Why keyboard with emoji interferes with Xiaomi users
The emoji keyboard on Xiaomi smartphones (including the Redmi, POCO and Mi models) often appears automatically when you update MIUI or install branded apps. Many users find it replaces the standard keyboard, slows down when typing or offers unnecessary emojis at inappropriate moments, especially annoying in messengers like Telegram or WhatsApp, where typing speed is important.
Complicating the problem is that in some versions of MIUI (e.g. 14.0.5), the emoji keyboard is integrated into the com.sohu.inputmethod.sogou.xiaomi system application and does not have a "Delete" button. Even after being disabled through settings, it can reappear after the device is restarted. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways of deleting, from simple to radical, including working with ADB and manual editing of system files.
Method 1: Disconnect via keyboard settings
The safest method is to deactivate the emoji keyboard in the keyboard control menu, which works on all Xiaomi devices with MIUI 12-15 and does not require superuser rights.
Instructions:
- 📱 Open the Settings. → System and device → Language and input.
- 🔍 Find the list of "Emoji Keyboard" or "Sogou Input".
- ⚙️ Stick to three points (⋮) Next to the name and select "Disable".
- 🔄 Reboot your smartphone to make changes take effect.
If the keyboard is activated again after the reboot, it's protected by the system, and the following method will help.
Make sure you have an alternative keyboard (Gboard, SwiftKey) installed.
Make a backup copy of important data
Check the version of MIUI in Settings → About the phone
The battery should be charged. >30%-->
Method 2: Remove keyboard updates
Often, the emoji keyboard appears after an automatic update via Google Play, in which case you can roll it back to the factory version.
How to do this:
- Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Find the "Emoji Keyboard" or com.sohu.inputmethod.sogou.xiaomi.
- Stick to three points (⋮) and select "Delete updates".
- Confirm the action and restart the device.
If the Remove Updates button is inactive, the application is system-based and does not have separate updates, in which case only complete removal via ADB (method 4) will help.
💡
After rolling back updates, block the automatic keyboard update in Google Play: open its page → three-point → “Disable auto-update”.
Method 3: Reset keyboard settings to factory
Sometimes the emoji keyboard is activated because of a failure in the input settings.Resetting to factory settings can solve the problem without removing the application itself.
Step-by-step:
- 🔧 Go to Settings. → System and device → Additionally. → Resetting settings.
- 🔄 Select "Reset App Settings" (not to be confused with a full reset!).
- 📱 Confirm the action and wait for the process to be completed.
- 🔑 After restarting, reconfigure the main keyboard (e.g., Gboard).
This method doesn't physically remove the keyboard, but it resets all of its settings, including forced display. If the problem persists, move on to radical measures.
What if the reset didn't help?
Method 4: Removal via ADB (without root)
If standard methods don’t work, you can remove the emoji keyboard via Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This method does not require the rights of a superuser, but requires a computer and a computer. USB-cable.
Instructions:
- Download and install ADB Tools on PC.
- Turn on "Debugging by" USB" on a smartphone: Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (tap 7 times) → return to Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB.
- Connect the phone to the PC and type in the command line:
adb devices
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.sohu.inputmethod.sogou.xiaomiIf the command is successful, the keyboard will be removed for the current user. For complete removal (including other users), use:
adb shell pm uninstall com.sohu.inputmethod.sogou.xiaomi💡
Removing via ADB does not require root rights, but after resetting the phone to factory settings, the keyboard may reappear.
Method 5: Manually delete system files (requires root)
For advanced users with unlocked bootloader and root rights, a radical method is available - deleting the keyboard system files, which is guaranteed to delete the application forever, but requires caution.
What needs to be done:
- Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or FX File Explorer).
- Go to /system/priv-app/SogouInput/ or /system/app/EmojiKeyboard/.
- Delete files: SogouInput.apk SogouInput.odex (if any) Lib folder (if present)
Reset the device.
⚠️ Warning: Incorrectly deleting system files can lead to bootloop ( looped boot).Before actions, back up through TWRP Or OrangeFox.
| Deleting method | Need root? | Reversibility | Risk to the system |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disconnection in settings | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No. |
| Removal of updates | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No. |
| Resetting settings | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. | ⚠️ Low. |
| Removal via ADB | ❌ No. | ❌ No (no reset) | ⚠️ Medium. |
| Manual deletion of files | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No. | ❗ High-pitched |
What to do if the emoji keyboard appears again
In some cases, after updating the MIUI or resetting the keyboard, the emoji may return, because it is written in the system image of the firmware, to prevent it from reappearing:
- 🔒 Turn off automatic updates of system applications in Google Play.
- 📵 Install an alternative keyboard (like Gboard) and make it default.
- 🛡️ Use apps like App Inspector or Package Disabler to block com.sohu.inputmethod.sogou.xiaomi.
- 🔄 Check the keyboard list in settings regularly after updates.
If the problem comes back after each MIUI update, consider switching to custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience) that lacks proprietary Xiaomi apps.
Gboard (Google)
SwiftKey (Microsoft)
Standard MIUI
Emoji Keyboard (Xiaomi)
other-->