How to use the floating keyboard on Galaxy S9 and S9+ with Android Pie update?

In Android Pie update for Galaxy S9 and S9+, Samsung keyboard can be in the floating mode, and therefore, you can put the keyboard anywhere on the screen and use the keyboard on Galaxy S9 and S9+ flexibly.

The floating keyboard on Galaxy S9 and S9+ with Android Pie update works on all apps, once enabled.

This Galaxy S9 Android Pie update guide explains how to enable, use, and customize the floating keyboard on Galaxy S9 and S9+ with Android Pie update.

Please note, the Writing Assistant on Samsung Keyboard requires the Android 12 update, which Galaxy S9 will not get. You have to use the third-party keyboard if you need the grammar check (in addition to the spelling check).

What is the new resizeable keyboard on Galaxy S9 and S9+ with Android Pie update?

By default, the Samsung keyboard or keypad is fixed on the bottom of the Galaxy S9 or S9+ regardless of the orientation (portrait or landscape) of the phone, just like in other Android phones.  The screen area occupied by the keyboard will not be used by the app.

This means the keyboard may waste a lot of screen space for the app.

When you hold the phone is the landscape mode (FYI, Galaxy S9 Home screen supports landscape mode as well), the keyboard will have to stretch a lot and waste even more screen space. So, the screen size is not fully utilized.

The problem has been exacerbated in the last few years because the aspect ratio of smartphones has become larger and larger.

Of course, the solution already exists on some Samsung tablets: using a freely resizable keyboard.

Now, in Android update for Galaxy  S9 and S9+, Samsung brought the resizeable (free form) to Galaxy S9 and S9+ so that you can type easier.

The floating keyboard allows you:

• To let the keyboard poping over any apps when using it. Therefore you will get more usable screen space when using the keyboard.
• To put keyboard anywhere you want.
• To relocate the keyboard when you typing.
• To resize the keyboard  (subject to minimum and maximum size).
• To switch back to standard mode (fixed mode) at any time.
• To switch back to the one-handed keyboard,

Basically, if you feel the keyboard affects your usage of any apps, you should try the floating keyboard after updating Galaxy S9 or S9+ to Android Pie.

How to enable the floating keyboard on Galaxy S9 and S9+ with Android Pie update?

By default, the Samsung keyboard is fixed. If you want to use the resizable keyboard, you need to enable it when the keyboard is shown,

Once enabled, the floating mode will be the default mode for the Samsung keyboard until you change the keyboard mode again.  In other words, you need to enable the floating keyboard only once in any apps. It will then work in all other apps automatically.

For example, as shown in the screenshot below, in Google search, the keyboard is waiting for your input.

Tap the down arrow (▼) button to open Samsung keyboard options.

In Samsung keyboard options, as shown above, tap Modes.

By default, Samsung Keyboard can work in three modes:

• Standard keyboard (default, fixed in the screen). In Android Pie update for Galaxy S9 and S9+, you can resize the keyboard as explained in this guide (coming soon).
• One-handed keyboard.
• Floating keyboard.

Tap Floating keyboard as shown below.

Now, as shown in the screenshot above, the keyboard is detached from the bottom (navigation bar) of the screen with a handle on the bottom.

The keyboard is now poping over the apps you are using.  You can relocate to anywhere on the screen.

Of course, if a keyboard is not needed, the floating keyboard will disappear automatically (just like the standard keyboard).

How to use and customize the floating keyboard on Galaxy S9 and S9+ with Android Pie update?

You can use the handle to move the keyboard on the screen as you want.

You can also customize the floating keyboard on Galaxy S9 and S9+ by:

• Resizing the Samsung keyboard.
• Adjusting the transparency of the Samsung keyboard.

In Android Pie update for Galaxy S9 and S9+, you can resize standard keyboard (and the one-handed keyboard) as well. But transparency settings are for floating keyboard only as explained in this guide (coming soon).

Tap the down arrow (▼) button as shown below.

Then taps mode (not shown here).

Now, you see the floating keyboard is active.

Tap Size and transparency as shown above.

Subsequently, you can find the size and transparency settings as shown below.

The 3 white dots in the blue borderlines are handles for you to change the size.

If you drag then outwards, the keyboard will be enlarged. If you drag them inwards, the size will be smaller.

You can also drag the transparency slider as shown above to adjust the transparency of the floating keyboard.

By default, the transparency of the Samsung keyboard is 0% (opaque). You cannot see the app contents behind the keyboard.

If you drag the slider to the right side, you can see the app content below the floating keyboard.

After customizing the floating keyboard on Galaxy S9 or S9+, you must tap Done to save the customization. Otherwise, the customization will be discarded automatically.

If you mess up the settings for the floating keyboard on Galaxy S9 or S9+ with Android Pie update, you may tap Reset to clear all saved customizations and reset the floating keyboard.

Please note, Samsung keyboard theme is affected by the night mode. Once the night mode is enabled, the background color of the Samsung keyboard will change accordingly.  You cannot disable this feature.

Which keyboards support the floating mode?

Currently, the Samsung keyboard supports the floating mode on Android Pie update for Galaxy S9 and S9+.

Samsung keyboard, in most regions, actually includes two pre-installed keyboards:

• Standard Samsung keyboard.
• Samsung Keyboard Neural Beta.

You can use the floating keyboards for both of them.

Actually, the settings for the two keyboards are almost identical.

Third-party keyboards generally do not support the floating mode.

Can you enable the floating keyboard on Galaxy S9 and S9+ with Android Pie update? Do you know how to use and customize the floating keyboard on Galaxy S9 and S9+ with Android Pie update?

If you have any questions on the floating keyboard on Galaxy S9 and S9+ with Android Pie update,  please let us know them in the comment box below.

The community will help you find the answer.

For the user guide for new features of Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+, please check Galaxy S9 new features guides page.

For using Galaxy S9 and S9+, please check Galaxy S9 how-to guides page.

For using the Galaxy S9 camera, please check Galaxy S9 camera guides page.

For accessories for Galaxy S9 and S9+, please check Galaxy S9 accessories guides page.

For official Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ user manuals in your language, you may check this page (if your Galaxy S9 or S(+ is running Android Oreo), or this page (if your Galaxy S9 and S9+ have got the Android Pie update).

Detailed how-to guides for new features of Android Pie update for Galaxy S9 and S9+ be found on this page.