How do I turn keyboard noise on Android?
Keyboard sounds refer to the tapping or clicking noises made when typing on a mobile device’s on-screen keyboard. These audio feedback sounds are designed to provide confirmation that a key has been successfully pressed.
Users may want to enable keyboard sounds for several reasons:
- The audio feedback provides reassurance that key presses are registering, especially for those not looking directly at their screen while typing.
- Some people find the keyboard tapping noises to be satisfying and enjoyable to hear while typing.
- Those with visual impairments can benefit from the extra auditory feedback that keyboard sounds provide.
- Keyboard sounds can help reinforce learning and improve typing accuracy for those new to mobile typing or touchscreen keypads.
So in summary, keyboard sounds serve both functional and experiential purposes, confirming key presses and adding satisfying typing audio effects.
Check if Keyboard Sounds are Already Enabled
Before making any changes, you should first check if keyboard sounds are already enabled on your Android device. Here’s how:
- Go to Settings > Sound.
- Scroll down and check if “Other sounds” is enabled. This setting controls keyboard sounds.
- Open any app where you can type with the keyboard, like Notes.
- Tap a few keys on your keyboard. If you hear a typing sound, then keyboard sounds are already turned on.
If you don’t hear any keyboard sounds, then you will need to enable them manually through your Android settings or keyboard app.
Enable Keyboard Sounds Through Settings
The simplest way to enable keyboard sounds on your Android phone is through the Settings app. Here’s how:
- Open the Settings app
- Tap on “System”
- Tap on “Languages & input”
- Tap on “Virtual keyboard”
- Tap on “Gboard”
- Tap on “Preferences”
- Make sure the “Sound on keypress” toggle is enabled
These steps enable sound effects every time you press a key on your device’s primary keyboard, typically Gboard. Now when you type, keyboard sounds will play to provide audio feedback.
You can adjust the volume of keyboard sounds in Accessibility or Sound settings, as covered later in this guide.
For other keyboards, like SwiftKey or Samsung Keyboard, sound settings can be accessed by tapping their name instead of Gboard in step 5 above. However, the location of sound options may vary.
Use a Third-Party Keyboard
If your phone’s default keyboard doesn’t have sound options, you can download a third-party keyboard app that allows you to customize sounds. Some top recommendations include:
Fleksy Keyboard – Fleksy has a very customizable UI and lets you set custom keypress sounds and vibrations. They have a library of sound effects to choose from.
SwiftKey – SwiftKey has excellent predictive text capabilities. You can enable keypress sounds and vibrations in the app’s settings.
Gboard – Google’s Gboard app ties into the Android OS well. It features keyboard click sounds you can adjust to your liking.
The process varies a bit between keyboards, but generally you install the app, enable the keyboard, then look for sound options in the app’s settings. Most quality third party keyboards allow you to not just turn sounds on/off, but customize volume, style, etc. Spend some time experimenting to find one you like.
Try Sound Settings in Gboard
Gboard is the default Google keyboard app on many Android devices. The keyboard offers customizable sound options to enable keyboard clicks and keypress sounds.
To find these sound options in Gboard:
- Open Gboard settings by tapping the “Gboard settings” icon in the bottom-right corner of the keyboard.
- Tap the “Sound” tab in settings.
- Enable “Sound on keypress” to hear a sound effect every time you tap a key on the keyboard.
- Enable “Vibrate on keypress” for vibration feedback when typing.
- Choose from different sound levels as preferred under “Keypress volume” and “Keypress vibration strength.”
Gboard allows customizing keyboard sound settings specifically so users can turn keyboard noise on or off as desired. If the sound effects are still muted after enabling these settings, check the phone’s general sound and do not disturb settings.
Use Sound Settings in SwiftKey
SwiftKey Keyboard offers multiple options for keyboard sounds. As described in this article https://www.androidauthority.com/swiftkey-keyboard-sounds-756453/, SwiftKey has four different keypress sounds you can choose from:
- Traditional – makes a click sound when you press a key
- Android – uses the default Android keypress sound
- Modern – makes a subtle “tap” sound
- Blip – makes a futuristic blip noise
To change the keyboard sounds in SwiftKey:
- Open SwiftKey Keyboard settings
- Tap on “Sounds”
- Select your preferred keypress sound
You can also adjust the volume of the keypress sounds on this screen. Once you’ve customized the sounds to your liking, the new sounds will play with every key you press while typing.
Adjust Volume in Accessibility Settings
You can control the volume of keyboard sounds through your device’s Accessibility settings. Go to Settings > Accessibility and select Audio & On-Screen Text. Here you will find a “Keyboard and button sounds” option where you can toggle keyboard sounds on or off. You can also adjust the volume slider to your preferred level for keyboard clicks and other audible feedback.
Use a Text-to-Speech App
Another option to generate keyboard sounds as you type is to use a text-to-speech app. These apps will read back each word aloud as you type it. Popular options include:
- Speak It – Text to Speech (Free): This Android app can read text aloud in multiple languages and voices. You can adjust the reading speed and volume.
- @Voice Aloud Reader (Free): Another text-to-speech app that supports reading web pages, ebooks, documents and more. Includes high quality voices with natural intonation.
- Readdeo (Free): Readdeo offers word highlighting as you type along with high quality voices. You can customize colors and reading speed.
Enabling one of these apps is an easy way to generate audio feedback including keyboard sounds as you type. Just open the app, enable access when typing, and listen to each word spoken aloud. Adjust the voice and speed to your preferences.
Troubleshooting Tips
If keyboard sounds are still not working after trying the steps above, here are some things to check:
- Make sure your device volume is turned up loud enough to hear keyboard sounds. Use the volume buttons on your device or go to Settings > Sound to adjust the media volume.
- Check that keyboard sounds are not disabled in your keyboard app settings. Go to the settings of Gboard, SwiftKey or other keyboard and make sure sound effects are enabled.
- Try toggling Do Not Disturb mode off and on. Sometimes this setting can interfere with keyboard sounds.
- Restart your Android device, as this can often resolve intermittent sound issues.
- Make sure no accessibility services like TalkBack are enabled, as these can sometimes disable keyboard sounds. Go to Settings > Accessibility and check.
- As a last resort, try downloading a free sound app like cVolume to force your keyboard sound effects on.
If you still can’t get keyboard sounds working after trying these tips, it likely points to a deeper system-level sound issue on your device. You may need to contact the device manufacturer for further troubleshooting.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are several different ways to enable keyboard sounds on your Android device. The easiest approach is to go into your device’s Sound settings or your keyboard’s settings to turn keyboard sounds on. Alternatively, you can install a third-party keyboard app that has sounds enabled by default or use an accessibility volume setting to amplify keyboard sound if it is too quiet.
To recap, check if keyboard sounds are already turned on under Sound settings or in your keyboard’s app settings. If not, you can enable keyboard sounds through your main device settings, switch to a keyboard like Gboard which has sound effects toggles, or use an accessibility volume control to amplify keyboard sound. You may also install a text-to-speech app that will read your key presses aloud. With any luck, one of these methods should allow you to successfully turn on keyboard clicking noises on your Android device.