Xiaomi Redmi 6A is still a popular budget device, but its standard MIUI Keyboard keyboard does not always suit users.Some people want to add support for rare languages, some lack emoji or gestures, and some just dream of a more modern design. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to change the keyboard, from installing alternative applications to fine-tuning the system.
It's important to understand that Redmi 6A runs Android 8.1 Oreo with MIUI 10/11, which is a bit of a limitation, for example, there's no built-in quick switching between multiple keyboards, like the newer versions of Android. But that doesn't mean it's impossible! We'll show you how to get around those limitations and customize your input, and that's the model.
Why might a standard keyboard not work?
The MIUI Keyboard on the Redmi 6A has a few features that not everyone likes:
- 🔍 Limited language set – there are no regional layouts (for example, Tatar or Chuvash).
- 🎨 Outdated design – the interface looks archaic compared to Gboard or SwiftKey.
- ⌨️ No gesture support (e.g. swipe for word input, like in Gboard).
- 🔄 Slow switching between languages – you need to press the button in the notification bar.
- 📱 Lack of cloud synchronization of dictionary between devices.
In addition, many users complain about auto-replacement bugs, where the keyboard persists in correcting the correct words for the wrong options, such as offering a welcome instead of a "hello" - and this is not a joke, but a real problem with the old version of the MIUI Keyboard.
Method 1: Install a third-party keyboard (the easiest method)
The most reliable and versatile way is to install an alternative keyboard from Google Play, and the Redmi 6A is suitable for:
- 📱 Gboard (from Google) – supports gestures, voice input and more than 500 languages.
- ⌨️ SwiftKey (from Microsoft) – smart auto-replacement and personalized themes.
- 🎨 Chroom – minimalist design and high speed.
- 🌐 AnySoftKeyboard – open source and flexible settings.
Let’s look at the installation process using the example of Gboard:
- Open the Play Store and search for the “Gboard – Google Keyboard” app.
- Click Install and wait for the download to be completed.
- After installation, open Settings → Additional → Language and input → Current keyboard.
- Turn on the switch opposite the Gboard.
- Return to any field to type text (such as Notes), tap the keyboard icon in the notification bar, and select Gboard.
Important: Redmi 6A may have a warning on the third-party keyboard that says, "The keyboard can collect data." This is a standard Android message, which doesn't mean that the app is malicious. To remove it, you just have to press OK once and ignore it.
Check the free space (need ~50 MB) | Connect to Wi-Fi (to download without traffic) |Close all applications with input fields | Turn off battery savings for Play Store-->
Method 2: Configure the standard MIUI Keyboard
If you don't want to install third-party apps, you can try modifying the standard keyboard.
- Go to Settings → Additional → Language and Enter → Current Keyboard → MIUI Keyboard.
- The following options are available here: 🌍 Languages – Add/remove layouts (e.g. English, Russian, Ukrainian). 🎵 Key sounds – turn on/off sound when pressed. 📱 Vibration is tactile recoil. 🔍 Auto-replacement – adjusting the aggressiveness of the fixes.
Note the Dictionaries section, where you can download additional language packages, for example, if you need a Belarusian layout, you can add it here (if it is available for your version of MIUI).
| Parameter | Wherever | Recommended value |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-replacement | MIUI Keyboard → Text input → Auto-replacement | Disable (if often mistaken) |
| Prediction of text | MIUI Keyboard → Text Input → Prediction | Energize (accelerates set) |
| Pressing sound | MIUI Keyboard → General. → Keyboard sound | To taste (does not affect performance) |
| Vibration. | MIUI Keyboard → General. → Vibration. | Disable (saves battery) |
💡
If MIUI Keyboard doesn’t have the language you want, try updating MIUI to the latest version via Settings → About Phone → System Update. Sometimes new languages are added with firmware.
Method 3: Reset keyboard settings to factory
If the keyboard starts to glitches (for example, languages don't switch or letters disappear), resetting it will help, it will not delete your data, but return all parameters to the post-purchase state.
- Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Find the MIUI Keyboard (could be called the MIUI Keyboard).
- Open the application page and click Storage.
- At the bottom of the screen, select Clear Data and confirm the action.
Instructions:
- Connect Redmi 6A to your PC and confirm debugging permission.
- Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (Linux/macOS) and type: adb shell ime set com.google.android.inputmethod.latin/.LatinIME (this is a command for Gboard; for other keyboards, replace the package with the corresponding one).
- Reboot the phone.
Now Gboard will be the default keyboard, and MIUI won't be able to reset it. To return the default keyboard, do this:
adb shell ime set com.miui.internal.inputmethod.LatinIME⚠️ Attention: Wrong commands ADB If you're not sure, you better use the first three. MIUI settings may reset.
What if the ADB can’t see the phone?
Solving problems after changing the keyboard
Even after successfully installing a new keyboard, it can be difficult.
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Keyboard doesn't appear | Not selected by default | Press the keyboard icon in the notification bar and select the desired one |
| No Russian language | Language packet not downloaded | Open the keyboard settings and add the language |
| Lags upon entry | Little RAM. | Close the background apps or restart the phone |
| Emojis are not working. | An outdated version of the keyboard | Update the app in the Play Store |
If it turns off on its own after installing Gboard or another keyboard, check:
- 🔋 Battery settings: possibly the system optimizes keyboard operation (Settings) → Battery → Battery Optimization – Add Keyboard to Exceptions).
- 📱 Security settings: Some antiviruses block third-party keyboards as 'suspicious».
- 🔄 Updates: log into the Play Store and update the keyboard to the latest version.
💡
If the keyboard is slowing down, try turning off animations in the developer settings (Settings → Additional → For Developers → Animation Scale – select “No Animation”).
How to return the standard MIUI keyboard?
If the experiment with alternative keyboards failed, you can return the standard MIUI Keyboard in two ways:
- Through Settings: Go to Settings → Additional → Language and input → Current keyboard. Turn off the switch from a third-party keyboard (e.g. Gboard). Activate MIUI Keyboard.
- Reset: Remove the third-party keyboard (Settings → Applications → Application Management → Gboard → Delete).Reboot the phone and the system will automatically return the standard one.
If the MIUI Keyboard does not appear after removing the third-party keyboard, check:
- 🔄 Is it not in the settings (language and input) → Keyboard management).
- 📱 Is the system keyboard damaged (in this case, only flashing will help).