Quick Tip: Removing Your Keyboard Without Using the Back Button

[Karey Westfall]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://lifehacker.com/5801126/close-the-android-keyboard-with-a-swipe-gesture' target='_blank'>http://lifehacker.com/5801126/close...a-swipe-gesture</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"Android: If you're ever in a situation where you need to get out of the Android keyboard, a somewhat hidden shortcut will close it right up: just swipe from the top of the keyboard to the bottom."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/adt/auto/1305334989.usr110024.jpg" style="border: 0px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p><p>Here's a quick tip to use the next time your keyboard annoys you! Just swipe your keyboard from top to bottom and it will disappear. Works on most phones that run Gingerbread and Froyo but will not work on HTC phones. A quick and easy way to get rid of that keyboard, especially if you just don't want to spend those few extra seconds moving your thumb to the back button!</p>

[Craig Horlacher]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I didn't know you could do that! I've had lots of times where I wanted to see something under my keyboard and usually couldn't find a good way to close it. This works great on my Droid X with SwiftKey!!!

[mmidgley]

I haven't tried this yet, but it would be especially useful in apps that use the back key for some special action, like Browser. I've been on websites with a form before and somehow even with the keyboard open, rather than closing the keyboard when pressing back, the Browser took it as a history command and moved me to the previous page--also dumping what data I had entered in the form. Very nasty. I will swipe down more often.

m.