How to Disable or Remove Google Keyboard on Xiaomi

The Google keyboard (known as Gboard) is the default on most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones — even if you haven’t downloaded it separately. For many users, it becomes an unnecessary ballast: it takes up space in memory, displays ads in the sentence bar, and conflicts with the brand’s MIUI keyboard. Unfortunately, a simple click on “Delete” in the app menu often doesn’t work — the system blocks the uninstallation of system components.

In this article you will find 5 Proven ways to get rid of Gboard on Xiaomi – from a simple shutdown to a complete removal through the ADB. We will analyze the nuances for different versions MIUI (including MIUI 14/15 And we'll warn you of the consequences, and we'll show you how to get the keyboard back if something goes wrong. 13 Pro, Redmi Note 12 and POCO X5.

Why Google Keyboards Are Not Deleted in the Standard Way

When you try to delete Gboard through Settings → Apps, you will likely see a gray “Delete” button or a message “Application disabled by administrator.”

• 📱 Gboard is embedded in firmware as a system app on many Xiaomi devices, especially with Google Mobile Services preinstalled (GMS).
• 🔒 Politics MIUI Blocks the removal of key Google services to avoid problems with other applications (such as Play Market or YouTube).
• 🛡️ Protection from “crooked hands”: the manufacturer fears that users will accidentally remove important components and contact the service center.

However, this doesn’t mean that getting rid of the keyboard is impossible, but we’ll look at workarounds below, from safely shutting down to drastically removing it via ADB (with risk warnings!).

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models for China (without) GMS) Gboard may not be available initially. Check the list of installed keyboards in Settings → Additionally. → Language and input.

Method 1: Disable Gboard via MIUI settings (without root)

The easiest and safest method is to deactivate the keyboard without removing it completely, which will stop it from working in the background and hide it from the list of available keyboards.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the search bar, type “Gboard” or “Google Keyboard”.
3. Slip on the app and select “Disable” (may be called “Deactivate” on some firmware).
4. Confirm the action in the pop-up window.

After that, Gboard will disappear from the keyboard list in the input settings. To return it back, repeat the steps and press "Enable".

☑️ What to do if the “Disable” button is inactive

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This method does not free up disk space, but it stops Gboard completely and removes it from the interface.

Method 2: Remove Gboard updates (reset to factory version)

If the keyboard has been updated through the Play Market, it can be rolled back to a factory version that weighs less and contains no extra features.

How to do this:

• 📲 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Gboard.
• 🔄 Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select “Delete Updates».
• 🚫 In Play Market, find Gboard and click Delete (this will prevent automatic updates).

⚠️ Note: Some HyperOS firmware may not have the Remove Updates button. In this case, try the method with the ADB (see below).

Method 3: Completely remove Gboard via ADB (for power users)

If you're willing to take the risk, you can physically remove Gboard from your system using the Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a technique that requires connecting your smartphone to your computer and basic command line knowledge.

Pre-launch warnings:

• 🔧 Without root rights, this method does not work on all devices (depending on the version). MIUI).
• 🚨 Risk of disrupting other Google services (such as voice input or Google Assistant).
• 🔄 After resetting to factory settings, Gboard may return.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on USB debugging: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI Version to activate Developer Mode. Go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers and turn on USB Debugging.

Connect your phone to your PC

Open the command line (Windows)

adb devices

Make sure your device is listed.

Execute the command to remove

adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.google.android.inputmethod.latin

If you have an error, try an alternative command:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.inputmethod.latin

On some Xiaomi devices with HyperOS, you may need to turn off protection first MIUI, Adb shell settings put global settings hidden_api_policy 1.

⚠️ Note: If other Google services (e.g. voice search) have stopped working after Gboard is deleted, restore the keyboard by the command: adb shell cmd package install-existing com.google.android.inputmethod.latin

Method 4: Remove via TWRP (unlocked bootloader required)

For users with an unlocked bootloader and a TWRP installed, there is a radical method: manually deleting Gboard system files, which is the most reliable way, but also the most risky way.

What you need:

• 🔓 Unlocked bootloader (instructions for Xiaomi are on the official website).
• 📱 Established custom recovery TWRP (The version should support your model!).
• 💾 Backup (required to make a backup through the TWRP change!).

Instructions:

1. Boot to TWRP (clip Power + Volume up when turned on).
2. Go to Advanced → File Manager.
3. Find the folders: /system/priv-app/Gboard (or /system/app/Gboard) /data/app/com.google.android.inputmethod.latin*

Delete these folders (click on them and select "Delete").

Reboot the phone.

If the phone doesn’t boot after you delete it, restore the backup via TWRP.

Method 5: Replace Gboard with an alternative keyboard

If the goal is not so much to remove Gboard as to stop using it, it's easier to install another keyboard and make it the main one, and that eliminates advertising and unnecessary features without risking the system.

The best alternatives for Xiaomi:

• 📱 keyboard MIUI (built-in) - light, without advertising, with support for those.
• ⚡ SwiftKey (from Microsoft) – smart offers, synchronization between devices.
• 🎨 Fleksy – minimalist design, gestures.
• 🔒 AnySoftKeyboard – open source, high privacy.

How to switch:

1. Install the selected keyboard from the Play Market.
2. Go to Settings → Additional → Language and input → Current keyboard.
3. Select a new keyboard and follow the instructions on the screen.
4. (Optional) Disable Gboard in the application settings (see Method 1).

💡

If it is reset to Gboard after rebooting after changing the keyboard, clear the Settings cache (Settings → Applications → Settings → Clear the cache).

Frequent problems and their solutions

When working with Gboard on Xiaomi, users encounter common mistakes. Here's how to fix them:

If none of these methods worked, check:

• 📋 Version MIUI — HyperOS may have different paths to system files.
• 🔄 Firmware region - on Chinese versions without GMS Gboard may not be available.
• 🛠️ Root rights – they will simplify the removal, but will deprive of guarantees.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions

💡

Before any manipulation of system applications, back up via MIUI Backup or TWRP, which will restore the phone to work if something goes wrong.