How to change the keyboard in Xiaomi: from setting to replacing

Xiaomi smartphones running on the shell of MIUI or the new HyperOS often come with a pre-installed system application for text input, which may not suit users with its functionality or design. The standard tool sometimes slows to respond to touch, incorrectly predicts words or simply does not have a familiar layout, which forces owners to look for alternatives. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to change the keyboard to a more convenient one, whether it is the popular Gboard from Google or the multifunctional SwiftKey.

The process of replacing the virtual input tool does not require root rights or deep knowledge in programming, but it has its own nuances depending on the version of the Android operating system. We will consider not only installing a new application from the Google Play store, but also the correct setting of access rights, without which the keyboard can not be displayed on the screen.

Before you get to the practical steps, you should decide on the right tool, as the market offers dozens of options with different set of functions. Some users appreciate minimalism and speed, others – the ability to fine-tune the topic and the presence of a built-in translator. Understanding your priorities will help you choose the best solution that will make typing on a Xiaomi smartphone as comfortable and fast as possible.

Selecting the optimal application for text input

The mobile text-input market is saturated with offers, but there are several leaders that consistently occupy the top ranks of the ratings. The most popular choice for Android owners remains the Gboard, a Google keyboard that features high speed, excellent voice input and an integrated translator. It perfectly integrates into the Xiaomi ecosystem and rarely causes conflicts in the system.

If you want deeper personalization and advanced text prediction based on your communication style, Microsoft SwiftKey is famous for its powerful learning algorithm that remembers frequently used phrases, slang, and even emojis. SwiftKey lets you create your own themes, resize keys, and use multi-window mode to work with a tablet or large smartphone screen.

For users who often type with one hand or have specific ergonomics requirements, TouchPal or Facemoji are a great choice. These apps offer a huge number of free themes, stickers and options for customizing the appearance. However, it is worth remembering that such “heavy” keyboards can consume more RAM, which on budget models of Redmi or Poco can lead to micro-latency when typing long messages.

⚠️ Note: Download text entry apps only from official sources such as Google Play Market or GetApps. Installing modified versions of keyboards from unverified sites carries a high risk of identity theft, as these apps have access to everything you type, including passwords and card numbers.

Advertising in free versions of software is also a must when choosing, and some developers embed intrusive banners that may appear at the most inopportune time, paid versions or subscriptions usually do not have this problem and open access to premium features such as cloud storage settings and exclusive themes.

Installation and initial configuration of the new keyboard

Once you have decided on the choice and installed the app from the store, Xiaomi won’t switch to it automatically; you need to manually activate the new input method and give it the necessary permissions, a standard Android security procedure that prevents accidental or malicious activation of third-party tools.

To start, open the app you installed. When you first start it usually suggests you go to the system settings for activation. If you don't automatically transition, go to the Settings menu of your smartphone, then find the Additional section and select Language and Enter. In some versions of MIUI, the path may look like Advanced Settings → Language and input.

In the menu that opens, look for Keyboard Management or Current Keyboard. Here you will see a list of all the input apps installed. Switch the slider opposite the name of your new keyboard (like Gboard) to the active position. The system will issue a warning that a third-party keyboard can access all the input data. This is a standard message, and if you trust a developer (like Google or Microsoft), feel free to press OK.

Once activated, you need to assign a new application by default. In the same menu, click on the Current Keyboard and select the option you just activated from the list. Now, when typing in any application, whether it is Telegram, WhatsApp or browser, the interface of the new program will appear.

Also, make sure to configure the language packs inside the app itself. Go to the settings of the new keyboard (usually through the gear icon on the keyboard bar or in the app menu), find the Languages section and add Russian, English and other languages you need, which will allow you to switch between layouts with a simple swipe by space or a special button.

Configure the MIUI system keyboard without installing third-party applications

Many users don’t know that the standard MIUI keyboard (often based on the Sogou or TouchPal engine depending on the region) has flexible settings that allow you to improve its performance without installing additional software. If you are not satisfied with only the appearance or response speed, perhaps a competent configuration will solve the problem.

To access the settings, go to Settings → Additional → Language and input. Here you can change the theme by adding live wallpaper or your own photos from the gallery. Keyboard height adjustment is also available, which is especially convenient for owners of smartphones with large screens, such as the Xiaomi Mi Note series or Redmi Note.

In the input settings section, you can turn off or turn on tap vibration, sound effects, and autocorrect. If the keyboard is late typing, try reducing the complexity of animations or disabling predictive input, which constantly analyzes the word database, which can free up CPU resources and make typing more responsive.

⚠️ Note: In some global versions of the firmware MIUI A standard keyboard may not have a full-fledged Russian layout out of the box or require a separate download of the language package through Chinese servers.

Special attention should be paid to the feature "Smooth input" (swipes), which allows you to write words without taking your finger off the screen. In the system keyboard Xiaomi it works quite correctly, but is inferior to the algorithms from Google, you can experiment with the sensitivity of this feature in settings to find a balance between speed and accuracy.

Removing the standard keyboard and cleaning the system

After successfully installing and configuring an alternative app, many users wonder if it is possible to remove the standard Xiaomi keyboard so that it does not take up space and interfere? The answer depends on whether the application is a system component or regular preinstalled software.

If you have additionally installed the keyboard or is a separate application (such as Sogou), it can be removed in a standard way through the app menu or settings. To do this, press the application icon on the desktop or menu, select Delete or go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find the desired one and click the delete button.

The situation is more complicated with system keyboards that are sewn into firmware. Normally, you can't remove them, because the button will be inactive. ADB-commands or root rights. use ADB allows you to safely remove system packets without flashing the device, but requires a connection to a computer.

Here is an example of a command to remove the keyboard system package via ADB (caution required):

adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.android.inputmethod.sogou

Where com.android.inputmethod.sogou is an example of a packet ID, be sure to know the exact name of the packet you want to delete before doing this.

Instead of radical removal, it is often enough to simply disable the application. In the Application menu, select the system keyboard and press the Disable button. It will stop showing up in the list of available input methods and will not consume resources in the background, but will remain in the system in case of a reset.

💡

Deleting system components completely through ADB is the best way to clean up memory, but requires technical literacy. For most users, it’s easy to turn off the standard keyboard and assign a new one by default.

Problem Solving: Keyboard is not working or has disappeared

Sometimes, after updating the MIUI system or installing a new application, users are faced with a situation where the keyboard stops appearing when typing, or the screen turns black instead of input panels, this can occur due to a conflict of processes or a lack of RAM.

The first step in diagnosing is to check active input methods. Go to Settings → Additional → Language and Input → Keyboard Management and make sure the desired application is on. If the slider is turned off, turn it on. If the problem persists, try clearing the keyboard app cache through the App menu.

In more complex cases, when the input screen doesn’t appear at all and you can’t type anything, you can use special features. Some Xiaomi smartphones have a built-in keyboard for people with disabilities that can be called through the special features menu or the Google Assistant voice assistant by saying “Open keyboard settings”.

⚠️ Warning: If the phone starts to heat up or run out quickly after installing a new keyboard, check the app's permissions. Some smart keyboards require constant network access and geolocation to run the predictor, which can be redundant and privacy-threatening.

It’s also worth checking for updates to the keyboard app itself in Google Play. Developers often release patches that fix compatibility bugs with newer versions of Android. If nothing works, temporarily return the standard keyboard, restart the device, and try to install the alternative again.

💡

If the keyboard is missing in the Wi-Fi password field, try opening any text field (for example, in notes), calling the keyboard, and then switching to the password window without closing it.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)