How to set up Microsoft SwiftKey Keyboard

1 - Customizing Microsoft SwiftKey

One of our top tips to get Microsoft SwiftKey working for you is to really get to know your way around the Toolbar and Settings - i.e. the command centre.

Toolbar

Toolbar is designed to be the home for all of the content and features you use most often.

Toolbar is easily accessible from your SwiftKey Keyboard. Just tap the  icon to the left of the prediction bar to open/expand Toolbar.

For more detailed information on Toolbar please see this article.

SwiftKey Settings

Many of the settings you'll use on a day-to-day basis can be found in Toolbar. But for complete control you'll want to open the Microsoft SwiftKey Settings proper.

From Toolbar:

• Tap the three dots ... then the 'Settings' icon.

Or:

• Open the Microsoft SwiftKey app directly from your device.

Within these settings, you’ll be able to really fine-tune Microsoft SwiftKey and also set up things such as your language packs/layouts, your sound/vibration options, and your text correction preferences.

2 - Languages

Microsoft SwiftKey supports in excess of 700 languages, so, even if you speak more than one, there’s a good chance we support yours! Also, you can type in up to five languages at once, so this means less frustrations switching and more time spent typing to the ones you love.

Downloading/Enabling languages

First things first, where to download and enable your languages?

• Open the Microsoft SwiftKey app: Tap 'Languages'

• From Toolbar: Tap the three dots ... > select the 'Layouts' icon > tap the 'Globe' icon

You'll be presented with a long list of available languages. Tap on a language to download it.

Any downloaded languages will be enabled by default (up to a maximum of five at once). You'll also be given the option to change your keyboard layout should you so wish.

To learn more: What languages are currently supported for Microsoft SwiftKey on Android?

Setting Language Layout

It may be that you wish to type in German, but with a QWERTY keyboard layout, or in English with a QWERTZ layout. 

Once you download a language pack, tap the box underneath to see a list of available layouts and pick the one you want. Alternatively tap the 'Layout' icon found by expanding your Toolbar. 

Read more: How do I change the keyboard layout (e.g. QWERTY to AZERTY)?

3 - Personalizing and backing up your words

Turbo charge your SwiftKey experience right from the beginning with a Microsoft SwiftKey Account.

Microsoft SwiftKey Account

Your Microsoft SwiftKey Account is a free opt-in service that enhances Microsoft SwiftKey Keyboard by leveraging the power of the cloud. As part of this, you can:

• Instantly tailor your predictions to you, by letting Microsoft SwiftKey learn from the way you type on a range of social networks (including Facebook and Twitter).

• Safely store your most used words and sync them across all your devices (never lose your learned words again).

All you need to perform this magic is to:

• Create a Microsoft SwiftKey Account by opening the app from your device.

• Ensure ‘Backup & Sync’ is enabled.

Privacy and Data Security

It’s important for you to know that we take privacy and data security extremely seriously. The Microsoft SwiftKey Account is an opt-in, secure, encrypted service and gives you full control over your data. Our robust Privacy Policy explains and protects your rights and privacy.

For further general reading about the Microsoft SwiftKey Account, Personalization and Backup & Sync, please continue here.

4 - Customizing your keyboard

Microsoft SwiftKey offers many options when it comes to customizing your typing experience.

Text Correction

Microsoft SwiftKey not only corrects your typos, but it also predicts your *next* word (i.e. reads your mind!). Your spacebar plays a big role here, you can set it so it does one of the following:

• Always inserts the middle prediction (check 'Quick prediction insert')

• Always completes the current word you’re typing (check 'Autocorrect')

• Always inserts a space (uncheck 'Autocorrect')

Tip: in each case, you’ll still always be able to enter predictions directly from the prediction bar.

These settings can be found in the ‘Typing’ settings page when opening the app from your device.

 

Input Methods

If you would like to type by seamlessly gliding your finger across the keyboard, then Flow is something you’ll want to check out. If you want to give it a spin, you can do so from the Typing > Gesture input setting page (accessed by opening the app from your device).

Learn more about Flow here.

From the 'Rich input' settings you can also choose whether or not you’d like to enable the voice input key to make voice dictation possible.

Keyboard Features

You'll also want to check out the ‘Layout & keys’ settings page - accessible by opening the app from your device and tapping Layout & keys. From here you can choose to add options to your keyboard such as:

• Arrow keys

• Number row

• Additional accented characters

In addition you can choose the position of your number pad (top, left or right) and you can resize your keyboard.

For all of you who have a love for precision, you’ll be pleased to know that we also provide you with the option to select your long-keypress duration (i.e. the amount of time you need to press a key to access the secondary key options) - down to the millisecond.

 

Sound and Vibration

Whether you love or hate the idea of hearing a sound every time you tap a key, you can adjust your keypress sound and vibration settings under ‘Sound & vibration’ in the Microsoft SwiftKey Settings. This includes choosing the volume and duration of the sound/vibration, as well as disabling or enabling.

Want to learn more? Head to our 'Using the Keyboard' tutorial.