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Freedom251 › Blog › Android privacy

How to Stop Gboard From Collecting Personal Data

By Freedom251 Team · · 13 min read

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To reduce Gboard’s data collection, change several separate settings rather than relying on one switch. On Android, open Gboard’s Privacy settings and turn off Personalise for you, Improve for everyone (if shown), and Audio donations. Then use Delete learned words and data to remove information Gboard has already learned on the device. On iPhone and iPad, the documented deletion route is Gboard app → Keyboard settings → Clear my dictionary.

These controls limit personalization, shared learning and optional audio donations. They do not automatically stop every data flow described by Google, such as searches entered through Gboard, usage statistics, or audio sent for talk-to-text transcription.

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What “stop collecting” means in Gboard

Gboard has multiple learning and communication features. A setting that stops personalized predictions is different from one that stops optional audio sharing, and deleting learned words is different from deleting activity associated with your Google account.

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The practical goal is therefore to review four areas:

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  • Personalise for you: limits learning used to tailor Gboard to you.
  • Improve for everyone: controls whether Gboard contributes learning to broader product improvement, when the option is available.
  • Audio donations: controls voluntary sharing of voice snippets for speech-recognition improvement.
  • Learned words and dictionary data: removes words and on-device learning already stored by Gboard.

Google’s labels and menu locations can differ by Android device, keyboard version and language. If a label is missing, use the alternate Android Settings route below and check for an equivalent privacy control.

Turn off Gboard learning and donations on Android

Open Gboard Privacy settings

  1. Open any app with a text field, such as Messages or a note-taking app.
  2. Tap the text field so Gboard appears.
  3. Tap the Settings icon on the keyboard. If the icon is not visible, tap the four-square or arrow button on the suggestion bar to reveal more tools, then choose Settings.
  4. Tap Privacy.

You can also reach the same area through Android’s system settings: Settings → System → Languages and input → On-screen keyboard → Gboard → Privacy. Manufacturers may rename “System,” “Languages and input” or “On-screen keyboard.”

Disable Personalise for you

  1. In Gboard’s Privacy screen, find Personalise for you.
  2. Turn the switch off.
  3. Read any confirmation or explanatory text, then leave the switch disabled.

This setting controls the documented personal learning feature: Gboard can use information on the device to tailor recognition and suggestions to you. Turning it off does not erase words or data already learned, so complete the deletion step later in this guide if you want to remove that stored learning.

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Disable Improve for everyone

  1. Remain in Gboard → Settings → Privacy.
  2. Look for Improve for everyone.
  3. Turn it off if it is present.

Google describes this control as a contribution to broader learning intended to improve Gboard for users generally. Availability and wording can vary, so do not assume that every keyboard build offers the switch. If you do not see it, there is no equivalent control displayed in that version’s documented Privacy screen.

Disable Audio donations

  1. In Gboard settings, open the section labelled Voice if it is separate from the main Privacy screen.
  2. Find Audio donations.
  3. Turn the setting off. If Gboard asks you to confirm, decline future donations.

Audio donations are optional. When a user agrees to donate, Google says the audio snippets are sent to and stored by Google to improve speech recognition. A donated snippet can contain up to 15 seconds of speech, or up to 25 seconds when silence or unrecognized audio is included. Google says donated snippets are kept for no more than 18 months, and some may be heard or transcribed by human reviewers.

Turning off audio donations prevents new voluntary donations; it should not be described as disabling all voice typing or all forms of Gboard learning. Google specifically distinguishes audio donations from federated learning, which can still use on-device learning without sending the spoken or typed text.

What each Android control changes

Control What it is for What Google describes How to change it
Personalise for you Individualized recognition, predictions and suggestions Uses on-device learning to tailor Gboard; the setting is presented in Gboard Privacy Gboard Settings → Privacy → turn off Personalise for you
Improve for everyone Broader product improvement Allows learning to contribute to improvements for other users; availability depends on the build Gboard Settings → Privacy → turn off the switch when shown
Audio donations Voluntary speech-recognition improvement Accepted snippets are sent to Google; snippets can be reviewed or transcribed and are retained for no more than 18 months Gboard Settings → Voice (or Privacy) → turn off Audio donations
Delete learned words and data Removal of existing on-device dictionary and learning data Deletes Gboard’s learned words or on-device learned data, not all Google account activity Gboard Settings → Privacy → Delete learned words and data

Delete words Gboard has already learned on Android

Use Gboard’s Privacy menu

  1. Open Gboard in any text field and tap Settings.
  2. Tap Privacy.
  3. Tap Delete learned words and data.
  4. Review the warning. Confirm only if you are willing to remove your learned dictionary and related on-device learning.

Deletion can make predictions less personalized until Gboard learns new preferences again. It does not delete searches, Google account activity, voice recordings held under a separate service, or data from other keyboards and apps.

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Use the Dictionary route when the label differs

Some Android help instructions place the command under Settings → Dictionary → Delete learned words. If you cannot find the Privacy command, open Gboard’s settings, choose Dictionary, and look for Delete learned words. The exact hierarchy depends on the Gboard release and the device manufacturer.

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Clear Gboard’s learned dictionary on iPhone or iPad

  1. Open the Gboard app.
  2. Tap Keyboard settings.
  3. Tap Clear my dictionary.
  4. Confirm the deletion.

This removes Gboard’s learned dictionary on the iOS device. It is not a command to erase all information associated with your Google account, and it does not remove data held by other iOS keyboards or apps. iOS can expose different privacy controls from Android, so review the controls shown in the Gboard app rather than assuming Android labels exist on iOS.

Data Gboard may still send after these switches are off

Google’s Android Gboard help describes several flows separately from personalization and donations. The following distinctions matter when deciding whether Gboard is appropriate for a particular task.

Searches entered through Gboard

When you use Gboard’s search feature, Google says the search you enter is sent to Google so it can return search results. Turning off personal learning does not turn the keyboard’s search feature into an offline search tool. Avoid using that feature for sensitive queries if you do not want the query sent for results.

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Usage statistics

Google says usage statistics are sent to learn which features are used and to help improve the app. The documentation describes this as a separate product-improvement flow, not as the same switch as your personal dictionary. Therefore, disabling Personalise for you should not be presented as disabling all usage measurement.

Talk-to-text transcription

For voice input used with talk-to-text, Google says the voice is sent to Google for transcription. This is different from optional audio donations: the audio is being processed to provide the transcription you requested. Turning off donations does not mean that every voice dictation request is processed entirely on the device.

Ordinary typed text and saved words

On the Android help page, Google says ordinary typed content other than searches—examples include passwords and chats—and saved words are not sent. That description is scoped to the behavior and features covered by that help page; it is not a universal guarantee for every Gboard feature, configuration, device or future release. Voice input, search and special features can follow different processing paths.

Federated learning versus audio donations

Federated learning

Google describes federated learning as a process in which Gboard learns on your device and sends what it learns to Google so it can be combined with learning from other users. Google says the spoken or typed text itself is not sent in this process. The help guidance says federated learning is enabled by default and can be turned off in Gboard’s Privacy settings, generally through the personalization or improvement controls shown on your device.

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Because the setting names and implementation can change, inspect the explanatory text beside each switch. Do not infer that deleting your dictionary also opts you out of federated learning; deletion and future learning are separate actions.

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Voluntary audio donation

Audio donation is a different path. It requires the user’s agreement and sends snippets to Google for speech-recognition improvement. Google’s stated limits are up to 15 seconds for a speech snippet, or up to 25 seconds when silence or unrecognized audio is included, with retention of no more than 18 months. Some snippets may be reviewed by people or transcribed, according to Google.

A user can refuse audio donations while federated learning remains enabled. Conversely, disabling a learning switch does not retroactively remove audio that was already donated; use the relevant account or product controls if Google offers a separate deletion option for a particular recording.

Advanced voice typing has its own rules

Google documents an advanced voice-typing flow for certain voice-command features. In the described flow, the transcript of the command and the full text currently in the input field are sent to Google servers for processing, while Google says no text or audio is stored on its servers for that flow.

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This is feature-specific guidance, not a blanket rule for every form of speech input. Google scopes some advanced voice-command functionality to particular Pixel devices and languages, and availability can change. Check the current feature description on your device before relying on it for sensitive text. If a feature sends the complete input field for processing, remove confidential content from that field before invoking the command.

Practical differences between Android and iOS

Android exposes the principal learning and deletion controls inside Gboard’s own settings, with a second route through system keyboard settings. The Android labels discussed here include Personalise for you, Improve for everyone, Audio donations, and Delete learned words and data. On iOS, the documented path supplied by Google for the learned dictionary is Gboard app → Keyboard settings → Clear my dictionary. Do not assume an Android switch exists on iOS, or that clearing the iOS dictionary changes Google account activity.

After switching platforms, installing Gboard on another device, or adding another keyboard, repeat the review. A local deletion applies to the device and keyboard where you perform it; it does not remove words learned by a different keyboard or by another installation.

Before and after you change the settings

For a clean review, first note which features you actually use. If you never use Gboard Search or talk-to-text, those transmission paths may be irrelevant to your routine. If you do use them, treat them separately from personalization. Next, turn off each available learning or donation control, then delete the learned dictionary. Finally, reopen the Privacy screen after an update to verify that the switches remain in the desired position.

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Expect a practical trade-off: deleting learned words and disabling personal learning can make suggestions less tailored. Gboard may need to relearn preferences if you later turn personalization back on. That behavior is a consequence of removing the local learning data, not evidence that deletion failed.

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A practical privacy checklist

  • Open Gboard → Settings → Privacy and turn off Personalise for you.
  • Turn off Improve for everyone if the option appears.
  • Open the Voice section and turn off Audio donations.
  • Run Delete learned words and data; use Dictionary → Delete learned words if that is where your build places it.
  • On iPhone or iPad, open Gboard → Keyboard settings → Clear my dictionary.
  • Do not use Gboard Search for sensitive queries if you do not want those searches sent for results.
  • Remember that talk-to-text can send audio for transcription even when audio donations are disabled.
  • Review the explanatory text beside each switch after major Gboard or Android updates, because labels and feature availability can change.

If a setting is missing or keeps returning

The Privacy menu has fewer switches

Gboard options vary by operating-system version, country, language, device and app release. Update Gboard through your device’s normal app-update mechanism, reopen the keyboard settings, and check the alternate Android path through Settings → System → Languages and input → On-screen keyboard → Gboard. If a control still does not appear, do not assume that a similarly named setting elsewhere has the same effect.

Learned words reappear

Check whether you are using more than one keyboard or a synchronized dictionary feature. Deleting Gboard’s local learning does not delete words stored by another keyboard, an app, or a separate account service. Repeat the deletion only after confirming that Gboard is the active keyboard and that you are using the intended device profile.

You need voice typing but not donations

Leave talk-to-text available if you need transcription, but keep Audio donations disabled. Understand that the transcription request itself can still send audio to Google for processing; the donation switch controls voluntary retention and improvement samples, not the basic operation of every voice-input request.

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You share a device with another person

Because learned words and on-device learning are tied to the keyboard installation and device profile, clear the dictionary before handing a device to someone else if you do not want your custom words exposed through suggestions. Also check that another user has not enabled a separate keyboard or profile whose dictionary remains intact.

You use sensitive text fields

For passwords, chats and other ordinary typed content, Google’s Android help says that content other than searches and saved words is not sent. Still, avoid invoking Gboard Search or voice commands while sensitive text is in the field. Advanced voice-command processing can send the full text currently in the input field, according to Google’s feature-specific description.

What these steps cannot promise

These settings reduce particular categories of Gboard learning and sharing. They cannot honestly be described as a universal “no data collection” mode. Google’s own Android guidance separately describes search transmission, usage statistics and talk-to-text processing, while its learning guidance distinguishes federated learning from donated recordings.

The most accurate expectation is narrower: you can stop Gboard’s documented personal-learning contribution, opt out of broader improvement where the switch is provided, refuse voluntary audio donations, and erase the learned dictionary stored on the device. Other features must be evaluated according to the exact action you take and the explanation shown in your current Gboard version.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does turning off “Personalise for you” stop Gboard from sending everything I type?

No. Google’s Android help separately describes searches sent for results, usage statistics, and voice sent for talk-to-text transcription. It also says ordinary typed content other than searches, such as passwords or chats, and saved words are not sent under the behavior covered by that help page. The setting specifically limits personal learning; it is not a universal transmission switch.

Is federated learning the same as audio donations?

No. Federated learning uses on-device learning and sends what Gboard learns for combination with learning from other users; Google says the spoken or typed text itself is not sent in that process. Audio donations require agreement and send audio snippets to Google for speech-recognition improvement. You can decline donations while federated learning remains enabled.

How long does Google keep donated Gboard audio?

Google says donated snippets are kept for no more than 18 months. A snippet can contain up to 15 seconds of speech, or up to 25 seconds when silence or unrecognized audio is included. Some snippets may be heard or transcribed by human reviewers.

Will deleting learned words erase my Google searches or account activity?

No. Android’s Gboard deletion command removes learned words or on-device learning. It does not delete Google account activity, searches, recordings held by another service, or data from other keyboards and apps.

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Can I keep voice typing while refusing audio donations?

Yes. Turn off Audio donations and continue using talk-to-text if you need it. Google nevertheless says voice used for talk-to-text is sent for transcription, so disabling donations does not make every dictation request fully on-device.

Why can’t I find “Improve for everyone”?

The label and availability depend on the Gboard build, device, language and software version. Check Gboard’s Privacy screen and the Android system path through Settings → System → Languages and input → On-screen keyboard → Gboard. If the switch is not shown, do not substitute an unrelated setting.

Does clearing my iPhone dictionary delete data from Android or my Google account?

No. Gboard app → Keyboard settings → Clear my dictionary removes the learned dictionary on that iPhone or iPad. It is not a command to erase Google account information or data held by another keyboard, app or device.

What happens after I delete Gboard’s learned data?

Predictions may become less personalized until Gboard learns preferences again. Deletion removes the stored local dictionary and related on-device learning; it does not prevent future learning unless you also turn off the relevant learning controls.

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Can advanced voice typing expose text already in the box?

Google’s feature-specific guidance says some advanced voice-command flows send both the command transcript and the full text currently in the input field to Google servers for processing. The described flow says no text or audio is stored on Google’s servers, and availability is limited by device and language. Remove confidential text before invoking such a command.

The Bottom Line

For the strongest documented reduction: turn off Personalise for you, Improve for everyone when available, and Audio donations; delete learned words; and avoid Gboard Search or voice features when their separate data flows are unacceptable. These steps reduce specific forms of learning and sharing, but Google still documents distinct processing for searches, usage statistics and talk-to-text.

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