Modern smartphones in the Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO line offer users huge personalization opportunities, but the standard keyboard often seems boring or not functional enough. Many device owners are faced with the desire to change not only the layout, but also the visual style, animation of clicks or even the typing program itself. The process of replacing the appearance of a virtual keyboard on the shell of MIUI or HyperOS does not require complex root manipulation and is accessible to every user.
In this article, we will discuss in detail how to change the view of the keyboard on Xiaomi, using both built-in system tools and third-party solutions. You will learn to install new themes, change character fonts, adjust the height of the panel and even add your own images to the background.
Selecting the optimal application for text input
The first step to changing the look and feel is choosing the right software. The standard Mi Input app, which is pre-installed on most global firmware versions, has basic functionality but is often inferior to competitors in design flexibility. If your goal is maximum customization, it’s worth considering alternatives like Google’s Gboard or Microsoft’s SwiftKey.
Installation of a third-party keyboard is done through the Google Play store. After downloading the application, you need to activate it in the system. To do this, go to Settings, then select Additional and find the Language and Type menu. Here in the list of available keyboards, you need to put a switch opposite the new application in the active position.
It’s important to understand that different apps offer different styling options, such as Gboard’s integration with Google services and minimalist design, while SwiftKey provides powerful text and topic prediction tools with live wallpaper.
- 📱 Gboard is the best choice for users of the Google ecosystem, supports handwriting and translation in real time.
- 🎨 SwiftKey is ideal for those who love themes with animation and deep word forecasting customization.
- 🛠 Mi Input – standard solution optimized for shelling MIUI, but with limited choice of topics.
Once you install a new application, the system can request full access permission, which is a standard procedure required to properly function autocorrect functions and save the user's vocabulary, without which permission, the keyboard will not be able to display in the input fields.
Activation and switching between keyboards
Once you have installed the desired application, it must be made active by default. In Xiaomi smartphones, this process may vary slightly depending on the version of the Android operating system. Often, when you first start a new keyboard, the system will prompt you to choose it as the main one, displaying the appropriate pop-up.
If you don't automatically request it, you have to do it manually. Go to the settings, find the Language and input section, and click on Keyboard Management or Current Keyboard. In the list that opens, select the app you installed earlier. Now, that's what you're going to use when typing.
⚠️ Note: When switching to a third-party keyboard, Android security can warn you several times about the potential risk of data interception.This is a standard warning for all input applications, and when downloaded from trusted sources (Google Play), it does not pose a real threat.
To quickly switch between already installed keyboards, you can use a special keyboard icon in the notification bar or a key combination during the typing process, usually a long press on the space or swipe on the space key, if this function is supported by the current application.
☑️ Checking keyboard activation
Make sure the layout you choose is appropriate for your needs, and you can add multiple languages to each keyboard and switch between them with a single touch, which is especially convenient for multilingual users.
Customization of the appearance in Gboard
The Gboard keyboard is one of the most popular solutions because of its clean interface and rich functionality. To change the look of it, open any application that requires text input and call the keyboard. Click on the settings icon (cog) or the icon with four squares in the top toolbar.
From the settings menu, select the Topic section, which gives you access to a gallery of preset designs, you can choose a dark theme, light, color, or even set your own photo from the smartphone gallery as a background, which allows you to create a unique design that will please the eye.
For a deeper setup, go to Settings inside the Gboard menu, where you can change the keyboard height by turning on or off the row with numbers, and adjust the style of the key boundaries. Some versions allow you to change the character font, although this feature depends on the regional version of the application.
| Setup parameter | Description of function | Where to find out. |
|---|---|---|
| Theme | Changing the color scheme or setting a photo | Theme menus → Gallery |
| Height. | Change the size of the keyboard (50%-150%) | Settings → Preferences → Height |
| Vibration. | Setting strength and duration of response | Settings → Preferences → Vibration. |
| Sound. | Enabling audible pressing | Settings → Preferences → Sound |
How to install live wallpaper on the keyboard?
Remember that visual changes take effect instantly, and you can experiment with different combinations of colors and transparency to find the perfect balance between aesthetics and character readability.
Customization of the standard Mi Input keyboard
Users who prefer not to install unnecessary apps can change the look of the standard Mi Input keyboard, although it is more modest than its competitors, basic theme-change functions are present here. To access them, call the keyboard and click on the settings icon or the four-square icon.
From the menu that opens, select Topic or Theme Store. The system will offer a catalog of designs, some of which are free, and some require payment or subscription. After selecting a theme you like, click Apply. The input interface will immediately change.
Mi Input also allows you to resize your keyboard and change the position of the keyboard on the screen, which is useful for users with large smartphones who are more comfortable typing with one hand, and shifting the keyboard left or right makes access to the characters more comfortable.
- 🖌 Theme Editor – allows you to change the color of individual keyboard elements manually.
- 🔊 Sound effects – you can choose the type of pressed sound (mechanical, digital, soft).
- 📐 Size – adjusting the height of the input panel for a convenient location of the fingers.
It is worth noting that on global firmware versions, the functionality of Mi Input can be reduced compared to the Chinese versions, and in some cases, users have to download a separate themes plugin from the GetApps store to expand the features.
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If the standard gallery is empty or not working, try clearing the cache of the "Themes" app into the smartphone setting -> Apps -> Application Management -> Topics -> Clear data.
For those who want uniqueness, there is the option of creating their own theme from scratch using special editors, although this process requires more time and attention to detail.
Use of third-party themes and app stores
If the built-in tools to change the look of your keyboard aren't enough, there are plenty of third-party apps on the Internet that specialize in visual design, and stores like GetApps (Mi Store) or Google Play offer thousands of options.
One popular way is to use keyboard launcher apps like Kika Keyboard or Facemoji, which provide access to huge libraries of emojis, stickers and, of course, themes, and installing such an app completely replaces the standard input interface.
When searching for themes, pay attention to other users’ ratings and reviews. Some themes may be poorly optimized, resulting in delays in typing or incorrect character display on high-resolution AMOLED screens.
⚠️ Note: When downloading themes and keyboards from unknown sources, always check the permissions requested.The text entry app should not require access to your contacts, geolocation or microphone without an explicit need.
Many advanced users prefer to combine different elements: use the engine of one keyboard to predict words, and take the visual theme from another source if the application supports skin import.
Solving and setting fonts
Often users want to change not only the theme, but also the font of the letters on the keyboard. In standard Android settings, this is rare, but some third-party keyboards (for example, Baidu or specialized versions of TouchPal) allow you to change the font headset regardless of the system.
If the keyboard stops displaying or doesn't work properly after changing the theme, try resetting the keyboard to factory settings. You can do this from the Settings -> Advanced Settings -> Language and input -> Current keyboard -> Settings -> Reset.
There may also be problems with the Android version and keyboard app conflict: Make sure your app is updated to the latest version through the app store. Older versions may not work properly with newer versions of the MIUI shell.
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Changing the font on the keyboard often requires installing a specialized application, since the system settings of Xiaomi fonts do not usually affect the area of the virtual keyboard.
If the keyboard "flies" or slows down, check the free space in the memory of the smartphone. Lack of RAM can lead to unstable work of heavy animated themes.