restart the phone. If that does not help, clear Gboard’s cache: Settings > Apps > Gboard > Storage and cache > Clear cache.

Tamil Shows as Boxes or Strange English Letters

Anything you type on the phone is Unicode and displays everywhere. Boxes or gibberish usually mean an old document made with a legacy font such as Bamini. Fix it with the Tamil Unicode converter, which detects the font for you.

Questions People Ask

Which is the best Tamil keyboard for Android?

For most people, the one already on the phone. Gboard (on most Android phones) and Samsung Keyboard (on Galaxy phones) both support Tamil for free, with no extra app. Try a dedicated Tamil keyboard only if neither suits the way you type.

How do I type Tamil in English letters on Android?

In Gboard, add Tamil and turn on the layout with English (QWERTY) keys. You spell the word as it sounds and Gboard writes it in Tamil. Without changing keyboards at all, you can type in English letters in the box at the top of this page and copy the result.

Do I need to download a Tamil keyboard app?

Usually not. Gboard and Samsung Keyboard add Tamil inside their own settings. You only need a new app if you want a different keyboard, such as a dedicated Tamil one. Check the keyboards already available in your phone’s settings before installing another one. For unfamiliar layouts, type a short draft first and compare the output.

How do I switch between English and Tamil on Gboard?

Touch and hold the space bar. To get a dedicated globe key instead, open Gboard settings, tap Preferences and turn on Show language switch key. On Samsung Keyboard, tap the globe-shaped language key. Check which language is selected before entering your next sentence. Switching the input language does not translate text already in the message.

Can I type Tamil by voice on Android?

Try the microphone key on Gboard with Tamil as your active language. Google notes that talk-to-text does not work in every language, so if it fails on your phone, use Tamil voice typing in Chrome instead. Proofread names and punctuation before sending the result, whichever input method you use.

Gboard disappeared after an update. How do I get it back?

Google says Gboard can drop off the keyboard list when it updates. Open Settings > System > Keyboard > On-screen keyboard and turn Gboard back on. Your languages are usually still there. Check the active keyboard and Tamil layout again before resuming a message. Device makers may use different names for the keyboard settings menu.

Will adding Tamil to Gboard change my phone menus to Tamil?

No. Gboard’s keyboard language is separate from your Android device language. Open Gboard settings > Languages > Add keyboard, choose Tamil and its desired layout, then tap Done. Your menus can stay in English. For a relative learning the keyboard, first practise switching languages in an ordinary message draft before composing something important.

Why is the language-switch globe missing from Gboard?

Check Gboard settings > Preferences > Show language switch key. Google says that if this option is greyed out, turn off Show emoji switch key first. You can also touch and hold the space bar to select a language. The globe changes the active input language; it does not translate text you have already typed in a message.

What should I try if Gboard freezes while typing Tamil?

Restart the phone and update Gboard first. If it still freezes, open the phone’s app settings for Gboard and clear its cache. Google distinguishes this from clearing storage or data, which resets the keyboard to its default state. Save any unfinished message before troubleshooting. Avoid removing your only keyboard without arranging another way to enter text.

Can I handwrite Tamil instead of using tiny letter keys on Android?

Check Tamil’s layout choices in Gboard settings > Languages for a handwriting option. Google notes that handwriting is not available for every language, so use only the options actually offered on your phone. If the option is absent, try the available script or English-letter layout instead. You can also use our large on-screen Tamil keys in the browser.