How to Choose and Install Another Keyboard on Xiaomi Smartphone: The Complete Guide

Why to change the standard keyboard on Xiaomi and what it gives

Keyboard is one of the most important tools on a smartphone, which depends on the speed of dialing, ease of communication and even security of data entry. Standard MIUI keyboard on Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO devices is not suitable for everyone: someone lacks features, someone annoys banner ads, and some just want to personalize the interface to their needs. In this article, we will discuss how to choose an alternative keyboard, install it and configure it to make typing as comfortable as possible.

Before we get to the instructions, we need to understand the benefits of replacing the standard solution. First, advanced functionality: many third-party keyboards support gestures, voice input, real-time translation, or even integration with cloud services. Second, security — some alternatives (like Google's Gboard) are better at protecting input than standard solutions from manufacturers. And finally, design: the ability to change themes, button sizes, or even the location of characters to your preferences.

But there are nuances, too. For example, not all keyboards work equally well with MIUI — some may be slowing down or conflicting with system services. And when installing third-party software, it's important to check permissions so you don't run into too much data collection, and then we'll go into detail every step from choosing the right keyboard to fine-tuning.

Top.-5 Alternative keyboards for Xiaomi: comparison of functions

The market for Android keyboards is huge, but not all apps are equally well adapted for MIUI. We have selected five of the most popular and proven options that work consistently on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices. Each of them has its pros and cons – choose based on your priorities.

• 🔹 Gboard (Google) is the most versatile keyboard with gesture, voice and embedded translation support, perfect for those who actively use Google services.
• 🔹 SwiftKey (Microsoft) is known for word prediction accuracy and synchronization between devices.
• 🔹 Fleksy is a minimalist keyboard with advanced gesture settings. A great choice for customization enthusiasts.
• 🔹 Chroom is a lightweight, open-source alternative for those who value privacy.
• 🔹 Samsung Keyboard – Despite belonging to a different brand, it works well on Xiaomi and offers unique features like handwriting.

If you're not sure which keyboard is right for you, you can set up a few and test them in real-world settings. Most apps allow you to quickly switch between them through the notification bar, and the main thing is to keep the keyboards off in the settings so they don't waste your device's resources.

Step-by-step: how to install a new keyboard on Xiaomi

The process of installing an alternative keyboard on Xiaomi is not complicated, but there are a few nuances that you should be aware of, for example, after installing the application, you need to not only turn it on in the settings, but also assign it to the default keyboard. Let's take a look at the process with Gboard, but similar steps will work for other applications.

1. Download the selected keyboard from Google Play. For example, for Gboard, type "Gboard - Google Keyboard" and click "Install".
2. Once installed, open the application. Usually the setup wizard starts, where you can select the language, theme and other basic parameters.
3. Go to Settings → System and Device → Language and Input → Current Keyboard.
4. Turn on the switch next to the name of the installed keyboard (such as Gboard).
5. Click on the "Current Keyboard" and select the new keyboard as the main one.

If the keyboard doesn't appear when typing after these steps, try restarting the device. Sometimes MIUI requires a restart to apply the changes. Also make sure that the security settings don't block third-party keyboards, which can happen if Data Protection or similar features are enabled.

Download the application from the official store|Check permissions (no suspicious requests)|Disable unnecessary keyboards in settings|Reboot the device after installation-->

Important: Some keyboards (like SwiftKey) require access to contacts and messages to improve text prediction. If you are embarrassed by this, refuse to grant permissions - the functionality of the application will not suffer, but the accuracy of the prompts may decrease.

Setting up the keyboard to your needs: tips and tricks

Installing a keyboard is only half the battle, and to make it really easy, you have to set it up properly. Most apps offer dozens of options, but we're going to focus on the ones that are most useful to Xiaomi users.

Let's start with language settings. Almost all keyboards support multilingual input, but not everyone can automatically switch between languages. In Gboard, for example, this is done by swiping by space, and in SwiftKey, it's done by a separate button. To add language:

1. Open the keyboard settings (usually through the gear icon on the toolbar).
2. Select "Languages" or "Language and layout".
3. Click "Add language" and select the one you want from the list.
4. Activate the "Auto-Switch" option (if any).

Then there's the themes and design. Many keyboards allow you to change the color scheme, the size of the buttons, and even add your own backgrounds. For example, you can upload your image to the background in Gboard, and you can set the transparency of the panel in Fleksy. If you're interested in ergonomics, pay attention to:

• 🎨 Keyboard size – can be reduced or increased for convenience.
• 🔠 Character location – some keyboards allow you to move buttons (e.g., swap "Enter" and "123" places").
• 🌓 Dark mode – useful for eye comfort at night.

Just as important is setting up text prediction and auto-replacement: SwiftKey, for example, lets you import your texts from social networks for more accurate tips, and Gboard disables auto-replacement for certain words. If you type frequently in multiple languages, turn on the option to "Show hints in all languages" to save time.

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If the keyboard starts to slow down, try clearing its cache in the app settings (Settings → Applications → Application Management → [Keyboard name] → Clear the cache).

Solving the problems: why the new keyboard is not working or slowing down

Even after installation and configuration, the keyboard can be unstable, and let’s look at the most common problems and solutions on Xiaomi devices.

Problem 1: The keyboard does not appear when typing.

• ✅ Check if it is included in the settings. → System and device → Language and input.
• ✅ Make sure it is selected as the default keyboard.
• ✅ Restart the device – sometimes MIUI does not apply changes without restarting.

Problem 2: The keyboard is slowing down or hanging.

• ✅ Clear the app cache in the settings.
• ✅ Turn off animations in the keyboard settings (if there is such an option).
• ✅ Check if the power saving mode is on – it can limit the operation of background processes.

Problem 3: The gestures or voice input are not working.

• ✅ Make sure the app has access to the microphone (for voice input).
• ✅ Check if gestures are included in the keyboard settings.
• ✅ Update the application to the latest version.

⚠️ Note: If you have problems entering passwords after installing a new keyboard (for example, in banking applications), go back to the standard keyboard. MIUI. Some financial services block third-party keyboards for security reasons.

If none of the tips worked, try removing and re-installing the keyboard. In rare cases, resetting the app to factory settings helps (but note that all your settings and vocabulary will be removed).

Security when using third-party keyboards: what to look for

The side of the keyboard is not only a convenience, it's also a potential privacy risk, because they get access to everything you type: passwords, messages, bank details, so you should carefully examine the permissions and reputation of the developer before installing.

Here's what to look out for:

• 🔒 Permissions – The keyboard does not need access to contacts, location, or camera (exception: voice input requires a microphone).
• 📄 Privacy Policy – read how the developer handles inputs, for example, Gboard sends data to Google servers, while Chroom does not.
• 🌍 Reviews and ratings – if an app has a low score or a lot of complaints about data collection, it’s best to stop using it.

Be especially careful with obscure keyboards, some of which may be spyware masquerading as legitimate applications, to minimize the risks of:

1. Install keyboards only from the official Google Play.
2. Update your app regularly – developers often close vulnerabilities in new versions.
3. Use Google Play Protect to scan your device for malware.

⚠️ Note: If you use a keyboard to enter sensitive information (such as passwords from banking applications), switch temporarily to a standard keyboard. MIUI. This will reduce the risk of data leakage.

If you want maximum security, consider open source keyboards like Chroom or AnySoftKeyboard, which do not send data to third-party servers and are regularly checked by the community for vulnerabilities.

How to Return a Standard MIUI Keyboard if Something Goes Wrong

If the alternative keyboard experiment failed — it slows down, conflicts with the system, or just doesn’t work — you can always return the standard solution from Xiaomi.

1. Go to Settings → System and Device → Language and Input → Current Keyboard.
2. Select "MIUI Keyboard" (or "Standard Android Keyboard" if it has been removed).
3. If the standard keyboard is not in the list, click "Keyboard Management" and turn it on.
4. Go back and set it with the default keyboard.

If you have removed a standard keyboard (which is unlikely, as MIUI usually doesn’t allow this), you can restore it by resetting your language settings and entering:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select "Resetting language and keyboard settings".
3. Confirm the action – after the restart, the standard keyboard will return.

Even if it doesn't work (for example, after a failed system update), the last option is to reset the device to factory settings, but only as a last resort, since all data will be deleted. Before reset, remember to make a backup!

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The standard MIUI keyboard cannot be completely removed, it is a system component, and the best you can do is turn it off in the settings.

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing the keyboard to Xiaomi