Why Xiaomi Keyboards Look Too Big and How to Fix It
Xiaomi smartphone owners (including the Redmi, POCO and Mi line) often face a problem: the virtual keyboard takes up half the screen, closing content in messengers or a browser, especially on devices with a diagonal of less than 6.5 inches or when using one hand, the reasons for this behavior lie in the settings of MIUI, the standard Gboard keyboard (from Google), or third-party applications like SwiftKey.
In this article, we will discuss 5 working ways to reduce the keyboard on Xiaomi – from basic settings to hidden MIUI features.
- 🔧 Change the scale of the keyboard in the system settings
- 📱 Set up a one-handed mode for a comfortable set
- 🎨 Choose an alternative keyboard with a compact design
- 🔍 Fixing bugs MIUI, which causes the keyboard to stretch
- 🛠️ Return the standard sizes after updating the firmware
Important: The methods work on all current MIUI versions (12 to 14) and most Xiaomi models released after 2019. If your smartphone is older (such as the Redmi Note 7 or Mi 9), some menu items may differ - we will warn you about this separately.
Method 1: Changing the scale of the keyboard in the MIUI settings
The easiest way is to use the built-in MIUI tools. The manufacturer has provided the ability to adjust the size of the keyboard, but the option is hidden in an unobvious place.
Instructions:
- Open any application where the keyboard appears (such as Messages or Notes).
- Touch the badge. ⚙️ (gears) on the keyboard to open its settings.
- Go to Size and layout (or Keyboard Settings → Appearance for Gboard).
- Find the slider Keyboard Height or Scale – move it to the left to reduce.
⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi firmware (especially in the POCO Launcher) this setting may not be available, in which case try the following method or install an alternative keyboard.
Method 2: One-hand mode for compact input
If the keyboard interferes with typing with one hand, turn on a special mode in MIUI. It shifts the keyboard to the edge of the screen and reduces its width.
How to activate:
- Run the keyboard in any application.
- Press and hold the icon. ⚙️ (gear or icon ☰ (line).
- Select One-Handed Mode (or One-Handed Mode).
- Specify the side of the screen (left/right) to which the keyboard will be pressed.
💡 Useful tip: In this mode, you can further reduce the height of the keyboard by pulling the top edge down.The function works even if the main scale slider is blocked.
Make sure the keyboard is active in the text field
Check out the MIUI version (Settings → About the phone)
Turn off navigation gestures (they may conflict with the mode)
Take a screenshot of the current keyboard settings (in case of resetting)-->
Method 3: Install an alternative keyboard with a customizable size
If standard methods don't work, try third-party keyboards. They offer more customization options, including fine-tuning height and width.
Top.-3 Keyboard for Xiaomi with flexible size settings:
| keyboard | Minimum size | Additional chips | Download link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gboard (Google) | 40% of the standard | Dark theme, gestures, voice input | Google Play |
| SwiftKey (Microsoft) | 35% of the standard | AI word prediction, cloud backup | Google Play |
| Chroom | 30% of the standard | Full customization of buttons, without advertising | Google Play |
🔹 How to adjust the size in Gboard:
- Install the keyboard from Google Play and activate it in your phone settings (Settings → System → Language and Enter).
- Open Gboard, press on ⚙️ → Settings → Themes and layout.
- Select Change the size of the keyboard and move the slider.
- For accurate settings, tap on the icon 📐 top-right.
Why does MIUI limit the minimum keyboard size?
Method 4: Reset keyboard settings to factory
If the keyboard suddenly increased after updating MIUI or installing applications, the fault may be a failure in the configuration files, in which case the reset will help.
How to reset:
- Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Find your keyboard (such as Gboard or MIUI Keyboard) and tap it.
- Select Warehouse. → Clear the data.
- Confirm the action and restart the phone.
⚠️ Note: After the reset will have to again:
- 🔑 Set up auto-replacement and dictionary
- 🎨 Select the theme of the design
- 🔄 Connect to cloud synchronization (if used)
🔹 Alternative method: If the reset didn't help, try rolling back the keyboard update. To do this, click on the same app management menu ⋮ (three-point) → Remove updates.
Method 5: Manually modifying system parameters (for advanced)
For users with unlocked bootloaders and root rights, a radical method is available: editing system files, which bypasses the limitations of MIUI, but requires caution.
Instructions (for experienced users only!):
- Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer).
- Go to /system/usr/keylayout.
- Find the Generic.kl file and open it in the text editor.
- Find the lines with the parameters keyboard_height or keyboard_scale.
- Change the values (e.g., from 1.0 to 0.7) and save the file.
- Reset the device.
Attention! Incorrect editing of system files can lead to a load cycle or loss of keyboard functionality. Before making changes, back up /system partition via TWRP.
💡
If the keyboard stopped appearing after editing the system files, return the standard values or reflash the phone through the Mi Flash Tool. To do this, download the official firmware for your model on the Xiaomi website.
Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
When trying to reduce the keyboard, Xiaomi users often face typical problems.
Problem 1: The scale slider in the settings is inactive.
- 🔄 Switch to another keyboard (like Gboard) and check the settings there.
- 📱 Update. MIUI Up to the latest version (old firmware may not have an option).
Problem 2: The keyboard shrinks, but the buttons get too small.
- 🔍 Enable the function of Increase when pressed in the special features settings (Settings) → Special opportunities → Increase).
- 🎨 Choose a contrasting theme (black buttons on a white background read better).
Problem 3: After the MIUI update, the keyboard became big again.
- 🔧 Lock the keyboard version by disabling its updates in Google Play.
- 📲 Install. APK-third-party version of the keyboard (e.g. APKMirror).
💡
If none of these methods worked, check your phone for viruses. Some malware changes system settings, including keyboard size. Scan your device through Google Play Protect or antivirus (like Dr.Web).