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Leak Shows the Windows Phone Keyboard on Windows 10 PCs

Microsoft will use SwiftKey to improve the PC touch keyboard

Jun 8, 2017 05:35 GMT  ·  By
The Windows phone keyboard will land on PCs with the next Windows 10 update
   The Windows phone keyboard will land on PCs with the next Windows 10 update

One of the new features coming in the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update is an improved touch keyboard, which Microsoft is reportedly working on with SwiftKey technology. 

At first glance, it appears that what the software giant is trying to do is bring the Windows Phone keyboard to Windows 10 PCs using some improvements powered by SwiftKey, the popular keyboard app that the company purchased last year and which is currently available on Android and iOS.

While Microsoft has often been criticized for not bringing SwiftKey on Windows phones, the company has a different plan in mind: mix SwiftKey with its super-advanced WordFlow keyboard and offer one very powerful keyboard solution that includes very accurate predictions and text corrections, while at the same time supporting swipe for quicker typing.

Pen support to also be offered 

The GIF we see here and which was posted on Twitter by @tfwboredom shows how the swipe functionality would work on Windows 10 PCs, confirming that Microsoft is planning to make the whole experience very similar to Windows phones.

The new feature could be officially called Expressive Input and is expected to come with pen support as well, which means that Surface buyers can also use the Surface Pen for quick input on the keyboard.

Most likely, the keyboard will arrive in preview form in the upcoming builds released by Microsoft to Windows 10 testers as part of the Windows Insider program. On the other hand, the production ring is expected to receive it with the release of the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update, which is scheduled to take place in September.

In the meantime, there's still no word on other possible improvements for the Windows 10 Mobile keyboard, as the focus continues to be on PCs. The new touch keyboard will be particularly aimed at devices with touchscreens, and given that the 2-in-1 market is growing, Microsoft seems to think there's a good opportunity on improving Windows 10 when used with touch.