Keyboard Without AI: The Offline Android and iPhone Guide

Keyboards Without AI at a Glance

A keyboard without artificial intelligence (AI) processes keystrokes strictly on your local hardware without routing text through cloud generative models or predictive neural networks. At Ban the Bots, we write guides on the apps and settings that keep AI features off your devices, and the keyboard is the one app that sees everything you type.

On Android, you can replace the stock input method with standalone applications like HeliBoard or FUTO Keyboard that run without internet access. On Apple iOS, the operating system isolates third-party keyboard extensions in a restrictive sandbox by default, but you must use system Screen Time controls to disable integrated Writing Tools. You can combine these input tools with privacy-focused operating setups detailed in our guides to AI-free apps and phones without AI.

Comparison of Android and Stock Keyboards

Comparing mobile keyboards reveals a sharp divide between open-source offline tools and default commercial software bundled with remote predictive features. The table below outlines network permissions, generative writing tools, gesture typing capabilities, software licenses, and current maintenance status across major input tools.

Offline Android Keyboards Without AI

Offline Android keyboards prevent keystroke leakage by omitting the operating system network permission from their installation manifest entirely. When an application lacks network permissions, the Android operating system prevents it from opening sockets, transmitting telemetry, or passing typed text to external endpoints.

HeliBoard

HeliBoard is an open-source keyboard based on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) and OpenBoard. According to the HeliBoard GitHub repository, the application does not use the internet permission and operates completely offline. The project is licensed under the General Public License version 3 (GPL-3.0) and distributes packages through GitHub and F-Droid.

The project published release v4.1 on August 30, 2026. HeliBoard describes itself as privacy-conscious and customizable. The developer documentation notes that glide typing requires an external closed-source library file because no compatible open-source library exists, meaning users must load that library file manually if they want swipe gesture recognition.

FUTO Keyboard

FUTO Keyboard is an Android input tool built for local operation with no remote dependencies. The official FUTO Keyboard site markets the software as 100% offline and 100% private. The application bundles gesture typing via FUTO Swipe and local voice dictation through FUTO Voice Input, which processes spoken audio directly on the device without storing recordings.

FUTO distributes the keyboard through Google Play, GitHub, and its own F-Droid repository using a one-time-payment license model. According to the FUTO repository, the codebase uses the FUTO Source First License 1.1, with release 0.1.30 published on August 4, 2026. This license permits code modification and distribution only for non-commercial purposes free of charge, which means it does not meet the Open Source Initiative (OSI) definition of open source.

FlorisBoard

FlorisBoard is an open-source keyboard for Android licensed under Apache-2.0. The FlorisBoard repository states that the application respects your privacy. The stable v0.5.2 release arrived on November 28, 2025, and maintainers continued pushing code updates through September 2026.

The project labels the keyboard as still in beta, so expect rough edges. The readme cited here does not state whether the app requests the internet permission, so check the permission list on install.

Unexpected Keyboard and AnySoftKeyboard

Unexpected Keyboard takes a minimalist approach to mobile input. The Unexpected Keyboard repository shows active maintenance with commits in September 2026 and is not archived.

AnySoftKeyboard is another long-standing open-source option. Its AnySoftKeyboard repository saw active code commits in September 2026 and is not archived. Neither repo page cited here states the license or the permissions, so read both on the repo before you install.

OpenBoard

OpenBoard served as the standard open-source AOSP keyboard replacement for several years. While the OpenBoard repository is not archived, project development has halted. The repository recorded its last code push on May 16, 2024, and its last tagged release, v1.4.5, dates to August 5, 2022. Because OpenBoard is dormant, users looking for modern AOSP typing features should install HeliBoard instead.

Disabling AI Features in Gboard, SwiftKey, and Samsung

Default commercial keyboards integrate automated writing assistants and cloud training pipelines by default. If you must keep using your default keyboard for hardware compatibility or workplace policy reasons, you can disable these generative features through individual application toggles.

Gboard Writing Tools and Federated Learning

Gboard includes writing tools such as Proofread, Rephrase, Professional, Friendly, Emojify, Elaborate, Shorten, Suggested, and Smart Reply. As detailed in the Google Gboard Private AI Compute support page, these features process typing data in a private space on your device and in the cloud. You can turn off personalized suggestions at Writing tools > Menu > Personalized suggestions.

The Proofread feature checks text for spelling, grammar, and punctuation mistakes. According to the Google Gboard Proofread documentation, the tool checks typed, pasted, or voice-dictated text on Pixel 8 series devices in US English. You can turn this off by navigating to Gboard Settings > Text correction > Spelling and Grammar > Proofread.

Gboard also operates a distributed data pipeline known as federated learning. The Google federated learning guide notes that the system does not send raw typed or spoken text to Google, but sends what it learns to Google when the device is idle, connected to Wi-Fi, and charging. You can manage this under Gboard > Privacy by toggling off Personalize for you and Improve for everyone, disabling Audio donations under Voice, and selecting Delete learned words and data. You can pair these adjustments with system changes outlined in our guide on how to turn off Gemini on Android.

Microsoft SwiftKey

Microsoft has adjusted how assistant features appear inside its mobile keyboard interface. The Microsoft SwiftKey support notice states that the Copilot and Compose integrations in SwiftKey have been removed. Microsoft directs users seeking chatbot conversations to the standalone Copilot app instead. SwiftKey retains its Editor tool, which provides standard spelling and grammar correction inside the input window.

Samsung Keyboard and Writing Assist

Samsung bundles generative tools directly into its default keyboard software under the Writing assist banner. According to the Samsung Writing assist support page, this feature covers Chat translation, Composer, Writing style, and Spelling and grammar. You can disable these capabilities across your device by navigating to Settings > Galaxy AI > Writing assist and turning off each individual feature switch.

To eliminate the assistant button from the keyboard toolbar itself, tap the keyboard More options menu, select Add, and tap Remove next to Writing assist. For step-by-step guidance on disabling remaining system integrations on Samsung hardware, read our tutorial on how to turn off Galaxy AI.

Typing Privacy and Writing Tools on iPhone

Apple uses a sandboxed architecture to isolate third-party keyboards from network access on iOS devices. According to the Apple security extension guide, custom keyboards run by default in a restrictive sandbox that blocks network access and prevents extensions from exfiltrating typing data. Developers can request Open Access to enable network features, but iOS requires explicit user consent before granting that access. Furthermore, iOS automatically disables third-party keyboards in favor of the stock system keyboard whenever you interact with secure text fields or passcode prompts.

On devices running Apple Intelligence (iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 16 or later), iOS 27 includes Apple Intelligence writing assistance. The Apple Intelligence restriction guide notes per-feature switches under Apps > Mail > Summarize Message Previews, Apps > Messages > Summarize Messages, and Notifications > Summarize Notifications. To block writing assistance completely across the operating system, follow the Apple Screen Time instructions by navigating to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Intelligence & Siri > Writing Tools and selecting Don't Allow. For full device configuration steps, check our walkthrough on how to turn off Apple Intelligence.

Remapping Copilot and Disabling Desktop Writing Tools

Hardware keyboards on desktop and laptop computers increasingly include dedicated assistant keys and operating system text integration. You can modify physical key behaviors on Windows 11 and shut down background writing assistants on macOS through standard system menus.

On Windows 11 systems shipping with a dedicated Copilot key, you can alter the physical button action. The Microsoft Copilot key documentation outlines settings under Settings > Personalization > Text input > Customize Copilot key on keyboard, offering options for Search, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Custom, or Copilot. Windows 11 updates also permit remapping the key to serve as a Right Ctrl key or Context menu key under Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Keyboard.

On Apple desktop computers running modern macOS versions, integrated writing tools run across text fields. You can disable this functionality by following the macOS Screen Time guide: navigate to System Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy > Intelligence & Siri, and turn Writing Tools off.

Who Should Keep Using Stock Keyboards

Switching to an offline keyboard requires accepting specific trade-offs in convenience and input speed. You should stay on Gboard, SwiftKey, or Samsung Keyboard if you match any of the following operational needs:

• You type in a language HeliBoard or FUTO does not offer.
• You rely heavily on swipe gesture typing and do not want to extract and sideload third-party binary libraries manually as HeliBoard requires.
• You depend on the voice typing quality of your stock keyboard and are not willing to trade it for FUTO's on-device voice input.

If you fit these criteria, keep your default keyboard software installed. Instead of replacing the application, apply the menu steps above to turn off writing tools, disable federated learning telemetry, and remove assistant shortcuts from your input toolbar.

What Would Change Our Assessment

Our assessment of mobile typing privacy depends on current software licensing, hardware sandboxing, and operating system permissions. Three specific industry developments would alter our recommendations:

• If HeliBoard integrates a fully permissive, native open-source swipe typing library directly into its standard release build, removing the need for manual library installation.
• If Google, Microsoft, or Samsung removes the settings toggles that let users disable cloud language processing and federated learning on stock keyboards.
• If Apple eliminates the Open Access consent requirement for third-party keyboards, allowing background network transmission without explicit user approval.

Related Guides

Typing privacy is one part of managing your personal data footprint on mobile devices. You can explore our related explainers to secure the rest of your software environment:

• AI-Free Apps: Practical alternatives for everyday mobile tools that run without cloud models.
• Phones Without AI: Hardware choices and operating system builds that omit assistant software.
• Degoogled Phones: A complete guide to running Android hardware without Google Play services.
• Note-Taking Apps Without AI: Local, offline applications for drafting documents without remote processing.
• How to Turn Off Galaxy AI: Step-by-step instructions for disabling Samsung assistant features across One UI.
• How to Turn Off Apple Intelligence: System settings for turning off writing tools and notification summaries on iOS and macOS.
• How to Turn Off Gemini on Android: Instructions to restore standard device assistants on Google Android hardware.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a keyboard without AI for Android?

Yes, Android supports independent offline keyboards such as HeliBoard and FUTO Keyboard that do not include artificial intelligence writing tools or send keystroke data to remote servers.

Does Gboard send what I type to Google?

Gboard processes generative writing tools through Google's Private AI Compute on your device and in the cloud, while its federated learning system sends learned model patterns to Google when your phone is idle, charging, and connected to Wi-Fi.

Is HeliBoard safe?

HeliBoard is safe for privacy-focused typing because it does not request the Android internet permission, operates under the open-source GPL-3.0 license, and keeps all dictionary processing entirely on your local device.

Can I turn off AI features in Gboard?

You can turn off Gboard artificial intelligence features by disabling Proofread under Text correction settings, toggling off Personalized suggestions under Writing tools, and turning off federated learning options under Privacy settings.

Is there an AI-free keyboard for iPhone?

Apple iOS isolates third-party keyboards inside a strict sandbox that blocks internet access by default unless you enable Open Access, and you can disable system Writing Tools completely through Screen Time settings.

Review your device input settings today to turn off cloud writing tools, or install HeliBoard from F-Droid to keep your typing completely offline.

Sources

• F-Droid HeliBoard Package Repository
• AnySoftKeyboard GitHub Source Repository
• HeliBoard GitHub Source Repository
• Unexpected Keyboard GitHub Source Repository
• FlorisBoard GitHub Source Repository
• FUTO Keyboard GitHub Source Repository
• OpenBoard GitHub Source Repository
• FUTO Keyboard Official Site
• FUTO Voice Input Official Site
• Apple Support: Block Access to Apple Intelligence Features on iPhone
• Apple Support: Turn Off or Restrict Access to Apple Intelligence Features
• Apple Support: Block Access to Apple Intelligence Features on Mac
• Apple Platform Security: Supporting Extensions and Custom Keyboards
• Google Gboard Help: Federated Learning and Privacy Settings
• Google Gboard Help: Proofread Text with Gboard
• Google Gboard Help: Use Writing Tools in Gboard
• Microsoft Support: Updates to the Copilot Key on Windows Devices
• Microsoft Support: FAQs for Copilot Changes in SwiftKey
• Samsung Support: Use Writing Assist on Samsung Keyboard