How to choose and install Google keyboard on Xiaomi smartphones: comparison with MIUI Keyboard

Xiaomi smartphone owners often face a dilemma: use the standard MIUI Keyboard or switch to Google’s Gboard. Both have their own advantages, but the choice depends on the user’s priorities — speed of dialing, functionality, privacy or integration with the Google ecosystem. In this article, we will analyze how to install Gboard on Xiaomi devices correctly, compare it with the native keyboard and give recommendations for optimization.

The standard MIUI keyboard is well integrated into firmware, supports themes and gestures, but many lack predictive English or sync with a Google account. Gboard, in turn, offers advanced dictionary, real-time translator and support for multiple languages at once. However, on Xiaomi, with its customized shell, the installation and customization process can have nuances, from MIUI limitations to conflicts with system applications.

Before you switch to Gboard, consider which features are critical to you. For example, if you’re actively using Google Translate or Google Search straight from the keyboard, the Google alternative is the obvious choice. But if you’re looking for battery savings or minimalist design, maybe Xiaomi’s standard solution will work better.

Why Xiaomi users choose Gboard over MIUI Keyboard

The main reason for the transition is the advanced functionality. Gboard offers something that is not in the standard Xiaomi keyboard:

🌍 Multitasking: Quick access to Google Search, Translator and GIF-search without leaving the application.
🔄 Sync: dictionary and settings are automatically synced between devices via Google account.
🎨 Customization: more topics, the ability to adjust the height of the keyboard and the location of the buttons.
📱 Gesture support: Swipe typing works smoother than in MIUI Keyboard.

Another powerful argument is the quality of text prediction: Google algorithms analyze your writing style on all devices, whereas MIUI Keyboard learns only within a single smartphone, especially when typing in English or mixed languages (for example, Russian + English).

But there’s a downside: Gboard may consume more battery due to background sync, and some features (like pop-up translation) require constant internet access. On Xiaomi devices with aggressive power optimization, this can lead to delays when opening the keyboard.

⚠️ Note: On smartphones Xiaomi with MIUI 14+ When you install Gboard, you may see a warning about an "unoptimized application." It's not a mistake, it's just that the system suggests using a standard keyboard to save resources.

Step-by-step: how to install Gboard on Xiaomi

The process of installing Google keyboard on Xiaomi is slightly different from other Android devices due to the features of MIUI. Follow this guide to avoid errors:

Download Gboard from Google Play: Open the Play Store and find the Google Keyboard app. Make sure the developer is Google LLC (there are fakes!). Click Install and wait for the download to complete.
Activate the keyboard in settings: Go to Settings → System & Device → Language & Input → Current Keyboard. Slip on Keyboard Management and turn on the switch next to Gboard.

Make Gboard the default keyboard:

Go back to the Current Keyboard and select Gboard from the list.
Confirm the selection in the pop-up window.

If after installation the keyboard does not appear when typing, check:

🔄 Reboot your smartphone – sometimes MIUI No changes without rebooting.
📱 Make sure that all the necessary permissions are enabled in the Gboard app settings (especially Display over other windows).
🔧 B Settings → Annexes → Application management → Gboard check if battery optimization is offline.

Download the official application from the Play Store|Check the permissions for Gboard|Disable Battery Optimization for Keyboard|Reboot the smartphone after installation-->

Xiaomi devices with global firmware (such as the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G) may require additional confirmation when first running Gboard – this is a normal MIUI security measure.

Gboard and MIUI Keyboard Comparison: Which is Best for Xiaomi

To make an informed choice, compare the key parameters of both keyboards in the table:

Function	Gboard	MIUI Keyboard
Prediction of text	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (learns on all devices)	⭐⭐⭐ (Only on the current smartphone)
Language support	100+ languages, including dialects	Limited list (depending on region)
Integration with Google	Search, translator, GIF, emoji	Minimum (only basic functions)
Energy consumption	Medium (background synchronization)	Low (optimized for MIUI)
Design customization	Many topics, customizable height	Limited themes (depending on MIUI version)

The table shows that Gboard is winning in functionality, but losing in energy efficiency. For example, on the Xiaomi 13T Pro with MIUI 14, the difference in battery consumption can reach 3-5% per day when used actively.

Another nuance is privacy: Gboard sends typing data to Google servers to improve predictions (this can be turned off in settings). MIUI Keyboard stores everything locally, which can be important for users concerned about data leaks.

MIUI Keyboard|Gboard|Another (write in the comments)|Tryed both but returned to MIUI-->

How to set up Gboard on Xiaomi for maximum convenience

Installing Gboard is half the battle, and it's going to take fine tuning to make the keyboard work perfectly.

🔧 Turn on swipe input: Go to the Gboard settings (cog in the top menu of the keyboard). Select swipe input and activate Enable swipe typing. For Russian, you may need to download the dictionary additionally.
🌐 Configure languages: Add all the languages you need to use (e.g. Russian) + English (USA) Activate Multitasking to quickly swipe between languages over the space.
🎨 Personalize the look: In the Topics section, select the design (e.g. Dark Theme for the Themes) AMOLED-In the settings of the screens. → Reduce the height of the keyboard if it takes up too much space.

For users who often type with one hand, Gboard has a One-handed mode, which is activated by long-pressing the icon. ⚙️ This is especially useful on large smartphones like the Xiaomi 13 Ultra.

If you notice that the keyboard is slowing down, try:

Clear the app cache in Settings → Apps → Gboard → Storage.
Disable unnecessary languages or extensions (for example, GIF-Searching if you don’t use it).
Add Gboard to the list of Protected apps in the MIUI battery settings.

💡

If after updating MIUI Gboard keyboard started to glittle, try reinstalling it through the Play Store – sometimes system updates reset permissions.

Common Gboard Problems on Xiaomi and Their Solutions

Even after installing it properly, Xiaomi users may encounter bugs, and here are the most common ones and ways to fix them:

❌ Keyboard not appearing: Check if it is disabled in Settings → Language and input. Reboot your smartphone -- sometimes MIUI "forgets to change the keyboard.
⚡ Fast battery drain: Turn off dictionary sync in Gboard settings. add the app to Battery Optimization Excluded (in settings) MIUI).
🔍 Google Search Not Working: Make sure you have a Google app installed (not just Google Play Services).Check your internet connection - the feature requires an active connection.
🌐 Incorrectly predicts text: Clear application data in Settings → Annexes → Gboard → Storage. Enable Adaptive input in the keyboard settings for AI training.

On devices with MIUI 13 and below, there may be a conflict between Gboard and system services, in which case resetting keyboard settings will help:

Settings → System and device → Additional → Resetting settings → Resetting application settings

This operation will not delete your data, but will return all permissions to factory settings.

⚠️ Note: On some Xiaomi models (e.g, POCO F5) After resetting, you may need to re-enable Gboard in the keyboard list!

Alternative keyboards for Xiaomi: is it worth trying?

If not Gboard, neither MIUI Keyboard doesn't suit you, consider alternatives.-3 Keyboards that work well on Xiaomi:

🅰️ SwiftKey (Microsoft): Advantages: better text prediction, sync with Microsoft account, support for Swipe input. Disadvantages: less integration with Google, sometimes slows down on weak devices.
⚡ Fleksy: Advantages: minimalist design, text editing gestures, low power consumption. Disadvantages: paid themes, limited free functionality.
🔒 AnySoftKeyboard: Advantages: open source, high privacy, support for rare languages. Disadvantages: outdated interface, no modern features like GIF-search.

For example, SwiftKey is great for Office 365 users because it syncs with Microsoft Account and offers easy formula entry, and Fleksy will be appreciated by users who care about dial speed, whose prediction algorithms are considered among the most accurate.

However, before installing an alternative keyboard, consider:

🛡️ Check the permissions – some keyboards (like AI.type) collect too much data.
📱 Test for performance: on budget models (Redmi) 10A) Third-party keyboards can slow down.
🔄 Don’t forget to turn off unnecessary keyboards in the settings so that they don’t hang in memory.

How to remove MIUI Keyboard completely?

You can delete the standard MIUI keyboard without root permissions, as it is a system application. However, you can disable it: 1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management. 2. Find MIUI Keyboard in the list. 3. Press Disable (do not delete!!) 4. Confirm the action. After that, the keyboard will disappear from the list of available, but will remain in the system. If you need to return it, just turn it back on again in the application settings.

Security Tips: How to Protect Data When Using Keyboards

Any keyboard, especially one with cloud sync, could potentially be a source of data leakage. Here's how to minimize the risks on Xiaomi:

🔐 Turn off unnecessary sync: Go to Settings in Gboard → Dictionary → Sync the dictionary and disable the option if you do not need cross-device sync.
🚫 Limit access to sensitive data: Do not enter passwords or bank card details with the keyboard turned on (use Secure Entering in banking applications).
🔍 Check the permissions: Go to Settings → Annexes → Gboard → Permissions and disable access to Contacts or Locations if they are not needed.
🛡️ Use alternatives for confidential chats: For messengers like Signal or Telegram (secret chats), set up a separate open source keyboard (such as AnySoftKeyboard).

Xiaomi devices with MIUI have an additional protection measure - phonoactivity restriction, so that the keyboard does not transmit data in the background:

Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Consumption Management.
Find Gboard in the list and select Limit Background Activity.

This will not impair keyboard performance when used actively, but will prevent unnecessary data transfer.

💡

Even if you have disabled sync in Gboard, the keyboard can still collect anonymous data to improve services, and this can only be completely avoided by using offline keyboards like AnySoftKeyboard or FlorisBoard (open source).

FAQ: answers to frequent questions about Gboard on Xiaomi

❓ Can I use Gboard without a Google account?

Yes, Gboard will work without a Google account, but you will lose dictionary sync and some features like Google Search right from the keyboard.

❓ Why Gboard is slowing down on my Xiaomi?

The reasons may be different: 🔋 Aggressive battery optimization in MIUI (Add Gboard to the exceptions). 🗑️ Completed cache (clear in Settings) → Annexes → Gboard → Warehouse). 📱 Weak iron (on budget models like Redmi) 9A Try to disable animations in the keyboard settings).

❓ How to get it back MIUI Keyboard after installing Gboard?

Go to Settings → System and Device → Language and Input → Current Keyboard and select MIUI Keyboard from the list. If it is not listed, include it in Keyboard Management.

❓ Does Gboard work on Xiaomi with custom firmware?

Yes, but there may be nuances: On firmware like LineageOS or Pixel Experience, the Gboard is set as a regular keyboard without the limitations of MIUI. Some custom ROMs may not support MIUI gestures (for example, swipe over the space for changing the language).

❓ Can I transfer the dictionary from MIUI Keyboard in Gboard?

There is no direct way, but you can speed up learning Gboard: Activate Adaptive input in the Gboard settings. Type a few long messages manually, the algorithm will quickly adjust to your style. Import contacts to Google Account (if you use) so that the keyboard picks up names.