A macOS input method that runs Gboard's native HMM Pinyin engine via a custom ARM64 ELF loader. Type Mandarin Chinese on macOS using the same engine that powers Gboard on Android.
This project does not include any Google binaries or data. You must supply your own legally obtained Gboard APK. See NOTICE for details.
Three layers make this possible:
- ELF loader — Loads the ARM64
libintegrated_shared_object.sodirectly into memory on macOS. Handles relocations, symbol resolution, and TPIDR (thread-local storage) patching. - JNI bridge — Fakes a minimal Android JNI environment so the native engine can initialize, enroll dictionary packs, and process input.
- macOS IME — A Swift/InputMethodKit app that captures keystrokes, drives the engine, and shows candidates in a SwiftUI panel.
- macOS 13.0+ on Apple Silicon
- Xcode (command line tools)
brew install jadx jq
# 1. Extract APK and download dictionary pack
./setup.sh --xapk /path/to/com.google.android.inputmethod.latin.xapk
# 2. Build and install
./build.sh install
# 3. Log out and log back in, then:
# System Settings → Keyboard → Input Sources → Edit → + → Chinese, Simplified → GboardIME--xapk PATH Path to Gboard XAPK file (required)
--dict PATH Use a local dict zip instead of downloading
--locale CODE zh_CN (default), zh_TW, zh_HK, ko
build Build the app (default)
install Build, install to ~/Library/Input Methods, and sign
uninstall Remove from ~/Library/Input Methods
clean Remove build artifacts
Switch to GboardIME from the menu bar input source picker, then type pinyin.
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| a-z | Append to pinyin composition |
| 1-9 | Select nth candidate |
| Space | Commit highlighted candidate |
| ← → | Move candidate selection |
| Backspace | Delete last pinyin character |
| Escape | Cancel composition |
| Return | Commit raw pinyin |
Partial selection is supported — selecting a candidate consumes only the pinyin it matched, leaving the rest for continued input (e.g. type nihao, select 你, continue composing from hao).
./test.shRuns both C engine tests and Swift IME tests.
This is an independent research project. Google, Gboard, and Android are trademarks of Google LLC. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Google. See NOTICE.