How to increase the keyboard on Android Xiaomi Redmi: a step-by-step guide

Many Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone users experience discomfort when typing when interface elements seem too small, especially for people with low vision or devices with high-density pixel screens. Standard MIUI settings offer flexible zoom capabilities, but they are often hidden in deep menus that not everyone knows about.

Increasing the size of the keyboard is not just a matter of aesthetics, but an important accessibility feature to avoid printing errors and reduce eye strain. In the Android operating system, this process can vary depending on the version of the shell and the input application used. In this article, we will discuss in detail all available methods, from embedded tools to third-party solutions.

Before you start making changes, it’s important to understand that the keyboard interface depends on the specific application you’re using by default. Most often, Xiaomi devices have a Gboard or MIUI Keyboard preinstalled, and the settings for them will vary. We’ll look at both options so you can tailor the device to your individual needs.

Standard scaling settings in MIUI

The first and most obvious step is to use system zoom settings. The MIUI shell allows you to resize all interface elements, including the virtual keyboard buttons, if they support system fonts. To access these settings, you need to go to the Settings menu → Screen → Text size. Here you can see a slider, moving which will instantly display changes to the preview.

But it's worth noting that the global magnification of font affects not only the keyboard, but also menus, messages and web pages. If your goal is to increase the input area only, this method may be redundant. However, for users with severe visual problems, this is the most effective solution to ensure uniformity of the interface.

⚠️ Warning: Excessively increasing system font can cause some menu elements to crop or overlap, making navigation uncomfortable.

Some versions of MIUI-based Android have a separate feature called "Size of Screen Elements" or "Scale of Display." It's on the Settings path → Advanced Settings → Element Size. Unlike changing the font, this option increases all graphics objects by making keyboard buttons wider and higher, making it much easier to hit the desired characters with your finger.

Size setting in the Gboard app

Since Gboard is the standard keyboard for most Xiaomi devices, it’s important to know its internal customization options. Open any type of typing app to invoke the keyboard, and tap the gear icon or hold the comma to access the menu. In Settings → Preferences → Keyboard settings, the Keyboard Height slider is located.

By moving this slider, you can make the keyboard significantly higher, occupying up to 70% of the screen. This is especially convenient when you are typing with your thumbs on large Redmi Note smartphones. In addition, in the Settings menu → Theme you can choose a theme with larger characters or create your own, where the font size will be increased artificially.

For maximum effect, it is recommended to combine the keyboard height settings and the system scale of text. In addition, you can also turn on the steam mode in the settings, which untie the keyboard from the bottom edge, allowing you to place it in any part of the screen for convenience.

Features of the MIUI Keyboard

The native MIUI keyboard, often found in Chinese firmware or as an alternative in global ones, has its own customization mechanism. To change its settings, go to Settings → Additional Settings → Language and Input → Keyboard Management → MIUI Keyboard. Here you will find the Keyboard Height section, which works similarly to Gboard.

The unique feature of the MIUI Keyboard is that it allows you to choose different layouts. Some design themes are initially larger characters. You can go to the keyboard theme store and filter them by size or style. Often, the themes called "Large," "Big Keys" or "Senior" are optimized specifically to increase the area of press.

If standard height settings don't work, try changing the orientation of the screen. In landscape mode, the MIUI keyboard often automatically resets, and the buttons get wider, albeit lower. For people with large toes, this may be a more convenient option for quick printing with both hands.

Use of third-party keyboards for maximum size

When built-in tools are scarce, specialized applications from Google Play come to the rescue. There are a number of keyboards designed specifically for people with poor vision or motor impairments, such as the Big Keyboard or the Large Keyboard app, which, once installed and activated in Settings → Language and input, replace the standard keyboard.

These apps allow you to adjust not only the height, but also the width of the buttons, the letter spacing and the contrast of the characters. You can choose a minimalist design, where 90 percent of the screen area is occupied by the input buttons, which radically solves the problem of misses and inconvenience.

⚠️ Warning: When installing third-party keyboards, carefully review the permissions requested. The keyboard has access to everything you type, so only choose proven applications with high ratings and positive reviews.

The popular SwiftKey keyboard also offers flexible theme settings, so by creating a custom theme, you can manually size each string of buttons, which gives you more freedom than standard sliders, allowing you to make, for example, a digital series larger than the alphabetic one if you often type in passwords or phone numbers.

Check availability and special features settings

There's a whole section on Android that's dedicated to people with disabilities that can help you customize the interface. Go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Special. You can find features that affect the display of text. For example, enabling "Increases" (magnitudes) allows you to quickly scale any part of the screen with a triple tap.

Also worth noting is the Visibility Improvement feature, which in some versions of MIUI allows you to invert colors or increase contrast, which visually makes the keyboard sharper and more distinguishable. Although it doesn't increase the physical size of the buttons, text perception gets much better.

Don't ignore the Text and Display section of the feature menu. There may be a "Big Text" switch that works independently of the main font slider and applies to supported applications, including some system keyboards. It's a fine-tuning that's often overlooked.

Comparison of methods of increasing the keyboard

To make it easier for you to choose the right method, we have systematized the main ways to resize the keyboard on Xiaomi and Redmi devices, each with its own advantages and disadvantages depending on your goals.

As you can see from the table, using third-party apps gives you the most control over the keyboard without affecting the rest of the system. However, if you need to increase all the elements at once, system settings will be the best choice. Combining methods, such as installing a high keyboard in Gboard and a medium system font, often gives you the best result.

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Tip: If you have installed a third-party keyboard, but it is periodically reset to a standard one, go to the battery settings and turn off the energy savings for this application, and also fix it in memory.

Remember that after any changes to your input settings, you may need to restart your device to apply all the settings correctly, especially if you have changed system fonts or installed new input engines.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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The optimal size of the keyboard is a subjective parameter, but the middle ground is considered to be the height occupying 45-50% of the screen in portrait mode, which provides a balance between the size of the buttons and the visibility of text above them.