Xiaomi smartphone owners often face the need to adapt the interface to their individual vision or hand motor skills. The Redmi 9, with its large screen, offers standard sizes of input elements that may seem small by default, especially for users with large fingers or visual impairments who have difficulty hitting small buttons in a hurry.
Fortunately, the Android operating system in the MIUI shell provides flexible customization tools, so you can change not only the height of the character bar, but also the size of the letters themselves, as well as the scale of the entire system interface, and make using the device a comfortable process without having to squint or make unnecessary movements.
In this guide, we will take a look at all the ways to increase the keyboard in detail, we will look at the standard settings of the popular Gboard, system options for accessibility and third-party solutions. Follow the instructions consistently to achieve the perfect result.
Customize the height and size of the keys in Gboard
The standard keyboard for most Xiaomi devices is Google's Gboard, which has the most advanced functionality for changing the geometry of the input field. To get into the settings menu, you don't have to search for hidden sections in the phone's general menu. Just call the keyboard in any application, such as messages or notes.
In the toolbar above the rows of letters, look for a gear icon or a four-square icon. If you see a gear, click on it. If it's not there, click on the menu icon and then select "Settings." In the list that opens, look for the Settings section or immediately go to Settings -> Keyboard Height.
So here you'll see a slider that allows you to adjust the height of the input panel, and as you move it around, you'll notice how the button size changes in real time, and the following zoom options are available:
- π Small β Minimum height, frees up maximum screen space for content.
- π Medium β the standard size recommended by the developers for most users.
- π Large β the best choice for those who want to increase the area of pressing.
- π Very large β the maximum size, occupying almost half the screen.
Choose the value that you find most convenient. Changes are instant, so you can test typing right away. If the standard keyboard doesn't work, you can consider alternatives, but you should exhaust the built-in tool first.
β οΈ Note: When selecting Very Large mode, the keyboard can cover more than 50% of the usable display area.This can make it difficult to view the typed text at the top of the screen, so use this mode with caution.
Change the font size on the keyboard
Often the problem is not the size of the buttons themselves, but that the characters on them are too small and poorly readable. Gboard has a separate setting that is solely responsible for the scale of the characters displayed, which allows you to keep the keyboard compact, but make the letters more readable.
To access this feature, reopen the keyboard settings menu through the gear icon. Find the Settings section. Inside, you'll find a slider called the size of the keyboard font. By moving it to the right, you'll zoom in on the symbols without changing the physical size of the buttons.
This feature is especially useful if you are using a dark theme or specific skins where letter contrast is reduced, increasing the font helps you find the right characters faster and reduces the strain on the eyes during prolonged printing.
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Use the combination: set the average height of the keyboard, but maximize the font size, which will give a better balance between screen view and character readability.
System settings for scaling the MIUI interface
If the changes inside the keyboard application did not work, you can use the system settings of Xiaomi Redmi 9. The operating system allows you to rescale all interface elements, including the keyboard, menus and application windows. This is a global change that will affect the entire phone.
To find these settings, go to the main menu and select Settings. Next, scroll down to the Additional or Advanced Settings section (depending on the version of MIUI). We're interested in Text Size. Here you can adjust the font size throughout the system with a slider.
However, to scale all the elements more radically, including the pads and buttons, you need to activate the developer mode.
- Go to Settings -> About the phone.
- Find the MIUI version string and quickly click on it 7-10 times in a row.
- A notification will appear, βYou have become a developer.β
- Return to the Additional Settings -> For Developers.
- Find the minimum width (Smallest width).
Remember the initial value (usually 360 or 392 dp) before changing! Reducing this number will visually increase all interface elements, including the keyboard. Be careful: too much reduction can make some controls unreadable or "climb" beyond the edges of the screen.
| Parameter | Standard value | Recommended for increase | The effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type size | By default. | Big/Huge/Huge. | Only the text increases. |
| Minimum width (dp) | 360-400 | 300-320 | Increases all elements of UI |
| Keyboard height | Medium | Big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big | Only stretches the input panel. |
What if the interface went away after the DPI change?
Use of One-Hand Mode and Floating Keyboard
For users who have difficulty reaching the edges of the Redmi 9βs big screen, a one-handed mode will be helpful, which doesnβt increase the physical size of the buttons, but shifts the keyboard aside and zooms it in, making the print area more accessible.
You can activate this function through the multitasking menu (open application menu button) or through special gestures. Configure the one-handed mode call in the section Additional settings -> Full-screen mode -> One-handed mode. Now, when swiping from the bottom corner of the screen, the keyboard will shrink and move to the convenient zone.
You can also run the keyboard in a floating window, so if you open the input field, press and hold the keyboard icon (usually on the bottom left or in the prompt bar) and select the Floating Window mode, which allows you to move the keyboard around the screen and resize it, stretching the corners.
βοΈ Checking availability settings
Alternative keyboards with flexible scaling
If the standard Xiaomi and Gboard tools donβt satisfy you, the Google Play store offers a variety of alternatives. Third-party developers often implement more aggressive customization capabilities, allowing you to change not only the size, but also the shape, transparency and location of each button.
A popular solution is Keyboard Plus or Facemoji, which allows you to create your own themes, where you set the row height and font size yourself. Installing a third-party keyboard is simple: download the application, give the necessary permissions, and choose it as the default input method in the system.
The advantage of these apps is that they have ready-made templates for people with visual impairments, and they can have themes with contrasting black and white designs and enlarged letters that don't need to be manually adjusted.
β οΈ Note: By installing third-party keyboards, you trust them to enter all your data, including passwords.Use only proven high-ranking and high-download apps to avoid identity theft.
Solving sensor problems and calibration
Sometimes the feeling of a "small" keyboard comes from problems with the touch layer of the screen or its calibration. If the Redmi 9 phone starts to skip taps or respond to touches next to the button, the user feels like the buttons have become smaller, although this is a technical malfunction.
You can check the sensor through the engineering menu. Enter the code ##64663## in the Phone app. Select Touchpanel and follow the instructions to check all areas of the screen. If there are dead zones in the corners or in the center, software enlarging the keyboard will not help - you will need repairs.
It is also worth checking whether the screen is not glued to a protective film of poor quality or thick glass, which reduces sensitivity, in such cases, increasing the keyboard to maximum values may be the only temporary solution to get into the active areas of the sensor.
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If enlarging the keyboard does not help and the omissions of touches persist, the problem probably lies in the hardware (sensor or plume), not in the software settings.