The third version for Android O developers was released just a few days ago showing some new features such as multimedia notifications with color. Now, the version has also found a incognito mode of Gboard, the Google keyboard, which would work with the incognito mode that we already know from Google Chrome.
Gboard incognito mode
As explained by those who have had access to this New version for developers, the keyboard's new incognito mode it would work automatically when you open a new session in the incognito mode of Google Chrome and it is an automatic function that could not be deactivated.
The keyboard layout would also change With this new mode, the keyboard would turn dark, displaying the usual incognito mode logo under the keys. The new version of incognito mode would prevent the keyboard from remembering the words you type while in incognito mode, so You can type without leaving a trace in the keyboard history.
Furthermore, when an app indicates that the entry is private, Gboard adapts its behavior: doesn't learn new wordsIt does not display or feed suggestions with that text and It does not save searches done from the keyboard itself, aligning with the browser experience.
The function, as collected from Android Police, is still in the testing phase and it hasn't been fully developed (it's a preliminary version of the operating system, after all), so there may be some bugs at the moment and some words are partially recorded depending on what has been written and the app from which it is activated.
What data does the keyboard stop saving?
- Words and corrections: they are not added to the personal dictionary nor used for future predictions.
- Recent emojisThe list is not updated with what you use in incognito mode.
- Keyboard searches: queries made from Gboard's built-in search engine are not saved.
- Themes and appearance: changes to a Dark theme with incognito icon as a visual indicator.
Availability and compatibility beyond Android O
Although he debuted in the Android O Developer Preview, Gboard's incognito mode It was not limited to that version. With Gboard 6.4 (initially in beta) It was activated on devices with Android 6 and 7so that many users could use it without waiting for the final version of Android O.
In practice, It is automatically activated when you open an incognito tab in Chrome. and is compatible with recent browser versions (for example, Chrome 59 or higher). For other apps, Developers must mark the entry as private so that Gboard switches to this mode; this ensures that the keyboard will not retain sensitive information.
Other changes and improvements that came with Gboard 6.4
- Tools rearranged and more logical shortcuts on the top bar of the keyboard.
- Improved search engine within Gboard to locate GIFs and web results with a redesigned search field.
- New GIF icon which leads directly to the motion picture selector.
- Theme Redesign: from a carousel it became a grid screen to choose colors, landscapes or custom designs more quickly.
Frequently asked questions: voice, DuckDuckGo and deactivation
Why does the microphone disappear? Some private applications or contexts may disable voice typing Due to privacy policies, it's normal for the dictation button not to appear in some apps in incognito mode, while it is available in others.
Is it activated by using DuckDuckGo? It's not the search engine itself, but Apps and browsers that prioritize privacy They can mark the text field as private. When this happens, Gboard automatically enters incognito mode.
Can I manually disable incognito mode? In Chrome and compatible apps, there is usually no switch within Gboard to force or disable it: It depends on the app's private status.Avoid third-party apps that promise to force keyboard changes if you don't trust them.
Google Or would arrive in summer
Android O for the moment only available through developer versions for Pixel and Nexus devices. The final version of the operating system is expected to arrive during the month of August.
Google usually releases Android versions in late summer or early autumn. Nougat arrived on August 22nd and Marshmallow on October 5th. Android O appears to be arriving a little earlier and is expected to be officially released in the first or second week of August, launching via an OTA update for Pixel phones and somewhat later for Nexus devices.
The arrival of incognito mode on Gboard represents another step in the consistency between private browsing and keyboard: fewer traces, more control and a consistent experience without effort from the user, both on Android O and on previous versions compatible with the keyboard's own updates.