Android · Devices
Configure layout and shortcuts for a connected keyboard
Physical Keyboard settings appear once a Bluetooth or USB keyboard is connected, letting you select the correct keyboard layout, remap modifier keys, and enable keyboard shortcuts for navigating Android without touching the screen.
How to open Physical Keyboard Settings
- Connect a Bluetooth or USB keyboard to the device
- Open Settings
- Tap System, then Languages & input
- Select Physical keyboard
- Choose the connected keyboard to adjust its layout and shortcuts
What you should know
- Auto-detects layout or lets you manually pick a language and layout variant
- Supports remapping Caps Lock and other modifier keys
- Shows a list of available system shortcuts once a keyboard is connected
- Settings are saved per connected keyboard device
Why it matters
Using a phone or tablet with a full physical keyboard, common in tablet-as-laptop setups, changes the interaction model enough that dedicated configuration matters, from getting special characters to type correctly for a given language layout to enabling productivity shortcuts like app switching. Without correctly configuring layout, users can end up with mismatched symbols or punctuation, which is especially disruptive for password entry and coding.
Best practices
- Manually verify the detected layout by testing special characters and punctuation before relying on it for extended typing
- Learn the core system shortcuts (like app switching and search) shown in this menu to get the most out of a physical keyboard
- Remap Caps Lock to a more useful function if it's rarely used in your language
- Reconnect and reselect layout if switching between keyboards with different regional layouts
Common problems and fixes
- Wrong characters appear when typing symbols
- Manually select the correct keyboard layout instead of relying on auto-detection
- Keyboard shortcuts don't respond
- Confirm the keyboard is fully connected and recognized in the Physical keyboard settings list
- Settings reset after reconnecting
- Each physical keyboard stores settings by device identity; reconfigure if using a different or replacement keyboard
Tips and tricks
- Press the shortcut helper key combination shown in settings to view all available shortcuts at any time
- Use a keyboard with a dedicated language switch key for fast bilingual typing without menu diving
Frequently asked questions
Does this work with both USB and Bluetooth keyboards?
Yes, any recognized physical keyboard, wired or wireless, appears in this menu once connected.
Can I use multiple keyboard layouts and switch between them?
Yes, multiple layouts can be added and cycled through using a keyboard shortcut.
Will on-screen keyboard settings also apply here?
No, physical and on-screen keyboards have separate settings, though both fall under the broader Languages & input menu.
Related settings
- Languages & Input / KeyboardLanguages & input settings control your device's system language, additional keyboard languages, and features like autocorrect, voice typing, and text-to-speech. You can add multiple keyboard languages and switch between them without changing your phone's overall display language.
- USB PreferencesUSB Preferences controls what happens when your phone is plugged into a computer or other USB device — whether it charges only, transfers files, shares a network connection, or acts as a MIDI/audio device.
- Connected DevicesConnected devices is the hub screen for every accessory linked to your phone, including Bluetooth headphones, watches, car systems, and USB or NFC connections, plus shortcuts to Cast and Nearby Share preferences.
More Devices guides for Android
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- CastCast lets you send audio, video, or your entire phone screen wirelessly to a Chromecast-built-in TV, Chromecast device, or other Cast-enabled speaker on the same Wi-Fi network.
- Android AutoAndroid Auto projects a simplified, driving-friendly interface — navigation, calls, messaging, and media — onto your car's built-in display, either over a USB cable or wirelessly on supported vehicles.
- Fast PairFast Pair detects nearby supported Bluetooth accessories, such as earbuds or speakers, in pairing mode and shows a one-tap notification to connect instantly, skipping the usual manual Bluetooth pairing menu.
- Previously Connected DevicesThis screen lists every Bluetooth accessory, Chromecast, or other device the phone has connected to in the past, even if currently disconnected or out of range, so you can reconnect, rename, or permanently forget them.
- Phone Hub / Cross-Device ServicesCross-device services link an Android phone to a Chromebook or other trusted devices signed into the same Google Account, enabling features like viewing phone notifications, texting, checking battery level, and instantly tethering internet access from the Chromebook's Phone Hub panel.