How to change the keyboard on the Xiaomi phone: all ways and life hacks

Standard keyboard MIUI or HyperOS on Xiaomi, Redmi and smartphones POCO Some people want to install the familiar Gboard from Google, some lack emojis or themes, and some people encounter bugs when typing text in two languages at the same time. In this article, we will analyze all possible ways to change the keyboard - from the basic installation of the alternative layout to solving typical problems after replacing the keyboard.

Although the process seems simple, many users have difficulties: the keyboard does not change after installation, languages disappear or gestures do not work. MIUI, And we'll also tell you how to get back the standard keyboard if the experiment fails.

If you are using Xiaomi on HyperOS (new firmware) 2026 Note: Some menu paths may differ from the usual ones MIUI 12-14. We’ll note all the key differences to make sure the instruction works on any device – from Redmi Note. 12 to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

Before you start making changes, check the version of your firmware in Settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI/HyperOS. This will help to avoid confusion with the location of menu items.

1. How to install an alternative keyboard (Gboard, SwiftKey, etc.)

The most popular way to change the keyboard is to install a third-party application from Google Play. Most often, users choose Gboard (from Google), SwiftKey (from Microsoft) or Fleksy for their advanced functionality.

1. Download the keyboard from the official store:

• 🔹 Gboard – the most versatile, with support for gestures and translator
• 🔹 SwiftKey is the best for multitasking and text prediction
• 🔹 Fleksy – Minimalist with flexible settings

2. Once installed, open a keyboard app (like Gboard) and follow the setup wizard. Importantly, add all the languages you want to use in the layout selection phase, which will be harder to do later.

3. Activate the keyboard in the system settings:

Settings → Additional → Language and input → Current keyboard

Select the keyboard you have installed (such as Gboard) and switch on the switch next to its name.

Download the application from the official store|Check compatibility with the Android version|Add the required languages in the keyboard settings|Make a backup copy of the user dictionary (if any)-->

If your new keyboard doesn't appear on the Current Keyboard list, reboot your phone. MIUI Do not update the list immediately after installation.

2. How to make a third-party keyboard default keyboard

Installing the application is not enough, you need to explicitly specify which keyboard to use by default, otherwise, when you open any text field, a standard one will appear. MIUI-keyboard.

Instructions for MIUI 14 and older:

1. Open Settings → Additional → Language and input.
2. Click on Current Keyboard (or Keyboard Management in HyperOS).
3. Turn on the switch next to the name of the installed keyboard (such as Gboard).
4. Push the gear. ⚙️ Next to the name and select Use by default.

For HyperOS (2026), the path is a bit different:

Settings → Personalization → Language and Region → Keyboard and Input → Current Keyboard

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If the emojis are missing after changing the keyboard, open the settings of the new keyboard (for example, Gboard) and manually enable support for emojis in the "Themes" or "Additional" section.

After this, the new keyboard should automatically appear when you type. If this does not happen, try forcefully changing the keyboard directly in the text box:

1. Tap the field to enter text (for example, in a message or browser).
2. On the notification panel will appear the icon of the keyboard – click on it.
3. Select the desired keyboard from the list.

3. Configure languages and layouts on a new keyboard

One of the main reasons for changing the keyboard is that you can easily switch between languages. MIUI-This feature often fails on keyboards, especially when using three or more languages. Here's how to set up languages in popular keyboards:

For Gboard:

1. Open the Gboard app from the app menu.
2. Go to the languages → Add a keyboard.
3. Select the languages you want (for example, Russian, English (USA), Ukrainian).
4. Enable the option Multitasking input to swipe over the space.

For SwiftKey:

• 🌍 Go to the application settings and select Languages.
• 📱 Add the languages you need and tick text prediction for each.
• 🔄 Enable Quick Switching in the Input Settings.

Problems with languages in MIUI:

⚠️ Note: If after installing a new keyboard, some languages are not displayed in the list (for example, Tatar or Kazakh), check if they are added in the system settings: → Additionally. → Language and input → Languages Without adding language to the system, the keyboard will not be able to use it.

For convenience, you can configure the hot switch keys:

• 🔠 In Gboard: Settings → keyboard → Language switching → Select Swipe by space or Switch button.
• 🔠 In SwiftKey: Settings → Entering → Language switching → set up a double-click of space.

4. How to Return a Standard Keyboard MIUI/HyperOS

If the experiment with a new keyboard fails or it is unstable, you can easily return the standard one.

1. Open the settings:

Settings → Additional → Language and input → Current keyboard

2. Find the keyboard in the list MIUI (or HyperOS keyboard for new devices) and turn on the switch next to it.

3.Push the gear. ⚙️ Next to the name and select Use by default.

If the standard keyboard disappeared from the list (this happens after resetting), it can be returned through a hidden menu:

1. Open any text field (for example, in a notebook).
2. Press and hold the keyboard icon in the notification panel.
3. In the window that appears, select the keyboard settings.
4. Click Reset settings – this will return the standard keyboard.

5. Solving typical problems after changing the keyboard

Even when installed correctly, new keyboards can malfunction, and here are the most common problems and solutions.

Problem 1: The keyboard does not appear when you type text

• 🔄 Reboot your phone – it resets temporary conflicts.
• 📱 Check if the keyboard is included in Settings → Applications (whether it is not forcibly disabled).
• 🔧 Delete keyboard data: Settings → Annexes → [Keyboard name] → Warehouse → Clear the data.

Problem 2: Emojis or stickers are missing

⚠️ Note: HyperOS may not display emojis if the keyboard settings disabled the option to Show emojis in the sentence bar. Enable it in the Gboard or SwiftKey settings.

Problem 3: The keyboard is slowing or hanging

Problem 4: Voice input is not working

If voice input stopped working after installing Gboard, check:

1. Is the microphone on for the keyboard: Settings → Annexes → Gboard → Permits → Microphone.
2. Is Voice Data Set for Your Language: Gboard Settings → Voice input → Language downloading.

Standard. MIUI/HyperOS|Gboard|SwiftKey|Fleksy|other-->

6. Hidden Keyboard Chips on Xiaomi

Many users are unaware that both the standard and third-party keyboards on Xiaomi have hidden features that can be activated.

For the standard keyboard MIUI/HyperOS:

• 🎨 Topics: Keep your finger on the space → Select Topics (Available 5)+ color-code).
• 📏 Size change: Press the settings icon (⚙️) on the keyboard and drag the edges to scale.
• 🔤 One hand: In the keyboard settings, turn on Mode for one hand - the keyboard will move left or right.

For Gboard:

• 🧹 Clearing predictions: Keep your finger on the proposed word → Delete the offer.
• 🔍 Search for emoji: Click on the emoji → Enter a keyword (e.g., “heart").
• 📋 Buffer: Include history in Settings → The clipboard (saves the last 5 copied items).

For SwiftKey:

• 📊 Input analysis: There is a Statistics section in the settings that shows how many characters you typed in a week.
• 🖼️ Your own backgrounds: You can upload any image as a keyboard background.

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If you do not have enough functionality of the standard keyboard, but you do not want to install a third-party one - try to turn on the keyboard laboratory in the settings MIUI. There are hidden experimental features, such as gesture control or advanced themes.

7.How to completely remove unnecessary keyboard

If you decide to get rid of the standard keyboard or one of the third-party, you can do it in two ways - through settings or forcibly.

Method 1: Disconnect (without deleting)

1. Go to Settings → Applications.
2. Find the keyboard (such as the keyboard) MIUI) And press it.
3. Select Disable (this hides it from the system, but does not delete files).

Method 2: Complete removal (only for third-party keyboards)

1. Open the Settings → Applications.
2. Select a keyboard (e.g. SwiftKey).
3. Press Delete. → Confirm.

⚠️ Note: Remove the standard keyboard MIUI/HyperOS You can't -- it's a system application. You can only turn it off, but when you reset it will come back.

If after removing the keyboard, the phone starts to give errors (for example, "System keyboard not found"), return it via Google Play or reset settings.

8.The Best Alternatives to the Standard Keyboard for Xiaomi

The choice of keyboard depends on your tasks, and we tested dozens of options and selected the best ones for different scenarios:

For devices with low memory (e.g. Redmi) A1 or POCO C50) Fleksy or Simple Keyboard – they weigh less than 20 MB and do not load the system.

Important: If you use a keyboard to enter passwords or sensitive information, turn off the "Cloud Sync" and "Study Writing Style" options in its settings, which will prevent data leakage.

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing the keyboard to Xiaomi