Google has rolled out the preview of next Android version, Android 5.0 Lollipop to all Nexus devices and other devices will be getting it later on its official launch. But, this hasn’t stopped the people using the Nexus devices with Android 5.0 to extract the apps from Google’s latest version of mobile OS and release it for others.

Functional-Google-Keyboard-4.0-from-Android-5.0-Lollipop

We previously saw the release of Google Keyboard from Android 5.0 Lollipop which included a new interface called the material design. Now, a new updated version of Google Keyboard has been added by Google in latest builds of Android L which includes White Material Design.

The version 4.0 of Google keyboard also adds the white material design whereas, the previous one only provided the dark one. If you are one of the people who are willing to test out the latest Google Keyboard from Android L with light and dark material design then, you are at right place.

We will be telling you the exact instructions to download and install the functional Google Keyboard on your device.

Disclaimer: The method below to install Google Keyboard 4.0 from Android 5.0 Lollipop is not completely safe and we will be modifying some system files. So, if you are not sure what you are doing or you don’t want to mess up your device then, don’t proceed further. Teckfront.com, its team or its partners won’t be responsible for any damanage caused to your device from the below method.

Before proceeding to the instructions, you will need to fulfill the following requirements.

Requirements:

  • You must be running Android 4.0 (Ice Crean Sandwich), Android 4.1/4.2/4.3 (Jelly Bean) or Android 4.4 (kitkat) to install this Google Keyboard 4.0 with material design
  • Your Android device must be rooted since, we will be changing the core system files in this method of installation. If your device isn’t rooted then, this method won’t work for you to install. Don’t try it since, it will make your keyboard to crash if you aren’t using a rooted device.
  • You will need a File Manager app which can browser root files.
  • You will need the Google Keyboard 4.0 apk which can be downloaded from this link. Transfer it your Android device.
  • You must uninstall any Google Keyboard app installed on your device whether it’s the official version of previously installed Google Keyboard with Material Design.
  • You will need to download an additional file to download from this link which will ensure the proper functioning of the Google Keyboard 4.0. Transfer it to your Android device as well.

Once you think you have fulfilled the above requirements, lets proceed to the instructions.

Instructions:

  • First of all, install the Google Keyboard 4.0 APK. You can follow the instructions in this article to know how to install .apk files on your Android device.
  • Once installed, launch Google Keyboard from your app drawer. You will be asked to activate it followed by making it the default input app. Once done, press finish.
  • Now, your Keyboard will crash and you won’t be able to use it. Don’t panic, we will fix it in next steps.
  • Now, open up your File Manager app and navigate to ‘System’ > ‘lib’.

Note: System folder can only be seen on your device if you have a rooted device.

  • Here look for the following file:

libjni_latinimegoogle.so

  • Once found, copy it to some safe place on your SD card on phone’s internal memory. If you don’t see it then, it’s also good.
  • Once you have copied the file to safe place, go to the location where you downloaded the additional file in the requirements step named ‘libjni_latinimegoogle.so. Copy and paste it to the ‘lib’ folder.

Note: You might be asked to replace a file in the folder. Replace it. You might also be asked to give root permissions to your phone or file manager, grant the permission.

  • Once you have copied the file, long press it and go to properties, here look for permissions and make sure ‘R’, ‘W’ and ‘X’ permissions are checked which are read as ‘Read’, ‘Write’ and ‘Modify/Change’ respectively.
  • Once done, open up your keyboard in some text writing app and it should open instead of crashing.
  • Your Google Keyboard 4.0 from Android 5.0 Lollipop has been installed.
  • That’s all!

Where is the Material Design?

You might be wondering where is the material design of Google keyboard for which you installed the app. Don’t worry, it’s there and you just need to activate it from the steps below.

  • Open up ‘Settings’ and go to ‘Language & input’.
  • Here press the settings icon against Google Keyboard (refer the screenshot below).

Google-Keyboard-Android-L-1

  • Your Google Keyboard Settings will open. Here press ‘Appearance & layouts’.

Google-Keyboard-4.0-from-Android-Lollipop-2

  • Once in Appearance & layouts, press ‘Theme

Google-Keyboard-4.0-from-Android-L

  • Here select either of the ‘Material Light’ or ‘Material Dark’ theme and you will get the Material Design as showed in the screenshot on top.
  • Enjoy!

You may visit our Tips & Tweaks section for more useful tips, tricks and tweaks about Android 5.0 and all other Android versions.

Via: AndroidPolice

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