How to change the picture on the keyboard Xiaomi: from theme to transparency

Personalizing the interface of a smartphone is not just a matter of aesthetics, but also a way to make interaction with the device more comfortable and personal. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices often wonder how to change the standard appearance of the virtual keyboard to match the rest of the system or just please the eye. Standard white or black layout can get boring, especially given that we spend a significant part of the time typing.

The process of changing the background or theme depends primarily on which application for text input is installed by default. In the vast majority of cases, the global and Russian versions of MIUI and HyperOS firmware use Google's Gboard. However, in Chinese versions or on older models, you can find the branded MIUI keyboard. Both options allow you to make significant changes to the appearance, including installing your own photos from the gallery.

In this article, we will take a look at all the ways you can transform your keyboard, not only by choosing the themes you want from the store, but also by designing your own designs, adjusting the transparency of the buttons, and even changing the shape of the buttons, so you can have complete control over the visual aspect of the printing process.

Selecting and installing the appropriate keyboard application

Before you start changing your graphics, make sure you use a feature app that supports deep customization. As mentioned, Gboard is the gold standard in the Android ecosystem and offers the most flexible settings. If your device has some third-party or outdated keyboard installed, it is recommended to switch to a proven solution to access all the features described below.

You can check your current keyboard through your system settings. Go to Settings, select Additional (or Advanced Settings), then go to Language and Enter. Here, the Active App will be listed in the Current Keyboard section. If it's not Gboard, it's easy to download from the Google Play Store and activate by following the on-screen prompts.

It is worth noting that some Chinese firmware versions may have restrictions on using third-party input methods in certain system applications, although they work correctly in messengers and browsers, in which cases additional permissions may be required in the device security menu.

⚠️ Warning: When installing keyboards from unknown developers from unverified sources, be careful.The virtual keyboard has access to everything you type, including passwords and map data. Use only official Google Play apps or proven system solutions.

Once you install and activate a new input application, the system may prompt you to return to your old keyboard several times or alert you to collect data.This is a standard Android security procedure that must be confirmed in order to continue using the chosen tool.

Basic customization of themes in Gboard

The main tool for changing the look in Gboard is the built-in theme store. It allows you to quickly apply the finished design, which includes color gamut, textures and sometimes button animation. To access this section, you need to call the keyboard itself in any type field and click on the settings icon (cog) on the top toolbar.

In the menu that opens, you can select the Topic item, and here you will see a catalog of available designs, sorted by categories: "Recommended", "Animated", "Seasonal" and others. You can flip through the tape to choose the style you like. When you click on the preview, the theme is applied instantly, allowing you to evaluate the result in real time.

• 🎨 Topics: The store offers sections with abstract patterns, gradients, images of nature and space.
• 🎥 Animation: Some themes contain moving elements that bring the interface to life when you press the keys.
• 🌑 Dark topic: Separately, it is worth highlighting options with a black background that help save battery power on the AMOLED-Xiaomi smartphone screens.

It is important to understand that standard themes change the overall style, but do not always allow you to use your personal photo as a background without additional manipulations.

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The built-in Gboard theme store is the quickest way to change design, but it offers a limited selection of backgrounds compared to the ability to upload your image.

How to set your photo on the background of the keyboard

If you don't like the solutions, Gboard allows you to use any image from the gallery of your smartphone as a background. This can be a photo of a pet, a landscape taken with a Xiaomi camera, or just a favorite art. The customization process is quite simple, but has its own nuances related to the readability of the text.

To start, go back to the Topics menu in the keyboard settings. In the top row of icons, find a plus symbol (+) with the caption "Mine" or "Create yours." When you click on it, you open the device gallery. Select the image you want. The system will suggest you customize the display: you can move the picture, zoom in on it and select the area that will be visible against the buttons.

The key here is to adjust transparency and dimming. Because the letters on the keys must remain clearly visible, a bright or colorful photo can interfere with typing. The theme editing menu has sliders that regulate the brightness of the background and the transparency of the buttons themselves.

Experiment with parameters until you find a balance between aesthetics and functionality. Too dark backgrounds can blend in with letters, too light can tire your eyes in the dark. The optimal solution is often to use a blurred image or a darkened version of it.

Configuring transparency and button shape

In addition to the background, the style of the buttons themselves has a significant impact on the perception of the keyboard. In the latest versions of the Gboard and the MIUI 12/13/14 shell, the key shape change function is available. You can choose from classic square buttons with rounded corners, fully round keys or the option without borders where characters hover above the background.

The transparency (alpha channel) of the buttons allows you to make the background more pronounced. If you set a beautiful photo, but the buttons completely cover it with a solid color, the meaning of this replacement is lost. By reducing the opacity of the buttons, you get the effect of "glass" through which the image will be viewed.

• 🔲 Form: Classic, getting stuck Keys (without frames) and Islets are available".
• 🌫️ Transparency: The slider makes the buttons virtually invisible, leaving only the characters.
• 🔊 Sound and vibration: In the same menu, tactile response and tap sound can often be customized, complementing the visual experience.

It is worth remembering that the style of "Soaring keys" is best combined with contrasting backgrounds, where the characters are well read without frames. If the background is motley, it is better to leave light button boundaries so that the fingers do not miss the desired symbols.

⚠️ Warning: Excessive reduction of contrast between buttons and backgrounds can lead to more typos.Always check the readability of characters in normal lighting, not just in ideal conditions.

The changes take effect immediately, and you can switch between different shape profiles to see which option is most convenient for your fingers and the screen size of your smartphone.

Use of MIUI design themes for system integration

Xiaomi smartphone owners have the unique advantage of deep integration with the Themes app. Unlike standard Gboard settings, you can download ready-made packages that change not only the keyboard, but also icons, system fonts and sounds, creating a single style.

To find them, open the Themes app on your desktop. In the search box, type in "Keyboard" or "Keyboard." The themes that contain specific modifications to the system keyboard will appear in the search results. When you install such a theme, the system can only suggest using keyboard elements, leaving the rest of the interface unchanged.

However, this method does not work with all keyboards: MIUI themes most often affect the standard MIUI keyboard or require special plugins for Gboard. In some cases, you need to switch the system language to English or Chinese, apply the theme, and then return the Russian language to activate the keyboard theme from the Tem store.

Using MIUI Themes is a great way to find complex design solutions that cannot be recreated by standard means. Designers often create themed keyboards in the style of anime, games or minimalism.