Replacement of the keyboard Xiaomi Redmi Note 4

Owners of Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 smartphones often face the need to change the standard method of text input to a more convenient or functional. the standard MIUI keyboard may seem limited, or the user simply wants to install the usual Gboard or SwiftKey. The replacement process does not require root rights or complex engineering equipment, but it has its own nuances in the shell of MIUI.

In this article, we will take a look at all the keyboard changes you can do, from standard system settings to third-party apps installed from the Google Play Store. You will learn how to make a new application the default and avoid typical configuration errors. The right type of input greatly improves the speed of printing and overall comfort of using the device.

Standard methods of entry into MIUI

The Android operating system that runs the Redmi Note 4 initially supports multiple virtual keyboards simultaneously, with a dedicated system module in the MIUI shell, and the device already has a "MIUI Keyboard" or "Gboard" app pre-installed by default, depending on the firmware region (Global or China).

To understand what you have installed, you need to look at the settings. Go to the Settings menu → Additional settings → Language and input. This shows the current active method. Click on this item and you will see a list of all available system keyboards that are already built into the firmware and ready to work without downloading additional files.

It's important to understand the difference between "selecting the input method" and "setting the current keyboard." The first parameter determines which bar will pop up when typing, and the second allows you to change the layout, theme or vocabulary of a particular application. To fully replace, we need to switch the active method.

• 📱 Standard keyboard MIUI — Minimalist design, deep integration with the system, but limited functionality.
• ⌨️ Gboard is a universal solution from Google with powerful voice input and translator.
• 🎨 SwiftKey – leader in predictive recruitment and personalization.
• 🔒 Hacker's Keyboard is a professional tool for emulating a physical PC keyboard.

If none of the built-in options suit you, it makes it easy to expand the functionality, but it is worth remembering that third-party applications request permission to access all the text you type, so you need to choose the developer carefully.

Installation of third-party applications for input

The most popular way to get the desired interface is to download the application from the official Google Play Store. On the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4, this process takes literally a couple of minutes. In the store search box, type the name of the desired keyboard, for example, "Yandex.Keyboard" or "TouchPal".

Once downloaded and installed, the app won’t work automatically. Android has strict security rules and won’t activate new input methods without direct user confirmation.When you first start, the program will redirect you to the system menu or show you a pop-up asking you to allow use.

Pay attention to the permissions you request. To work properly, the keyboard needs access to a microphone (for voice input) and storage (for themes and dictionaries), and if you see a request for access to contacts or geolocation, this may be redundant for the basic functionality.

Activation of the new input method

Once you install a third-party application, you need to make it active. Go back to Settings → Additional settings → Language and input. Find the "Keyboard Management" or "Current Keyboard" section. In the list that opens, switch the switch to the switchboard opposite the name of the newly installed application to the "On" position.

The system will issue a warning that a third-party keyboard can collect all the data you enter, including passwords. This is the standard Android security message. If you trust a developer (for example, this is a large company like Google or Yandex), feel free to click OK.

⚠️ Be extremely careful when installing little-known keyboards from unverified sources (APK-For example, attackers can embed keyloggers in them, which will steal your passwords from banking applications and social networks.

Now, you need to select the new default method. Click on "Current Keyboard" and select the name of your new app from the menu that appears. From now on, any time you touch the text box, the selected panel will appear on the Redmi Note 4 screen.

Language settings and layouts

One of the main reasons for changing the keyboard is the inconvenience of switching languages. In new applications, this process is flexible. Go to the settings of the keyboard itself (usually through the gear icon on the toolbar or through the system menu), you can add the necessary languages, for example, Russian and English.

Most modern solutions have several ways to change the language: by long-pressing the space, swipe space or a separate button. Xiaomi is often the most convenient to configure the swipe, as this saves space on the screen. You can also enable automatic language definition, although it does not always work perfectly.

Don't forget to adjust the keyboard height and vibration when pressed. On the Redmi Note 4 big screen, the standard height can be a bit low and the fingers will miss often. Increasing the button size in the app's settings will solve this problem.

Solving problems with display and work

Sometimes users are faced with a situation where a new keyboard “flys” or does not appear in certain applications.This can be due to aggressive energy savings in MIUI.

To avoid this, add the keyboard app to exceptions. Go to Settings → Battery and performance, find the keyboard installed in the list, and select No Limits mode. This will prevent the system from "killing" the input process, even if you have not used a text editor in a long time.

Another common problem is de-synchronizing the dictionary. If the keyboard stops offering the right words, try clearing its cache. In the Apps menu → All apps, find your keyboard, click Clear and select Clear Cache. This will not delete your personal dictionaries, but will correct possible errors in the work.

Use of a Physical Keyboard (OTG)

For Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 is relevant and another scenario – the connection of physical USB-keyboard OTG. Android supports this periphery out of the box. When you plug in a physical keyboard, the virtual bar on the screen is usually hidden automatically, which is very convenient for typing large amounts of text.

In this case, virtual input settings are marginalized, but changes in layout may be necessary if the characters on the physical keyboard do not match the ones displayed on the screen, for example, Krakozabras or other layout symbols may be printed instead of Russian letters.

💡

Use a physical keyboard in conjunction with the Terminal Emulator app to deep-tube the system through ADB-commands if the touch screen is damaged.

For advanced users, you can emulate the modifier keys. In the development settings or in special applications, you can configure the Ctrl, Alt and F1-F12 keys, turning the smartphone into a minicomputer.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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The flexibility of the Android platform allows you to change the keyboard an infinite number of times without losing data, so feel free to experiment with different input options.