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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →On Android, HeliBoard is a clear option if you want a keyboard designed to work without internet access: its project says it does not use the internet permission and describes the app as 100% offline. AdaptKey is another option whose F-Droid listing says it lacks that permission and runs core functions on-device. Those are developer and listing claims, not independent privacy tests—and the available evidence does not establish a personal Gboard replacement experience.
Which Android keyboards are designed to work offline?
The key distinction is whether the keyboard can access the network, not simply whether it is marketed as “offline.” An app without Android’s internet permission faces a different technical constraint from one that can connect. That can limit the app’s own network access; it does not certify the app, the phone, or every component as secure.
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| Keyboard | Network and platform claims | Features described by the source | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| HeliBoard | The project says the app does not use the internet permission and describes it as 100% offline. Android app. | Dictionary-based suggestions and spell-checking; glide typing is available with an additional library. | The project says glide typing requires a separate, closed-source library that is not included. Dictionary quality can vary. HeliBoard project |
| AdaptKey | Its F-Droid listing says it lacks the internet permission and that core functions run on-device. Android app. | On-device autocorrect, personal dictionary, multilingual dictionaries, emoji search, touch-pattern adaptation and an optional imported mini-LLM. | The listing describes the app as under active development. Its displayed version 1.2.70 requires Android 8.0 or newer and was added October 1, 2026; check the current listing for changes and language availability. AdaptKey on F-Droid |
| Offline Keyboard | Its Google Play listing says the app is fully offline and has no internet permission. Android app. | The listing names multilingual typing, glide typing, emoji search, clipboard history, themes and backup/restore. | These are listing claims, not independent verification. The listing says the app is based on HeliBoard and was updated July 27, 2026. Offline Keyboard on Google Play |
What might change when you leave Gboard?
Suggestions and spell-checking depend on dictionaries
HeliBoard says dictionaries provide its suggestions and spell-checking, so results depend on the dictionary you use. Confirm that the languages and dictionary options you need are available before switching.
Glide typing may require an extra component
For HeliBoard, glide typing is not included as a self-contained feature: the project says it needs a separate closed-source library. An offline keyboard’s typing basics and its optional extras are separate questions; dictation, cloud suggestions, web search, GIF lookup or syncing may require connectivity or another component. The available sources do not establish Gboard’s complete current network behavior, so no blanket claim about what Gboard transmits or which features always work offline is warranted.
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AdaptKey adds optional on-device tools
AdaptKey’s listing describes an optional mini-LLM that the user imports and that remains local, alongside autocorrect, a personal dictionary and multilingual dictionaries. Check the current listing and the model or language requirements before relying on those extras.
How to choose and switch carefully
- Confirm your platform. The named alternatives above are Android apps. iPhone uses a different custom-keyboard model, so do not assume these apps are available there.
- Check the current app listing and project information. Review the app’s permissions, Android requirement, supported languages, update status and any required extra libraries. Treat developer and store statements as claims about design and features, not independent audits.
- Install and enable the keyboard using your Android version’s input settings. Menu names and steps vary by device and Android release; consult the device’s current settings or help rather than relying on a universal path.
- Try it in ordinary text fields. Check autocorrect, suggestions, language switching and any features you depend on. If offline operation is important, test the needed functions without a network connection.
Android’s warning when enabling an input method, reproduced in Citizen Lab’s 2024 report, says: “This input method may be able to collect all the text you type, including personal data like passwords and credit card numbers.” The warning does not distinguish keyboards that transmit keystrokes from those that do not. A missing internet permission is a meaningful design constraint, but it does not prove that an app is bug-free, protect against local compromise, or settle whether other processes on a device could communicate indirectly. Citizen Lab Research Report 175 (2024)
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How the answer differs on iPhone
Apple’s archived App Extension Programming Guide describes a different boundary for custom keyboards: it says a keyboard without open access is nonnetworked, while open access allows expanded capabilities, including server-side processing. The guide also notes that a custom keyboard can access what a user types, making trust important. This is archived platform documentation, not a current setup guide; check Apple’s current requirements before making decisions about an iPhone keyboard. Apple’s archived custom keyboard guide
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- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
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