What is the keyboard in Xiaomi smartphones by default and how to change it

When you buy a new Xiaomi smartphone, one of the first things you have to interact with is the keyboard, which is how easy it is to type, how many errors it has, and even the overall experience of the device, but not everyone knows which keyboard is installed in Xiaomi by default, whether it can be replaced, and how to do it correctly so as not to lose functionality.

In this article, we will discuss in detail:

• 🔹 What types of keyboards are preinstalled in MIUI and HyperOS firmware;
• 🔹 How to identify the current keyboard on your Redmi, POCO or Xiaomi
• 🔹 Advantages and disadvantages of standard and third-party solutions
• 🔹 Step-by-step instructions for changing, configuring, and optimizing the keyboard.

We will pay special attention to hidden functions that many users do not notice, but which can greatly simplify typing.

What is the default keyboard in Xiaomi?

Depending on the firmware version and the region of sale, Xiaomi smartphones can come with one of three standard keyboards:

1. MIUI Keyboard (formerly Xiaomi Keyboard) is a proprietary solution integrated into the MIUI and HyperOS shell. It has a minimalist design, gesture support and synchronization with the Mi Account account.
2. Gboard (from Google) – preinstalled on global firmware versions (for example, MIUI Global or HyperOS Global) differs in advanced functionality, including translator, GIF search and voice input.
3. SwiftKey (from Microsoft) is less common, but can be installed on some models for the European market, the main advantage is adaptive AI, which learns to your writing style.

To find out which keyboard is active on your device:

1. Open any field to enter text (for example, in Notes or Messages).
2. Touch the gear badge (⚙️) ternary (⋮) keyboard.
3. The menu that opens will show the name of the keyboard (for example, Gboard or MIUI Keyboard).

Comparison of standard Xiaomi keyboards: pros and cons

Each of the keyboards preinstalled has its own characteristics, and below is a comparison table that will help you choose the best option.

Important: On devices with firmware for the Chinese market (MIUI China), the default is MIUI Keyboard without the possibility of changing to Gboard without root rights.

⚠️ Warning: If you purchased a smartphone with Chinese firmware and want to install Gboard, you will need to unlock the bootloader and firmware global version MIUI/HyperOS. This may result in a loss of warranty!

How to change the keyboard on Xiaomi: step-by-step instructions

If you don't like the standard keyboard, you can replace it with any other keyboard from Google Play.

Download an alternative keyboard (such as Gboard or SwiftKey) from Google Play|

Open Settings → System and Device → Language and input |

Press Virtual Keyboard |

Turn on the slider for the new keyboard |

Return to the menu and select it as the default keyboard-->

After activating the new keyboard:

1. Open any text field.
2. Tap the globe icon (🌐) or keyboard on the notification panel to switch.
3. If the keyboard does not appear, restart the device.

To remove unnecessary keyboard:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find a keyboard (such as MIUI Keyboard) and select Remove or Disable.
3. Do not remove system keyboards completely – this can lead to input errors!

💡

If autocomplete passwords disappear after changing the keyboard, check the settings of Google Smart Lock in Settings → Google → Manage Google Account

Hidden functions of the MIUI Keyboard

Xiaomi’s signature keyboard has a few hidden features that many don’t know about:

• 🎨 Dynamic themes: The keyboard automatically adjusts to the color scheme of wallpaper or themes MIUI. To enable, go to Keyboard Settings → Design → Responsive Theme.
• 🔢 Quick calculator: type a mathematical expression (e.g., 25*4+10) and press = on the keyboard – the result will appear immediately.
• 🌍 Instant translation: highlight a foreign language word, click Translate in context menu. Works offline for major languages.
• 📎 Clipboard: Hold your finger on the input field to see the history of copied text (up to 20 items).

To activate these functions:

1. Open any text field and tap the gear icon (⚙️) on the keyboard.
2. Go to Additional Functions.
3. Turn on the sliders for the desired options.

Keyboard problems on Xiaomi and their solutions

Sometimes the keyboard may not work properly, like slowing down, not showing up, or pulling off when you type in, and we'll look at the problems and how to fix them.

If the problem persists:

1. Clear the cache and keyboard data in Settings → Apps → [keyboard name] → Memory.
2. Update your firmware to the latest version (Settings → About Phone → System Update).
3. Reset the keyboard settings to standard (select Reset settings in the keyboard menu).

⚠️ Warning: Some models of POCO (e.g., POCO F5) may not be able to change the keyboard after upgrading to HyperOS, and resetting or manually installing the APK- file of the alternative keyboard will help.

Best Alternative Keyboards for Xiaomi in 2026

If the standard options don’t suit you, consider these apps from Google Play:

• 🥇 Fleksy is a minimalist keyboard with gesture support and extended themes. Perfect for small screens.
• 🎯 Chroom is a keyboard with AI- prediction support and a built-in chatbot for quick answers.
• 🔒 AnySoftKeyboard is open source software with a high level of privacy (does not send data to the cloud).
• 🎨 Go Keyboard - more than 1,000 themes and stickers, but contains ads.

When choosing an alternative, pay attention to:

• 🔹 Support your language (not all keyboards work well with Russian or Ukrainian).
• 🔹 Cloud sync (if you reinstall firmware frequently)
• 🔹 The size of a APK- file (some keyboards weigh more than 100MB).

💡

For maximum performance, turn off keyboard animation in Settings → Special features → Delete animations. This will speed up the appearance of the keyboard when you transition between applications.

How to set up the keyboard for yourself: expert advice

Even a standard keyboard can be more convenient after you set it up correctly.

1. Change the size of the keyboard: In MIUI Keyboard, go to Settings → Size and layout and select One-Handed Mode or adjust height.
2. Set up auto-replacement: Turn off aggressive auto-correction in Settings → Text input → Auto-replace if it interferes.
3. Add quick phrases: Create abbreviations for commonly used words (e.g., "adr" → "Lenin Street, 15") to Settings → Dictionary → Quick phrases.
4. Activate vibration when pressed: This will help avoid accidental taps: Settings → Review when pressed → Vibration.

For Gboard, it is useful to include:

• 🔹 Smooth input (swipe) in Settings → Smooth input;
• 🔹 Prediction of emojis for quick insertion of emojis;
• 🔹 Dark theme for power saving on AMOLED- screens.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the keyboard on Xiaomi