Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often strive for a complete personalization of the interface, and the standard white or black keyboard quickly ceases to suit those who like bright accents. Changing the appearance of a virtual keyboard is not just changing the wallpaper, but a way to make text work more comfortable and visually pleasing. In modern shells MIUI and HyperOS, this process has become much easier thanks to the deep integration of system settings and the advanced capabilities of popular input applications.
There are several ways to transform a keyboard, from using embedded themes to installing third-party applications with advanced functionality. The key here is to understand that the Android operating system itself does not have a single centralized menu to change the color of the keyboard, since this is responsible for a specific keyboard application. So to change the design, you need to work directly with the settings of the input tool you use, whether it is a standard Gboard or alternative solutions.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all available customization methods, including hidden functions and nuances of working with system themes. You will learn how to adapt the color of the buttons to the desktop wallpaper or how to create your own unique style from scratch. Color change is possible only for software keyboards, physical illumination in budget models Xiaomi is software-free.
Use of built-in themes in Gboard
The easiest and safest way to change the look and feel is to use the Gboard app, which is the default app on most Xiaomi devices. This solution from Google offers a huge library of ready-made designs that are updated regularly. To access them, you just need to open any application that requires text input and click on the settings icon or theme icon in the sentence bar.
Inside the theme menu, you'll find categories ranging from minimalist monochromatic options to complex gradients and animated backgrounds. It's important to note that some themes may include sound effects when pressed, which adds tactility, but can consume battery power a little faster than usual. Choose your preferred style and click "Apply" to make changes take effect instantly in all applications.
If none of these options work, the system allows you to create your own design, so you can choose the base color, change the color of the characters, and even upload your own image from the gallery as the background of the keyboard, which gives you almost limitless opportunities for self-expression.
- 🎨 Open the Settings app and go to the Additional Settings section».
- ⌨️ Find the "Language and Input" option and select "Keyboard management».
- 🖌️ From the Gboard menu, select “Theme” to access the style gallery.
- 📸 Press «+», upload your photo and adjust its brightness.
Consider that heavy graphics can have a slight impact on the performance of the device, especially on older Redmi models. However, for most users, the difference is subtle and the visual effect is worth it. Experiment with character contrast to keep text readable in any light.
Configure system themes MIUI and HyperOS
Xiaomi’s shells have a powerful tool called Themes that allows you to change not only icons and wallpaper, but also system elements, including the keyboard. When you install a complex theme, you often automatically apply the appropriate style of the keyboard developed by the designer, which ensures complete visual unity of the interface.
To find the right theme, open the Themes app on your desktop and search. Type in keywords like "keyboard," "custom ui," or simply the name of your desired style. System themes have a deeper level of integration than simple wallpaper, so they can even change the shape of buttons and font styles in the input field.
⚠️ Note: When installing third-party themes from unofficial sources or modified versions of the theme store, there is a risk of system stability being compromised. Always check author rating and downloads before installing.
After applying the theme, the keyboard can change its color, but sometimes additional customization is required inside the input application itself. Some themes only change the background, leaving the color of the characters standard, which can lead to poor readability.
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Before applying a new theme, take a screenshot of the current lock screen and desktop to know exactly which elements have changed and, if necessary, roll back the changes.
Customization through SwiftKey
If standard Gboard features seem limited to you, a great solution is to install Microsoft SwiftKey Keyboard, which is famous for its advanced predictive input engine and incredibly flexible look and feel settings, which is fully compatible with Xiaomi devices and often works even more stable than standard solutions.
In SwiftKey, you can not just choose a color, but you can customize every aspect: key transparency, font size, key location, and even add your own blur photo. The "Flow" feature allows you to type without taking your finger off the screen, swiping letters, which, combined with a bright theme, makes the input process very convenient.
To change color, go to the app's settings, select the "Theme" section, and click "Create Your Theme" where you can choose a color palette that matches your mood or time of day perfectly, and dynamic themes are also available that change color depending on the time of day.
| Function | Gboard | SwiftKey | Systemic theme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Background change | Yes. | Yes. | Depends on the topic. |
| Transparency | No. | Yes. | Partially. |
| Type size | Limited. | Flexibly | No. |
| Animation. | There is. | There is. | Rarely. |
☑️ Check before installing a new keyboard
Manual creation of theme with gradients
For users who want to be unique, there is a manual gradient creation feature available. Unlike ready-made static images, the gradient creates a sense of depth and volume. In the theme settings of most modern keyboards, you can choose two or more colors that flow smoothly into each other.
The process of creating is this: you pick a base color, then add a second hue and adjust the angle of inclination of the gradient. The visual effect depends on the colors you choose: cold colors (blue, purple) are soothing, and warm colors (orange, red) are invigorating. This can psychologically affect the speed and comfort of printing.
Remember to check the contrast of the letters against the created background. If the gradient is too bright or colorful, the white characters can merge with it, which will lead to errors in typing. Use the preview function to assess readability before saving settings.
The Secret of the Perfect Gradient
Problems with color display and their solution
Sometimes users are faced with a situation when after changing the theme colors are displayed incorrectly: instead of black text appears gray, or the background becomes too light. This is often due to the fact that the function is activated “Dark theme” in the Android system itself or in a particular application that overlaps the settings of the keyboard.
To fix this, you need to check the display settings. Go to Settings → Screen → Dark Theme and try to switch mode. Some keyboards have their own system theme-adjust setting that you have to turn off to make your chosen color work forcefully. Theme conflict is a common problem in the Xiaomi ecosystem.
The problem may also be in the app's cache. If the keyboard is not working properly, try to clear the keyboard. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Gboard (or your keyboard) → Memory → Clear. You'll need to re-select the language and layout, but the color settings are usually saved or easily restored.
⚠️ Warning: Clearing the keyboard data will delete the words stored in its memory (dictionary), so make sure your dictionary is synced with your Google or Microsoft account before the procedure.
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If the color doesn’t change after all the manipulations, try restarting the device in safe mode to eliminate the impact of third-party optimization apps.