How to increase the keyboard on Xiaomi: from standard settings to hidden MIUI chips

Xiaomi's keyboard seems too small? One-handed buttons are hard to press, and auto-corrects are always working in the wrong place? The problem is familiar to many owners of Redmi, POCO and Mi smartphones β€” especially those who have switched from other brands or have thumbs. Fortunately, there are several ways to increase the keyboard in MIUI firmware, and not all of them are obvious.

In this article, we will discuss 5 working methods, from basic settings to hidden functions and third-party solutions. You will learn how to resize the keys in the standard MIUI keyboard, adjust the system scale for large text, use gestures for easy input and even install an alternative keyboard with flexible parameters. All instructions are relevant for MIUI 12, 13 and 14 (including global and Chinese versions) and tested on Xiaomi models 11/12/13/14, Redmi Note 10/11/12 and POCO F3/F4/F5.

Importantly, if you use a third-party keyboard (like Gboard or SwiftKey), some of the methods may not work, because their settings are different from the standard ones, in which case you can immediately go to the section on alternative keyboards.

1. Standard settings of the MIUI keyboard

To start with, MIUI has built-in options for resizing keys and layouts, which don't offer the flexibility of third-party applications, but they don't require additional software and are stable.

To open the keyboard settings:

  1. Go to Settings β†’ System and Device β†’ Language and Enter.
  2. Slip on the current keyboard (usually the MIUI or Gboard keyboard).
  3. Select Size and Style or Layout and Themes (name depends on MIUI version).

The following options are available here:

  • πŸ“ Keyboard height: adjusts the total height of the panel (3 levels: small, medium, large).
  • πŸ”  Key size: changes the width and height of individual buttons (there are options "Standard", "Big", "Very large").
  • 🎨 Keyboard themes: Some themes have enlarged default elements (e.g., theme "Large text").
  • πŸ”„ Key layout: you can choose a compact or stretched layout.

Note that MIUI 14 has an Adaptive Size option that automatically adjusts the keyboard to the screen size, and if it is enabled, manual settings may not be saved, turn it off before changing settings.

πŸ’‘

If after resizing the keyboard began to crop at the edges of the screen, reboot the smartphone. This will reset the cache of system fonts and fix the display.

System scaling for large text

If you want to zoom in not just the keyboard, but the entire interface, you can use system scaling, which affects the size of the fonts, icons, and controls in all applications, including the keyboard.

How to scale up:

  1. Open the Settings β†’ Screen.
  2. Select Text and Display Size (or Screen Size in older versions of MIUI).
  3. Move the text size slider to the right to the value of Large or Very Large.
  4. In the Display Size section, select Big (this will increase the icons and interface elements).

The effect will be noticeable immediately, but note:

  • βœ… The keyboard will be bigger along with the rest of the interface.
  • ⚠️ Some apps may not display correctly (such as clipped buttons in games).
  • πŸ“± On smartphones with a small screen (for example, Redmi). 9A or POCO M3) Large scale will make the interface close.
πŸ“Š What size of keyboard is more convenient for you?
Standard.
Increased by 20%
Increased by 50%
Maximum

3. One-hand mode and keyboard shift

If the problem is not the size of the keys, but the awkward position (for example, the keyboard takes up the entire width of the screen, and it is difficult to reach the buttons), turn on the one-hand mode. This feature shifts the keyboard to one of the edges of the screen, making it more compact.

How to activate:

  1. Open any keyboard (for example, in messages or browser).
  2. Press and hold the icon. βš™οΈ Settings (or πŸ‘€ Gboard).
  3. Select One-Hand Mode (in MIUI Keyboard) or Keyboard Shift (in Gboard).
  4. Specify the side of the screen (left or right) and the level of shift (usually 3-4 positions).

Advantages of this method:

  • πŸ‘ The keyboard is getting tighter and the fingers don't need to stretch.
  • πŸ”„ You can quickly switch between the normal and shifted swipe mode by space.
  • 🎯 Suitable for large smartphones (Xiaomi 13 Ultra, Redmi) K60 Pro).

⚠️ Note: Some buttons may be missing in one-hand mode (e.g., digital keyboard or emoji) to return them, temporarily disable the shift.

4. Alternative keyboards with flexible settings

If standard methods don’t work, install a third-party keyboard with advanced zoom options.

keyboardAdvantagesHow to increase the keyboardCons
Gboard (Google)Free, stable, and integrated with Google servicesSettings β†’ Themes and layout β†’ Keyboard size (5 levels)Requires Internet connection for predictions
SwiftKey (Microsoft)Predicting text accurately, synchronizing between devicesSettings β†’ Layout and keys β†’ Keyboard size (slider)It takes up more memory than the standard
ChroomMinimalist design, gesture supportSettings β†’ Appearance β†’ Scale (from 80% to 150%)Plugins and themes are purchased separately
FleksyGestures instead of set, support for extensionsSettings β†’ Size β†’ Height and width (configurable separately)Difficult for beginners

How to install and configure Gboard (the most popular option):

Download Gboard from Google Play|Open Settings β†’ System β†’ Language and input |Enable Gboard in the keyboard list |Tap on Gboard and select Keyboard Size |Set the value "Very large" or "Giant" |Switch to Gboard via the globe icon on the keyboard-->

After installation, check that the Gboard keyboard is selected by default:

  1. Go to Settings β†’ System β†’ Language and input.
  2. Press the Current Keyboard and select Gboard.
  3. Turn off the option to Show the keyboard switching button if it interferes.

⚠️ Note: Some keyboards (e.g. SwiftKey) may conflict with gestures MIUI. If after installation, swipes stopped working to return back, disable the option of gestures for navigation in the keyboard settings.

5. Hidden MIUI settings for power users

If you are ready for experiments, MIUI There are hidden parameters that allow you to fine-tune the keyboard display. These methods require you to activate the developer mode or use it. ADB-team.

Method 1: Change the screen density (DPI)

The pixel density (DPI) affects the size of all interface elements, including the keyboard, to change it:

  1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings β†’ About Phone and tap the MIUI version 7 times.
  2. Back to Settings β†’ Additionally. β†’ For developers.
  3. Find the Minimum Width (or Smallest Width) option and set the value of 360dp or 400dp (the smaller the number, the larger the elements).
  4. Reboot your smartphone.

Method 2: ADB-team forced_resizable_activity

This command forces applications (including the keyboard) to adjust to the screen size. MIUI 13/14:

adb shell settings put global forced_resizable_activity 1

Once you've done this, restart the device. To reverse the changes, use:

adb shell settings put global forced_resizable_activity 0
What if the keyboard becomes blurry after changing the DPI?
If the keyboard text becomes fuzzy after changing the screen density (DPI), follow these steps: 1. Return the standard DPI value (usually 440-480 for Xiaomi). 2. Clear the cache of the MIUI Keyboard application in settings (Settings β†’ Applications β†’ Application Management β†’ Keyboard). 3. Reboot your smartphone. If the problem persists, install a third-party keyboard (such as Gboard) - it adapts better to non-standard DPIs.

6. Additional tips for convenient dialing

Enlarging the keyboard is only part of the solution, and to make typing really comfortable, use these tips:

  • 🎯 Set up auto-correct: in Keyboard Settings β†’ Text input disable options that are often wrong (for example, Automatic comma placement).
  • πŸ”Š Voice input: if typing is difficult, use voice messages. MIUI This is enabled by a long tap on the microphone button on the keyboard.
  • πŸ–ΌοΈ Dark theme: In dark mode, the keys are more visible. β†’ Screen. β†’ Dark subject matter.
  • πŸ‘† Cursor gestures: Gboard and SwiftKey can move the cursor by swiping your finger across the space, and this is convenient for editing long messages.

If you type frequently on the go, try a swipe-enabled keyboard (like Gboard or SwiftKey) instead of tapping buttons, you can swipe from letter to letter β€” that’s faster and more accurate, especially on a larger keyboard.

πŸ’‘

The combination of an enlarged keyboard and swipe input (for example, in Gboard) gives the maximum typing speed with minimal errors.

FAQ: Frequent questions about increasing the keyboard on Xiaomi

Can you only increase the keyboard in a specific application (like WhatsApp)?
No, the keyboard settings in MIUI apply globally to all applications. However, you can: Use different keyboards for different applications (e.g. Gboard for messengers and standard for the browser); Enable one-hand mode only in the desired application (long swipe space in MIUI Keyboard).
After the MIUI update, the keyboard settings reset. How do you get the size back?
Updates MIUI Sometimes resets custom settings. To restore the size of the keyboard: Check if the keyboard theme has reset to the standard (go to the keyboard Settings). β†’ Themes. If you use Gboard or SwiftKey, update the app to Google Play β€” sometimes resets are due to version incompatibility. Clear the keyboard cache in Settings β†’ Annexes β†’ Application management β†’ [Keyboard name] β†’ Clear the cache.
The keyboard's missing buttons after zooming in.
If buttons (emojis or numbers) disappear after resizing, try: Reduce keyboard height by Level 1 (in Size and Style settings); Turn off one hand mode, it can hide some elements; switch to another keyboard theme (some themes are optimized for larger buttons); If the problem persists, install an alternative keyboard (e.g. Gboard) where zooming is more stable.
Can you make the keyboard transparent, but large?
Yes, MIUI has a keyboard transparency option: Open Keyboard Settings β†’ Themes. Choose a theme marked Transparent or Glass. Then go back to Size and Style and increase the keys. In Gboard, transparency is set to Settings β†’ Themes β†’ Create your theme (you can select the level of background transparency).
Why did the keyboard start to work slowly after the keyboard was enlarged?
Slowdown can occur for several reasons: RAM shortage: close background applications (use Quick Cleaning in the notification curtain). Scale too large: try reducing the size by 1 level - sometimes it speeds up rendering. Shell conflict: in MIUI 14 disable animations in Settings β†’ Special features β†’ Remove animations. If the lags remain, reinstall the keyboard or reset it to standard settings.