Xiaomi smartphone owners often face the desire to personalize their device, making it more convenient for daily use. One of the most important parts of the interface that the user interacts with constantly is the on-screen keyboard. The standard input option preinstalled in the MIUI shell may not suit you with its functionality, appearance or autocorrection quality. Fortunately, the Android system on which the Redmi 9 Pro is based makes it easy to replace the standard input tool with any other from the app store.
The process of changing the keyboard to Redmi 9 Pro does not require superuser rights or complex technical manipulations. It is enough to download the preferred application and adjust the system parameters correctly. In this guide, we will discuss all the steps in detail from choosing the right software to fine-tuning the input parameters to make printing faster and more enjoyable.
We will not only look at standard installation methods, but also look at the possible problems that you may encounter in the process. Understanding how the input control system works in MIUI 12 or more new versions will help you avoid common mistakes and quickly adapt the smartphone to your individual needs.
Selecting the optimal application for text input
Before you start the technical part of the replacement, you need to decide what product you want to see on the screen of your Redmi 9 Pro. The mobile application market offers many options, each of which has its own unique features and target audience. The choice depends on what is more important to you: speed of dialing, voice input, support for multiple languages or minimalist design.
The most popular solution for Android devices is Googleβs Gboard, which offers excellent integration with the system, a powerful word prediction algorithm and swipe-in capabilities. For those who value flexibility and rich functionality, Microsoftβs SwiftKey, which is famous for its adaptability to the userβs print style, and lighter alternatives such as Typewise or Minuum, which offer custom layouts to save space on the screen, are a great choice.
When choosing, consider the frequency of developer updates and the availability of ads that may occur in free versions of some applications. It is also important to check compatibility with your version of Android, although most modern keyboards support a wide range of operating systems.
- π± Gboard is the best choice for most users thanks to its stability and integration with Google services.
- β¨οΈ SwiftKey is ideal for those who print a lot and in several languages at the same time.
- π¨ Facemoji β suitable for lovers of bright design, emoji and those with characters.
- π Simple Keyboard β a minimalist solution for old devices or fans of simplicity without unnecessary functionality.
β οΈ Note: Download text input apps only from official sources, such as Google Play Market.Install keyboards from unverified files APK This can lead to a leak of personal data, as these apps have access to everything you type, including passwords.
Once you have identified a replacement, move on to install it. The boot process is standard for any Android operating system and should not cause difficulties even for beginners. However, immediately after installation, the new keyboard will not work β this will require you to perform a number of settings in the system menu of your Xiaomi.
Installation and initial activation of the new keyboard
Once you download the selected application from the Google Play store, the system will automatically prompt you to activate the new input method. If this does not happen immediately, you will have to do it manually through the settings. On Xiaomi smartphones with a MIUI shell, the activation process has its own features related to the manufacturer's security policy.
To start, open the app you just installed. Often, when you first run it will redirect you to the right system settings section. If that doesn't happen, go to the main settings menu of your smartphone. Find the section that handles the extra settings of the system, where the language and input settings are usually hidden. The path may vary slightly from one version of MIUI, but the logic remains the same.
You need to find the optional settings, and then select Language and input, and you'll see all the input methods available at the moment, and you'll see a list where only the standard MIUI keyboard is active. Your task is to find the app you just installed and switch the slider to the active position, and the system will issue a security risk alert, because a third-party keyboard can theoretically read the data.
βοΈ Keyboard activation
Confirm your acceptance of the warning by pressing OK or Allow. After that, the new keyboard will appear on the list of available keyboards, but it will still not be the main one. To start using it, you need to take another step: choose it as the default input method. Without this action, Redmi 9 Pro will continue to use the standard MIUI keyboard in all applications.
Importantly, in some cases, the system may require confirmation via a fingerprint or password to unlock the screen before making changes to input methods, a standard Android security procedure designed to prevent unauthorized installation of malware masquerading as a keyboard.
Setting the default keyboard in MIUI
Once you activate the new input method in the previous step, you need to prioritize it. In the Language and Enter menu, find the default Current Keyboard or Keyboard. When you click on it, you'll see a list of all the input tools you've previously activated. Select the application you want to use all the time.
The system can show a pop-up again with a keyboard change warning. This is a normal MIUI shell reaction. Confirm the choice, and from now on, any time you call the text input field (in messages, browser, notes), a new keyboard will appear. If you suddenly want to temporarily return to the old one, a globe or key icon will often appear in the lower right corner of the keyboard, allowing you to quickly switch between active methods.
Redmi 9 Pro owners should know that MIUI shell sometimes aggressively closes the background processes to save battery. To keep your new keyboard running smoothly and not crashing, it is recommended to go to the application settings, find the Battery partition and select No restrictions mode, which will prevent the system from forcing the input service to stop.
β οΈ Note: After changing the default keyboard, the standard keyboard MIUI It will stop appearing automatically, but will remain in the system. Do not delete it completely unless you are sure of the stability of the new one, as it serves as a backup option in case of failure.
Now that the new keyboard is activated, you can move on to fine-tuning it. Most of today's keyboards offer a huge array of settings, from the height of the panels and the sounds of the taps to the design and dictionaries, and ignoring those settings makes it impossible for you to fully unleash the potential of your chosen application.
Usually, access to the settings of a particular keyboard is in the same language and input menu where you chose the default method. Often there will be a separate item with the name of the installed keyboard (for example, Gboard Settings), and you can also get into the settings by holding the gear icon on the keyboard itself when it is displayed on the screen.
Fine setting of input and design parameters
Personalization is a key step in making the standard tool a handy assistant. In the keyboard settings on the Redmi 9 Pro, you can change the height of the panel, which is especially true for devices with large screens, allowing you to reach the buttons with the thumb of one hand.
You can choose a finished design from the gallery, upload your own photo from the gallery, or create a theme from scratch by matching keyboard colors and fonts. The visual component is important, because you look at the keyboard most of the time you spend with your smartphone. Some keyboards even allow you to change the background depending on the time of day.
Tweaking the vocabulary and autocorrecting is another critical aspect: word prediction algorithms take time to learn, but you can speed up the process. In the Text or Correction section, you can add commonly used words that the system doesn't know, or you can prevent replacing certain abbreviations, and you can avoid the constant and annoying correction of specific terms or names.
- π Height β Increase the height of the keyboard if you have thumbs to improve accuracy.
Be sure to check your multilingual settings if you use multiple languages. Adding layouts allows you to switch between them with a single touch or swipe over a space. MIUI sometimes encounters a conflict of language settings between the system and the keyboard, so make sure that the system also adds the desired language.
Secrets of Quick Printing
The correct adjustment of the height and padding of the keyboard can significantly affect ergonomics. On the Redmi 9 Pro with its screen diagonal, it is important that the input area does not overlap too much of the content, but the buttons remain quite large.
Comparison of popular keyboards for Xiaomi
To make it easier for you to finally decide on the choice, we have prepared a comparative table of the main characteristics of the most popular keyboards available for installation on Xiaomi Redmi 9 Pro. Each of them has its own strengths, and the choice depends on your personal preferences and printing habits.
Here are the key differences that will help you weigh the pros and cons. Pay attention to the features that are important to you, such as gesture support or built-in translator.
| Function/Keyboard | Gboard | SwiftKey | Facemoji | Simple Keyboard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prediction of words | Excellent. | Excellent. | Good. | Basic |
| Swipe entry | There is. | There is. | There is. | No. |
| Design topics | Many. | Very much. | A huge choice. | Minimum. |
| Memory consumption | Average. | High. | High. | Minimum |
| Voice input | Built-in. | Built-in. | Depends on the version. | No. |
As the table shows, Gboard and SwiftKey are the frontrunners in functionality, while Simple Keyboard wins in speed on weak devices, although the Redmi 9 Pro has enough power for either.Facemoji is worth choosing for those who like to constantly change the look and use a lot of emoji.
It's also worth mentioning that some keyboards may offer built-in features that go beyond just typing. GIF-Animations, stickers, or even phrase translations on the fly, which can be useful in instant messengers, but can be distracting if you just want the cleanliness of the printing process.
Choosing a keyboard is a matter of taste, but functionality should always come first. Don't be afraid to experiment: you can always uninstall an app and put another if the current one doesn't live up to expectations.
Removal and resetting of settings
You may encounter a variety of problems when you use a new keyboard on the Xiaomi Redmi 9 Pro, the most common being the keyboard freezes or shuts it down spontaneously, often due to a lack of RAM or conflicting versions of Android and the app, and cleaning the keyboard cache through the app menu helps.
If the keyboard stopped appearing when typing, check if it turned off in the language and input settings. Sometimes MIUI updates can reset the priorities of input methods. Also, the problem may be that the application has been "sucked" by the energy saving system, in which case it will help to restart the smartphone or re-activate in the settings.
If a new keyboard is not working properly, is buggy or is interfering with printing, it can be easily removed or rolled back. To return a standard MIUI keyboard, just go to the settings and select it as the primary one, and then uninstall the third-party app through the application management menu. If the keyboard has locked the screen and doesn't give you anything to do, try running the phone in Safe Mode.
β οΈ Note: If the keyboard has completely locked the device and you canβt get into the settings, try running Google Assistant (if configured) and asking to open the settings or plug in. USB-mouse-wise OTG-Adapter to be able to control the cursor and correct the situation.
To completely reset your keyboard to factory settings, look for Reset or Clear the Dictionary in its settings, which will return the prediction algorithms to their original state, which can be useful if autocorrection begins to work inadequately after prolonged use.
π‘
If the keyboard is slowing down, try to reduce the number of active widgets on it (weather, clipboard) and turn off the animation of the presses in the settings of the keyboard itself.
Regularly updating the keyboard app through the Play Market helps to fix bugs and improve compatibility with new versions of communication apps.Don't ignore update notifications, as they often contain fixes for critical bugs.