How to change the keyboard on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8: 5 ways + error solving

The keyboard on a smartphone is like a steering wheel in a car: its convenience depends on the comfort of daily use. Owners of Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 often face the inconvenience of a standard one. MIUI-Keyboards that highlight errors in Russian words, slow down when you type quickly or simply don’t like the design. Fortunately, Android allows you to replace it with any alternative, from the minimalist Gboard to the advanced SwiftKey with artificial intelligence.

But how do you do it right so you don't lose autocomplete passwords, run into input bugs, or accidentally delete system files? In this article, we'll look at all the ways you can change your keyboard to a Redmi Note 8, from basic settings to manual installation. APK-You'll also learn why sometimes a new keyboard doesn't appear on the list and how to fix it without resetting your phone to factory settings.

Before you go to the instructions, make sure your Redmi Note 8 is updated to the current version of MIUI (minimum MIUI 12). Old firmware may not have some options, and the keyboard change algorithms work differently. You can check the version in the Settings menu → About Phone → MIUI version.

1. Method 1: Install the keyboard from Google Play

The easiest and safest method is to download an alternative keyboard from the official store.

• 🔹 Gboard – keyboard from Google with support for gestures, translator and search GIFs.
• 🔹 SwiftKey – a smart keyboard from Microsoft with word prediction and synchronization between devices.
• 🔹 Fleksy – Minimalist keyboard with extended themes and gestures.
• 🔹 Chroom – for those who like customization (change in height, transparency, fonts).

To install a new keyboard:

1. Open the Google Play Store and find the app you want (like “Gboard”).
2. Click Install and wait for the download to be completed.
3. After installation, open the keyboard app (the icon will appear in the menu) and follow the setup instructions.

On the Redmi Note 8 with firmware below MIUI 13, after installing the Gboard, it may be necessary to reboot the phone to make the keyboard appear on the list of available ones.

Download an alternative keyboard from Google Play

Check for free space (minimum 100 MB)

Disable battery savings for keyboard application

Reboot your phone (recommended for MIUI 12 and below)

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2. Method 2: Activate the new keyboard in the settings

Install the app is half the battle, and now you have to make it the default keyboard.

1. Go to Settings → Additional settings → Language and input → Current keyboard.
2. Turn on the slider next to the name of the new keyboard (such as Gboard).
3. Click on the Current Keyboard and select the installed application from the list.

If the new keyboard doesn’t appear on the list, check:

• 🔄 Has the application been fully downloaded (sometimes the Play Store shows “Installed”, but the files have not downloaded).
• 🔄 Is it blocking? MIUI Optimizer installation of third-party keyboards (found on Chinese firmware).
• 🔄 Are there any restrictions on settings → Annexes → Application management → Three dots (menu) → Special access → Administration of the device.

⚠️ Note: On some versions MIUI When you change your keyboard, you lose access to the Xiaomi clipboard. To return it, install the Mi Clipboard app from the Play Store or use an alternative like Clipper.

3. Method 3: Install the keyboard via APK (for rare layouts)

If you need a specialized keyboard (for example, Korean, Japanese hieroglyphic input or STEM-It may not be on Google Play:

1. Download. APK-file from a verified source (e.g., APKMirror).
2. Before installing, go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Settings (cogs) → Install unknown applications and allow installation for your browser or file manager.
3. Open the downloaded APK and confirm the installation.

Once installed, the keyboard may not appear in the input settings.

adb shell pm grant com.example.keyboard android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS

(Replace com.example.keyboard with a real application package)

4. Method 4: Reset the keyboard settings (if it is glitchy)

Sometimes, after a keyboard change, bugs occur: autocomplete disappears, emojis do not work, or the keyboard spontaneously switches back to the standard one, in which case the reset will help:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find your keyboard (like Gboard) and select it.
3. Click Warehouse → Clear the data and Clear the cache.
4. Reboot the phone.

If the problem persists, try:

• 🔧 Disable battery savings for the keyboard application (Settings) → Battery → Saving charge → Annexes).
• 🔧 Remove updates for MIUI Keyboard (if you use a standard keyboard).
• 🔧 Check if the keyboard is in conflict with the antivirus or VPN.

💡

If the keyboard slowly opens after reset, try turning off animation in the developer settings (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – press 7 times, then Additional settings → For developers → Scale of window animation → Off.).

5. Method 5: Using multiple keyboards (switching on the fly)

On the Redmi Note 8, you can activate several keyboards at once and switch between them as you go.

• 📱 Gboard for regular set;
• 🎨 Chroom for Design Tasks;
• 🌐 SwiftKey for working with foreign languages.

To enable the switching:

1. Activate all the keyboards you need in Settings → Language and input.
2. When the keyboard is open, swipe your finger over the space to the left or right - the change menu will appear.
3. Or tap the keyboard icon in the bottom row (if any).

If the switching menu does not appear, check:

• 🔍 Is the slider enabled Show the switch icon in the keyboard settings.
• 🔍 Is the option to Use system settings in the keyboard itself disabled (for example, in Gboard this is Settings) → Systemic → Show the keyboard icon).

💡

On MIUI 14 and later, switching between keyboards is more stable than on MIUI 12. If you have an old firmware, upgrade it or use the notification bar for a quick change.

6. Solving common problems

Even after installation, the keyboard can malfunction, and let's look at the typical errors and their solutions:

If after all the manipulations the keyboard still does not work, try:

1. Remove it and re-install it.
2. Check your phone for viruses (sometimes keyboard spies block the input).
3. Reset MIUI settings to factory settings (Settings → Additional settings → Recovery and Reset).

⚠️ Note: On the Redmi Note 8 with bootloader unlocked, some keyboards (e.g. SwiftKey) may conflict with Magisk or Xposed. In this case, disable the modules associated with text input.

7. Optimizing the keyboard for performance

To ensure that the keyboard works quickly and does not "hang":

• 🚀 Turn off vibration when pressed (saves battery and speeds up input).
• 🚀 Reduce the keyboard height in the settings (especially relevant for small screens).
• 🚀 Turn off word prediction if it interferes (in Gboard: Settings) → Text input → Showing clues).
• 🚀 Use a dark theme – it reduces the load on the processor when displaying.

For customization enthusiasts:

• 🎨 In Chroom you can adjust transparency, key color and even add your pictures to the background.
• 🎨 Fleksy has an option Invisible keyboard – gesture input without displaying buttons.
• 🎨 In Gboard, you can create your own theme through Settings → Topics → Create.

💡

If you type in two languages often, set up a quick switch to Gboard: Settings → Languages → Switching languages → Switching over the space.

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing the keyboard to the Redmi Note 8