A physical keyboard has three separate keys for switching case: Shift, ALT, and Caps Lock. You open Gboard on Android, and you see only one key with an arrow to the left of "Z". No familiar Shift, no Caps Lock. Where did they go and how do you enable them?

Google chose not to clutter the on-screen keyboard with three buttons when one would do. The ALT key in Gboard works in three modes, and after five minutes of practice, switching between them becomes automatic. Let's break down each mode and the settings that affect the layout.

💡 Quick overview:

• A single tap on ALT enables Shift mode (one capital letter, auto-reset after input)
• A double tap on ALT enables Caps Lock (all letters capitalized, stays on until disabled)
• The set of symbols and numbers in each mode depends on two Gboard settings: "Number row" and "Long press: symbols"

How to identify the current ALT key mode

The ALT key is located to the left of the letter "Z" on the bottom row of Gboard. Its icon changes depending on the active mode:

The logic is simple to remember: white arrow, lowercase, black, capitals for one character, underlined black, capitals for the entire sentence.

Default ALT mode: lowercase letters

This is the keyboard's initial state after installing Gboard. The icon, a white arrow. In this mode, the keyboard behaves as follows:

• All letters are entered in lowercase.
• The behavior of the number row and symbols depends on two toggles in Gboard settings.

Setting combinations that change the layout in default mode:

Number row enabled: the top row of the keyboard displays digits from 1 to 0. Tapping a digit enters it immediately, without extra gestures.

Number row disabled: digits are "written" above the letters of the top row (qwertyuiop). To enter a digit, you need to long-press the corresponding letter, for example, long-pressing "Q" gives "1".

Long press: symbols enabled + number row enabled: the top row is dedicated to digits (enter with one tap). Symbols are written above letter keys and accessible via long press: hold "A", get "@", hold "S", get "#".

Long press: symbols enabled + number row disabled: digits are accessible by long-pressing the top row. Symbols, by long-pressing the second and third rows (where the main letters are). The top row doesn't provide symbols.

Single tap: Shift mode

One tap on the ALT key, and the icon changes to a black arrow. This is analogous to the Shift key on a physical keyboard. The main rule: after entering one character, Gboard automatically returns to default ALT mode (white arrow).

Layout features in Shift mode:

• All letters are displayed capitalized, but you can only enter one, then the keyboard resets to lowercase.
• If "Number row" is enabled, the top row shows symbols, not digits. This is the main difference from default ALT mode, the number row is replaced by a symbol row.
• With the number row disabled, digits are still accessible by long-pressing letters on the top row (as in default mode).
• The combination "Long press: symbols + number row" gives symbols in the top row (one tap) and additional symbols by long-pressing letters.

In practice, Shift mode is convenient for exactly one scenario: you start a sentence with a capital letter. Tap ALT, press a letter, and forget about it, the keyboard returns to lowercase on its own.

Double tap: Caps Lock mode

Two quick taps on ALT, the icon becomes a black arrow with an underline. This is Caps Lock. Unlike Shift, it doesn't reset automatically: all letters are entered capitalized until you disable the mode by tapping the icon again.

Key differences of Caps Lock from Shift:

• You can enter as many capital letters in a row as you want, the mode persists.
• The layout of symbols and digits is identical to default ALT mode (not like Shift, where digits are replaced by symbols). That is, if you need Caps Lock and digits simultaneously, this is a working scenario.
• Reset: one tap on the underlined black arrow returns the keyboard to default ALT mode.

When it comes in handy: you're typing an abbreviation (API, JSON, XML), an email subject line in caps, or emphasizing a word in a message. Double tap, type, one tap to exit.

Gboard settings critical for understanding the layout

Keyboard behavior in all three ALT modes is tied to two flags in Settings → Gboard keyboard:

• Number row, adds a separate row with digits above the letter block. Affects how you enter digits in each mode and whether symbols appear in the top row during Shift.

• Long press: symbols, when you hold a letter key, the associated symbol pops up. Without this setting, long press does nothing except repeat the letter.

Combinations of these two flags give four layout variants in each of the three ALT modes. If you've noticed that your keyboard shows different symbols than in instruction screenshots, check this pair of settings.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

How to quickly switch between cases in Gboard?

Single tap on the ALT key (white arrow to the left of Z), enter one capital letter with auto-return to lowercase. Double tap, Caps Lock, all letters capitalized until you tap the icon again. After a week of use, your fingers memorize the rhythm: tap-tap for caps, one tap for starting a sentence.

Can you make Shift not reset after one character?

No, a single ALT tap in Gboard always works like classic Shift: one capital letter and auto-reset. To enter several capital letters in a row, use double tap (Caps Lock). On a physical keyboard, the behavior is exactly the same, you have to hold Shift, Caps Lock locks the case.

Why do digits disappear from the top row in Shift mode?

This is not a bug, but documented Gboard behavior. With Shift active and number row enabled, the top row displays symbols (!, @, # and so on), not digits. The developers' logic: since you switched case, you're most likely editing text, not entering numbers. If you need digits with capital letters, use Caps Lock (double tap), there the digit layout is identical to default mode.

How do the "Number row" and "Long press: symbols" settings affect things?

Two flags in Settings → Gboard keyboard determine where and how digits and symbols appear in all three ALT modes. Number row gives a separate row of digits above letters. Long press attaches symbols to letter keys. The combination "number row disabled + long press enabled", the most compact option: digits by long-pressing the top row, symbols by long-pressing middle rows.

How does the Gboard version of Caps Lock differ from the computer one?

Fundamentally, not at all. Double tap enables, single tap disables. The only visual difference: on PC, Caps Lock often has an LED indicator, while in Gboard you see an underlined black arrow in place of the ALT icon. Functionally, Caps Lock in Gboard is even more convenient: the symbol layout doesn't change (unlike Shift mode), so you can type abbreviations in caps with digits without interruption.

Remember in two minutes: cheat sheet for ALT in Gboard

White arrow, lowercase, black arrow, one capital, underlined black, caps until disabled. Three modes on one key, no extra buttons on screen. Once you figure it out, you stop noticing that Shift and Caps Lock are hidden behind one key, your fingers do the needed number of taps automatically.

The only non-obvious point worth remembering: Shift mode replaces digits with symbols in the top row, while Caps Lock does not. If you're typing technical text with capital letters and digits simultaneously, double tap, not single.