Device keyboard language not switching to Japanese after Blueprint language change: configure Gboard keyboard languages separately

Android

If your device is displaying an English keyboard even after you've changed your Blueprint language to Japanese, the issue is likely that Gboard's keyboard languages need to be configured separately from your system language. This article walks you through enabling Japanese input in Gboard.

Before you begin

Verify that all of the following are true:

Your Blueprint language is set to Japanese
Your device has converged and shows as compliant in Devices & Groups → [Device Name] → Blueprint
Gboard is installed and set as your active keyboard
Your device is running Android 11 (or later)

How to enable Japanese input in Gboard

On your device, open Settings → System → Languages & input → On-screen keyboard / Virtual keyboard → Gboard → Languages
Check whether Japanese (日本語) is listed as an enabled keyboard language
If Japanese is not listed:
- Tap Add keyboard
- Select Japanese (日本語)
- Choose your preferred input layout (for example, Romaji or Kana)
Open any text input field on your device
Switch to the Japanese keyboard by tapping the globe icon or long-pressing the spacebar
Confirm that Japanese input is now available and working

What if the Japanese option is unavailable or greyed out?

If you cannot add Japanese as a keyboard language, try these steps:

Check your internet connection: Gboard may need to download the Japanese language pack. Verify that your device has active internet connectivity and retry adding the language.
Verify your Gboard version: Some OEM-restricted versions of Gboard may not support additional language packs. Check your installed Gboard version in Settings → Apps.
Restart your device: After enabling the Japanese keyboard language, power off your device and power it back on, then verify the setting persists.

Why the system language and keyboard language are separate

Your Blueprint language setting controls your Android system locale (menus, notifications, system text). Gboard manages its own list of enabled keyboard languages independently. While some languages like Korean and Arabic automatically enable in Gboard when you change the system locale, Japanese requires manual configuration in Gboard's settings. This behavior is specific to Gboard and is not an Esper platform limitation.

Still need help?

If you've followed these steps and Japanese input still isn't working, submit a support ticket and include:

Your device name and ID
Your Android version
Your installed Gboard version
Screenshots of the Gboard → Languages menu