The Gboard keyboard is armed with clever features like Emoji Kitchen, instant translation, and voice typing. Nevertheless, the recent UI updates introduced a new usability problem. The issue is that the delete key is obscuring the emoji icon. Such a bad layout interrupts the smooth flow of the emoji use, thus it makes users delete things by mistake and get frustrated.
This detailed article is designed to lead you through the process of a step-by-step solution that involves rolling back Gboard to an earlier version so as to fix the delete-button-over-the-emoji-problem. In addition, we provide the option of operating the ADB command at the deepest level of app modification and recommend the safest downgrading methods.
What Causes the Delete Button to Be Over the Emoji Icon?
It should be noted that the origin of the problem lies in a wrong layout update of Gboard. The defect is that the delete/backspace button is crossing the emoji panel trigger. This issue in the design can be seen in Gboard beta builds and almost cannot be fixed by changing settings or adjusting UI. Reverting to a reliable previous version is the only way to solve it.
✅ Solution 1: Downgrade Gboard to a Stable Older Version
Immediately after downgrading Gboard to a prior version, the delete button will be correctly located and the problem will be resolved.
🔽 Step-by-Step Downgrade Instructions
- Uninstall the Current Gboard Version (if possible)
- Go to Settings > Apps > Gboard > Uninstall updates
- If uninstalling is blocked, proceed to Solution 2 for ADB-based uninstallation.
- Download Older Gboard APK
- Visit trusted APK repository
- Download a version released prior to the UI change (recommendation: v13.6.05 or older)
- Install APK
- Open the downloaded APK
- Grant permission to install from unknown sources
- Follow the prompts and complete installation
- Launch Gboard and Test
- Open any messaging app
- Confirm that the emoji icon is no longer obstructed by the delete key
🛠️ Solution 2: Use ADB Commands to Remove Pre-installed Gboard
In case Gboard is a system application and you cannot uninstall it via UI, then you can disable and replace it by ADB (Android Debug Bridge) command.
📦 Prerequisites
- A computer with ADB installed
- USB debugging enabled on your phone(Settings > About phone > Tap ‘Build number’ 7x > Developer options > Enable USB debugging)
🔧 Steps to Remove System Gboard
- Connect Device via USB
- Make sure ADB detects your device:
- adb devices
- Remove Gboard from System
- adb shell pm uninstall –user 0 com.google.android.inputmethod.latin
- Install Older APK
- Install the APK that you have previously downloaded (step mentioned above)
- Install the APK
- that you have previously downloaded (step mentioned above)
- Reboot Device and Set Default Keyboard
- At restart, Gboard will operate in the downgraded mode with the correct emoji layout
⚠️ Important Notes on Stability and Updates
- Stop Google Play Store from reinstalling the same version by turning off automatic updates for this app:
- Open Play Store > Gboard > Tap ⋮ > Disable Auto-update
- Make sure that Play Protect does not interfere with your sideloaded apps:
- Settings > Security > Google Play Protect > Turn off “Scan apps with Play Protect”
🔁 Optional: Alternative Keyboards While Waiting for Fix
If you don’t want to go for the downgrade, then you may use other keyboards which are known to be more friendly with emojis:
| Keyboard | Features |
|---|---|
| SwiftKey | AI typing, emoji prediction |
| Grammarly | Writing assistant, clean emoji layout |
| Fleksy | Fast typing, gesture support |
🔍 FAQs: Gboard Emoji Delete Bug
Q: Will downgrading Gboard cause other features to break?
A: If you decide to reinstall a stable version, only the main features will work correctly. Beta features from the latest version may not be available.
Q: Is it safe to use APKs from third-party sites?
A: It is indeed when such sources as APKMirror are considered trustworthy and used for downloads only. When available, confirm digital signatures for security.
Q: How do I stop Play Store from updating Gboard automatically?
A: Navigate to Gboard’s Play Store page > Tap the 3-dot menu > Turn off “Enable auto-update”.
Q: Can I re-upgrade to the latest version later?
A: Of course. Just install an update for Gboard from Play Store after Google fixes the problem.
Final Thoughts
The delete button covering the emoji icon in Gboard is definitely not a minor issue as it directly impacts typing speed and UX. Luckily, a simple downgrade or ADB DIY quickly regains the lost functionality.
Before Google officially solves the problem, the procedure described above remains the most trustworthy. Follow the examples here and you will be productive, expressive, and free from mistakes.