How to increase the keyboard on Xiaomi smartphones: all ways

Small buttons on Xiaomi’s on-screen keyboard prevent fast typing, especially for owners of large-screen smartphones or people with visual disabilities. Fortunately, there are several ways to increase the size of keys in MIUI firmware and standard applications, from basic settings to hidden functions. In this article, we will discuss all working methods, including those that do not require third-party software installation.

It's important to understand that the keyboard size change algorithm depends on the type of keyboard you use, whether it's a standard Gboard, a proprietary Mi Keyboard, or alternatives like SwiftKey. We'll look at the universal ways and specific settings for each, and you'll also learn how to avoid the typical errors that can make the keyboard reset to factory settings.

1. Enlarge the keyboard through MIUI settings

The easiest way to resize keys is to use the built-in options of the system. In MIUI 12-14, the path to settings may vary slightly, but the general logic is maintained. Here is a step-by-step instruction:

1. Open any application where the keyboard appears (such as Messages or Notes).
2. Touch the gear badge (⚙️) on the keyboard panel to open its settings.
3. Go to Size and Style (or Themes and layout in some versions).
4. Move the slider Keyboard Height to the right for zooming.

If you have Mi Keyboard installed, check the section Additional settings → Keyboard Size. You can adjust not only the height, but also the width of the buttons, as well as the distance between them.

Update. MIUI last-minute|Check which keyboard is active by default|Make a backup copy of the settings (optional)|Reboot your smartphone after the changes-->

Limitation: Some versions of MIUI have an artificially limited maximum key size, so if you want to zoom in above 120-130 percent, you’ll have to use third-party apps (more on that in the next section).

2. Third-party keyboards with flexible settings

If the standard options don't give you enough magnification, install an alternative keyboard.The best options for Xiaomi are:

• 🔹 Gboard (from Google) – supports scaling up to 150%, has responsive design and gestures.
• 🔹 SwiftKey – allows you to adjust the height of the keys in 5% increments, there is a mode of “one hand».
• 🔹 Chroom – Minimalist keyboard with the ability to change the size of each button separately.
• 🔹 Fleksy – offers unique themes and advanced scaling options.

To install a third-party keyboard:

1. Download the app from Google Play (like Gboard).
2. Go to Settings → System → Language and input → Virtual keyboard.
3. Activate the new keyboard and set it by default.
4. In the keyboard settings, find the Size or Layout section and adjust the settings.

Standard Mi Keyboard|Gboard by Google|SwiftKey|Other (write in the comments)-->

Important: Once you have installed a third-party keyboard, some MIUI features (such as quick password entry through a fingerprint scanner) may not work properly.

Scaling the entire interface (including the keyboard)

If the problem is not just the keyboard, but the fine print across the entire interface, change the overall scale of the display.

1. Open the Settings → Screen.
2. Select Text and Display Size (or Screen Size in older versions of MIUI).
3. Move the slider font size or display scale to the right.
4. To fine-tune, tap Additional and manually set a value (e.g. 120%).

⚠️ Note: changing the scale of the display may cause the interface elements to crop in some applications (e.g., games or banking programs.

4. Hidden MIUI functions for keyboard

MIUI firmware has undocumented options that allow you to more accurately configure the keyboard, such as one-handed mode or adaptive layout:

• 🔧 Activate One-Hand Mode in the keyboard settings – this will compress the keyboard and increase the buttons in the active zone.
• 🔧 Turn on the Floating Keyboard (available in Gboard and Mi Keyboard) to change its size with gestures.
• 🔧 Use Dark Mode for the keyboard – on a dark background, the buttons visually seem larger.

To access hidden settings:

1. Open the keyboard in any application.
2. Hold your finger on the gear icon (⚙️) 3-5 seconds.
3. In the menu that appears, select Additional settings.
4. Find the Experimental Functions section (or the Lab in Gboard).

5. Solving problems with "resetting" the size of the keyboard

Sometimes, after updating MIUI or rebooting your smartphone, the keyboard returns to its original size.

• 🔄 Regularly update your keyboard via Google Play (for Gboard) or Software Update (for Mi Keyboard).
• 📱 Turn off battery optimization for keyboard: Settings → Battery → Optimization → Find the keyboard. → No restrictions.
• 🔒 Avoid resetting settings: in Settings → Reset and Recovery Disable Automatic Reset Option.

If the problem persists, try:

1. Remove the keyboard cache in Settings → Applications.
2. Reinstall the keyboard app.
3. Reset MIUI settings to factory (extreme case).

💡

Create a shortcut to quickly access your keyboard settings: hold the keyboard icon on the home screen and select Settings. Now they'll be in one tap!

6. Alternative methods for visually impaired users

If the enlargement of the keyboard is associated with poor vision, use specialized MIUI functions:

• 👓 Include large text in Settings → Special facilities → Vision.
• 🔍 Activate the Lupu (three times touch the screen to zoom in on any element).
• 🎨 Use High Contrast for Better Button Visibility.

For maximum comfort, combine these options with a larger keyboard.

1. Set the screen size to 120%.
2. Include the big text.
3. Increase the height of the keyboard to 130% in its settings.

💡

The combination of an enlarged keyboard with the Loop function allows you to comfortably type text even with strong myopia.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When changing the size of the keyboard, users often face typical problems:

⚠️ Note: If you lose your emoji or emoji after enlarging your keyboard, check the layout settings. In some keyboards (such as the Mi Keyboard), at a scale of over 120%, the extra panels are automatically turned off. To return them, reduce the height of the keys or activate the option to Show emoji in the main keyboard.

Other common mistakes:

• 🚫 Theme incompatibility: Some keyboard themes don't support scaling. Before resizing, select a standard theme.
• 🚫 Gesture conflict: If you use gesture navigation, a larger keyboard can block swipes. Turn off gestures at the bottom of the screen or reduce the height of the keys.
• 🚫 Reset after update: MIUI Sometimes resets the keyboard settings for major updates. Before updating, take a screenshot of the current settings.

To check if your Xiaomi model supports resizing the keyboard, refer to the compatibility table:

FAQ: Answers to popular questions