How to Fix “Unfortunately, Android Keyboard Has Stopped”

by A. Bera/ May 28, 2019/ Android, How To

So you take your Android device out to send a quick message to your friends that you will be late for the lunch you had planned with them and suddenly your keyboard bails out on you. No matter how much you try it does not seem to be working. You love your Android for all the hasty messages that you can send through it whenever you want, and now you see the message “Unfortunately, Android keyboard has stopped”.

Undoubtedly, you want to fix the problem quickly. If you are looking for solutions to fix “Unfortunately, Android keyboard has stopped”, read on. The solutions should work on most of the Android devices including Samsung, HTC, Sony Xperia, Motorola, LG and other Android devices.

Solutions for “Unfortunately, Android keyboard has stopped”

Solution 1: Restart the keyboard

Restarting the keyboard can be very effective in solving the problem. A number of readers found this to be helpful. While some reported that the problem returned later, others found the problem to be a one-time issue which was solved when the keyboard was restarted.

  1. Go to the Settings menu of the device
  2. Scroll down to the Apps section and Tap on Application Manager
  3. Swipe to go to the “All” tab
  4. Now look for the app Android Keyboard and tap on it
  5. Now tap on Force Stop to stop the keyboard

Exit out of the Settings menu and go back to using the keyboard and check if it works. If you happen to use a third party keyboard or if the device manufacturer has installed its own keyboard then you should look for the keyboard that is in use. Like Samsung users will find that they use the Samsung keyboard so you must look for Samsung keyboard under apps.

Solution 2: Restart the Device

If the problem is not fixed then there may be an error in the app which can be fixed with the help of a reboot. A device reboot can solve basic app problems and can fix simple glitches in the device. Restart the device and check if the keyboard works. Many readers have found this to be a permanent solution for the problem, but for those who see the problem coming back, try the other solutions.

Solution 3: Clear Cache and Data for Keyboard

Clearing the cache and data of an application allows you to clear files that can be possibly corrupted or which may be creating problems because of bugs. While deleting the cache files does not delete any important information, you will lose your personal settings when you delete the data files from any app. If you had made specific changes to the keyboard, you will lose those settings. You will have to go back into the keyboard settings and make the changes once again.

  1. Go to the Settings menu of your device
  2. Tap on Application Manager which is under the apps section
  3. Swipe to the tab which includes “All” apps
  4. Now look for the keyboard app. It can be Android Keyboard or the keyboard that you are using if you have installed a third-party keyboard or if you have the manufacturer skin on top of the stock Android.
  5. Tap on the keyboard app
  6. Tap on Clear Cache
  7. Now tap on Clear Data
  8. Tap on OK to confirm

Once the cache and data files have been deleted, restart your device and check if the keyboard is working.

Solution 4: Clear Cache and Data Files for Dictionary App

The dictionary app is closely linked with the keyboard app. If for any reason you get the “unfortunately keyboard has stopped” error, there is a chance that it may be because of corrupt files in the dictionary app. Deleting these files can be helpful in solving the problem.

  1. Go to the Settings menu of your device
  2. Tap on Applications Manager
  3. Swipe to go to the “All” tab
  4. Scroll and look for Dictionary app and tap on it
  5. Tap on Clear Cache
  6. Tap on Clear Data
  7. Tap on OK to confirm

Once the cache and data files have been deleted, check if the problem has been fixed.

Solution 5: Update Google Keyboard (or any other keyboard you are using)

One of our readers pointed out that the problem can be fixed by updating the Google keyboard. If you are using some other keyboard, update it. To update the keyboard, open Play Store, tap on three horizontal lines and then tap on My apps & games. If there is an update for the keyboard, tap Update.

Solution 6: Reset the Keyboard Settings

Certain devices like Samsung devices use the Samsung keyboard. You will have the ability to reset the keyboard settings which may help in solving the problem. If you are a Samsung user, follow these steps to reset the settings:

  1. Go to the Settings menu of your device
  2. Look under System for Language and Input and tap on it
  3. Tap on Samsung Keyboard
  4. Now scroll down and tap on Reset Settings

Once the keyboard settings have been reset, check if the problem has been solved.

Solution 7: Use a Third Party App

For those who can let go of the keyboard app they are using, choose a third party app for the default keyboard and use it instead. It will not solve the problem you are having with your keyboard but it will give you the ability to use a keyboard. Check the Play Store for a keyboard that is suitable for you. Once you have installed the keyboard, you will be asked if you want it to be set as default. Choose the newly installed keyboard as a default.

Solution 8: Update the Device Software

The software of your device plays an important role in keeping all the apps running smoothly. If you have delayed a software update for a long time, then you must install the updates. Updates make sure that all known bugs and errors are fixed with the update.

  1. Go to the Settings menu of your device
  2. Tap on About Device
  3. Tap on Software Update or System update
  4. The device will try to check for new updates.

If your device is updated then you will get a confirmation that your device is using the latest software. However, if updates are available then you must install the latest updates and then check if the problem has been solved once your phone restarts after the update.

Solution 9: Install Updates for Google Keyboard

As suggested by one of our readers, you can try fixing this issue by installing updates for Google keyboard. For that, navigate to play store on your android phone and look for the updates.

Solution 10: Restart in Safe Mode

If the problem continues to persist then we must try troubleshooting steps which are comparatively more complex. In this step, by restarting your device in the safe mode, we can establish whether a problem has occurred because of one of the third party apps. This will mean that your stock Android keyboard is the one that will be working in the Safe Mode.

  1. Press and Hold the Power button so that the Power menu can come up on the screen
  2. Now press the Power option on the menu and continue to press it till you see a pop-up box asking you if you want to restart in Safe mode
  3. Tap on OK and confirm

Once the device restarts in Safe mode you will see the words Safe Mode written on the screen to confirm. Now check if the keyboard works in the Safe mode.

If it does work then one of the third party apps that you are using may be the culprit. To identify the app which may be causing the problem, you must first figure, then try to disable the apps that you had recently installed. Disable the apps one by one and find out if the keyboard starts working after disabling a particular app. Once you know which app caused the problem, uninstall it.

If you happen to be using a third party keyboard which does not work then you must uninstall that keyboard and try using the stock Android keyboard or you can try installing a different third party keyboard from the Play Store.

Solution 11: Reset to Factory Settings

If your keyboard still does not work then you must consider resetting the device to factory settings. By doing so, you will be able to bring the device’s software back to its initial state when it was taken out of the box. It will wipe all data from your device and you will also lose all third party apps that you had installed to the device. Make sure you back up all data so that you do not lose important data once you have reset the device.

  1. Go to the Settings menu of your device
  2. Tap on Backup and Reset
  3. Check the box which allows you to back-up your Google Account
  4. Tap on Reset Factory Settings
  5. Tap Reset Phone

Once the device has been reset to factory settings then you can try and check if the problem has been solved. You can then restore the data and continue to use the device as usual.

The solutions for “Unfortunately, Android keyboard has stopped” will work on most of the Android devices.