How to change the keyboard on Xiaomi phone: the complete guide

Modern Xiaomi smartphones running on the shell MIUI or HyperOS, by default offer users a standard application for text input, which may not satisfy all requests. Some users are not satisfied with the design, others lack autocorrection functions, and still others are just used to a certain location of the buttons. Fortunately, the Android operating system provides complete freedom of action, allowing you to replace the standard input tool with any analogue from the app store.

The replacement process does not require superuser rights or complex technical manipulations. Changing the keyboard takes only a few minutes and involves installing a new application, activating it in the system and setting priority. In this article, we will discuss each step in detail so that you can comfortably type messages using the familiar interface.

It's worth noting that choosing an alternative typing app isn't just a matter of aesthetics. New tools often offer improved predictive typing algorithms, voice input, and support for multiple languages. By understanding the settings, you can dramatically speed up typing on your device.

Selecting the right application for text input

The first and most important step is to choose the software that will handle your clicks. The official Google Play Market store offers a variety of options, each with its own unique features and advantages over the standard solution.

The most popular choice for Xiaomi owners is often Google’s Gboard, which features fast workflows, excellent integration with the search giant’s services, and minimalist design, rarely containing intrusive advertising and works consistently even on budget smartphones.

For Russian-speaking users, the Yandex.Keyboard is a great option, famous for its powerful predictive set that takes into account slang, proper names and complex endings, and it also features a convenient swipe and voice input feature that often works more accurately than competitors.

• 📱 Gboard is a classic choice with Google services integration and translator.
• 🇷🇺 Yandex.Keyboard – the best predictive input for the Russian language and theme of design.
• 🎨 Facemoji – a huge base of emojis, stickers and the ability to create avatars.
• ⌨️ SwiftKey – Advanced adaptation to the style of printing and support for many languages at the same time.

⚠️ Note: Only download text input apps from trusted sources, such as Google Play. Third-party keyboards have access to everything you type, so using unverified software can lead to passwords and personal data leakage.

When choosing, consider the size of the application and the number of permissions requested. Some lightweight keyboards can save battery power but offer fewer features, while heavy versions with animations can consume more CPU resources.

Installation process and initial setup

Once you have made your choice, you need to download and install the app on your device, and the installation process is standard on the Android platform and should not cause any difficulties even for inexperienced users.

Open an app store on your Xiaomi and type the name of the selected program into the search box. Press the "Install" button and wait for the download to complete. After that, the system can automatically suggest running the application or configuring it.

When it first starts, the new keyboard will ask for permissions, first of all, it will need network access to download dictionaries and updates, and permission to display on top of other windows, without these permissions, the application will not be able to function correctly.

An important step is to activate the input method. MIUI can alert you to potential security risks when using third-party keyboards, as they can read the input data. You need to confirm your consent to continue configuring.

Don’t ignore the language setting step. Even if the application interface is in Russian, the layout can remain English until you explicitly specify the desired settings in the settings menu of the program itself.

Activation of the new keyboard in the Xiaomi system

Installing an application is only half the battle. In order for Xiaomi to start using a new input tool instead of the standard one, you need to change the appropriate settings in the system. The settings interface may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI or HyperOS.

Go to the main settings menu on your smartphone. Find a section called "Additional Settings" or "Extended Settings." In some firmware versions, this item may be immediately in the main menu or in the "System and Device" section.

Inside the menu, look for Language and Input. This is where all the options related to text, voice and physical keyboards are concentrated. Click on this section to see the list of options available.

Select "Keyboard Management" or "Current Keyboard." In the list that opens, you'll see all the typing apps installed. Switch the switchboard to the name of your new keyboard to the active position.

Settings → Additional settings → Language and input → Keyboard management

Once activated, the system can again issue a security alert, which is standard data protection procedure in Android. Confirm the action by pressing OK or Allow. Now the system knows that a new tool exists, but it has not yet been selected by default.

⚠️ Note: If the keyboard does not appear when typing after switching on the toggle, try restarting the smartphone. Sometimes the system requires restarting the input services to correctly apply the changes.

There is also a quick way to switch between already activated keyboards, and to do this, in any type of text input field (for example, in messages or search), you need to press and hold a space or a special keyboard icon if it appears on the navigation screen.

Priority setting and switching between input methods

When multiple keyboards are activated in the system, it is important to properly set their priority. The default keyboard is the one that will appear automatically every time you touch the text field.

Go back to the Language and Enter menu and find Current Keyboard (or Default Keyboard). Click on it to see a list of all active input methods. Select the app you installed earlier from the list.

Now, every time you run an application that requires you to type in text, the system will automatically open the layout you choose, but you can always temporarily switch to another keyboard if necessary.

To switch quickly, use a key combination during printing, usually a long-term press on the space or swipe on the switching key of languages, in some cases, a pop-up menu with a list of all available keyboards appears on the screen.

Make sure that the keyboard settings you select have the languages you need added. Often, only English is active by default, and you have to manually switch the language through the settings menu to type Russian text.

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Use the Keyboard Switch widget on your desktop to quickly change the input method without going to the deep system settings menu.

Removal of the standard MIUI keyboard

Many users wonder if you can completely remove the standard MIUI keyboard to make room or eliminate accidental switching.The answer depends on the version of the operating system and regional firmware.

In most cases, the standard application is system-based and cannot be removed by conventional methods.You can only disable it or stop using it. ADB-commands or root rights can lead to unstable system operation.

If you do decide to disable the standard keyboard, make sure you have a reliable alternative installed and activated, otherwise you risk being left without the ability to type on the device, making the smartphone virtually useless.

To disable the standard app, go to Settings → Apps → All Apps. Find the MIUI Keyboard (or Sogou, Facemoji depending on the region), click on it and select Disable or Remove Updates.

⚠️ Attention: Before disabling the system keyboard, be sure to check the new one in different applications (browser, messengers, search). Make sure it does not crash and displays correctly.

In some global firmware versions, the standard keyboard has already been replaced with Gboard or Facemoji from the start, and the question of removing them is less pressing, since they are often updated through the app store.

Troubleshooting and troubleshooting

When changing and using a new keyboard, users may face a variety of problems, most often due to software conflicts or incorrect permission settings.

One of the common problems is to spontaneously switch to an old keyboard, which can occur after updating the system or specific applications, in which case you need to recheck the default keyboard settings in the system.

If the new keyboard is slowing or lagging, try clearing its cache. Go to the app settings, find your keyboard, select Memory and click Clear Cache. It can also help to update the app to the latest version.

• 🔄 Reboot – the first action for any failures in the input.
• 🗑️ Cache Clearing – Helps if the keyboard freezes or theme doesn’t load.
• 🔌 Permissions Check – Make sure the app is allowed to display over other windows.
• 🌐 Network change – sometimes predictive input issues are related to locking keyboard servers.

In rare cases, the keyboard may not appear in certain applications, such as bank clients, an Android security feature that blocks potentially insecure input methods when dealing with financial data.

If you find that the keyboard overlaps part of the screen or input field, check the keyboard height settings inside the application itself, and there's often a slider that allows you to resize the workspace.

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Most keyboard problems are solved by simply cleaning the app cache or re-activating the input method in system settings.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)