Gmail reply bug stops keyboard from appearing for some Pixel owners

A sudden glitch has left certain Pixel device owners unable to compose replies inside the Gmail application, even as artificial intelligence autocomplete prompts and "Help me write" options remain visible at the bottom of the screen.

Users report keyboard failure in Gmail replies. Multiple Pixel owners have posted on Reddit describing how the on-screen keyboard refuses to launch when they tap the text cursor while attempting to answer an email. The AI-generated reply suggestions continue to display normally.

The malfunction began without warning in the past day and lacks any clear cause. No similar problems had been noted in the days leading up to the first complaints.

The issue is limited to Pixel devices. Reports indicate the problem affects only Pixel phones and was reproduced on a Pixel 8 Pro running the stable Android 17 update. Testing on a Galaxy S23 Ultra and Vivo X300 Ultra showed no such behavior.

Complaints point to an error inside the Gmail app itself rather than the underlying operating system. The bug does not appear tied to any particular version of Gmail or Android.

Workarounds include rotating the phone or attaching an image. One effective temporary solution involves turning on auto-rotate, switching the handset to landscape mode to summon the keyboard, then returning to portrait orientation to finish the message. Another option is to add an attachment, exit the attachment screen, and re-enter the compose field.

Rebooting the handset, clearing the Gmail cache, or force-stopping the application can also restore functionality for a short time. Google has not publicly recognized the defect despite Gmail being one of its flagship Android services.

The company has yet to comment on when a patch might arrive.