How to change the keyboard on Xiaomi for a standard: 5 proven ways

The standard keyboard on Xiaomi smartphones is often replaced by users with alternative solutions like SwiftKey or Fleksy, but new applications do not always meet expectations. There are problems with auto-replacement, the usual gestures disappear, and sometimes third-party keyboards just start to slow down after updates. MIUI Keyboard or install standard Gboard from Google in several ways – from basic settings to manual installation APK-file.

In this article, we will discuss all the current methods of returning a standard keyboard, including nuances for different versions of MIUI (12 to 14) and Xiaomi models (Redmi Note 10 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra).

Why users want to return the standard keyboard to Xiaomi

Reasons for returning to a native MIUI or Gboard keyboard range from technical issues to subjective preferences.

• 🔄 Conflicts with updates: After the update MIUI Third-party keyboards start to lag or fly out, especially on budget models like the Redmi 9A POCO M3.
• 🔍 Privacy concerns: Some alternative keyboards (like Go Keyboard) request excessive permissions, which is a concern for users.
• 🎯 Uncomfortable interface: Lack of familiar emojis, incorrect auto-replacement work or too aggressive tips force you to look for alternatives.
• 📱 System restrictions: On some firmware (for example, MIUI for the global market, third-party keyboards do not support gestures or thematic design.

It’s important to understand that the native MIUI keyboard is optimized for the Xiaomi ecosystem: it integrates better with services like Mi Account, supports branded themes and has minimal power consumption. At the same time, Google’s Gboard offers more accurate speech recognition and an advanced set of languages, but can conflict with some MIUI features, such as the Game Turbo.

Method 1: Enabling a standard keyboard through system settings

The easiest method is to activate the native keyboard in the settings menu, which works if you haven’t previously removed the MIUI Keyboard system app and just turned it off or switched to another keyboard.

1. Open Settings → Additional → Language and input.
2. Tap the current keyboard (or keyboard management in newer versions of MIUI).
3. In the list of available keyboards, find the MIUI Keyboard (or MIUI Keyboard) and turn on the switch next to it.
4. Go back and select MIUI Keyboard as the default keyboard.

If the MIUI Keyboard is not listed, this means that the system application has been removed or disabled via ADB. In this case, proceed to Method 3 (APK recovery) or Method 4 (Gboard manual installation).

Method 2: Reset keyboard settings to factory

If a standard keyboard is on the system but is not working properly (e.g., does not save words to the dictionary or does not switch languages), resetting it will help, which does not delete data from other applications and does not require superuser rights.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the search bar, type in MIUI Keyboard and select the application from the results.
3. Slip the storage → Clear the data → OK.
4. Return to the app menu and select Resetting (if there is one).
5. Reboot your smartphone and check the keyboard.

⚠️ Note: Reset will delete all user vocabulary and auto-replace settings. If you used sync with Mi Account, the data can be restored after re-entry.

On some models (such as Xiaomi 12T or Redmi K50) after reset, you may need to re-enable the keyboard in Settings → Language and Input. If the problem persists, try updating the firmware through Settings → About Phone → System Update.

Method 3: Recovery MIUI Keyboard through APK-file

If the standard keyboard has been removed (e.g., through the ADB or rooted access, it can be restored by installing the original APK-This method is suitable for all Xiaomi models, but requires caution: it is important to download files only from trusted sources.

Instructions:

1. Download the current version of MIUI Keyboard from APKMirror (select the version corresponding to your firmware: Global, China or EEA).
2. Before installing, enable the option to install from unknown sources: Settings → Applications → Special Access → Install Unknown Applications → select a browser or file manager.
3. Set up the downloaded one. APK-file and reboot the device.
4. Activate the keyboard in Settings → Language and input.

⚠️ Attention: Installation APK From unofficial sources, it can lead to conflicts with system updates (MD5) APKMirror.

If the keyboard doesn’t appear in the list after installation, try clearing the cache of Google Play services:

Settings → Applications → Google Play Store → Storage → Clear cache

Method 4: Install Gboard as a standard keyboard

If you don’t like MIUI Keyboard but need a stable alternative, Google’s Gboard is the best choice.It supports all the features of a standard keyboard, including gestures and voice input, and rarely conflicts with MIUI.

How to install and configure:

1. Download Gboard from Google Play.
2. After installation, open the app and follow the setup wizard (select languages, theme, and allow access to the microphone for voice input).
3. Go to Settings → Language & Input → Current Keyboard and select Gboard.
4. In the Gboard settings (cog in the upper right corner of the keyboard) activate: 🔄 Smooth input (gestures) 🎤 Voice input (if needed) 🌙 Dark theme (for) AMOLED-screen)

Gboard automatically syncs the dictionary with your Google account, allowing you to move settings between devices, but on some Xiaomi models (such as the Redmi Note 11 with MIUI 13), you may need to disable battery optimization for Gboard, otherwise the keyboard will slow down:

Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization → All Apps → Gboard → Not Optimizing

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If no emojis are displayed after installing Gboard, switch to another language (e.g. English) and back again – this will reset the emoji cache.

Method 5: Manually enable keyboard via ADB (for advanced)

If a standard keyboard is disabled at the system level and is not restored via APK, it can be activated using the Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a method that requires a computer and basic command-line knowledge.

Instructions:

1. Install Platform Tools on your PC.
2. Turn on USB debugging on your smartphone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (tap 7 times) → Developer settings → USB debugging.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and type in the command line: adb shell pm enable com.miui.miuikeyboard For Gboard use: adb shell pm enable com.google.android.inputmethod.latin
4. Restart the device and check for the keyboard in the settings.

If the problem persists, try resetting all settings (not data!) through Settings → Additional → Reset. This will return standard system settings, including keyboard settings, but will not affect user files.

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Before resetting your settings, export the keyboard dictionary (if supported) or back up via Mi Cloud.

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing the keyboard to Xiaomi