How to change the keyboard on Xiaomi Redmi 4: from selection to settings

Owners of Xiaomi Redmi 4 smartphone often face a situation when the standard keyboard no longer meets the needs of the user, this may be due to the desire to expand the functionality, change the appearance or simply solve the problem with “big” text input. The standard MIUI solution is based on the Sogou engine or Google Pinyin, which is not suitable for everyone.

Replacing the virtual input tool is a safe and fast procedure that does not require root rights. You can install any application from Google Play that offers a smarter autocorrect, a convenient theme, or advanced editing capabilities. In this article, we will discuss in detail the process of installing, configuring, and optimizing the keyboard with a Snapdragon 430 processor.

Before we get to specific actions, it is important to understand that changing the keyboard affects the overall experience of interaction with the device. The right software can significantly speed up typing and reduce the number of typos. Let's look at the available options and the technical nuances of implementing them into the system.

Selecting the optimal application for text input

The mobile app market offers dozens of solutions, but Redmi 4, with its modest performance by modern standards, is important to balance functionality with resource consumption. Google’s Gboard remains the market leader, which provides excellent predictive analytics and stable performance. But there are alternatives, such as SwiftKey, famous for its algorithm for teaching the user’s print style.

If you want to make the most of customization, you should look at Facemoji or TouchPal, which allows you to change not only the themes, but also add them. GIF-It's important to remember that heavy themes with active animation can cause micro-latency on the screen with resolution. 1080×1920.

For those who prefer minimalism, Simple Keyboard is a great choice: it is devoid of unnecessary decorations, takes up minimal RAM and works quickly, and it is minimalist keyboards that most often solve the problem of lags when typing fast on Redmi 4.

When choosing between functionality and speed, users often choose their own personal preferences, and here is a list of popular options with their key features:

• 🚀 Gboard – Best Google Services Integration and Real-Time Translator.
• 🎨 SwiftKey - advanced word prediction engine and flexible layout setting.
• ⚡ Simple Keyboard – Minimal resource consumption, ideal for older devices.
• 🎭 Facemoji is a huge library of emojis and themes, but requires more memory.

Each of these apps has its own strengths, for example, if you type a lot in different languages, Gboard's multilingualism will be out of the competition, while a lighter counterpart will be suitable for gamers who need a quick response.

The process of installing and activating a new tool

After you have made a choice and have been APK-If you have a file or you have an app installed through a store, you need to activate it correctly. MIUI In particular, the security of data entry is in the first place, so the system will not allow you to immediately use third-party software without confirmation.

The first step after installation is to go to settings. You need to find the language and input section. The path may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI (7, 8 or 9), but the overall logic remains the same. You usually need to go to Settings → Additional → Language and input.

In the menu that opens, you'll see a list of available keyboards, where you'll find the app you just installed and switch the slider to the active position, and the system will issue a warning that a third-party keyboard may collect user input (passwords, card numbers), a standard warning for any application of this type.

Once you have entered the input method list, you will see a new option, but to start using it right now, you need to switch the current method. To do this, in any text field (for example, in notes or SMS), click on the keyboard icon in the notification bar or use the Space + Shift key combination (if configured).

If you don't have an automatic switch, go to the keyboard selection menu that pops up when you type, and select the logo you want. Now the input interface is completely redesigned and ready to fine-tune it to your needs.

Configuring layout and language panels

Comfortable typing is impossible without a properly configured layout. In new keyboards, this process usually occurs when you first start through the setup wizard, but you can return to these parameters at any time.

You can change the height of the keyboard in Gboard or SwiftKey, which is especially true for a 5-inch screen, you can make the buttons bigger for fingers to reach, or you can shrink them to see more text on the screen, and you can also set up a split keyboard for one-handed input.

Language bar is another critical element. Many users use two or more languages. It's important to set up the right switch between them. Most applications do this by long-term clicking on the space or swiping on the space. Make sure that the language settings activate the options you want, such as Russian and English.

For Russian, support for E and autocorrect work are important. In advanced settings, you can enable hard input, where a word is printed only after pressing a space, which eliminates the accidental sending of unfinished words.

Eliminating lags and optimizing productivity

Xiaomi Redmi 4 is a reliable device, but with time and updates of applications can start to slow down. Heavy keyboards with live wallpaper and complex press animations can load the processor. If you notice a delay between pressing and the appearance of a letter, it's time to optimize.

The first thing you need to do is turn off the extra animations. In the settings of the keyboard itself, look for the Themes or Appearance section and select a static image instead of a video background. This will reduce the load on the GPU. It's also worth checking if the Prediction of the Next Word function is turned on too aggressively if the device is running slowly.

⚠️ Note: If the keyboard is hanging dead, try clearing its cache through Settings → Annexes → All applications → [Your keyboard] → Memory. → Clear the cache. Don't confuse it with "Clean the data" or the dictionaries will fly.

Another reason for the lags may be a lack of RAM: Close background applications before actively typing a lot of text. MIUI has a memory expansion feature, but it works on internal memory, which is slower than RAM, so it is better to just free up resources.

Check the app version too. Sometimes developers release updates that are less optimized for older versions of Android (Redmi 4 has Android 6.0 Marshmallow), in which case it makes sense to find and install a lighter, perhaps even slightly outdated, but stable version of APK.

Comparative table of popular keyboards

To make your final choice easier, we have compiled a comparison table of the main characteristics of top-end applications, which is relevant for devices with a full HD screen and mid-level processors.

As you can see from the table, Simple Keyboard wins in speed and weight, but loses in functionality. SwiftKey represents the middle ground for most users. The choice depends on whether beauty or speed is more important to you.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

In conclusion, we will answer the questions that most often arise from users when changing the input tool on Xiaomi smartphones.

💡

Expert advice: Regularly clean the keyboard dictionary of imposed words. In Gboard settings, this is done through 'Additional' -> 'Reset the dictionary'. This will improve the quality of word prediction.

💡

The Redmi 4 is best for Gboard or Simple Keyboard, as they provide the best balance between functionality and performance based on the Snapdragon 430.