How to Remove Keyboard on Xiaomi: The Complete Guide

Owners of Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones often face a situation where the pre-installed keyboard no longer meets their needs.This can be due to an awkward button arrangement, lack of necessary features or a desire to use a more advanced typing tool. The standard MIUI solution or the new HyperOS shell is not always ideal for each user, so there is a need to change or remove excess software.

However, it is technically impossible to completely remove the system keyboard without replacing it with an alternative, since the Android operating system requires at least one active input method. If you try to deactivate the only option available, the phone may become unusable for typing, so the right approach is to install a new keyboard and then disable the old one.

In this article, we will discuss all the nuances of managing virtual keyboards on Xiaomi devices, learn how to safely switch to third-party applications, how to turn off annoying functions like vibration or sound, and what to do if standard deletion is impossible due to administrator rights.

Why you can’t just remove the system keyboard

The Android operating system that powers Xiaomi smartphones is architecturally rigidly bound to input methods. The system keyboard (often Gboard or Mi Input) is a critical component. If you force it to be removed through ADB or root rights without installing a replacement, you will lose the ability to enter passwords, messages and search queries.

Many users confuse the concepts of “delete” and “disable.” Deletion involves erasing application files from the device’s memory, which for Xiaomi system components often requires deep intervention, while disabling simply hides the application from the active list and prevents it from running, which is a safe and recommended method.

Moreover, some applications may force a standard keyboard for entering confidential data (bank applications), considering it more secure. The complete absence of a proven method of entering can cause errors in the operation of secure input.

⚠️ Warning: Attempting to delete a single active keyboard through system files may result in a reboot program cycle or inability to unlock the device without connecting a physical keyboard via a computer. OTG.

There is also a nuance of access rights: on modern versions of MIUI and HyperOS, many system applications are protected from removal by conventional means. Even if you find the "Delete" button in the application settings, it may be inactive (grey).

Installation of an alternative keyboard before removal

Before you get rid of the standard tool, you need to prepare a replacement. Google Play or GetApps store offers many options: SwiftKey, Yandex Keyboard, Gboard (if it is not on the system). Download and install the app you like.

Once installed, Xiaomi won't switch automatically. You need to manually activate the new input method. To do this, go to settings, find the Additional Settings section, and select Language and Type. This is where you manage all typing methods.

Importantly, the new keyboard will require permissions, network access is required for voice input and dictionary updates, and clipboard access is required for copy text insertion, and without these rights, functionality will be limited.

Once the new app is activated, the old Xiaomi keyboard (or Sogou, Baidu) remains in memory but is no longer used, and you can now move on to disabling or deleting it if possible.

How to turn off the standard keyboard in the settings

The safest way to get rid of an annoying keyboard is to turn it off through the system menu, which requires no root rights and ensures that the phone is running smoothly. Search Settings for Settings, then Language and input.

In the menu that opens, select Keyboard Management, and here you will see a list of all the input methods you have installed, find the one you want to remove (such as MIUI Keyboard), and turn the switch to the Off position.

If the switch is inactive, it's possible that the keyboard is set as the default keyboard, so you'll first go to Current Keyboard and select another application, and only after you change priority, you can turn off the unnecessary option.

Some built-in keyboards, such as Baidu or Sogou, can be deeply integrated into the system for the Chinese market, and turning them off may require additional steps, which we will discuss in the ADB section.

Using ADB to completely remove system applications

For advanced users who want to completely clean the phone’s memory of system debris, there is a method of removing through the phone. ADB (Android Debug Bridge.This requires connecting your smartphone to your computer via USB-cable and availability of drivers.

First, activate the Developer Mode. Go to About Phone and quickly press 7 times on the MIUI build number. Then in Additional Settings, enable USB Debugging. Connect the phone to your PC and enter a command to delete the package.

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.inputmethod.sogou

Instead of com.android.inputmethod.sogou, you need to substitute the exact name of the keyboard packet that you can find out through analyzers or from the Android app menu if developer mode is enabled. Be very careful: removing the Input Method system package without replacing it can block input.

Once the command is executed, the application will disappear from the installed list. To return it, you will need a full reset (Factory Reset), since there is no standard recovery button for system components removed through ADB.

Configuring and optimizing the keyboard

Often, users don't want to delete the keyboard, they want to customize it to suit themselves, so in the Language and Type section, you can change the layout, add new languages, or disable word prediction, which is especially true for those who type in multiple languages.

To reduce power consumption and increase comfort, it is recommended to turn off vibration when pressed and sound effects. These settings are usually located in the menu of the keyboard itself, which is called by a long press on the comma or through the gear icon on the toolbar.

Use the theme to change the look of the keyboard. Many third-party apps allow you to put gifs animations or transparent backgrounds, which makes the interface Xiaomi more unique.

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Use the “getting stuck Keyboard” feature in the Gboard or SwiftKey settings if you need to type with one hand on the large screens of Xiaomi Note or Max series smartphones.

Solving keyboard problems on Xiaomi

Sometimes, after updating MIUI, the keyboard may start to work incorrectly: disappear when typing, freeze or spontaneously change the language. In such cases, cleaning the cache helps. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications, find your keyboard and choose Clear cache.

If the problem is not resolved, try removing app updates.This will return the keyboard to the factory version, which often eliminates bugs introduced by the latest patches.However, keep in mind that dictionaries and personal settings will be reset.

⚠️ Warning: Clearing the data (not just the cache) will delete all learned words and personal dictionaries.The keyboard will "forget" your familiar words and abbreviations.

In rare cases, conflict can be caused by optimizer applications or “antiviruses” that aggressively unload processes from memory. Add the keyboard to the list of exceptions or “locked” applications so that the system does not close its background process.

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If the keyboard disappears when you enter a password in a banking application, it's a security mechanism that blocks third-party input methods, at which point only the system keyboard is used.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)