How to increase the keyboard on the Xiaomi Redmi phone: all ways

A small keyboard on Xiaomi Redmi makes it difficult to type quickly and error-free? Especially uncomfortable to use a smartphone with thumbs or poor vision. Fortunately, MIUI has several ways to increase the size of the keys โ€” both through standard settings and with third-party applications.

In this article, we will discuss all working methods, including hidden MIUI functions, gesture settings and alternative keyboards. We will describe step-by-step instructions for different versions of firmware (from MIUI 12 to MIUI 14) and Redmi models - from the budget Redmi 9A to the flagship Redmi K60 Pro.

Why is the Xiaomi Redmi keyboard too small?

The problem of the small keyboard on Xiaomi is due to several factors:

  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ High resolution screen - on Full HD+ displays (e.g., Redmi Note) 12 Pro+ permittingly 2400ร—1080) Gboard system keyboard or MIUI Keyboard automatically scales to pixel density, making the buttons visually smaller.
  • ๐Ÿ‘† Adaptive layout - in MIUI 13/14 The keyboard adjusts to the size of the userโ€™s hand (determined by sensor data), but sometimes the algorithm does not work correctly.
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Resetting โ€“ after updating the firmware or resetting to factory settings, the keyboard parameters are reset to default values.
  • ๐ŸŽฏ Optimization for one hand โ€“ in some models (for example, Redmi) 10C) The keyboard shifts to the edge of the screen, reducing the size of the buttons in the central area.

In addition, MIUI has a hidden Display size feature that affects the scale of all interface elements, including the keyboard. If this setting is set to a minimum value, the keys will appear tiny even on the large screen.

๐Ÿ“Š What keyboard do you use on Xiaomi Redmi?
Standard MIUI Keyboard
Gboard by Google
The other side.
I don't know what it costs.

Method 1: Enlarge the keyboard through MIUI settings

The easiest method is to resize the keys in the standard settings, and it works for both keyboards: MIUI Keyboard (built-in) and Gboard (from Google).

Instructions for MIUI Keyboard:

  1. Open any application where the keyboard appears (such as Messages or Notes).
  2. Touch the badge. โš™๏ธ "Settings" on the keyboard (usually to the right of the space).
  3. Choose Size and layout โ†’ Keyboard size.
  4. Move the slider to the right to zoom in on the buttons. There are 5 positions available, from Very Small to Very Large.
  5. Click Ready and check for changes.

For Gboard, the path is a bit different:

  1. Run the keyboard in any application.
  2. Put the badge on. โš™๏ธ (or โ‹ฎ โ†’ Settings).
  3. Go to Themes and layout โ†’ Keyboard size.
  4. Choose one of three pre-sizes (Small, Medium, Large) or adjust manually using a slider.

If these settings are not available, update your keyboard via Google Play or check the MIUI version โ€“ older firmware (below MIUI 12.5) may not have the option.

โ˜‘๏ธ Preparation before changing the size of the keyboard

Done: 0 / 4

Method 2: Resize the display in the system settings

If the keyboard seems small because of the overall size of the interface, increase the size of all the elements in the screen settings. This will affect not only the keys, but also the icons, fonts and menus.

How to change it:

  1. Open the Settings โ†’ Screen.
  2. Select Text Size and Display Size โ†’ Display Size.
  3. Move the slider to the right. The recommended value is Big or Very Large (but not maximum, otherwise the elements will become blurred).
  4. Confirm the changes and restart the phone.
ParameterMinimum valueRecommended valueMaximum value
Display sizeSmall (380 DPI)Large (420 DPI)Very large (480 DPI)
Type sizeSmall (12pt)Medium (14pt)Huge (20pt)
Screen density (hidden setting)320 DPI400โ€“440 DPI560 DPI

Important: After changing the display size, some applications (such as games or banking programs) may not display correctly, in which case return the settings to the default values or use the "Scaling Apps" function in the developer settings.

๐Ÿ’ก

If the keyboard becomes blurry after changing the display size, return the settings to the "Mediocre" value and use the method with manual key size adjustment (Method 1) instead.

Method 3: Use of a mode for one hand

MIUI has a One-Hand Mode feature that not only shifts the interface to the edge of the screen, but also allows you to zoom in on the keyboard, a technique that is suitable for smartphones with larger displays (from 6.5 inches), such as the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ or Redmi K50.

How to turn on:

  1. Go to Settings โ†’ Additional settings โ†’ One-handed mode.
  2. Activate the switch and select the side of the offset (left or right).
  3. Turn on the option to Reduce the size of the keyboard (paradoxically, but this increases the buttons by reducing the width of the layout).
  4. Swipe down the home button indicator (or use a gesture) to activate the mode.

In this mode, the keyboard will be smaller in width, but the buttons will become larger.

How to turn off automatic keyboard shifting?
If the keyboard spontaneously shifts to the edge of the screen, check the gesture settings in Settings โ†’ System โ†’ Gestures. Turn off the option โ€œSwitching the keyboard while holding the spaceโ€ (available in MIUI 13+).

Method 4: Third-party keyboards with adjustable size

If the standard settings don't work, install an alternative keyboard.The best options for Xiaomi Redmi are:

  • ๐Ÿ”น Microsoft SwiftKey โ€“ allows you to adjust the keyboard height manually (from 30% to 120% of the standard size) and has an adaptive layout for large screens.
  • ๐Ÿ”น Chroom โ€“ keyboard with gesture support and flexible button size settings (can be increased to 150%).
  • ๐Ÿ”น Fleksy โ€“ offers 3 pre-sizes (Compact, Standard, Large) and adjust the distance between the keys.
  • ๐Ÿ”น AnySoftKeyboard is an open source project with the ability to manually scale (up to 200%).

Instructions for setting up SwiftKey:

  1. Install the keyboard from Google Play.
  2. Activate it in Settings โ†’ System โ†’ Language and input โ†’ Current keyboard.
  3. Open SwiftKey, go to Size โ†’ Keyboard Height.
  4. Choose Big or adjust the slider manually (recommended value is 110-120%).
  5. In the layout section, enable the option Extended keys to increase the pressing area.

The advantage of third-party keyboards is that they are independent of MIUI updates and often offer more customization options than standard solutions.

๐Ÿ’ก

Third-party keyboards can collect typing data. Check permissions in Google Play before installing and turn off the option of Cloud Entering in keyboard settings if privacy is important.

Method 5: Hidden Developer Settings for Keyboard

MIUI has hidden settings that allow you to more accurately adjust the size of the keyboard, and you need to activate the developer mode to activate them.

How to turn on the developer mode:

  1. Go to Settings. โ†’ The phone.
  2. Tap 7 times on the MIUI version (you will be notified "You became a developer!").
  3. Return to the main settings menu and open Additional settings โ†’ Developer settings.

The following parameters can now be changed:

  • ๐Ÿ“ Minimum width (dp) โ€“ affects the width of the keys (recommended value: 400-450).
  • ๐Ÿ”ข Screen density (DPI) โ€” Reducing this value (e.g., from 440 to 400) will increase all elements, including the keyboard.
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Scale animation โ€“ turn off so that changes apply instantly.

Warning: Incorrect values in the developer settings can lead to interface failures. If the screen starts to display incorrectly after the changes, reset to standard settings or follow the command:

adb shell wm density reset

๐Ÿ’ก

Before changing the DPI, take a screenshot of the current values in Developer Settings, which will help you quickly return the settings if something goes wrong.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When you resize your keyboard, you often have problems, and here are the most common mistakes and solutions.

  • โŒ The keyboard is cut at the edges โ€“ this happens if one-hand mode is turned on or too large a value is set. DPI. Return settings to standard or turn off one-handed mode.
  • โŒ Buttons have become blurry, because of the oversized display. โ†’ Screen. โ†’ Display size to Large.
  • โŒ The keyboard does not save settings โ€“ update the keyboard app in Google Play or clear its cache in Settings โ†’ Annexes.
  • โŒ Keyboard gestures donโ€™t work โ€“ some third-party keyboards (such as Gboard) need to separately enable gesture support in settings.

โš ๏ธ Note: if after changing the settings, the keyboard stopped appearing at all, check if it is disabled in Settings โ†’ System system โ†’ Language and input โ†’ Keyboard control. Turn it back on and restart the phone.

Another common problem is that the keyboard automatically returns to its standard size after rebooting, and this is due to optimizing MIUI, so you can fix the settings.

  1. Open Settings โ†’ Applications โ†’ Application Management.
  2. Find your keyboard (like Gboard) and select Warehouse.
  3. Click Clear Cache (not data!).
  4. Reset the key size.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions

Can I increase the keyboard on Xiaomi Redmi without third-party apps?
Yes, MIUI has built-in settings to resize keys. For a standard keyboard, go to Keyboard Settings โ†’ Size and layout โ†’ Keyboard Size. For Gboard, path: Themes and layout โ†’ Keyboard Size.
Why is the keyboard small again after the MIUI update?
Updating your firmware can reset your keyboard settings. To avoid this, back up your settings in Settings โ†’ About Phone โ†’ Backup or export your keyboard settings (if this option is supported) before upgrading.
How to increase the keyboard only in a specific application (for example, in Telegram)?
The standard keyboard settings are applied globally. To resize only one application, use App Scaling in Developer Settings (available in MIUI 13+) or set an alternative keyboard (like SwiftKey) and set up a separate profile for it.
Can you make more keys but keep a compact layout?
Yes, there's a floating keyboard option in the Gboard and MIUI Keyboard, which reduces the width of the layout, but allows you to increase the size of the buttons, activates in the keyboard settings in the layout section.
Why is there no option to change the size of the keys on the Redmi Note 10 Pro?
In some regional versions of MIUI (e.g. India or China), there may be no option. Update your firmware to the global version or install a third-party keyboard. Also check if the option is hidden in Settings โ†’ Additional โ†’ Special Features โ†’ Element Size.