How to Get Your Old Keyboard Back on Xiaomi: The Complete Guide

Many Xiaomi smartphone users are experiencing discomfort after another MIUI or HyperOS update. The usual text input interface suddenly changes: new fonts appear, the shape of the buttons changes, and the usual gestures stop working as before, which causes irritation, especially when the print speed drops due to an unusual visual component.

A return to the classic look is possible, but it requires understanding exactly what has changed. Often it is not a matter of changing the program itself, but of updating its engine or changing the system font. In this article, we will explore all the available ways to recreate the appearance of an old keyboard using standard tools and proven settings.

First of all, you need to define the terminology, because everyone has a different concept of "old keyboard": for some it is the lack of text prediction and emoji, for others it is the return of buttons with rounded edges, and others want to remove the extra string from the line. GIF-Understanding the specific goal will help you choose the right way to solve the problem without installing third-party software.

It’s worth noting that modern versions of the Android operating system impose their limitations: It’s not possible to roll back the app’s two-year-old version through the standard Play Market store due to Google’s security policy, but there are a number of workarounds that allow the interface to be visually and functionally closer to the desired standard.

Changing the system font is the only way to radically change the look of the buttons without installing third-party keyboards. Be prepared for the fact that some changes will require a reboot of the device.

Settings standard keyboard Gboard The vast majority of Xiaomi smartphones by default use the keyboard from Google – Gboard. It is she most often updated in the background, changing its appearance. To get back to the experience, you have to dig deep into its settings by disabling all the smart features that have been added in the latest versions, and the first step is to remove the extra interface elements that clutter up the space. Modern versions like to add a line with emoji sentences, stickers and a translation button directly above the letters, which visually reduces the workspace and changes the usual geometry of typing. 📊 What is the default keyboard?Gboard (Google)Key Keyboard Xiaomi (Mi Keypad)SwiftKey Other third-party Do not know First you need to go to the settings menu of the application itself. This is done by long tapping the comma or globe icon at the bottom of the screen, or through system settings: Settings → Additional settings → Language and input → Keyboard management. Here you can find the "Keyboard settings" item that will open the full list of parameters. In the menu that opens, you should find the "Preferences" section. This is where the switches responsible for the visual component are hidden. You need to turn off the options "Show the emoji panel," "Show the prompt string" and "Show the screen size instantly, if the screen is activated by the noise, it can be activated by the interface." Make sure this mode is turned off so that the keyboard is fixed at the bottom of the display, as in older firmware versions. 💡If standard settings don’t help, try clearing the Gboard app data in the Apps section, but note that this will reset your vocabulary and input history.

Often, users don't mean the functionality, but the appearance of the buttons. In recent versions of MIUI, buttons have become flatter or, conversely, over-rounded. A radical but effective way to return the classic look is to change the system font. The font in Android affects not only the letters, but also the rendering of system elements, including the keyboard. Using old, classic fonts (for example, Roboto Classic or standard Android), you can make the buttons look strictly and replace the Android version with the "Mild Font" in each application. Once you have the font, the system may need to reboot, and then the style of the buttons will change globally, and there is a caveat: some themes only change the font on the menu without affecting the keyboard. In this case, you need to look for specialized themes called Keyboard Style or Old Keyboard Theme, which are applied through the same Themes app, but affect only the input area. ⚠️ Note: Using third-party fonts may cause characters to display incorrectly in some applications (e.g. banks or instant messengers). If you notice "crazy cherries" instead of text, immediately return the standard font in the theme settings.

Many Xiaomi devices, especially in Chinese versions of firmware or globals for certain regions, preinstalled its own development – Xiaomi Keyboard (Mi Keypad). It is often perceived by users as a lighter and faster alternative to Gboard, reminiscent of the good old days. T9 And if it's hidden or deleted on your device, it can be returned, and it's a very distinctive design, no animation, and very fast work, even on low-end processors, perfect for those who value functionality over beautiful but heavy effects. ☑️ Check for Mi Keypad Go to Settings → Additional settings → Language and input → Keyboard management → Check the list of active keyboards: 0 / 1 To activate this option, go to the language and input settings. If the list of available keyboards does not include the “Xiaomi Keyboard”, you can download it from the GetApps store (Mi Store) or find it. APK-Reliable source file. Once installed, activate it and select as the default input method. In the Mi Keypad settings, you can select Classic or One-Hand mode, which visually compresses the keyboard and changes the location of the buttons. It also has the ability to completely disable text prediction, making the keyboard behavior as predictable and “old” as possible in the good sense of the word, and the keyboard features the ability to fine-tune the height of the panel and font size. This allows you to adapt it to any, even the smallest screen, which was the standard for smartphones. 5-7 You can adjust the indentations so that the fingers fall exactly into the center of the buttons.

To finally decide on the choice, it is worth comparing the main parameters of different options. The table below will help you understand which method best suits your requirements for the “old” style and functionality. Gboard (Tunested) Xiaomi Keypad Third-party (Old School) Speed Average High Depends on version Availability of advertising No Often there is quality autocorrect Excellent Good Basic Customization Opportunity High Average Maximum As seen from the table, standard Gboard when The best way to do this is to predict the right setup, but to lose the lightweight. Xiaomi Keypad is a middle ground for ecosystem owners who want to integrate with the system. Third-party solutions that mimic old keyboards (for example, from the Android era). 4.0-5.0), It can be unstable on new versions of Android. They often fly out or don't support multi-touch, so use them with caution, only if other methods have not helped. Where to find APK older versions of Gboard?Older versions of applications can be found on verified archives such as APKMirror. Look for versions of Gboard with numbers below 10.0, but be aware of the security risks when installing software from unknown sources.

If the built-in features of the system do not satisfy you, specialized applications from the Play Market come to the rescue. There are keyboards designed specifically for nostalgic users who copy the design of button phones or early smartphones, and one popular solution is to install keyboards with names like Old Keyboard or Retro Type. They offer interfaces that mimic the physical keyboard of a BlackBerry or Nokia, and it's not just a skin, it's a completely redesigned input engine, and when you install these applications, Xiaomi's security system can warn you of potential dangers several times. MIUI Third-party input tools that can theoretically read passwords. You'll need to manually allow access to the window that appears and confirm the action with a fingerprint or code. Once the retro keyboard is activated, you often need to adjust it further, go to its settings and turn off all modern functions: Voice input, Google search, picture clipboard, just leave a blank text input to maximize the immersion effect of the past. ⚠️ Warning: Third-party keyboards may have access to everything you type. Do not use unknown apps to enter passwords from banking apps or important personal data.

Sometimes the problem of returning the “old” keyboard occurs after a major firmware update. The system may reset settings, force new features to be enabled, or change permissions for applications, in which case simply changing the theme may not be enough. You need to check if you're in line to update the keyboard itself, so go to the Play Market, look for Gboard, and see if there's an Update button. If so, update. Paradoxically, sometimes the latest version contains bug fixes that return stability, or allows you to more flexibly configure the interface than the “semi-updated” version. 💡If nothing works, reset the keyboard to the factory settings in its menu, and then turn off all the unnecessary functions again. This often solves problems with the "glutty" interface. In privacy settings, make sure the keyboard is not limited in background work.If the system is prevented from keeping the keyboard process in memory, it may boot slower or reset the selected language and theme each time it starts. In extreme cases, if the system update completely broke the work of the standard keyboard, you can use the debugging mode on the USB team-wise ADB to disable system updates of a particular package, but this requires a computer and command line skills. adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.inputmethod.latin This command will completely disable Gboard, which will force the system to suggest that you choose another keyboard at the next run.

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