Where to look for keyboard settings on Xiaomi smartphones: all the ways and hidden functions

Customizing the keyboard on Xiaomi smartphones is a challenge that every user faces. Whether you just bought a new Redmi Note 13 or have been using POCO F5 for a long time, sooner or later you need to change the input language, turn on the keys or adjust auto-replacement. The problem is that the manufacturer regularly updates the MIUI interface, and the path to the desired parameters may vary depending on the firmware version.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can access keyboard settings, from the standard system menu to hidden features for power users, and learn how to find options for Gboard, the standard Gboard. MIUI-Keyboards and third-party apps, and we will also reveal a few life hacks that will make it easier to type text on your Xiaomi.

1. Standard Way to Keyboard Settings in MIUI

The most obvious way is through basic smartphone settings, which works on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices regardless of the MIUI version (12 to 14).

1. Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen).
2. Scroll down and select the Additional section (in some versions it is called System and Device).
3. Tapping on Language and Entering (or Keyboard and Entering in MIUI 14)
4. In the submenu of the Keyboard, you will see a list of keyboards installed. Click on the one you are using (such as the Gboard or the MIUI Keyboard).

If you have multiple keyboards installed, you can switch between them or delete unnecessary ones. Note: in MIUI 14, the path may be slightly different - sometimes the Language and input section is included in the main settings menu without an intermediate option.

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If you can’t find the “Language and input” section, search by settings (the magnifier icon at the top of the screen) and enter the “keyboard” query.

In this menu, the main parameters are available:

• 🌐 Input languages – add/delete languages, switch between them.
• 🔊 Sounds and vibrations – turning on/off sound when pressed, tactile response.
• 🎨 Themes and design - changing the color scheme, background, key size.
• ⚙️ Additional settings – auto-replace, text prediction, gestures (e.g. swipe for input).

2. Quick access through the notification panel

Not everyone knows, but MIUI has a way to get into keyboard settings in literally two taps — straight from the notification bar — which works if you’re actively using the keyboard at the moment (like typing a message).

Here's how to do it:

1. Open any application that requires text input (such as WhatsApp or Messages).
2. Tap the input field so that the keyboard appears.
3. Swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open the notification bar.
4. In the upper right corner of the keyboard will appear icon ⚙️ (I'm going to go with that.

This is convenient because it doesn't require you to search the settings menu, but note that the gear icon may be missing if you use the side of the keyboard (like SwiftKey or Fleksy), and you'll have to go to the settings through the main menu.

3. Settings for the MIUI keyboard (branded)

The MIUI keyboard has unique features that Gboard doesn't have, such as setting up one-handed mode, changing the height of the keyboard, or enabling voice input in Chinese (useful for those who are learning the language).

One of the key benefits of a branded keyboard is that it supports gestures to quickly type characters, such as setting up a swipe on a cursor or swiping left/right to delete a word, which is hidden in the keyboard settings → gestures section.

4. Gboard settings (Google keyboards) on Xiaomi

Many Xiaomi users prefer Gboard because of its more accurate text prediction and integration with Google services, but the settings of this keyboard are hidden deeper than those of the brand.

1. Open any field to enter text (for example, in Telegram).
2. Touch the icons ⚙️ on the keyboard panel (near the emoji icon).
3. Select Settings (Gboard will open).

Gboard has some unique features that are not found in the standard MIUI keyboard:

• 🤖 Google Search and Translate – You can search for information or translate words directly from the keyboard.
• 🎵 Voice input – supports more languages than a branded keyboard (including Ukrainian, Belarusian, and other languages).
• 🖼️ Search GIF Stickers and Stickers – Built-in search for animated images.
• ⌨️ Customizable themes – you can upload your own image for the background.

One of the main benefits of Gboard is synchronizing the dictionary between devices. If you sign in to the same Google account on your phone and tablet, the keyboard will adapt to your writing style on all gadgets. To enable this feature, go to Gboard Settings → Dictionary → Dictionary Sync.

Install Gboard from Google Play|Enable dictionary sync |Tune gestures (swipe to delete word)|Add frequently used languages |Deactivate unnecessary sentences of text-->

5. Hidden keyboard settings through developer modes

For power users who want to fine-tune keyboard behavior, there's a way through developer mode, which allows you to, for example, change the speed of key repeat or disable animations. Here's how to do it:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and tap 7 times on the MIUI Version.
2. Return to the main settings and open the Developer section (will appear after activation).
3. Scroll down to the Input block (or the Keyboard in newer versions).

The following parameters are available here:

• 🔄 Repeat speed – delay before re-pressing the key (useful for games or quick input).
• ⏱️ Repeat delay – time to hold the key before the repeat is triggered.
• 🚫 Disable animations – accelerates the appearance / disappearance of the keyboard.
• 📱 Showing the taps - visual response when touching (useful for debugging).

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Changing the speed of key repetition can speed up typing significantly, but too low values lead to random repeat characters, with the optimal value for most users being 50 ms for latency and 30 ms for speed.

⚠️ Attention: Not all settings in the Developer section are safe, for example, disabling spell check can lead to input errors, and changing the clipboard parameters can lead to loss of copied text. If you are not sure about the purpose of the item, it is better not to touch it.

6. Solving Keyboard Problems on Xiaomi

Sometimes the keyboard on Xiaomi doesn't work correctly, it doesn't work, it doesn't slow down, or it doesn't switch languages, and here are the most common problems and solutions.

If the keyboard has stopped working completely, try the following steps:

1. Remove updates for the system keyboard (if they were installed through Google Play).
2. Clear the cache and data of the MIUI or Gboard Keyboard application in Settings → Applications.
3. Install an alternative keyboard (like SwiftKey) and check if it works.
4. In extreme cases, reset your phone settings (but don’t forget to make a backup!).

⚠️ Note: If you use custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), the system keyboard MIUI In this case, it is recommended to install Gboard or other third-party keyboard.

7. Alternative Keyboards for Xiaomi: Which to Choose?

If you don't like standard keyboards, you can install one of the alternatives, and here are the most popular ones with their features:

• 🔹 SwiftKey (Microsoft) – Best text prediction, device synchronization, gesture support.
• 🔹 Fleksy – minimalist design, advanced gesture settings, support for themes.
• 🔹 Chroom – keyboard with support AI for autocomplete (for example, in messengers).
• 🔹 AnySoftKeyboard – open source, high customizability, support for rare languages.

When choosing an alternative keyboard, pay attention to:

• Language support – not all keyboards work well with Russian or Ukrainian.
• Integration with services – for example, Gboard and SwiftKey can search Google directly from the keyboard.
• Security – Some keyboards (especially Chinese) can collect input data.

To install a third-party keyboard:

1. Download it from Google Play.
2. Go to Settings → Language and input → Keyboard.
3. Activate the new keyboard and set it by default.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi keyboard settings