Modern Android keyboards collect and transmit typing data to their developers—Google’s Gboard and Samsung Keyboard are no exceptions. This guide explains how typing data flows to these companies, what information gets collected, and practical steps developers and power users can take to prevent it.

How Android Keyboards Transmit Data

Android keyboards operate with extensive system permissions. When you install Gboard or Samsung Keyboard, these apps request permission to read what you type, which fields you’re filling, and sometimes even what you’re about to type before you finish. This capability, called “predictive text” or “personalized suggestions,” requires sending data to remote servers.

Google’s Gboard collects typing patterns to improve Google Search suggestions, autocomplete, and voice recognition. Samsung Keyboard similarly collects data to enhance predictive text and Samsung’s own services. Both keyboards transmit data over HTTPS, often including:

• Keystroke patterns and timing
• Word frequency and typing habits
• Context around typed text (form fields, app names)
• Device identifiers linking data to your Google or Samsung account

For developers building privacy-conscious applications, understanding this data flow is essential. Users increasingly demand control over their typing data, and offering keyboard-aware privacy options can differentiate your app.

Disabling Data Collection in Gboard

Google’s Gboard provides several settings to limit data collection, though some remain tied to your Google account.

Turn Off Personalized Suggestions

Open Gboard settings on your device and navigate to Settings > Gboard > Privacy. Disable “Personalized suggestions” and “Improve keyboard and input”. This prevents Gboard from sending typing data to Google for personalization.

# For developers automating device configuration via ADB
adb shell settings put secure gboard_personalization_enabled 0
adb shell settings put secure gboard_usage_stats_enabled 0

Disable Voice Typing Data Collection

Voice typing through Gboard sends voice recordings to Google servers. To disable this:

1. Go to Settings > Google > Voice
2. Turn off “Voice Match” or restrict voice data storage
3. In Gboard settings, disable “Voice typing” shortcuts

Block Gboard Network Access

For maximum privacy, use a firewall app to block Gboard’s network access entirely. This disables predictive text but ensures no typing data leaves your device:

# Using AdAway or similar DNS-based blocker
# Add the following domains to your blocklist:
# www.googleapis.com (Gboard API endpoints)
# gboard-data.googleapis.com
# gstatic.com (fonts and resources)

Note that blocking network access may break some features like emoji suggestions and translation within Gboard.

Disabling Data Collection in Samsung Keyboard

Samsung Keyboard (Samsung IME) collects data primarily for Samsung’s ecosystem integration. Here’s how to minimize collection:

Turn Off Predictive Text and Learning

Open Settings > General Management > Samsung Keyboard Settings:

1. Disable “Predictive text”
2. Disable “Samsung Keyboard learning”
3. Disable “Sync with Samsung Cloud”

These settings prevent Samsung from uploading typed text to analyze patterns.

Disable Send Usage Data

In the same settings menu, look for “Send usage data to Samsung” and disable it. This controls whether Samsung receives anonymized telemetry about keyboard usage patterns.

Block Samsung Keyboard Network Access

Similar to Gboard, you can block Samsung Keyboard’s network access:

# Block Samsung Keyboard via ADB (requires root or Shizuku)
adb shell pm revoke com.samsung.android.lool android.permission.INTERNET

Be aware that some Samsung-specific features—like Samsung Pass integration—may stop working.

Privacy-Focused Keyboard Alternatives

Several keyboards prioritize privacy by design, storing all data locally:

AOSP Open Source Keyboard

The default AOSP keyboard included in pure Android distributions sends no data to any server. Enable it via Settings > System > Languages > Virtual Keyboard > Android Keyboard (AOSP). It lacks advanced predictive features but offers complete privacy.

AnySoftKeyboard

AnySoftKeyboard is an open-source keyboard available on F-Droid. It stores all dictionaries and learning locally:

# Install from F-Droid (recommended for privacy)
# Or build from source:
git clone https://github.com/AnySoftKeyboard/AnySoftKeyboard.git
cd AnySoftKeyboard
./gradlew assembleRelease

Configure AnySoftKeyboard to disable any optional network features and use local dictionaries only.

FlorisBoard

FlorisBoard is a modern, privacy-focused keyboard written in Kotlin:

# Install via F-Droid or GitHub releases
# Configure in settings:
# Settings > Keyboard > Suggestions > Disable cloud suggestions
# Settings > Data > Disable usage statistics

FlorisBoard supports emoji, GIF search (local-only), and clipboards without network communication.

For Developers: Implementing Privacy-Aware Input

When building applications that handle sensitive data, consider these approaches:

Use InputType flags Properly

Android’s InputType system tells keyboards what kind of data to expect. Properly setting these flags helps keyboards behave appropriately:

// For password fields
editText.inputType = InputType.TYPE_CLASS_TEXT or
                     InputType.TYPE_TEXT_VARIATION_PASSWORD

// For credit card numbers
editText.inputType = InputType.TYPE_CLASS_NUMBER or
                     InputType.TYPE_TEXT_VARIATION_PASSWORD

// For email addresses
editText.inputType = InputType.TYPE_CLASS_TEXT or
                     InputType.TYPE_TEXT_VARIATION_EMAIL_ADDRESS

Keyboards respect these flags and may adjust autocomplete behavior accordingly.

Implement Custom InputMethod

For sensitive applications, develop a custom InputMethod that processes input locally:

class SecureInputMethodService : InputMethodService() {
    override fun onCreateInputView(): View {
        // Render custom keyboard UI
        // Process all input locally without network calls
        return customKeyboardView
    }
}

Register it in your manifest with the android:permission.BIND_INPUT_METHOD permission.

Detect Keyboard Privacy Settings

Check whether users have disabled keyboard data collection in your app:

fun isKeyboardPrivacyEnabled(): Boolean {
    val gboardDisabled = Settings.Secure.getInt(
        contentResolver,
        "gboard_personalization_enabled",
        1
    ) == 0

    val samsungDisabled = Settings.Secure.getInt(
        contentResolver,
        "samsung_keyboard_learning_enabled",
        1
    ) == 0

    return gboardDisabled || samsungDisabled
}

This helps you warn users when typing data might be collected in fields requiring extra privacy.

Advanced: Network-Level Blocking

For enterprise or power user scenarios, consider network-level blocking:

Configure a Local DNS Resolver

Use Pi-hole or AdGuard Home to block known keyboard telemetry domains:

# Pi-hole blocklist addition
keyboard-telemetry.google.com
kbdata.samsung.com
ime.samsung.com
gboard-sync.googleapis.com

Use a VPN with Blocking

Some VPN providers offer malware and tracker blocking. Route all traffic through such a VPN to catch any keyboard data attempts.

Verifying Your Configuration

After implementing changes, verify data transmission is blocked:

1. Use adb shell netstat to monitor network connections while typing
2. Check with PCAP Droid to inspect outgoing packets
3. Review your firewall logs for blocked keyboard connections

# Monitor Gboard connections
adb shell tcpdump -i any -c 50 host google.com and port 443

Related Articles

• Smart Refrigerator Data Collection What Samsung Family Hub S
• Smart Tv Tracking What Data Samsung Lg Vizio Collect About V
• How To Prevent Dating App Photos From Appearing In Google Im
• Android Location History Google Timeline How To Delete Perma
• Use Android Without Google Play Services

Built by theluckystrike — More at zovo.one