diff --git a/internal/verifier/scope_test.go b/internal/verifier/scope_test.go
index aa469d8..8ce0cb1 100644
--- a/internal/verifier/scope_test.go
+++ b/internal/verifier/scope_test.go
@@ -48,6 +48,36 @@ func TestTaps_ExcludeOffAppPackage(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+// TestTaps_ExcludeKeyboardRegionNoPackageKey proves the region exclusion catches
+// a keyboard key that carries no package (Gboard's "Settings" key is a bare
+// FrameLayout with a content-desc and no resource-id, so the package filter
+// alone misses it). The IME's own elements set the keyboard's top edge; any
+// candidate below it is dropped, leaving only the in-app button above it.
+func TestTaps_ExcludeKeyboardRegionNoPackageKey(t *testing.T) {
+	const treeJSON = `{
+	  "attributes": {"resource-id": "root", "bounds": "[0,0,1080,2400]", "package": "com.folio"},
+	  "children": [
+	    {"attributes": {"testTag": "SubmitButton", "bounds": "[100,400,500,500]", "package": "com.folio"}, "clickable": true, "enabled": true, "children": []},
+	    {"attributes": {"resource-id": "com.google.android.inputmethod.latin:id/keyboard_holder", "bounds": "[0,1503,1080,2268]"}, "children": []},
+	    {"attributes": {"content-desc": "Settings", "bounds": "[461,1503,618,1635]"}, "clickable": true, "enabled": true, "children": []}
+	  ]
+	}`
+	verifier := newVerifier(t, WithAppPackage("com.folio"))
+	loadActionSpec(t, verifier, `
+		import { taps } from "@sanderling/spec";
+		globalThis.actions = taps;
+	`)
+	pushTree(t, verifier, treeJSON)
+
+	action, err := verifier.NextAction()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if action.X != 300 || action.Y != 450 {
+		t.Errorf("coords = (%d,%d), want (300,450) at SubmitButton; a keyboard key leaked into targets", action.X, action.Y)
+	}
+}
+
 // TestTyping_ExcludeOffAppPackage proves keyboard glyph buttons that report as
 // editable never become typing targets once the app package is set.
 func TestTyping_ExcludeOffAppPackage(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/internal/verifier/worker.go b/internal/verifier/worker.go
index b386bea..f0bccc0 100644
--- a/internal/verifier/worker.go
+++ b/internal/verifier/worker.go
@@ -7,7 +7,9 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"maps"
+	"math"
 	"sort"
+	"strings"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/dop251/goja"
@@ -648,10 +650,55 @@ func selectorForElement(tree *hierarchy.Tree, element *hierarchy.Element) string
 //
 // Every candidate carries the resolving selector so the runner can re-route by
 // id/text. Out-of-scope nodes (the soft keyboard, system UI) are always dropped.
+// keyboardRegionTop returns the Y above which the on-screen keyboard occupies
+// the display, or math.MaxInt when no keyboard is up. Taps below this line land
+// on the keyboard, not the app, so candidates there are dropped: a tap on a key
+// (e.g. Gboard's "Settings") navigates out of the app under test. The IME's
+// root view reports inflated full-screen bounds, so only IME elements anchored
+// in the lower half of the screen set the line.
+func keyboardRegionTop(tree *hierarchy.Tree) int {
+	if tree == nil {
+		return math.MaxInt
+	}
+	screenBottom := 0
+	for _, element := range tree.Elements {
+		if element.Bounds.Bottom > screenBottom {
+			screenBottom = element.Bounds.Bottom
+		}
+	}
+	top := math.MaxInt
+	for _, element := range tree.Elements {
+		if !isInputMethodElement(element) {
+			continue
+		}
+		if element.Bounds.Top*2 < screenBottom {
+			continue // a full-screen IME decor view, not the keyboard itself
+		}
+		if element.Bounds.Top < top {
+			top = element.Bounds.Top
+		}
+	}
+	return top
+}
+
+// isInputMethodElement reports whether an element belongs to the soft keyboard,
+// identified by its IME resource-id or package. iOS keyboards do not match, so
+// this exclusion is effectively Android-only.
+func isInputMethodElement(element *hierarchy.Element) bool {
+	return strings.Contains(element.ResourceID, "inputmethod") ||
+		strings.Contains(element.Package, "inputmethod")
+}
+
 func (v *Verifier) candidatesForVerb(verb string) []candidate {
 	if v.lastTree == nil {
 		return nil
 	}
+	// The keyboard-region exclusion is part of keeping exploration in the app,
+	// so it is opt-in with app scoping: an unscoped run keeps every node.
+	keyboardTop := math.MaxInt
+	if v.appPackage != "" {
+		keyboardTop = keyboardRegionTop(v.lastTree)
+	}
 	var result []candidate
 	for _, element := range v.lastTree.Elements {
 		if !v.inScope(element) {
@@ -661,6 +708,13 @@ func (v *Verifier) candidatesForVerb(verb string) []candidate {
 			continue
 		}
 		x, y := element.Bounds.Center()
+		// Drop candidates the on-screen keyboard occludes: a tap there hits a
+		// key, not the app, and keys like Gboard's "Settings" navigate out of
+		// the app under test. The keyboard's own elements carry no package, so
+		// the scope filter alone misses them.
+		if y >= keyboardTop {
+			continue
+		}
 		result = append(result, candidate{
 			x:        x,
 			y:        y,