How to change the keyboard on Xiaomi Redmi 9 Pro: 5 ways with instructions and comparison

Replacing the keyboard on the Xiaomi Redmi 9 Pro smartphone is a task that every user sooner or later faces.Someone wants to improve the speed of typing, someone lacks emoji or themes, and some are just tired of the standard version of the keyboard. MIUI-In this article, we will look at all possible ways to change the keyboard, from installing alternative applications to fine-tuning system parameters.

It’s important to understand that the Redmi 9 Pro runs on the basis of MIUI (the shell from Xiaomi for Android), which has its own nuances when working with keyboards. For example, there is a built-in feature called MIUI Keyboard, which can not be simply removed, but you can turn off.

We won’t be limited to basic instructions – in this article you will find a comparative table of popular keyboards, tips for optimizing their performance on the Redmi 9 Pro, as well as solving typical problems (for example, when the keyboard suddenly disappears or does not switch between languages).

1. Why you should change the keyboard to Redmi 9 Pro: 5 good reasons

The standard MIUI keyboard on the Xiaomi Redmi 9 Pro is far from perfect. Here are the main reasons why users are looking for alternatives:

• 🔍 Limited functionality: no advanced gestures (e.g., swipe for typing in Gboard), no cloud-based dictionary synchronization between devices.
• 🎨 Boring design: minimum number of themes, inability to customize the layout of the buttons or the size of the keyboard.
• 🌍 Language problems: Uncomfortable switching between layouts, lack of support for rare languages or dialects.
• 🛡️ Confidentiality: MIUI-Keyboard collects typing data to “improve services,” which not everyone likes.
• ⚡ Performance: On weak devices (or with a large number of running applications), a standard keyboard can slow down.

In addition, many users note that Xiaomi's built-in keyboard often automatically substitutes incorrect words when auto-replace, especially if you use slang, professional vocabulary or your own names. Alternative keyboards (like SwiftKey) learn your writing style and offer more accurate options over time.

But there is a downside: some third-party keyboards consume more RAM, and their additional features (such as the built-in translator in Gboard) can drain the battery faster, so you should weigh the pros and cons before installing.

2. Method 1: Installation of a third-party keyboard (Gboard, SwiftKey and others)

The most popular method of changing the keyboard is to install an alternative application from Google Play. Consider the process using the example of Gboard (keyboard from Google), but similar steps will be suitable for other applications (SwiftKey, Fleksy, Chroom, etc.).

Step 1: Download and Installation

Open the Google Play Store and find the Gboard app. Click "Install" and wait until the download is complete. If you don't have access to the Play Market (for example, on Chinese firmware), download it. APK-file from an official Google site or a verified source (e.g. APKMirror).

Step 2: Activate the keyboard in the settings

After installation:

1. Go to Settings → System and Device → Language and Input → Current Keyboard.
2. Press "keyboard management."
3. Activate the switch next to the Gboard.
4. Go back and select Gboard as the default keyboard.

Check the free space on the device (minimum 100 MB)

Disable Battery Optimization for Keyboard in MIUI Settings

Download the keyboard only from official sources

Reboot the phone after installation (recommended)-->

Step 3: Set up Gboard to suit your needs

To make the keyboard work as efficiently as possible:

• 🎨 Topics: Go to the Gboard settings (cog on the keyboard panel) → "Themes" and select design.
• 🌐 Languages: In the Languages section, add the required layouts and set up switching (e.g., swipe over space).
• ⚙️ Additional Features: Enable “Gesturing” (swipe), “Voice” or “Google Search” directly from the keyboard.

If the keyboard doesn’t appear after installation, check if it’s disabled in the MIUI Power Savings Settings. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Optimization and find Gboard in the list. Select “No Limits”.

💡

If you often type in two languages, in the Gboard settings, enable the "Show the language button" option - this will speed up the switching of layouts.

3. Method 2: Using the built-in MIUI keyboard with customization

Not everyone knows, but the standard MIUI keyboard on the Redmi 9 Pro can be greatly improved without installing third-party apps.

Customization of appearance

Go to Settings → System and Device → Language and Input → MIUI Keyboard → Themes. There are several built-in themes available (including dark mode).

• 🔄 Change the size of the keyboard (in settings) → "Size and layout").
• 🎵 Add pressing or vibration sounds (sound and vibration").
• 🔤 Set up keyboard transparency for better text visibility.

Optimization of text input

In the "Text input" section, you can:

• 📚 Turn on or off auto-replacement and auto-correction.
• 🔍 Add custom words to the dictionary (useful for names, slang, abbreviations).
• ↔️ Set up text prediction (e.g., disable prediction for specific applications).

One of the key advantages MIUI-Keyboard – deep integration with the system, for example, it supports quick responses in notifications and translation of text directly during typing (if the appropriate option is enabled in the settings).

Method 3: Change the keyboard via ADB (for power users)

If you want to completely remove the standard MIUI keyboard or install a keyboard that is not supported on your device (for example, due to regional restrictions), you can use the ADB command. This method is only suitable for experienced users, as improper actions can lead to system failures.

What's the matter?

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB and Fastboot.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB Redmi 9 Pro (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times press to unlock the developer mode, then enable debugging in Settings → Additionally. → For developers).
• 🔌 USB-cable.

Commands to shut down MIUI-keyboard

Connect the phone to your computer and do the following at the terminal:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.miuikeyboard

This command will disable the system keyboard. To get it back, use:

adb shell pm enable com.miui.miuikeyboard

Attention, if you turn it off. MIUI-keyboard without an installed alternative, you will not be able to enter text until you activate another keyboard through ADB Or reset settings. We recommend that you first install and configure the third-party keyboard, and then disable the system.

💡

Using ADB is the only way to completely remove the built-in MIUI keyboard, but it's risky. It's better to just turn it off in the settings.

5. Comparison of popular keyboards for Redmi 9 Pro: which one to choose?

To make the choice easier, we compiled a table comparing the most popular keyboards for Xiaomi Redmi 9 Pro. Taking into account such parameters as dial speed, customization, language support and battery impact.

If you type in multiple languages often, Gboard or SwiftKey are the best choice. To save battery and memory, the standard MIUI Keyboard with fine-tuning is fine. And if you're worried about privacy, look at Chroom or AnySoftKeyboard, which doesn't collect your typing data.

Also, consider that some keyboards (like SwiftKey) may conflict with MIUI’s Smart Assistant feature, which offers quick answers in instant messengers. If this feature is important to you, check compatibility before installing.

6. Problem Solving: The keyboard doesn't change or disappears

Sometimes, after you install a new keyboard, it doesn't activate or it suddenly disappears, and here are the most common problems and solutions.

Problem 1: The keyboard does not appear after installation

• ✅ Make sure the keyboard is enabled in the settings (Settings) → System and device → Language and input → Keyboard management).
• ✅ Restart your phone – sometimes it helps reset the system cache.
• ✅ Check if the keyboard application is disabled in Settings → Annexes.

Problem 2: The keyboard spontaneously changes to a standard

This is due to the "Reset Keyboard Settings" function in MIUI.

1. Go to Settings → System and device → Language and input.
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select "Reset keyboard settings."
3. Select the desired keyboard manually and set it by default.

Problem 3: The keyboard is lagging or slowing down

The reasons may be different:

• 🔋 Lack of RAM: Close background applications.
• 🗑️ Cache filled: clear keyboard cache in Settings → Annexes → [Keyboard name] → Memory.
• 🔄 Conflict with MIUI: Turn off the Smart Assistant in the security settings.

💡

If the keyboard started to brake after the MIUI update, try rolling it back to the previous version. To do this, download the old APK version from APKMirror and install manually.

⚠️ If voice messages in instant messengers (for example, WhatsApp or Telegram) stop working after changing the keyboard, check the microphone settings for the keyboard in Settings → Annexes → Permissions: Some keyboards (e.g. Gboard) require separate permission to access the microphone for voice input.

7 How to Return a Standard MIUI Keyboard if Something Goes Wrong

If you want to return the standard MIUI Keyboard after experimenting with keyboards, do the following:

Method 1: Through settings

1. Go to Settings → System and Device → Language and Input → Current Keyboard.
2. Select "MIUI Keyboard" from the list.
3. If it's not on the list, click "Keyboard Management" and turn it on.

Method 2: Through ADB (if the keyboard is disabled)

If you're offline. MIUI-keyboard ADB and you can't get it back, plug the phone into the computer and do it:

adb shell pm enable com.miui.miuikeyboard

Method 3: Resetting settings

If nothing helps, reset your keyboard settings:

1. Go to Settings → System and device → Language and input.
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select "Reset keyboard settings."

After that, the system keyboard should be available again. If the problem persists, check if it is removed from the system (for example, through TWRP or other tools for deep firmware modification), in which case you may need to flash the phone.

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing the keyboard to Redmi 9 Pro