How to change the keyboard on the Xiaomi phone: 3 ways and tips for optimization

Replacing the keyboard on Xiaomi smartphones is a task that every user sooner or later faces. The standard MIUI keyboard does not always suit owners: someone lacks functionality, someone lacks design, and someone just wants to try alternatives like Gboard or SwiftKey. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to change the keyboard on Redmi, POCO and Xiaomi devices (including models from 2023 to 2026), and also tell you how to avoid typical configuration errors.

It is important to understand that the process of replacing the keyboard on Xiaomi differs from other brands due to the features of the MIUI shell. For example, in some versions of the firmware, a standard keyboard can be soldered into the system, which requires additional actions. We will consider both official methods through settings and workarounds for complex cases.

Why users want to change the keyboard to Xiaomi

The standard MIUI keyboard (aka Mi Keyboard) has a number of features that not everyone likes, and here are the main reasons why users are looking for alternatives:

• 🔍 Absence of autocorrection in some languages (for example, Ukrainian or Belarusian in old versions).
• 🎨 Limited themes – Gboard or SwiftKey has a much wider choice of designs.
• 📱 There is no sync between devices (unlike Google Keyboard, where dictionary and settings are saved to your account).
• ⚡ Delays in input on budget models (Redmi) 9A, POCO M3), where MIUI Keyboard may be slowing down.
• 🔒 Data collection – some users prefer open source keyboards (e.g. AnySoftKeyboard).

In addition, MIUI 14 and later, the keyboard has become more aggressive in offering emojis and stickers, which annoys those who value minimalism.

Method 1: Install an alternative keyboard via Google Play

The easiest and safest method is to download a keyboard from the Google Play Market, which is suitable for all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models based on Android 10 and later. Consider the process using the example of Gboard (keyboard from Google), but other options are installed similarly (SwiftKey, Fleksy, Chroom).

Steps:

1. Open the Google Play Market and find the Gboard app (or other keyboard).
2. Click "Install" and wait for the download to be completed.
3. After installation, open the keyboard app (such as Gboard) and follow the setup instructions.
4. Enable the keyboard in the system settings (more on this in the next section).

If you have Xiaomi without Google services (for example, Chinese firmware), download it. APK-Keyboard file from a verified source (e.g. APKMirror) and set manually, allowing installation from unknown sources in Settings → Annexes → Special access → Installation of unknown applications.

Check out the Android version (should be 10+)

Free 100-200 MB of memory

Connect to Wi-Fi (to download)

Disable VPN (can block Google Play)

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Method 2: Activate a new keyboard in the MIUI settings

Set the keyboard, half the way, and to make it the main one, you need to activate it in the MIUI settings.

1. Go to Settings → System and Device → Language and Input → Current Keyboard.
2. Click on “Keyboard Management” (or “Additional Settings” in older versions of MIUI).
3. Turn on the switch next to the name of the installed keyboard (such as Gboard).
4. Go back and select a new keyboard in the Current Keyboard section.

If your keyboard is not on the list, check:

• 📱 Is the app installed (sometimes you need to restart your phone).
• 🔄 Whether the firmware has been updated (in MIUI 12-14 were bugs with keyboard display).
• 🛡️ Does the antivirus block the installation (e.g., Mi Security can remove "unknown" APK).

Some models (Redmi Note 10 Pro, Xiaomi 12T) may have a data collection alert activated after activating the new keyboard, which is a standard Android notification that you can safely ignore if you trust the keyboard developer.

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If the emojis are missing after changing the keyboard, check the settings of the new keyboard. In Gboard, for example, the emoji are turned off in Settings → Themes → Emoji.

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

If standard methods don’t work (like Chinese firmware or custom ROMs), you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge) to connect your phone to your computer and have basic command line knowledge.

Instructions:

1. Turn on USB Debugging on your phone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times to become a developer) → Settings → Additional → Developers → Debugging on USB.
2. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.
3. Open the command line (or Terminal on Mac/Linux) and type: adb shell im enable your.packet.keyboard For example, for Gboard: adb shell im enable com.google.android.inputmethod.latin
4. Set the default keyboard: adb shell im set com.google.android.inputmethod.latin

If the team is not working, check:

• 🔌 Is your phone connected correctly (try another one) USB-cable).
• 📋 Is the keyboard package correctly specified (check it in Google Play on the application page).
• 🔄 Reboot the phone after completing commands.

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB It can cause a crash if you type in the wrong commands. Don't change your system settings if you're not sure what you're doing. ROM) some ADB-Teams can be blocked.

Comparison of popular keyboards for Xiaomi: which one to choose

The choice of keyboard depends on your needs, and we compared the most popular options by key parameters:

For most Xiaomi users, Gboard is the best choice – it is free, well integrated with Google services and supports gesture input even on budget models like the Redmi A2 or POCO C50. If you care about privacy, look at AnySoftKeyboard or FlorisBoard (open source).

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On phones with a small storage capacity (32 GB), avoid heavy keyboards like SwiftKey – they can take up to 100 MB, including dictionaries.

Typical problems when changing the keyboard and their solution

Even after installation, new keyboards can malfunction, and let’s look at the most common problems and ways to fix them:

• 🔄 Keyboard is constantly reset to standard: Reason: MIUI Solution: fix the keyboard as a system through ADB (adb shell cmd im set com.google.android.inputmethod.latin).
• ⌨️ Signature input (swipe) is not working: Reason: the function in the keyboard settings is disabled. Solution: go to the keyboard settings → Input of gestures → Turn on Swipe".
• 📵 Keyboard doesn't appear in some apps: Reason: App (like WhatsApp or Telegram) blocks third-party keyboards.Solution: clear the problem app's cache or reinstall it.
• 🔒 Words not saved in the dictionary: Reason: sync is disabled. Solution: check your account settings Google/Microsoft keyboard.

⚠️ Attention: On phones with MIUI China ROM (For example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra for the Chinese market, some keyboards may not be installed due to regional constraints. MIUI use VPN load APK.

If after changing the keyboard the phone started to brake, check:

• 📊 Loading the CPU to Settings → The phone. → Status of the system.
• 🗑️ Free memory (keyboards like SwiftKey can take up to 200 MB of cache-based storage).
• 🔄 Conflicts with other applications (for example, Mi Security can scan the keyboard in the background).

How to Get Back a Standard MIUI Keyboard

If the alternative keyboard experiment failed, it is easy to return the standard MIUI Keyboard:

1. Go to Settings → System and Device → Language and Input → Current Keyboard.
2. Select "MIUI Keyboard" (or "System Keyboard" in English).
3. If MIUI Keyboard is not listed, reinstall it via the MIUI App Store or reset your phone settings (Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset).

On some models (Xiaomi 11T, Redmi Note 12 Pro+), the standard keyboard can be disabled after the MIUI update.

1. Remove the alternative keyboard.
2. Reboot the phone.
3. If the keyboard does not appear, install it manually from the MIUI App Store (search for "Mi Keyboard").

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Before resetting your settings, save a backup of your keyboard data (if supported). In Gboard, for example, the dictionary syncs with your Google account automatically.

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing the keyboard to Xiaomi