Xiaomi Redmi 4X, despite its age, remains a reliable device, but standard input tools may not meet the needs of all users. Often the built-in keyboard is slow, does not support the desired languages or just annoys with its design. It is at this point that it becomes necessary to replace the standard application with a more functional counterpart from the Google Play store.
The replacement process doesn't require root rights or deep technical knowledge; you just need an Internet connection and a few minutes of free time; a well-chosen typing tool can dramatically speed up the printing of messages, improve autocorrection, and add new personalization capabilities. In this article, we'll take a look at each step in detail so you don't have any difficulties.
Before you start installing, you should understand that Android allows you to keep several keyboards active at the same time, you can switch between them at any time if the new version seems inconvenient, but first you need to install and activate the chosen application correctly. Let's look at how to do this as efficiently and safely as possible for your device.
Selecting the optimal application for text input
The mobile app market offers dozens of options, but not all of them are worthy of installation on the Redmi 4X. Some programs are too demanding on the CPU resources, which can cause slowdowns on this model, while others are oversaturated with ads that will pop up at the most inopportune moment, so the choice must be conscious and balanced.
One of the market leaders is Google’s Gboard, a stable solution that is perfectly optimized for devices with limited features, and offers predictive input, voice dialing and translation integration. Alternatively, SwiftKey, which is famous for its clever word-prediction algorithm, or Yandex Keyboard, which is ideally adapted for Russian-speaking users.
When choosing, consider the size of the installation file and the list of permissions required. Lightweight applications will run faster on the Snapdragon 435 processor installed in the Redmi 4X. Don't chase over-the-top functionality if you just want quick typing. Sometimes it's better to install a simple application than overload the system.
Search and installation of new software
The search process begins with opening the Google Play Store on your smartphone, and enter the name of the keyboard you want in the search box, like "Gboard" or "SwiftKey." Make sure you download the app from the official developer to avoid viruses.
Once you find the right application, click the Install button. The system will request confirmation to use certain features of the device. This is the standard procedure required for predictive input and voice control. Wait until the download is completed and the files are automatically installed on the device's internal memory.
- 📲 Open the Play Market app on the home screen.
- 🔍 Enter the keyboard name in the search bar from above.
- ✅ Press the installation button and wait for the process to be completed.
- 🚀 After installation, the button will change to Open.
It is important to keep an eye on the phone’s memory. Xiaomi Redmi 4X often comes with a limited amount of internal memory (16 or 32 GB), which quickly fills up. If the space is critically small, the system may not allow you to install a new application.
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Before installing heavy applications, clear the system cache through the Cleanup menu in the standard Security app.
Activation and configuration of the new keyboard
Once installed, the application will not be active by default. You need to manually allow the system to use the new input method. To do this, go to the smartphone settings. The path may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI, but the logic remains the same for all Xiaomi devices.
Find the section that handles the extra settings. In modern firmware versions, it's often hidden in the Advanced Settings menu. You can select Language and Input. That's where you manage all the typing methods installed on the device. Without activation in this menu, the keyboard won't work.
Settings → Additional settings → Language and input → Keyboard managementIn the list that opens, find the name of the app you just installed. Next to it, you'll see a slider that needs to be put into active position. The system will issue a warning that a third-party keyboard can access the input data. If you trust a developer (for example, Google or Yandex), feel free to confirm the action.
⚠️ Warning: Never activate keyboards from unknown low-ranking developers as they can intercept passwords and personal data.
Once activated, make the new input method the primary one. Go back a step in the Language and Input menu and click on Current Keyboard (or Default Keyboard). In the list that opens, select the installed application. Now, when typing, any new bar will appear in any field.
Customization of languages and vocabulary
The first thing to do after activation is to configure language profiles. Standardly, the keyboard can only offer English, which is inconvenient for a Russian-speaking user. Go to the settings of the keyboard itself (usually through the gear icon on the keyboard panel or through the application menu) and find the Languages section.
Add Russian and other languages you need. Many modern keyboards allow you to swipe the language over a space or a special button. You should also pay attention to the autocorrect function, which can be customized to your type style by adding frequently used words that the system constantly corrects incorrectly.
| Function | Description | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Autocorrection | Corrects errors on the fly | Include but configure the dictionary |
| Prediction | Proposes the following words: | Insert to accelerate printing |
| Vibration. | Tactile response when pressed | Set up the force or turn off |
| Sound. | Sound accompaniment of buttons | Turn it off to save charge |
Remember to train your dictionary. When typing, the keyboard will ask for confirmation for new words. Over time, it will remember your slang, contact names, and specific terms. This will make typing much faster and more comfortable, and ignoring this stage can lead to constant annoying corrections.
☑️ Keyboard setting
Personalization of appearance and sound
One of the main reasons for changing the keyboard is to change the way it looks, and most advanced applications allow you to change themes, button colors, fonts, and even add background images, making a utilitarian tool a personalization element of the Redmi 4X interface.
To access these settings, look for the "Themes" or "Look" section in the keyboard menu, and you can choose a finished design from the directory or create your own. You can make the buttons transparent, bright or minimalist. You can also adjust the keyboard height, which is important for users with different finger sizes.
Sound is another important aspect. Clicks on the print can be nice, but they consume battery power and can be annoying. In the audio settings, you can choose the type of click, the volume or completely disable the audio effects. On Xiaomi, system sounds can also conflict with the keyboard sounds, so you better set them separately.
Secrets to saving energy
Solution and possible problems
Sometimes, once installed, a new keyboard may not work properly, for example, it may not appear in input fields or periodically disappear, often due to an aggressive MIUI energy saving policy. The system may kill the background keyboard process to save charge. To fix this, you need to add the application to exceptions.
Go to the battery settings and find the apps that are working, select your keyboard and set the "No Limits" mode, which will prevent the system from unloading it from memory, and problems can arise from conflicts with older versions of Android if they are not updated, in which case cleaning the cache of the application itself will help.
- 🔄 Reboot the device after installation and setup.
- 🔋 Check the energy saving settings for the application.
- 🗑️ Clear the keyboard cache in the app menu.
- 📉 Remove old, unused keyboards.
If the keyboard “lays” when printing, try to reduce the number of active widgets on it or disable preloading. GIF-Animated by Redmi. 4X — It's not the most powerful device by modern standards, and it may lack RAM for heavy visual effects.
⚠️ Warning: If the phone starts to warm up after installing the keyboard, delete the app immediately.
Return to the standard keyboard
If you don’t like the new keyboard, you can always go back to the standard one. The process is similar to settings: go to Settings → Additional settings → Language and input. Select Current Keyboard and list Xiaomi Keyboard or Gboard (if it was preinstalled).
You can then delete the new application through the application management menu. Just find it in the list, click "Delete" and confirm the action. The system automatically switches to backup input. You don't have to keep a lot of extra keyboards if you're not using them, because they take up space and can be updated in the background.
The standard MIUI keyboard also has its advantages, such as deep integration with the theme and system functions, which consumes minimal resources, which is critical for older models, so abandoning third-party solutions in favor of “native” is sometimes the most rational step to extend the life of a smartphone.
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Returning to factory input settings takes seconds and is completely secure for user data.