Modern users of Xiaomi smartphones often face the need to quickly change the input language or use advanced autocorrection functions, which are not available by default in the standard shell MIUI or HyperOS. The built-in Sogou or Baidu keyboard, popular in Chinese versions of firmware, may not support Russian or have an unusual layout, which causes discomfort when typing. It is in such situations that Gboard comes to the rescue – a smart keyboard from Google, which combines minimalist design, high speed and powerful word prediction algorithms.
The process of activating this application does not always go smoothly, especially if you purchased a device on the global market or re-flashed the device. Sometimes the default system offers other input options, and in some cases, Gboard can be hidden in the depth of system settings. On Xiaomi devices with the shell MIUI 12.5 and later, as well as HyperOS, the mechanism for switching between keyboards has been changed, which requires special attention to the security menu items. In this article, we will detail all the steps of connecting, settings and solving typical display problems.
If you've just reset your phone or installed a fresh firmware, you'll need to re-engineer the activation path. Don't worry if you don't see the buttons you're using after the first switch on, which is normal behavior that requires validation of access rights. Below, we'll look at an algorithm that will allow you to fully exploit the full range of input capabilities on your gadget.
Verification of the availability and installation of the application
Before you go to system settings, you need to make sure that the application itself is physically present in your device's memory. MIUI Gboard is often preinstalled, but can be disabled by the user or hidden.If you own a Chinese version of the smartphone, chances are you will need to install it yourself. APK-Open the Google Play Store and search for "Gboard" to find the official Google app LLC.
When you find an app, look at the action button, and if it says "Open," you've already installed the keyboard, you can move to the next section, and if you see an "Install" or "Update" button, do the action, and it's important to make sure that you're downloading the original app, not the modifications from third-party developers, because that ensures that your personal data is securely entered.
Why does Gboard not work after installation?
In some rare cases, especially on older Redmi or Poco models with low RAM, the system can force the keyboard background processes to be turned off to save energy. To avoid this, go to the battery settings immediately after installation and select the "No Limits" mode for Gboard, which will prevent the keyboard from suddenly disappearing at the most inopportune moment.
Activation of the keyboard in system settings
The most critical step is to allow the system to use a new input method. Android, as an operating system with high security requirements, does not allow you to activate the keyboard immediately after installation. You need to manually go to the settings menu. The path may vary slightly depending on the version of Android and the shell, but the logic remains the same.
Open the Settings app and find the optional section. In modern MIUI versions, this path is often hidden inside the Advanced Settings or Advanced Settings menu. You need to find the language and input item. Here's an important nuance: Xiaomi devices often have a dual keyboard settings menu system, and you need to activate it in the system partition.
☑️ Checklist of activation Gboard
Once the toggle switch is turned on, the system will issue a warning that the third-party keyboard may collect input data. This is the standard Android security message that appears when any new input method is activated. Press OK or Allow to confirm your actions. Without this step, the keyboard will not appear on the screen.
It’s worth noting that on some highly customized shell devices, the path to activation can be duplicated in the security menu. If the main activation settings didn’t work, try looking for the Security section -> Privacy -> Special Features or similar, where input method switches can also be duplicated. This is a feature of Xiaomi’s security architecture aimed at protecting against malware.
Setting up Gboard as default keyboards
Even after successful activation in the system, the phone can continue to use the old keyboard to type text. To change this behavior, you need to install Gboard as the main default method of input, a step that is often overlooked, wondering why after all the manipulations in typing, the Chinese or standard keyboard still comes out.
Go back to the Language and Input menu in the system settings. Go to the Current Keyboard or the Default Keyboard. Click on it and you'll see a list of all available and activated input methods. In the window that opens, select Gboard. From that moment on, the system will automatically run that keyboard at any text field.
If you use a split-screen device or a connected Bluetooth keyboard, the settings can be applied separately for different scenarios. Make sure that the Physical Keyboard (if displayed) also selects the correct behavior, although this is not critical for touch input. Once selected, the system can offer a short tour of new features or request permission to access contacts to improve name prediction.
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Use the “getting stuck Keyboard” feature in Gboard settings if you need to type with one hand on the big screens of Redmi Note or Xiaomi Mi Max smartphones.
It's important to understand the difference between activation and default. Activation lets the application run, and the default choice makes the system run it automatically. If you accidentally choose the wrong application, you can always go back to this menu and change priority. Also, a keyboard delay setting is often available in this section, which is useful for users with hand tremors.
Adding languages and setting up layout
One of the main advantages of Gboard is that it supports many languages and can instantly switch between them without having to go deep into the settings. Once you have the default keyboard, click and hold the space or click on the globe icon to see the list of available languages. If the language you want is not available, you need to add it through the settings of the keyboard itself.
To add a language, click on the gear icon on the keyboard bar (or go to the Gboard settings via the system menu). Select Languages -> Add a keyboard. Here you can choose not only English or Russian, but also rare dialects, as well as include handwriting or voice type. For Russian, several layouts are available, including standard and phonetic.
| Function | Description | Where to find out. |
|---|---|---|
| Voice input | Voice typing | Microphone button |
| Swipe. | Fingerless input | Settings -> Swipes |
| Translator | Instant translation of phrases | Gboard menu -> Translation |
| GIFs and stickers | Searching for media content | Emoji button |
Pay special attention to autocorrection and word prediction. Gboard learns from your writing style, so in the early days of use it can offer strange word variants. Over time, machine learning algorithms adapt to your vocabulary, including slang and specific terms. You can manually remove words from your personal vocabulary if the keyboard starts offering incorrect options.
For multilingual users, the automatic language detection feature is useful, and enable it in multilingual input settings, and the keyboard will understand which language you are typing in and suggest the appropriate words, which greatly speeds up typing in instant messengers, where communication is often conducted in a mixture of languages.
Solving problems with display and work
Despite the stability of the work, Xiaomi devices sometimes have conflicts between system optimization and the operation of third-party keyboards. The most common problem is that the keyboard does not appear when typing or appears with a delay. This is often due to the aggressive MIUI energy saving system, which kills processes that are not currently in use.
To fix this, look for Apps -> All Apps in your phone settings. Go to the Gboard list and go to its properties. You need to enable autorun and remove all background restrictions. It's also helpful to clear the app cache if it started to work incorrectly after the system update.
⚠️ Note: If the Gboard keyboard constantly crashes or closes immediately after it appears, try removing app updates through the app management menu and installing the fresh version again from the Play Store. Library version conflicts are a common cause of failures.
Another common problem is desynchronizing the presses, where you click on one letter and another letter is typed or nothing happens, and in such cases, resetting the keyboard to the factory settings helps, which will delete your personal vocabulary and history, but restore stability, and you can find this option in the Gboard settings under "Additional" -> "Reset settings".
If the problem is systemic and affects not only Gboard, but also other applications, it may be a problem with a crowded cache of the system or errors in the launcher. In this case, it is recommended to restart the device in Safe Mode for diagnosis. If the keyboard is working normally in Safe Mode, then the conflict is causing some third-party application that you recently installed.
Enhanced Opportunities and Personalization
Gboard offers a wide range of look and feel settings to make typing as comfortable as possible. You can change the theme of your keyboard by choosing a static image, dynamic wallpaper, or even a photo from your gallery with brightness and blurring adjustments. It's not just a decoration, it's a way to make the interface more pleasing to the eye.
In the Settings -> Preferences section, you can fine-tune the vibration when pressed, the sound effects and the space behavior. For example, you can set the keyboard to automatically set a point when you double-press the space, which saves time when typing long sentences. You can also adjust the keyboard height and split into two parts for easy one-hand input.
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Using the clipboard allows you to save up to 5 last copied fragments of text, which is extremely convenient when copying codes from SMS or addresses from browsers.
Integration with Google services deserves special mention, and Gboard allows you to search Google, translate phrases and send them. GIF-animations directly from the keyboard interface, without switching between applications. To activate these functions, make sure that the relevant items in the keyboard settings are included in the "Additional" section".
Regular updates to the app through the Play Market store ensure new emojis, security bug fixes, and improved handwriting and voice recognition algorithms. Don't ignore update notifications, as they often contain important compatibility patches with newer versions of Android.