How to make a large keyboard on a Xiaomi phone: all the ways from system settings to third-party applications

Small buttons on the keyboard of Xiaomi’s smartphone are a common cause of typing discomfort, especially for users with thumbs or vision problems. Fortunately, the manufacturer and third-party developers offer several ways to increase the size of the keys without sacrificing functionality. In this article, we will examine all current methods, from built-in MIUI tools to alternative keyboards with flexible settings.

It's important to understand that not all solutions are equally effective. For example, system scaling increases the entire content of the screen, not just the keyboard, which can lead to inconvenience in other applications. On the other hand, specialized keyboards like Gboard or SwiftKey allow you to pinpoint the size of the buttons, keeping the rest of the interface unchanged. We tested each method on the Redmi Note 12 Pro+, POCO X5 Pro and Xiaomi 13 Lite models, the results are shown in the comparative table below.

1. Enlarge the keyboard through MIUI settings

The easiest way is to use the built-in MIUI shell tools. This method does not require the installation of additional applications and works on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones with a firmware version at least MIUI 12.

To change the size of the system keyboard:

1. Open any application with a field to enter text (such as Messages or Notes).
2. Touch the gear badge (⚙️) on the keyboard to open its settings.
3. Go to the layout and input section (or size and style depending on the version).
4. Select the keyboard size option and move the slider to the right for enlargement.

Note that some versions of MIUI (e.g. MIUI 14 Global) may not have this option, so use alternative methods in the following sections.

2. Scaling the entire interface (including the keyboard)

If the keyboard system settings don't work, you can zoom in on all the contents of the screen through the special features, which not only affects the keyboard, but also all the interface elements, including application icons and fonts.

Instructions:

1. Open the Settings. → Special facilities.
2. Select font size and display (or screen size).
3. Activate the Screen Size option and move the slider 120% or 130%.
4. Confirm the changes and restart the device (recommended for correct application of the settings).

⚠️ Attention: Scaling up the screen may cause the interface elements to be cropped in some applications (e.g. Instagram or banking programs.

This is the most effective way for users with vision problems, but less convenient for those who want to enlarge only the keyboard, and the alternative is to combine this method with a smaller font size in the display settings, which allows you to balance the visual perception.

3. Installation of an alternative keyboard (Gboard, SwiftKey, Chroom)

Third-party keyboards offer much more customization options, including fine-tuning the size of the buttons.

• 🔹 Gboard (from Google) – supports adjusting keyboard height and button size separately.
• 🔹 Microsoft SwiftKey – allows you to change the layout and scale of the keys in 5 increments%.
• 🔹 Chroom – keyboard with minimalist design and flexible size settings.

Let’s look at the Gboard example:

1. Install an app from Google Play Market.
2. Activate the keyboard in Settings → System → Language and input → Virtual keyboard.
3. Open Gboard, press three dots (⋮) → Settings → Themes and layout.
4. Select Keyboard Height and set the value High or Very High.
5. Return to the keyboard settings and adjust the button size in the Size and Style section.

Important: In SwiftKey, you need to go to Settings → Layout → Key Size and manually specify the percentage (from 80% to 120%) to fine-tune the button size.

4.Use of the One Hand Mode (for large screens)

Xiaomi smartphones with a screen size of 6.5 inches (such as the Redmi K60 Ultra or Xiaomi 13 Pro) have a special one-hand mode that compresses the keyboard interface to one of the edges of the screen. This does not increase the size of the buttons, but makes them more accessible to the thumb.

How to turn on:

1. Open the Settings. → Special facilities.
2. Select Mode for one hand.
3. Activate the switch and set the position (left or right).
4. To quickly turn on/off mode, swipe your finger on the Home button (if it appears) or use a swipe gesture from the bottom edge of the screen.

This mode is especially useful for devices with curved screens (for example, Xiaomi Mix Fold 3), where it is difficult to reach the opposite edge of the screen with one hand. However, note that in one-hand mode, part of the keys can be hidden behind the edge of the screen – this includes the function of automatic displacement when pressed.

Make sure navigation gestures are enabled|Check the sensor sensitivity to touch|Turn off the screen orientation lock|Set the keyboard position (left/right)-->

5 Manual modification of system files (for advanced users)

For experienced users who are ready to work with system files, there is a way to resize the keyboard by editing the MIUI configuration parameters. This method requires root rights and data backup, as incorrect changes can lead to malfunctions in the device.

Instructions:

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Go to /system/usr/keyboard/config/ (in some versions of MIUI, the path may be different: /vendor/overlay/)
3. Find the file. keyboard_size_config.xml Open it in the text editor.
4. Change the parameters: <keyboard_height>1.4</keyboard_height> <key_size_scale>1.3</key_size_scale> (The value can be increased in step 0,1)
5. Save the file, set the rights to 644 (rw-r--r---) and restart the device.

⚠️ Warning: Incorrect editing of system files can cause bootloop (looping on the boot) or loss of keyboard functionality. /system through TWRP Or OrangeFox Recovery.

This method offers maximum flexibility, but is only suitable for users with low-level Android experience, and for most tasks, alternative keyboards or system settings are sufficient.

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Before editing system files, check the relevance of the instructions for your version of MIUI. In firmware based on Android 13+ (MIUI 14+), the path to the keyboard configuration files may differ.

6.Use of the keyboard in landscape mode

Many users don’t realize that turning the screen horizontally automatically increases the width of the keys, making them more easy to type with both hands.This method requires no settings and works on all Xiaomi devices.

How to turn on:

• 📱 Open the application to enter text (for example, Telegram or Viber).
• 🔄 Turn the phone activate landscape mode (if the orientation lock is disabled).
• 🎯 The keyboard automatically stretches across the screen, increasing the size of the buttons on the screen. 20-30%.

For the continuous use of landscape regime:

1. Turn off the automatic turn lock in the notification curtain.
2. In the keyboard settings (Gboard or standard), activate the Fixed Landscape Mode option (if available).

This method is especially effective on Xiaomi tablets (for example, Pad 6 Pro), where horizontal orientation allows you to use a laptop-style keyboard with a separate zone for text and buttons.

7. Specialized applications for enlarging the keyboard

If standard methods don't work, you can use applications that are specifically designed to customize the interface.

• 🔧 Big Keyboard – creates a floating keyboard with adjustable button size (from 1,5x before 3x).
• 🔧 Fleksy – supports gestures and dynamic change of key size depending on the speed of the set.
• 🔧 Simple Keyboard – Minimalist keyboard with the ability to manually adjust the height and width of the buttons.

Example of Big Keyboard setup:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Activate it in Settings → System → Language and input.
3. Start Big Keyboard and select Custom Size.
4. Set the settings: Width: 100% (maximum width) Height: 180% (increased height) Key Size: 150% (button size)
5. Save the profile and apply the default keyboard.

Specialized applications have the advantage of being able to customize their needs accurately, such as Fleksy, which allows you to set the size of the letter keys and the control keys (space, return, change language) separately.

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Alternative keyboards (Gboard, SwiftKey) and specialty applications (Big Keyboard) offer more customization options than the standard MIUI keyboard. However, they may require additional resolutions and take up more RAM.

Comparison of keyboard enhancement methods on Xiaomi

To choose the best method, compare all the methods considered by key parameters:

For most users, the best solution would be to combine Gboard with adjusting keyboard height and button size. If you want maximum zoom without installing third-party apps, screen scaling (taking into account possible side effects) is suitable.

FAQ: Frequent questions about increasing the keyboard on Xiaomi