Many Xiaomi smartphone owners, after updating their firmware or buying a new device, face an unusual text input interface. The standard MIUI keyboard, known as Baidu, often causes bewilderment among users accustomed to pure Android or iOS. Instead of the expected layout, you may be greeted with a complex interface with extra buttons, strange cursor behavior and intrusive emoji suggestions. This is not a bug, but a feature of localization for the Chinese market, which is included in global versions of the shells by default.
There are a number of ways to get things back to normal without having to do a lot of root-rights manipulation. MIUI and the new HyperOS allow you to flexibly customize your input tools, replacing them with Google system or third-party solutions. In this article, we’ll look at everything from simple switching in settings to completely replacing the system typeface, which is the most radical but effective method.
Before you make any changes, it’s important to understand that changing your keyboard isn’t just a change of picture, it’s a change in how you interact with your device. Failing to set up the wrong setting can temporarily make it impossible for you to enter passwords or messages. So follow the instructions carefully and keep backups of important data if you plan to make deep changes to your system files.
⚠️ Note: Before installing third-party text input apps, make sure you only download them from a trusted Google Play store.Using modified apk files from unverified sites can result in your personal data being stolen, including passwords from banking apps.
Why Xiaomi has a Chinese keyboard
The main reason for the unusual keyboard is Xiaomi’s policy of optimizing for different markets. In China, Baidu’s input method, which is perfectly adapted to the characters and local habits of Users, dominates. When entering the global market, engineers often leave this component as a default to not violate license agreements or simply forgetting to reconfigure the input region when assembling firmware.
Users often confuse the keyboard with the system font or theme, but the input method is a separate application that has its own code and permissions. Unlike a theme that changes only icons and wallpaper, the keyboard handles every touch you make of the screen, which is why the standard MIUI character set can seem so "viscous" or, conversely, too fast to react.
Another reason is that when you upgrade from MIUI 12 to MIUI 13 or 14, and HyperOS, you can reset to factory settings. Factory settings for a device made for the Asian region will always contain Chinese software. Even if you bought a phone in Europe, its internal build can be global, but with some Chinese roots in the code.
Method 1: Switch to Gboard through settings
The safest and easiest way to get back a standard keyboard is to activate the built-in but hidden Gboard. This is the official Google keyboard, which is pre-installed on almost all modern Xiaomi smartphones, but often deactivated. You don't need to download anything, just change the settings in the settings menu correctly.
To start, you need to go to the language management section. The path may vary slightly depending on the shell version, but the logic remains the same. Open Settings, then find Additional Settings and select Language and Type. This shows all available input methods installed in the system.
- 📱 Click on Keyboard Management (or "Current Keyboard").
- ✅ Find the Gboard list and activate the switch next to it.
- ⌨️ Go back and select Current Keyboard to assign Google the primary input method.
After doing these steps, the standard white or dark keyboard of Google should automatically appear when typing. If this does not happen, it may have been removed by the user earlier or hidden. In this case, check the list of installed applications through Settings → Apps → All applications and find Gboard there. If it is there, but does not work, try clearing its cache.
⚠️ Warning: If the keyboard doesn't appear after switching and instead says "Select input method", restart the device. Sometimes it takes time for the system to initialize a new input module after resetting the default settings.
Method 2: Complete replacement through application installation
If the built-in Gboard has been removed or you don't like its functionality, the best solution is to install an alternative, and Microsoft SwiftKey, which is famous for its predictive typing and handy cursor-move keys, is considered the leader in this niche, and Typewise and Fleksy, which offer custom print approaches, are also popular.
The process of installing a third-party keyboard requires special permissions. Android, for security reasons, blocks the ability to enter data by any application other than the system one until the user explicitly consents. This is protection against keyloggers who can steal your passwords.
☑️ Checklist of installation of new keyboard
Once you download and install the app, the system will automatically redirect you to the settings menu. If that doesn't happen, manually log in via Settings → Additional Settings → Language and Input → Keyboard Management. Here you will see the new app in the list of available ones. Activate it and confirm the security alert by pressing OK.
It's important to note that third-party keyboards often require network access to autocomplete and word prediction functions. If you're worried about privacy, you can turn off data transfers in the keyboard settings themselves. However, without the Internet, text prediction can be reduced, especially if you use rare words or slang.
Method 3: Radical method of changing system font
There is a lesser-known but highly effective method that allows you to make the keyboard "standard" at the system library level, which involves changing the region of the phone. Many users do not know that the choice of region in Xiaomi affects not only the news in the browser, but also the set of system applications by default.
To take advantage of this trick, go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Region. The default is China or Hong Kong, which dictates the installation of Chinese software. Change the region to the United States, the United Kingdom or Ukraine. The system may suggest a reboot or simply update the list of services.
When you change region, go back to your keyboard settings. It often happens that the system automatically replaces Baidu Input with Gboard, because in the Western market this is the de facto standard. If there is no automatic replacement, try removing keyboard updates through the app menu.
| Parameter | China | United States/Europe Region | India |
|---|---|---|---|
| Default keyboard | Baidu | Gboard | Gboard / SwiftKey |
| Pre-installed annexes | Chinese services | Google Services | Local Indian services |
| Frequency of MIUI updates | Daily (Beta) | Weekly/monthly | Monthly |
| Advertising in the system | Minimum. | Present. | Maximum |
⚠️ Warning: Changes in region may affect some local features, such as the theme in the Security app or the availability of certain widgets. It is not recommended to change the region to countries with severe censorship or specific restrictions, unless you are sure of the consequences.
What to do if the keyboard is completely missing?
Customization and personalization of the standard keyboard
Once you've managed to make the keyboard standard (usually Gboard), you can and should customize it for yourself. Standard settings are often minimalistic, but they hide powerful functionality. For example, many people are unaware of the ability to control the swipe cursor over space.
To access the settings, press and hold the comma or gear icon on the keyboard panel, where you can change the height of the buttons, turn on the vibration when you press and customize the design theme. Dark theme is especially relevant for the user. OLED-Xiaomi screens, as it saves battery power.
- 🎨 Topics: Choose background color, transparency or set your photo.
- 🔊 Sound and vibration: adjust the volume of clicks and the strength of the tactile response (if supported by the screen).
- 🗣 Voice input: activate the microphone for quick dictation of messages.
One-handed mode is a special feature. If you have a large smartphone, such as the Xiaomi Mi Note series or Redmi Note Pro, shifting the keyboard to the edge of the screen will make it much easier to type with your thumb. This option is located in the section "Settings → Preferences → One-handed mode".
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Tip: Use the floating keyboard feature in Gboard settings if you frequently type horizontally or use a tablet, and this will allow you to move the keyboard to any part of the screen for convenience.
Solving text entry problems
Even after you set it up properly, users can experience lags, a spontaneous keyboard closure, or a wrong layout. Most often, the problem is a crowded dictionary cache. Words you use often are stored in memory, and over time, this file can get corrupted.
To fix this, go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find your keyboard (like Gboard) and select Clear Data → Clear Cache. Be careful: a complete data cleanup (not cache) will delete your personal vocabulary, and the keyboard will "forget" your frequently used words and nicknames.
Another common problem is key sticking or lack of response, which can be due to the screen screen screen protection film or sensitivity settings. MIUI has screen calibration, but for the keyboard, it's better to check if the display settings are "High sensitivity" if you're using thick glass.
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Key Takeaway: 90 percent of the time, the Chinese keyboard problem is solved by simply changing the region of the phone or manually activating Gboard in the language settings. Don't rush to drop the phone before the factory settings.