SwiftKey updated with support for Google Search

Mar 18, 2019 05:02 GMT  ·  By

Microsoft has just released an update to the SwiftKey app on Android that allows users to set Google as the default search engine instead of Bing.

The software giant originally rolled out support for search engines in SwiftKey in 2018, technically making it possible for users to search the web without leaving the current app.

With a search box integrated right into the keyboard, it’s pretty much a breeze to search for anything online, but Microsoft originally limited this feature to its very own Bing search engine. This makes sense at some level, but because there are plenty of users out there who’d rather stick with Google instead of Bing, it’s pretty clear that many just ignored the new search option in SwiftKey.

And here’s the latest version of SwiftKey for Android which finally makes it possible to replace Bing with Google, all with just a few taps.

Only for Android

To enable Google Search in SwiftKey, update the app to the latest version – the build number that comes with this new option is 7.2.4.22 and you can download the APK using this link. Next, launch the app and head over to Typing > Search engine, and Google should now show up next to Bing. Tap Google and that’s pretty much it.

The next time you open the keyboard and the search option is enabled, Google should be the default search engine. Searching the web with Google works just like in the case of Bing, so search results are displayed in a simplified browsing page that comes with basic options like screenshot and send for those who want to share a specific link. Tapping the close button in the top left corner gets you back to the screen where you were typing.

For the time being, this option appears to be limited to Android devices and there’s no word as to when it could be released for iPhones.