How to set up a keyboard on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8: from language to gestures

The keyboard on your smartphone is not just a typing tool, but a whole input control center that can be adapted to your needs. MIUI There are several keyboard options available: standard MIUI Xiaomi's Keyboard, Google's popular Gboard and third-party solutions. But how do you choose the best settings among these? Why do characters sometimes go missing, and autocorrects persist in correcting the right words for the wrong ones?

In this article, we will analyze not only basic parameters such as changing the language or theme of the design, but also hidden functions: adjusting the sensitivity of swipes, controlling vibration when pressed, as well as solving typical problems - from sudden crashes to conflicts between several installed keyboards. We will pay special attention to the differences between MIUI Keyboard and Gboard so you can consciously choose which keyboard to use to text, search or work with documents.

It is important to understand that the settings may vary slightly depending on the version. MIUI (for example, MIUI 12 vs MIUI 14), but the basics remain the same. If your Redmi Note 8 hasn't been updated in a long time, some menu items may be in other sections - we'll mention that too.

1. Select and activate the default keyboard

Before you set up your keyboard, you need to decide which one you will use. The Redmi Note 8 has two main keyboards installed by default:

• 🔹 MIUI Keyboard – Xiaomi’s proprietary solution with integration into the ecosystem MIUI (Quick access to stickers and translators).
• 🔹 Gboard – Google’s keyboard with advanced features like GIF search, real-time translator and gesture support.

To select the default keyboard:

1. Open Settings → System and device → Language and input.
2. Tap the current keyboard (or keyboard management in older versions of MIUI).
3. Turn on switches opposite the desired keyboards (for example, Gboard and Gboard). MIUI Keyboard).
4. Press the default keyboard and select your preferred option.

If Gboard is not listed, you can install it for free from Google Play Market. After installation, be sure to return to your settings and activate it as described above.

⚠️ Note: If the characters on the screen are not displayed correctly after changing the keyboard (for example, instead of letters - squares), check the language settings in the keyboard itself. Often the problem is solved by adding the desired layout directly in the keyboard interface (button with a globe or gear).

2. Adding and removing layout languages

One of the most popular features is the ability to quickly switch between multiple languages. On the Redmi Note 8, this can be done in two ways: through system settings or directly in the keyboard interface.

Method 1: Through the MIUI settings

1. Go to Settings → System and Device → Language and Input → Current Keyboard.
2. Select an active keyboard (e.g. MIUI Keyboard).
3. Slip on the item "Input languages" and add the necessary layouts (English, Ukrainian, German, etc.).

Method 2: Through the keyboard interface (faster)

1. Open any field to enter text (e.g., in Messages).
2. Click on the globe icon (or gear) on the keyboard.
3. Select Language Settings → Add tongue.

To remove the unnecessary layout, take the same steps and swipe the tongue left in the list or click on the cross (depending on the version). MIUI).

⚠️ Note: If after adding a new language, the keyboard starts to "hang" when switching, try turning off text prediction for that language in the keyboard settings.

Customization of appearance: themes, size and transparency

The look of the keyboard affects not only aesthetics, but also user experience. On the Redmi Note 8, you can change:

• 🎨 Color theme (dark/light, gradients, custom colors).
• 📏 Key size (useful for thumbs or small screen).
• 👁️ Transparency (to ensure that the keyboard does not distract from the content).
• 🔤 Font and button style (rounded or rectangular).

For MIUI Keyboard:

1. Open the Settings. → System and device → Language and input → MIUI Keyboard → Themes and layout.
2. Select one of the pre-installed themes or click Download themes for additional options.
3. In the layout section, you can change the height of the keyboard and the size of the buttons.

For Gboard:

1. Go to Settings. → System system → Language and input → Gboard → Topics.
2. In addition to standard themes, there is a feature Create your theme, where you can choose the color of the keys, frames and background.
3. In the section Settings of the keyboard → Size set the height.

On the Redmi Note 8 with MIUI 12.5 and above MIUI Keyboard has Responsive Theme, which automatically adjusts to the desktop wallpaper. To enable it, go to Keyboard Settings. → Topics → Adaptive theme.

Choose a dark or light topic|Adjust the height of the keyboard|Transparency settings (if applicable)|Download additional topics (optional)|Check the visibility of symbols in the sun-->

4.Input optimization: autocorrection, swipes and gestures

Modern keyboards can not only type, but also predict words, correct typos, and support gesture input (swipe). On the Redmi Note 8, these functions are configured separately for each keyboard.

For MIUI Keyboard:

• 🔄 Autocorrection: Settings → Ordinance → Autocorrection (you can turn off or adjust aggression).
• ✍️ Gesture input: Settings → Gesture input (turn on the slider and select the language for swipes).
• 🔍 Prediction of text: Settings → Ordinance → Prediction of text (can be disabled for specific applications).

For Gboard:

• 🔄 Error correction: Settings → Correction of text → Autocorrection.
• ✍️ Glide Typing (similar to swipes): Settings → Gesture input.
• 📊 Personalization of predictions: settings → Dictionary → Personal dictionary (you can add your own words).

If autocorrection is too intrusive, try to reduce its sensitivity or even turn it off for specific applications (for example, for Telegram or Word). → Correction of text → Settings for applications.

⚠️ Note: Swipe may conflict with certain gestures MIUI, For example, swipe down to call the notification bar. If the keyboard accidentally folds when dialing, check the gesture settings in Settings. → Screen. → Gestures.

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If the keyboard often offers nonthose words that you don't need, clear its cache. → Annexes → Application management → [Keyboard name] → Warehouse → Clear the cache.

5 Additional Features: Voice Input, Emoji and Quick Responses

The keyboards on the Redmi Note 8 support not only text input, but also a variety of support functions that speed up communication.

Voice input:

• 🎤 In Gboard: tap the microphone icon on the keyboard and say the text. Supports recognition without an Internet connection (you need to download the language in the settings).
• 🎤 V MIUI Keyboard: Voice input is only available when connected to the network.

Emoji and stickers:

• 😊 In both keyboards, emojis tap on the emoji icon. Gboard has an emoji search (just start typing the word, like "heart»).
• 🏷️ V MIUI Keyboard integrated stickers MIUI — They are available in a separate tab next to the emoji.

Quick answers and clipboard:

• 📋 Gboard has a built-in clipboard manager (an icon with two documents) and saves the last copied fragments.
• ⚡ V MIUI Keyboard Quick Answers Configure into Settings → Quick answers (you can add templates for the SMS messenger).

If you often have to type the same phrases (such as address or greeting), add them to your personal dictionary. → Dictionary → Personal dictionary, and in MIUI Keyboard - in Settings → User's dictionary.

6. Solving typical keyboard problems

Even on stable versions. MIUI Redmi Note 8 users sometimes encounter keyboard bugs. Let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them.

Problem 1: The keyboard doesn't appear

• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone – often it solves temporary crashes.
• 🔧 Check if the keyboard is included in Settings → System and device → Language and input.
• 📱 If the problem is in a particular application (for example, VK), clean his cache.

Problem 2: Lags or slows down when dialing

• 🗑️ Clear the keyboard cache in Settings → Annexes → [Keyboard name] → Warehouse.
• 🔄 Turn off text prediction and autocorrection in keyboard settings.
• 📱 If the lags appeared after the update MIUI, Try to roll back to the previous version of the keyboard (download). APK proven-source).

Problem 3: Languages are not switched

• 🌐 Make sure more than one language is added in the keyboard settings.
• 🔄 Check the switching method: in Gboard it is swipe by space, in MIUI Keyboard - tap on the globe.
• 🔧 If languages are lost after resetting, add them again (see section 2).

Problem 4: Vibration when pressed does not work

• 🔊 Check if vibration is enabled in the keyboard settings (Settings) → Sound and vibration).
• 📱 Make sure that the system vibration is not turned off in Settings → Sound and vibration → Press vibration.
• 🔧 If the vibration works in other applications but not in the keyboard, reinstall it.

⚠️ Note: If after the update MIUI The keyboard has started to behave inadequately (for example, missing buttons or changed layout), try resetting its settings. To do this, in the keyboard settings, find Reset settings or Restore default settings.

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If the keyboard has stopped working completely and the reboot is not helping, try installing a third-party keyboard (like SwiftKey) and making it the default keyboard, which will help temporarily resolve the problem until you restore the main keyboard.

Comparison MIUI Keyboard and Gboard: What to Choose?

Both keyboards have their pros and cons, so let's compare them by key parameters to make it easier for you to make a choice.

The choice depends on your priorities:

• 🔹 If you want to integrate with the Xiaomi ecosystem (stickers, quick answers, translator), choose the right one. MIUI Keyboard.
• 🔹 If you need advanced functionality (offline voice input, clipboard history, exact swipe), stop at Gboard.
• 🔹 For maximum customization (thems, flexible layout settings) is also suitable Gboard.

Feel free to install both keyboards and switch between them depending on the task, MIUI Keyboard is convenient for messages in MIUI-messengers, and Gboard – for working with documents or searching for information.

FAQ: Frequent questions about keyboard settings