How to change the keyboard theme on Xiaomi: all ways in 5 minutes

The standard keyboard on Xiaomi smartphones often looks boring: gray buttons, monotonous colors and lack of personality. Meanwhile, the manufacturer offers several ways to personalize — from built-in themes to install third-party solutions. If you are tired of monotony or just want to refresh the interface, this article will help you to understand all the nuances.

We will look at the official methods of changing the theme through the MIUI/HyperOS settings, installing alternative keyboards from Google Play, as well as solutions for cases when standard options do not work. We will pay special attention to Redmi, POCO and Xiaomi 13/14 flagships - they have their own features. Don't miss the section with the theme compatibility table for different versions of the firmware!

Before you start, check your firmware version: Setting path → About phone → MIUI version. It depends on the availability of some features. Ready to transform the keyboard? Then let's get going!

Method 1: Standard MIUI/HyperOS Themes

The easiest way is to use the built-in themes from Xiaomi, which are free, optimized for the system and do not require additional applications.

1. Open any input field (such as a WhatsApp message or notes) to make the keyboard appear.
2. Press the gear icon (⚙️) in the top row of the keyboard - this will cause the settings menu.
3. Select Keyboard Themes (in some versions – Design).
4. Scroll through the list of available topics and tap on the one you like. Changes will apply automatically.

MIUI 14 and later adds the ability to download additional themes from the cloud. To do this, click Get More in the themes menu, and the Xiaomi Themes section will open with hundreds of options. Note: some themes may be paid (from 50 to 300 rubles).

Check out the MIUI/HyperOS version

Update the Themes app on Google Play

Free up 100+MB of memory to download new themes

Connect to Wi-Fi for quick download-->

If the theme is not on the list, try updating the Themes app through Google Play. Sometimes new collections only appear after an update. Also, check the region of your Mi Account account - in some countries the range of themes is limited.

⚠️ Warning: On HyperOS devices (e.g. Xiaomi 14 or Redmi K70), the path to keyboard settings may be different. If you don't find the gear icon, try holding the space, and that will trigger theme menu on some firmwares.

Method 2: Installation of third-party keyboards

If you don't have enough built-in themes, you can install an alternative keyboard.

• 🎨 Gboard (from Google) – supports changing color schemes, adding wallpaper and even creating your own themes.
• 🌈 SwiftKey (Microsoft) – offers responsive themes that adapt to your phone’s wallpaper.
• ⚡ Fleksy is a minimalist design with gesture support and button customization.
• 🖌️ Chrooma is a keyboard with AI support and unique visuals.

To install a third-party keyboard:

1. Download the app from Google Play (like Gboard).
2. Launch the application and follow the setup instructions.
3. Go to Settings → System → Language and input → Virtual keyboard.
4. Activate the new keyboard and set it by default.

In Gboard and SwiftKey, the themes change directly in the app settings, for example, in Gboard, the path is: Settings → Themes → Select a theme. Here you can download wallpaper from the gallery or create your own color scheme.

Standard MIUI

Gboard

SwiftKey

Fleksy

other-->

Third-party keyboards consume more memory and can slightly slow down text input on weak devices (for example, Redmi 9A or POCO M3).

• 🔍 Search GIF And stickers right out of the keyboard.
• 🌍 Instant translation of highlighted text.
• 🎵 Voice input with multilingual support.

Method 3: Manually modifying system files (for advanced)

If you're willing to take risks, you can change the keyboard theme through system file editing, which requires an unlocked bootloader and root rights, so it's only suitable for power users.

1. Replace the APK- keyboard file via Magisk or TWRP.
2. Edit XML- theme files in the /system/app/LatinIME folder.

For the first method you will need:

1. Download a modified LatinIME.apk with themes (see the XDA Developers or 4PDA forums).
2. Install it via Magisk Module or replace the original file in /system/priv-app.
3. Clear the keyboard cache in Settings → Applications → Application Management → Keyboard.

For the second method, use Root Explorer or MT Manager:

1. Go to /system/app/LatinIME/res/color.
2. Edit the miui_keyboard_colors.xml files (change the color hex codes).
3. Reset the device.

⚠️ Warning: On HyperOS devices (e.g., Xiaomi 14 Pro), the path to keyboard files may be different: /system/system_ext/priv-app/LatinIME. Also note that after the firmware update, all changes will reset!

Theme compatibility table for different Xiaomi models

Not all themes work on all devices, but the following is compatibility data for popular models (relevant to MIUI 14/HyperOS 1.0):

On devices with 1-2 GB of RAM (such as the Redmi 9C or POCO C31), third-party keyboards can work with lags, in which case it is better to limit yourself to standard MIUI themes.

Solving problems when changing the topic

Sometimes users encounter errors when trying to change the topic, and consider the typical cases and ways to correct them:

• 🔄 Topic not applicable: Reboot your phone. Clear the keyboard cache to Settings → Apps → Keyboard → Memory. Check if there are restrictions in Settings → Special Options → Simplified Mode.
• 📱 No gear icon on the keyboard: Hold the space or comma is an alternative menu call. Update the firmware through Settings → About the phone → System Update.
• 💾 Topics from Xiaomi Themes are not downloadable: Check your Internet connection (better use Wi-Fi). Update the Themes app on Google Play. Change your Mi Account region to Russia or India (more free themes).

If after changing the theme, the keyboard began to slow down or close arbitrarily, try:

1. Back to the standard topic.
2. Disable animations in Settings → Additional → Animation system.
3. Delete the cache of the com.miui.miuikeyboard application via ADB: adb shell pm clear com.miui.miuikeyboard

💡

If downloaded themes are missing after the MIUI update, check the /sdcard/MIUI/theme/.data/.overlay folder. Sometimes theme files stay there but don't appear in the menu. Rebooting the device usually solves the problem.

Creating your own keyboard theme

If you don't have enough, you can create your own.

1. Image editor (such as Photoshop or GIMP).
2. An APK build tool (such as APKTool).
3. Knowledge of XML for editing theme files.

Step-by-step:

1. Download the original LatinIME.apk from your device’s firmware (can be retrieved via MT Manager).
2. Unpack APK with APKTool: apktool d LatinIME.apk -o output
3. Edit files in folders: res/drawable – images of buttons. res/color – color schemes. res/layout – location of elements.

apktool b output -o custom_keyboard.apk

uber-apk-signer

To simplify the process, you can use ready-made themes templates with XDA Developers or GitHub. For example, the MIUI Keyboard Themes project offers a collection of customized keyboards.

⚠️ Warning: Self-assembly APK can disrupt keyboard operation if you misedit AndroidManifest.xml or resources.arsc. Always test the collected APK on a backup device or via an emulator!

The best themes for Xiaomi keyboard in 2026

We selected the top-5 theme that are popular among Xiaomi owners:

• 🌌 Cosmic Black is a dark, star-sized theme suitable for AMOLED- screens (Xiaomi 13 Ultra, POCO F5 Pro).
• 🍬 Candy Pink is a pink-purple range with rounded buttons, perfect for the Redmi Note 12 Pro.
• 🤖 Cyberpunk Neon is a neon accent on a black background inspired by Cyberpunk 2077.
• 🍃 Nature Green is a calm green tones with a texture of leaves, looks good on the Xiaomi 12 Lite.
• ❄️ Frost White is a minimalist white theme with blue accents, suitable for business use.

All these themes are available in the official Xiaomi Themes app.

1. Open the → Keyboard Themes.
2. Enter the title of the topic in the search.
3. Click Apply (for paid themes, you will need to pay through Mi Account).

If you prefer Gboard, there are similar themes in its collection:

• Dark Theme with Borders (Cosmic Black)
• Pastel Pink (similar to Candy Pink)
• Neon Glow (alternative to Cyberpunk Neon)

💡

Before buying a paid theme, check its rating and reviews in Xiaomi Themes. Some themes may contain ads or work incorrectly on certain models.

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing the keyboard theme