How to change the color of the keyboard on Xiaomi: 5 working ways for MIUI 12-14

The keyboard on Xiaomi smartphones is not just a typing tool, but part of the interface that can emphasize your style. Many users do not even realize that the standard gray or white MIUI keyboard can be easily repainted into any color, from gentle pastel to bright neon. Moreover, depending on the model (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13T, etc.) and the firmware version (MIUI 12-14), there are different ways of customization, from built-in themes to manual tuning through hidden settings.

In this article, we will discuss all the current methods of changing the color of the keyboard on Xiaomi, including official and alternative solutions.

• 🎨 Apply ready-made themes from Themes with a modified keyboard design;
• 🔧 Customize color manually through keyboard settings (if available);
• 📱 Install third-party keyboards with extended customization;
• 🔄 Return the standard view if the experiment fails.

Importantly, not all methods work on all models — for example, on POCO with lightweight firmware, there may be no theme section, and we will specify the limitations for each method.

1. Color change through the "Themes" app

The easiest and safest way is to use the built-in Themes app, which is pre-installed on all Xiaomi smartphones and allows you to change not only the wallpaper, but also the design of system elements, including the keyboard.

How it works:

1. Open the Themes app (icon with brush).
2. Go to the Keyboard tab or search for the “keyboard” query.
3. Choose your favorite theme – some only change the background, others change the color of buttons, font and even animations.
4. Click Apply and confirm the changes.

🔹 Limitations of method:

• 🚫 Not all themes are free – some require a purchase for MI Credit;
• 🔄 After updating MIUI The applied theme may be thrown off;
• 📱 Nana POCO M5 Other budget models, the choice of keyboard themes is often limited.

2. Manual color change in the MIUI keyboard settings

On some devices (for example, Xiaomi 12/13 series with MIUI 13/14) in the keyboard settings there is an option to manually change color. This method does not require the installation of additional applications, but is not available on all firmware.

Instructions:

1. Open any field to enter text (for example, in Notes).
2. Touch the badge. ⚙️ (gears) on the keyboard to open Settings.
3. Select Keyboard Themes → Color (or Appearance Customization).
4. Move the slider to select a color or enter a hex code (e.g. #FF5733 for orange).

⚠️ Note: If your settings don't have Color, your model doesn't support Color.

3. Installation of third-party keyboards (Gboard, SwiftKey, etc.)

If the built-in options are not satisfied, you can install an alternative keyboard from Google Play.

• 🎨 Gboard (from Google) – supports changing theme, color of buttons and background;
• 🔤 SwiftKey (Microsoft) – flexible design customization and text prediction;
• ⚡ Fleksy – minimalist design with customization of gestures.

How to install and configure:

1. Download the keyboard from the Play Store (such as Gboard).
2. Activate it in Settings → System → Language and input → Current keyboard.
3. In the settings of the selected keyboard, find the Themes or Design section.
4. Choose a color scheme or create your own (Gboard has the option to Create your own theme).

💡 The Benefits of Third-Party Keyboards:

• 🔧 More customization options than in MIUI;
• 🌍 Support for multiple languages and layouts;
• ☁️ Synchronize settings between devices (for example, through a Google account).

💡

If after installing the new keyboard, Xiaomi emojis are missing, open its settings and turn on the “Show emoji” option (in Gboard these are Settings → Emoji, stickers and GIFs).

4.Use of APK-modes (for advanced users)

For those who are ready to experiment, there are modified versions of the MIUI system keyboard with advanced color settings, a method only suitable for users with unlocked bootloader and root rights.

🔹 Step-by-step instruction:

1. Download the modified APK-Keyboard file (for example, from the forum) XDA Developers or 4PDA).
2. Backup your original keyboard via Titanium Backup or ADB:
3. Install a modified APK via ADB or file manager with root rights.
4. Reboot the device and configure the new design in the keyboard settings.

⚠️ Attention: Installation of informal APK may lead to:

• 🚨 Loss of warranty (if the device is under warranty);
• 🔄 Unstable operation of the keyboard (hangs, errors);
• 🛡️ Security issues (if any) APK from an unreliable source).

Unlock the bootloader (bootloader)|Make a backup of the original keyboard|Download APK proven-source|Check compatibility with the version MIUI|Set through TWRP or ADB-->

5. Resetting keyboard settings to factory

If, after experimenting with colors, the keyboard began to work incorrectly (for example, the buttons were lost or the settings were lost), you can return everything to its original state.

🔹 Method 1: Through settings MIUI

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the MIUI (or LatinIME) keyboard and open its settings.
3. Press Warehouse. → Clear the data.
4. Confirm the action - it will reset all keyboard settings.

🔹 Method 2: Reinstall updates

If the reset didn’t help, try reinstalling the keyboard updates:

1. Open the Play Store.
2. Find the MIUI keyboard (if there is one).
3. Click Remove Updates, then update again.

💡 Tip: If after reset the keyboard became in English, return the language to Settings → System system → Language and input → Physical keyboard.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When you change the color of your keyboard, Xiaomi users often encounter common errors, and we've compiled the most common ones and how to fix them.

⚠️ Note: If after changing the color the keyboard began to switch to English layout, check the language settings in Settings → Additionally. → Language and input → keyboard MIUI → Languages, maybe the priority of layouts has lost.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions

💡

Third-party keyboards (Gboard, SwiftKey) offer more customization options than standard MIUI, but can consume more RAM.