The keyboard on Xiaomi is one of the most used tools, and its appearance directly affects the comfort of typing. Many users want to personalize the device, including changing the keyboard font, but not everyone knows that there are several options here: from standard MIUI settings to installing third-party applications. In this article, we will analyze all the current methods, including nuances for different versions of firmware and smartphone models.
It is important to understand that the keyboard font and the system font are different things. The keyboard in Xiaomi uses the system font by default, but it can be replaced separately without affecting the rest of the interface. It is also worth considering that some methods require root rights or install additional modules, which can affect the security of the device. We will consider both simple and advanced options - choose the right one!
Method 1: Change the font through MIUI themes
The safest and most official way is to use the built-in MIUI themes. Many themes include not only changing wallpapers and icons, but also keyboard fonts.This method does not require superuser rights and is suitable for all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models based on MIUI 12/13/14.
To apply a new theme:
- 📱 Open the Themes app (icon with brush).
- 🔍 In the search bar, enter the request “font” or “keyboard».
- 🎨 Choose your favorite topic from the suggested ones (pay attention to reviews and ratings).
- 📥 Click Apply – the system will automatically update the fonts, including the keyboard.
If the keyboard font hasn't changed after applying the theme, try restarting the device or checking if the chosen theme supports changing the fonts for the keyboard. Some themes only change the system font, leaving the keyboard unchanged.
Method 2: Install a third-party keyboard with custom fonts
If the built-in themes don't work, you can install an alternative keyboard from Google Play, popular options are Gboard, SwiftKey or Chroom, which allow you not only to change fonts, but also customize the color scheme, button size and even add your own wallpaper.
Instructions for setting up Gboard:
- Download Gboard from Google Play.
- Activate the keyboard in settings: Settings → System → Language and input → Virtual keyboard → Keyboard management
- Turn on Gboard and set it with the default keyboard.
- Open Gboard, go to Settings → Themes → Create your theme.
- In the Font section, select one of the suggested ones or download your own (TTF/OTF format).
The advantage of this method is flexibility and no risk to the system, but some fonts may not display correctly in Cyrillic, so check the characters you support before using them.
Download APK only from official sources (Google Play, APKMirror)
Check the reviews on compatibility with your Xiaomi model
Backup of current keyboard settings
Disable Battery Optimization for Keyboard in Settings MIUI-->
Method 3: Manually modifying fonts via root or Magisk (for advanced)
If you're ready to experiment, you can replace the keyboard font at the system file level, which requires root rights or a Magisk module, and is only suitable for advanced users, and the wrong actions can lead to a keyboard failure or a complete flashing of the device!
Step-by-step:
- Get root or install Magisk (instructions depend on the Xiaomi model).
- Download your favorite font in.ttf format and rename it to DroidSansFallback.ttf (this is the standard keyboard font name in MIUI).
- Use Root Explorer or FX File Manager to replace the file along the path: /system/fonts/DroidSansFallback.ttf
- Set the rights 644 (rw-r-----) for the new file.
- Reset the device.
What if the keyboard stopped working after the font was replaced?
This is a way to maximize freedom, but it has risks, such as when you upgrade MIUI, system fonts can reset and you have to repeat the procedure, and some banking applications can block work on root devices.
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Before replacing the system fonts, back up /system/fonts/ via TWRP or ADB. This will quickly restore the keyboard to work in case of an error.
Comparison of methods of changing the font of the keyboard on Xiaomi
| Method | Difficulty | Root is required. | Risks. | Supported models |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIUI themes | ⭐ (simple) | ❌ No. | Low. | All with MIUI 12+ |
| Third-party keyboard (Gboard) | ⭐⭐ (middle-of-the-road) | ❌ No. | Absent. | All models. |
| Replacement of system font | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (difficult) | ✅ Yes. | High (risk of failure) | Only with the unlocked loader |
| Magisk (iFont) modules | ⭐⭐⭐ (forward) | ✅ Yes. | Average. | MIUI 11–14 |
As you can see from the table, for most users, MIUI themes or third-party keyboards will be the best solution, and root methods will only be suitable for those who are ready for possible security and update problems.
Frequent problems and their solutions
When you change the typeface of the keyboard, users often encounter common errors, and let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them.
⚠️ Warning: If after installing a new theme or font, the keyboard starts to "crush" the register (for example, only capital letters are typed), check the language settings in the keyboard. Sometimes resetting helps: Settings → System system → Language and input → Virtual keyboard → Resetting settings.
Problem 1: The font has changed, but some characters are shown in squares.
- 🔤 Check if the font supports Cyrillic/Latin (open the.ttf file on PC via FontForge).
- 🔄 Try a different font or return the standard font.
- 📱 Update the keyboard via Google Play.
Problem 2: After the MIUI update, the font reset.
- 🔄 In the use of the topics MIUI — Re-apply the topic.
- 🛠️ If you changed the system font - repeat the procedure (update overwrites files to the system font) /system).
- 🔒 Use the Magisk FontManager module to prevent resetting.
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If you use informal firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), standard MIUI themes won’t work, and third-party keyboards like Gboard or SwiftKey are the only reliable option.
How to return the standard keyboard font
If the experiments with fonts were not successful, you can return everything “as it was” in several ways:
- For those. MIUI: 🎨 Open the Topics app. 🔙 Go to My subjects. → Standard. 📥 Click Apply.
- For third-party keyboards: ⚙️ Go to the keyboard settings (e.g. Gboard). 🎨 Select Topics → Standard. 🗑️ Clear the keyboard cache in Settings → Annexes.
- For manual font replacement: 📂 Restore the original DroidSansFallback.ttf file from backup. 🔄 Or run the command in ADB: adb shell su -c "restorecon -Rv /system/fonts/"
If the keyboard stops working completely, try temporarily activating another keyboard (such as Google AOS Keyboard) and repeat the reset procedure.