Changing the standard keyboard to the Xiaomi Redmi 7 is one of the easiest but most effective procedures to improve the comfort of using a smartphone. The standard shell MIUI offers basic functionality, but modern users often require smarter predictive input, unique design themes or specific ergonomics settings. Owners of devices in this series may face the limitations of a stock application that does not always work correctly with multilingual input or voice typing.
The process of replacing a virtual keyboard does not require root rights or deep technical knowledge. The whole procedure takes only a few minutes and is performed directly through the Android settings system menu. You can choose any application from the Google Play Store, whether it is a popular Gboard, a functional SwiftKey or a minimalist Simple Keyboard.
In this article, we will take a look at the algorithm that allows you to forget about the inconvenience of standard input, not only the installation, but also the fine-tuning of parameters that are often overlooked, and also address security issues, since third-party keyboards have access to the input data.
Selecting the optimal application for text input
The first step before replacing directly is choosing the right software. The mobile utilities market is oversaturated with offers, but for Redmi 7 with its HD+ screen and Snapdragon 632 processor, it is better to choose optimized solutions. Heavy applications with excessive animation can cause micro-latency in printing, which is critical for typing speed.
The most versatile option is Google’s Gboard, which is usually pre-installed on many devices or easy to download, and provides excellent integration with Google services, high-quality voice input and Glide typing, with Microsoft SwiftKey, which is famous for its word-prediction algorithm and flexible layout settings.
For users who value minimalism and speed, there are easy alternatives: They are devoid of unnecessary decorations, but work lightning fast even on budget processors, and it is important to pay attention to the date of the last application update and the number of downloads to avoid installing malware.
- 🔍 Gboard: Best choice for most users thanks to the stability and support of multiple languages.
- ⌨️ SwiftKey: Perfect for those who print a lot and need a powerful autocorrector.
- 🚀 Simple Keyboard: Open source, minimal weight and no unnecessary permissions.
- 🎨 Facemoji: For lovers of bright themes, emojis and personalization of the appearance of buttons.
⚠️ Note: Install keyboards only from the official Google Play store. Third-party sources may contain malicious code that can intercept passwords and banking data.
When choosing, you should consider the presence of advertising in pop-ups, which is often found in free versions of little-known keyboards. Advertising banners can overlap part of the screen or appear at the time of unlocking the device, which significantly reduces the usability of Xiaomi.
Installation and initial configuration of the new tool
After you have made a choice and have been APK-file or installed the application through the store, you need to conduct the primary configuration. MIUI, It has built-in security mechanisms that prevent the new application from working immediately. You will need to manually activate it in system settings.
Once you've installed the app, it will suggest you go to the language and input control menu, if you don't automatically switch, you need to open your smartphone settings yourself, and find the section that provides additional system settings where the switches are hidden.
☑️ Ready for installation
It's important to read permission requests carefully when you first start. The keyboard needs access to a microphone for voice input and a storage for downloading themes, but access to contacts or geolocation is often redundant for basic functionality. Failing to provide unnecessary permissions will increase the overall security of your device.
| Parameter | Description | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Network access | Needed to download GIFs, themes and updates | Permission. |
| Microphone | Necessary for voice typing | Allow if necessary |
| Geolocation | Used to search for nearby locations | Prohibit (excessively) |
| Contacts | To auto-complement names when writing messages | At the discretion of the user |
Some keyboards may suggest creating a developer account to sync vocabulary between devices.This is a useful feature if you use multiple Android gadgets, but it is not mandatory to work on Redmi 7.
Activation of the keyboard through MIUI settings
The most important step is to enable a new input method in the system. On Xiaomi smartphones, the path to these settings may vary slightly depending on the version of the shell, but the overall logic remains the same. You need to get into the menu, where all the ways of entering text are controlled.
Open the main settings menu and scroll down to Additional. In some versions of MIUI, this section may be called Advanced Settings, and that's where the key switch is often searched for by users who want to change the standard tool.
Settings → Additional → Language and input → Keyboard managementIn the list that opens, you'll see a list of all the keyboards you've installed. Find the name of the app you just downloaded and move the slider to the active position. The system will issue a standard warning that a third-party keyboard can access all the data you enter. This is standard Android security procedure.
Why does the system warn of risks?
Once confirmed, the slider will turn blue or green, which signals success. But it doesn't end there. Activating the input method doesn't mean it's the default method. You'll need to take another step to complete the procedure.
Assignment of the keyboard by default
Now that the system "knows" that a new keyboard exists, you tell it to use it, and in the same Language and Input menu, you need to find the default Current Keyboard or Keyboard, and if you click on it, you'll see a list of options available.
From now on, every time you touch the text box in your browser, messenger, or notes, you will open the layout you choose, and the old keyboard will remain in the system, but will not be used until you change the setting again.
- 📱 Open any application with a text input field, for example, SMS or Notes.
- 👆 Tap the text field to call the keyboard.
- ✅ Make sure that the new interface is displayed, not the standard one. MIUI.
Sometimes it resets the settings or suggests you select the keyboard each time you focus on the input field, which can occur when there is a conflict of Android versions or firmware errors, in which case it helps to restart the device or clear the cache of the keyboard application.
💡
If the default keyboard doesn't appear after you select, try restarting your smartphone. This will restart the system input services and consolidate the choice.
There is also a quick way to switch between already activated keyboards without going into deep settings. The virtual keyboard screen often has a special icon that allows you to instantly select another method of entering from the drop-down list.
Quick switching and hot keys
There's a convenient mechanism for changing the layout or switching to another keyboard when you're working, and on the virtual input panel screen, usually at the bottom of the space or in the corner, there's a button that can look like a keyboard image, a globe, or a setting icon.
Pressing and holding this button will show you a quick selection menu, which displays all the input methods you previously activated in the system settings, allowing you to flexibly combine tools, such as using one keyboard for Russian and another for specific tasks or programming.
The MIUI shell also has a keyboard combination to switch, often a combination of Ctrl + Space (if a physical keyboard is connected) or a long tap on the Space. The virtual switch button can be hidden in the settings of the keyboard itself, so check the Preferences or Additionals section inside the application.
⚠️ Warning: If the switch button has disappeared from the screen, check whether Full-screen input or Game Mode is enabled. In some games and applications, the system forcibly hides the controls.
The convenience of quick switching is especially important for polyglots or code users, and the ability to change QWERTY to DVORAK in a second or add an emoji panel makes it much faster to read the text on Redmi 7.
Set up parameters and fix problems
After installing the new keyboard, it is recommended to go to its own settings for fine calibration. Standard settings may not suit your printing style. Pay attention to the key height, sound and vibration when pressed. For the Xiaomi Redmi 7 with its compact screen, it is important to adjust the height correctly so that the fingers fall exactly into the center of the buttons.
In the Languages section, add the layouts you need. Most modern keyboards allow you to swipe languages over space, which is very convenient, and it's also worth turning on cloud-based dictionary sync if you change devices often or worry about saving learned words.
If you run into problems like lags or spontaneous closure, try clearing the app's cache. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find your keyboard and choose Clear cache. Don't confuse it with clearing data, otherwise you'll lose the saved vocabulary.
In rare cases, a new keyboard may conflict with the theme of the MIUI. If the buttons become transparent or characters are missing, try changing the theme of the smartphone to a standard one or checking for updates for the keyboard itself in Google Play.