Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing
  3. News

SwiftKey is coming to Windows 10 to improve touchscreen typing

Chuong Nguyen
By

Microsoft just made it easier for Windows 10 tablet owners to type on glass by delivering a more intelligent software keyboard. The SwiftKey integration is one of the bigger improvements on Windows Insider Preview build 17692, which not only brings swiping gestures to the software keyboard on Windows 10, but it also adds autocorrection and word prediction support. This should make the on-screen software keyboard on Windows tablets, convertibles, and detachables more competitive against Apple’s iPad and tablets running Google’s Android operating system.

“SwiftKey gives you more accurate autocorrections and predictions by learning your writing style — including the words, phrases and emoji that matter to you,” Microsoft said. The company noted that English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian are supported on Windows 10’s SwiftKey integration. SwiftKey support may help improve the usability of rumored dual-screen Windows devices, including Microsoft’s Andromeda project.

After initially launching its keyboard for Android in 2010 and later for iOS, SwiftKey was eventually acquired by Microsoft in 2016. With SwiftKey making its way to Windows 10, Microsoft’s vision for a Cloud Clipboard to easily share data copied between different devices is one step closer to reality. During its 2017 Build keynote, Microsoft announced that users logged in through their SwiftKey keyboard will be able to copy content — including text, images, and media — from one device and paste it on another device, including iOS and Android. The Cloud Clipboard feature appears to be an extension of Microsoft’s earlier OneClip experiment.

Related

If you’re an Insider ready to upgrade to this build, Microsoft cautions that the screen will crash in a loop if you use a Picture Password to sign in. “We recommend removing your Picture Password before upgrading to this build,” Windows Insider Program head Dona Sarkar said. This latest build is available for Insiders in the Fast and Skip Ahead rings.

Recommended Videos

In addition to a swipeable keyboard, Microsoft is also bringing improvements to entertainment and gaming on build 17692. A new advanced setting in the Microsoft Edge browser will offer users control on which sites can autoplay videos, while gamers will see more features headed to the RS5 Game Bar. You will have more control over audio output, be able to view performance visualizations, and experience improvements to gameplay with a new “Dedicate resources” toggle in Game Mode.

Other notable improvements include the ability to make text bigger across the system, in Win32 apps, and in Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps, narrator improvements, and the ability to stream audio to both the headset and PC speakers when using Windows Mixed Reality. You can read the full changes on Microsoft’s blog. If you’re looking for a new Windows 10 device to use or test any of Microsoft’s new Insider Preview features — like the SwiftKey integration — be sure to check out our guide to the best laptops.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Chuong Nguyen
Chuong Nguyen
Computing Writer
Silicon Valley-based technology reporter and Giants baseball fan who splits his time between Northern California and Southern…
How to find your Windows 11 product key
Windows 11 on a tablet.

A product key gives Windows 11 the information it needs to verify that you rightfully paid for your copy of the operating system. It also activates Windows to give you access to all the features without any limits.

These days, your product key is usually tied to your Microsoft account and stored in your PC's motherboard via "digital entitlement." However, if you're not using a Microsoft account on Windows 11, then you might want to note the physical key down.

Read more
Microsoft warns select Windows 11 beta testers to move back to Windows 10 now
Laptop screen featuring a Windows update screen.

Microsoft is sending a warning out to those who managed to beta test Windows 11 on unsupported hardware. It is now time to go back to Windows 10, as your device is no longer eligible to join the Windows Insider program on Windows 11.

While the message might seem shocking, it is actually a long time in the making. When Microsoft first announced Windows 11 in June, they had allowed all Windows Insiders who were already testing previous Windows 10 builds to beta test the operating system. It was intended as a "limited exception" thank-you gift to the Windows fans, but now that an official October 5 Windows 11 release date has been announced, Microsoft is ready to move on.

Read more
This awesome Xbox gaming feature is coming to both Windows 11 and Windows 10
Xbox Series X expansion card in console.

When Microsoft announced several Xbox features coming to Windows 11, it said that DirectStorage would only be available on the upcoming operating system. A recent DirectX developer blog post says otherwise. Some developers already have access to DirectStorage on Windows 11, which will also work on Windows 10 machines.

The blog post details that Windows 10 machines running version 1909 or newer will be able to use the DirectStorage feature. This is an application programming interface (API) that Microsoft debuted with the Xbox Series X and Series S. Essentially, it bypasses the processor to quickly load data into the graphics card, which can decrease load times and allow developers to push more impressive visuals.

Read more