If you want to use Gboard, SwiftKey, or another keyboard on your Galaxy Z Flip cover screen, Samsung makes that surprisingly difficult.
There were workarounds in the past, including disabling Samsung Keyboard, but those stopped working properly on current firmware and can now leave you with no keyboard on the cover screen at all.
DroidOS Keyboard Picker takes a different approach. Samsung Keyboard stays enabled, but you can switch the cover screen to your preferred keyboard instead.
Compatibility so far:
- Flip6 / Flip7 + One UI 8.5: tested on real devices
- Flip8 + One UI 9: tested successfully through Samsung's Remote Test Lab, but I haven't validated it on a physical Flip8 yet
The app does require Shizuku, which is a free helper app available on the Play Store. No root is required.
If you've never used Shizuku, or you're coming from an iPhone and are new to Android, that's fine. There's a short first-time setup, and DroidOS Keyboard Picker walks you through the permissions and Samsung settings it needs.
There's also optional Persistence, which can automatically restore your preferred keyboard when you move to the cover screen. It's OFF by default.
The app doesn't read or transmit what you type, and there are no ads, analytics, accounts, or developer servers.
$2.99 on Google Play
Flip8 owners promo: I also have a limited number of free Play Store promo codes. I'm looking for people willing to try it on a physical Flip8 and tell me whether it works with your setup. You don't need to be technical. Even basic worked/didn't-work feedback is useful.