Small fonts on Xiaomi’s keyboard can be a real problem, especially for visually impaired users or those who are used to large characters. Unlike the system font, which changes in two clicks, the size of the text on the keyboard is often ignored. Meanwhile, MIUI and standard Google applications have hidden settings that allow you to zoom in letters without installing additional software.
In this article, we will look at all the working methods, from rescaling in system parameters to fine-tuning third-party keyboards like Gboard or SwiftKey. We will focus on the nuances for different versions of MIUI 12/13/14 and models Redmi, POCO, Mi, where the location of options may differ. If you have already tried to zoom in the font through Settings → Screen, but the keyboard remains the same, you have come to the right place.
Why does the keyboard font not change with the system?
Many Xiaomi users are faced with a paradox: they increase the text size in Settings → Screen → Text size, but the keyboard is left with tiny letters.
- 📱 System font and keyboard font are controlled by different modules. System is the first to do this. UI, The second is the keyboard application itself (e.g. Gboard or standard). MIUI Keyboard).
- ⚙️ Most keyboards ignore global text scale settings to keep the interface compact.
- 🔄 V MIUI 14+ There is an option to synchronize fonts, but it does not work on all models (more details in the table below).
Another nuance: on budget Redmi smartphones (such as Redmi 9A or Redmi Note 10), the standard MIUI keyboard does not support resizing the font at all, in which case you will have to install an alternative keyboard or use workarounds.
Method 1: Enlarge the font through the MIUI Keyboard settings
If you use a standard MIUI keyboard, try this method. It works on most devices with MIUI 12-14, but may not be available on older models (e.g. Redmi 8 or Mi A3).
- Open any field to enter text (such as Notes or Messages).
- Touch the gear badge (⚙️) on the keyboard to open its settings.
- Go to the Themes and layout section (or the design in older versions).
- Select the key size or text size.
- Move the slider to the right to enlarge the font. Some firmware has previews: Small, Medium, Large.
Important! On some devices (like the POCO X3 Pro), the option is hidden. To see it, first install any keyboard theme from the Themes section, which will unlock additional settings.
Update the firmware to the latest version
Set an alternative keyboard theme
Check the presence of the item "key size" in the settings
Reboot your smartphone after the changes-->
Method 2: Setting up Gboard (Google keyboard)
Gboard is the most popular alternative to Xiaomi's standard keyboard, and it not only supports resizing the font, but also offers more themes and extensions. Here's how to zoom in on text:
- Install Gboard from Google Play if you haven’t already.
- Activate the keyboard: go to Settings → System → Language & Input → Virtual Keyboard and turn on Gboard.
- Open any text field, tap the gear icon on the keyboard.
- Select Settings → Themes.
- Slip on the pencil icon (✏️) top-right.
- In the Text section, move the font size slider to the right.
Gboard also allows you to resize the keys themselves (in the same Theme menu), which is useful for users with large thumbs. However, note that too large buttons can lead to errors when typing.
💡
If Gboard doesn’t have the option to change the font, upgrade to the latest version of the app. In older versions (before 2023), this feature was hidden.
Method 3: Use of the "Increase" mode (for visually impaired)
If previous methods didn't work, use the Android magnification mode built in. It works systemically and affects all interface elements, including the keyboard. Minus - it will increase not only the letters, but all other elements.
- Go to Settings → Special Opportunities → Increase.
- Turn on the short zoom switch.
- Select the type of increase: 🔍 The whole screen – scales the entire interface (including the keyboard). 🖼️ Magnification window – only increases part of the screen (less convenient for the keyboard).
150–200%
This is suitable for users with severe visual problems, but can impair the usability of the smartphone as a whole. For example, on the Redmi Note 11 at a scale of 200%, some interface elements go beyond the screen.
What if, after turning on the enlargement, the keyboard began to be cut off?
Method 4: Install third-party keyboards with custom font
If standard methods didn’t work, consider alternative keyboards, and below is a comparison of popular options that support resizing fonts:
| keyboard | Support for font change | Additional benefits | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gboard | ✅ Yes (in the settings of the themes) | Voice input, real-time translation | High RAM consumption |
| SwiftKey | ✅ Yes (section “Making") | AI word prediction, synchronization between devices | Paid themes |
| Chroom | ✅ Yes (flexible settings) | Minimalist design, low energy consumption | Fewer features than Gboard |
| Fleksy | ✅ Yes (in the premium version) | Quick-entry gestures | Paid subscription |
For installation:
- Download the keyboard from Google Play.
- Activate it in Settings → System → Language and input → Virtual keyboard.
- Go to the keyboard settings (usually through the icon) ⚙️ on the keyboard itself) and find the Topics or Design section.
⚠️ Note: Some keyboards (like Fleksy) require a premium subscription to unlock all font sizes.
Method 5: Manually modifying system files (for advanced)
If you're ready for experimentation, you can manually edit the system files that display the keyboard, a method that's suitable for users with unlocked bootloaders and root rights.
Instructions:
- Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer).
- Go to /system/usr/keyboard/ or (for Gboard): /data/data/com.google.android.inputmethod.latin/
- Find the file. keyboard_theme.xml or styles.xml.
- Open the file in the text editor and find the lines with the parameters: <dimen name="key_text_size">18sp</dimen> Change the meaning. 18sp on 24sp more.
- Save the file and restart the device.