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:
- Go to Settings β System and Device β Language and Enter.
- Slip on the current keyboard (usually the MIUI or Gboard keyboard).
- Select Size and Style or Layout and Themes (name depends on MIUI version).
The following options are available here:
- π Keyboard height: adjusts the total height of the panel (3 levels: small, medium, large).
- π Key size: changes the width and height of individual buttons (there are options "Standard", "Big", "Very large").
- π¨ Keyboard themes: Some themes have enlarged default elements (e.g., theme "Large text").
- π 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.
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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:
- Open the Settings β Screen.
- Select Text and Display Size (or Screen Size in older versions of MIUI).
- Move the text size slider to the right to the value of Large or Very Large.
- In the Display Size section, select Big (this will increase the icons and interface elements).
The effect will be noticeable immediately, but note:
- β The keyboard will be bigger along with the rest of the interface.
- β οΈ Some apps may not display correctly (such as clipped buttons in games).
- π± On smartphones with a small screen (for example, Redmi). 9A or POCO M3) Large scale will make the interface close.
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:
- Open any keyboard (for example, in messages or browser).
- Press and hold the icon. βοΈ Settings (or π€ Gboard).
- Select One-Hand Mode (in MIUI Keyboard) or Keyboard Shift (in Gboard).
- Specify the side of the screen (left or right) and the level of shift (usually 3-4 positions).
Advantages of this method:
- π The keyboard is getting tighter and the fingers don't need to stretch.
- π You can quickly switch between the normal and shifted swipe mode by space.
- π― Suitable for large smartphones (Xiaomi 13 Ultra, Redmi) K60 Pro).
β οΈ 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 donβt work, install a third-party keyboard with advanced zoom options.
| keyboard | Advantages | How to increase the keyboard | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gboard (Google) | Free, stable, and integrated with Google services | Settings β Themes and layout β Keyboard size (5 levels) | Requires Internet connection for predictions |
| SwiftKey (Microsoft) | Predicting text accurately, synchronizing between devices | Settings β Layout and keys β Keyboard size (slider) | It takes up more memory than the standard |
| Chroom | Minimalist design, gesture support | Settings β Appearance β Scale (from 80% to 150%) | Plugins and themes are purchased separately |
| Fleksy | Gestures instead of set, support for extensions | Settings 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:
- Go to Settings β System β Language and input.
- Press the Current Keyboard and select Gboard.
- Turn off the option to Show the keyboard switching button if it interferes.
β οΈ 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:
- Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings β About Phone and tap the MIUI version 7 times.
- Back to Settings β Additionally. β For developers.
- Find the Minimum Width (or Smallest Width) option and set the value of 360dp or 400dp (the smaller the number, the larger the elements).
- 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 1Once you've done this, restart the device. To reverse the changes, use:
adb shell settings put global forced_resizable_activity 0What if the keyboard becomes blurry after changing the DPI?
6. Additional tips for convenient dialing
Enlarging the keyboard is only part of the solution, and to make typing really comfortable, use these tips:
- π― Set up auto-correct: in Keyboard Settings β Text input disable options that are often wrong (for example, Automatic comma placement).
- π Voice input: if typing is difficult, use voice messages. MIUI This is enabled by a long tap on the microphone button on the keyboard.
- πΌοΈ Dark theme: In dark mode, the keys are more visible. β Screen. β Dark subject matter.
- π 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 thatβs faster and more accurate, especially on a larger keyboard.
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The combination of an enlarged keyboard and swipe input (for example, in Gboard) gives the maximum typing speed with minimal errors.