How to change the size of the keyboard on the Xiaomi phone

Modern Xiaomi smartphones are equipped with high-diagonal displays that allow you to comfortably consume content, but often creates difficulties when typing. A standard keyboard can seem too small for the user’s fingers or, conversely, occupy an excessive screen area, blocking the view in messengers. The ability to adjust the dimensions of a virtual input tool is critical for ergonomics and printing speed.

The Android operating system, which runs MIUI and HyperOS shells, has multiple layers of control over this parameter, you can change the height of the panels, the font size, or use one-handed control mode, and understanding these mechanisms allows you to tailor the interface to your individual anatomical features and preferences.

In this article, we will take a look at all the customization methods available, and we will look at the standard system tools, the hidden parameters of the developer and the capabilities of third-party applications. Changing the size of the keyboard through the system font settings affects all text fields, not just the input bar, an important nuance that is often forgotten by beginners.

Basic configuration through system parameters

The first and most obvious way to change the size of the input area is to use the operating system’s built-in menus. Xiaomi smartphones use the default Gboard or Mi Keyboard keyboard, the settings of which are integrated into the common interface.

Find the option section and go to the language and input menu, and here you will see a list of all active input methods, select the keyboard you are currently using, and in the menu that opens, look for the preference or sharing option.

Within the settings menu, there's often a slider that adjusts the height of the panels, and by moving it, you can make rows of buttons higher or lower. This change applies instantly and doesn't require rebooting applications. If there's no standard slider, the system can suggest you choose one size: small, medium or large.

⚠️ Note: With a strong decrease in keyboard height, buttons may become too small, leading to frequent typos and reduced typing speed.

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Use the “getting stuck Keyboard” function if the standard size change does not give the desired result – this will allow you to move the panel to any point on the screen.

Adjustment through font and display scale

If the built-in keyboard settings don't provide enough flexibility, you can use the system display settings. In MIUI and HyperOS, the size of many interface elements, including the virtual keyboard, is directly dependent on the global font size, and changing this parameter will affect not only the text, but also the size of the buttons.

To implement this method, go to the basic settings of the phone. Find the section that is responsible for the screen and brightness. In this menu, you will have a text size slider. By increasing the value, you automatically expand the area occupied by the characters on the keyboard. The decrease in value leads to the opposite effect.

It's worth noting that this method affects the entire system. App interfaces, settings menus, and system notifications will also change their appearance, which can be useful for visually impaired users, but can disrupt the layout in some third-party applications that are not optimized for large fonts.

• 📱 Go to Settings. → Screen to access display parameters.
• 🔍 Find the text size or font size item in the list of available options.
• ⚖️ Use the slider to select a comfortable value while watching the preview.

Use of one-handed mode

Large-screen smartphone owners often face the challenge of not being able to reach the center of the keyboard with their thumb, and Xiaomi engineers have introduced a one-handed mode to address this problem, which not only changes size, but shifts and shrinks the workspace to make it accessible.

This function is usually activated through a control panel or special gestures, and in the settings of the Gboard or Mi Keyboard, you need to find a section dedicated to one-handed control, where you can choose which side of the screen will be located on a smaller copy of the keyboard.

When this mode is activated, the keyboard shrinks to about 70-80% of its original size and presses against the selected edge of the screen, the rest of the display becomes transparent or darkened, which allows you to type comfortably with the phone in one hand, without having to reach across the screen.

Settings → Additional settings → Language and input → One-handed control

It's important to understand the difference between simply reducing the height and one-handed mode. The first option keeps the width of the keyboard, changing only the density of the buttons vertically. The second option proportionally reduces the entire input unit, preserving the proportions of the buttons, but their overall size.

⚠️ One-hand mode may not work properly in applications that use their own virtual keyboards instead of the system keyboard.

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One-hand mode is the ideal solution for smartphone owners with a screen diagonal of more than 6.5 inches.

Configure third-party keyboards: Gboard and SwiftKey

Staff tools don’t always meet the needs of advanced users, and installing alternative typing apps like Google’s Gboard or Microsoft’s SwiftKey provides much more flexible customization tools, which allow you to change not only height, but also width, indentation, and even theme.

In the Gboard app, you can set your size in the Settings menu → Preferences → Keyboard Size. There's a slider available to change the height of the panel to pixel accuracy. Gboard also allows you to turn on and off the top row with numbers, which also affects the area you occupy.

SwiftKey offers a one-handed mode feature with three positioning options (left, right, center) and the ability to fine-tune the size. You can make the keyboard compact or, conversely, stretch it over the entire screen for maximum accuracy on the keys.

• 📥 Download the selected application from the official Google Play store.
• ⚙️ Activate the new keyboard in the Android system settings.
• 🎨 Open the settings of the application itself for detailed sizing calibration.
• 🔄 Switch between languages to check the correctness of the display.

Using third-party solutions gives the advantage of regular updates and new features that may not appear in the standard Xiaomi keyboard soon. However, it is worth remembering the permissions you give the application, since the keyboard has access to all the text you enter.

Comparison of the possibilities of setting different keyboards

To make it easier for you to choose the best text tool, we have prepared a comparison table that shows the differences in size adjustment options between standard and popular third-party solutions available for installation on Xiaomi.

The table shows that Gboard and SwiftKey offer more flexible height settings through the use of sliders, while the standard Mi keyboard is limited to fixed presets. However, for most users, basic Mi Keyboard settings are enough.

If you need a specific configuration, such as splitting the keyboard into two parts for easy thumb printing on tablets or fabulets, the choice is narrowed to third-party solutions.

Advanced settings and developer parameters

For users who aren’t afraid to experiment with system settings, there is access to hidden menus. Enabling developer mode on Xiaomi opens up access to interface zoom options, which can globally resize all elements, including the keyboard.

To activate this mode, you need to quickly click on the MIUI/HyperOS version number seven times in the About Phone section. Once you have become a developer, a new option will appear in the settings menu, and you can find the Smallest Width option.

Changing the default value of this parameter (usually 360 or 392 dp) allows you to force the pixel density to change. Reducing the number will make all elements, including the keyboard, larger. Increasing the number is smaller. Be careful: wrong values can make the interface unreadable.

⚠️ Note: Remember the initial value of the "Less Width" setting before changing. If you set too much or too little, the interface may become unusable, and you have to reset your phone settings.

It is a “nuclear” method that affects the entire operating system and is not recommended for regular use by ordinary users, but can be useful for people with severe visual impairments or for testing interfaces.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)