The open source keyboard Urik continues refining itself with the arrival of version 0.21.0 beta. After exploring its privacy-focused foundations and lack of tracking in previous updates, this release brings targeted changes to improve daily usability and expand language support.

The most immediate change is language expansion. The community has gained full support for Slovak, an important step toward making the tool genuinely international and accessible to a wider audience.

Symbols and numbers within reach

Beyond languages, the focus shifted to precision and interface customization. One of the most appreciated features is the ability to manage number suggestions above the letter row. While the display was already there, it’s now toggleable from settings, giving those who prefer a cleaner layout the freedom to hide them. Those who use them for speed can keep them active to access numeric characters without switching layouts, speeding up typing addresses or codes. Rounding out the symbol additions are the numero sign (№) and the interrobang (‽), the latter being a punctuation mark that blends question and exclamation marks, often sought by creative and technical writers.

The developers worked to fix the issue of double-triggering haptic feedback, a glitch that could be annoying during fast typing. Swipe scrolling also proved more reliable, especially when switching between keyboards, reducing recognition errors. Another important fix concerns the suggestion bar, where text would sometimes get cut off, making it hard to read words proposed by autocorrect.

More control over preferences

Additional configuration options now allow completely disabling visual touch feedback for those who prefer a cleaner, less intrusive interface. There’s also a new option to automatically reset to letter view when switching to a new input field, eliminating the need to manually go back after entering numbers or symbols. These details show how Urik isn’t just a simple alternative to proprietary keyboards, but actively seeks to compete on user experience through constant listening to community needs.

Version 0.21.0 is available as a pre-release on GitHub. Being a beta, it’s advisable to install it only on test devices or if you’re willing to report bugs to help developers perfect the final product.