If you are the owner of a Xiaomi smartphone on the basis MIUI, You may have noticed a strange program called the Emoji Keyboard, which at first glance looks like a take on a standard keyboard, but with an emphasis on emojis and stickers. Is that really true? And why does this keyboard even exist if Xiaomi already has built-in text input tools?
In practice, the Emoji Keyboard is not just another keyboard, but part of the ecosystem. MIUI, It's designed to make it easier to work with emojis, gifs, even some quick-access features, but there's a lot of myths around it, from saying it's "spyware," to telling you to immediately remove it as unnecessary ballast. In this article, we will understand what is Emoji Keyboard on Xiaomi, how it works, how it differs from Gboard or a standard keyboard. MIUI, And is it really worth removing.
Spoiler: If you're actively using messengers or social media, this keyboard may be more useful than it looks, and if you don't, you can always turn it off without harming the system.
What is the Emoji Keyboard on Xiaomi and why is it necessary?
Emoji Keyboard is a branded keyboard from Xiaomi, built into the firmware MIUI verb MIUI 12 and newer. Unlike the standard keyboard, it specializes in fast access to the keyboard:
- π Emoji and emojis β with categorization (faces, animals, food, etc.) and support for the latest Unicode updates.
- π Stickers and GIFs β integration with the Xiaomi base and popular messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram).
- β‘ Quick commands β for example, sending a location or a quick browser search.
- π Search for emoji by keywords (in Russian and English).
It's basically a simplified version of the keyboard, where visual content is prioritized over text input, for example, when you type a message on Viber or Instagram, it automatically prompts relevant emojis to the words you type, which is convenient if you communicate frequently through emojis, but can annoy those who prefer minimalism.
It is important to understand that the Emoji Keyboard is not a virus or a browser. MIUI, which:
- π Updated with firmware (does not require manual installation from Play Market).
- π‘οΈ Does not collect user data beyond what is permitted in the privacy settings MIUI.
- π§ Can be disabled or replaced with another keyboard (e.g. Gboard or SwiftKey).
However, it has disadvantages β we will talk about this later.
Differences between Emoji Keyboard and Standard Keyboard MIUI
Many users confuse the Emoji Keyboard with the standard keyboard MIUI (It is also known as the Mi Keyboard, but there are key differences between the two:
| Function | Emoji Keyboard | Standard MIUI keyboard |
|---|---|---|
| Principal appointment | Quick access to emojis, stickers, gifs | Full text input with support for gestures and voice typing |
| Interface. | Simplified, with an emphasis on visual content | Classic layout with number series and symbols |
| Support for topics | Limited choice (light/dark) | A variety of topics, including customization of flowers |
| Voice input | Absent. | Yes (via Google Voice Typing) |
| Integration with messengers | Deep (emoji tips, stickers) | Basic (text only) |
The main advantage of the Emoji Keyboard is that it automatically prompts the emoji when you type in text, for example, if you write "funny," the keyboard will immediately suggest emojis. π or π€£. In the standard keyboard. MIUI for this you need to manually switch to the tab with emoji.
On the other hand, the Emoji Keyboard lacks many of the features of the standard keyboard:
- π No Swipe (Gestural Input) Support).
- π€ No voice dialing.
- π± No synchronization of the dictionary between devices.
It is more likely to complement the main keyboard than replace it.
π‘
If you are missing an emoji in the Emoji Keyboard, try updating your firmware MIUI β New versions add fresh sets of emojis from Unicode.
How to turn on or off the Emoji Keyboard on Xiaomi
By default, the Emoji Keyboard can be disabled, especially if you use a third-party keyboard (such as Gboard).
Emoji Keyboard Enablement:
- Open Settings β System and device β Language and input.
- Click on the Virtual Keyboard β Keyboard management.
- Turn on the switch opposite the Emoji Keyboard.
- Go back and select Current Keyboard, then tick Emoji Keyboard.
Disable the Emoji Keyboard:
- Go to Settings β Applications β Application Management.
- Find the Emoji Keyboard in the list and select it.
- Click Disable (if the button is inactive, click Stop first).
If the Disable button is not available, then the keyboard is a system component.
- Install another keyboard (such as Gboard) from the Play Market.
- In the input settings (language and input), make it the default keyboard.
- The Emoji Keyboard will no longer appear.
βοΈ Checking the Emoji Keyboard
β οΈ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 or X-ray) POCO X3 Pro) The Emoji Keyboard can be deeply integrated into firmware, in which case it cannot be removed without root rights, but you can simply ignore it by choosing a different keyboard.
Emoji Keyboard Security: Does it Collect Data?
One of the most common questions is, "Can Emoji Keyboard spy on the user?" The answer is no, but with reservations.
Like any keyboard, the Emoji Keyboard has access to what you type.
- π It doesnβt send your messages to Xiaomi servers (unless the cloud sync feature is enabled, which is disabled by default).
- π‘ Data about the input text can only be used to improve the prompts (for example, to suggest relevant emojis).
- π« In the settings MIUI You can completely disable the collection of statistics: go to Settings β Memory. β Privacy β Special permits β Access text input and uncheck the Emoji Keyboard.
By comparison, Googleβs Gboard collects much more data (including your input history) if you donβt turn off the options in its settings. Emoji Keyboard is more βlocalβ in this regard β it is not tied to your Mi Account account and does not sync data between devices.
However, if youβre paranoid about privacy, itβs best to use open source keyboards like AnySoftKeyboard or FlorisBoard.
How to check what data is collected by Emoji Keyboard?
Emoji Keyboard Problems and How to Solve Them
Despite its simplicity, the Emoji Keyboard sometimes fails, and here are the most common problems and solutions.
1.The keyboard does not open or disappears
- π Reset the device.
- π± Check if it is included in the settings. β Language and input.
- ποΈ Clear the app's cache: Settings β Annexes β Emoji Keyboard β Clear the cache.
2. Emojis or stickers are not working
- π½ Update the firmware MIUI (Sometimes, emoji databases are updated only with a new version of the system).
- π Check your internet connection β some stickers are downloaded from Xiaomi servers.
- π§ Reset the keyboard settings: Settings β System and device β Additionally. β Resetting application settings.
3.The keyboard brakes or lags
- π§Ή Clear the application data (together with the cache).
- π Turn off animations in MIUI: Settings β The phone. β Version. MIUI (Click 7 times to open to Developer, then turn off Windows animation).
- π Check the battery power β on some Xiaomi models, the keyboard can slow down at a charge level below 15%.
β οΈ Note: If after the update MIUI The Emoji Keyboard stopped working at all, it may be due to a firmware error, in which case only a rollback to the previous version or waiting for a patch from Xiaomi will help.
Should you remove the Emoji Keyboard from Xiaomi?
It depends on how you use your smartphone, and here are the pros and cons of deleting:
Remove the Emoji Keyboard if:
- π« You donβt use emojis or stickers in principle.
- π± You have another keyboard (like Gboard) that covers all your needs.
- π You want to save a few megabytes of memory (although the savings are minimal).
- π‘οΈ You are concerned about privacy (although the risks are minimal).
Do not remove if:
- π You actively communicate through emojis on WhatsApp, Telegram or social networks.
- π¨ You like integration with GIFs and stickers MIUI.
- π You donβt want to mess with settings after accidentally deleting (some models canβt restore it without resetting the system).
β οΈ Attention: On devices with MIUI Global or MIUI Europe Emoji Keyboard is a system application, which means that it can only be disabled, but not completely removed without root permissions. ADB or third-party utilities, this can cause malfunctions in other system components (for example, a standard keyboard). MIUI).
If you decide to get rid of it, the safest way is to simply turn off the keyboard in the settings and forget about its existence.
π‘
Emoji Keyboard is not a critical component MIUI. Disabling or deleting it will not affect system stability if you use an alternative keyboard.
Emoji Keyboard Alternatives for Xiaomi
If you donβt have enough Emoji Keyboard functionality (or too much), consider the alternatives:
| keyboard | Pluses | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Gboard (Google) | Voice input, Swipe support, integration with Google Search | Data is collected by the Emoji Keyboard |
| SwiftKey (Microsoft) | Smart tips, synchronization between devices | Sometimes it slows down on weak smartphones |
| Fleksy | Minimalist design, gestures for editing | Plugins with emoji paid |
| AnySoftKeyboard | Open source code, high confidentiality | Fewer functions for emojis |
If you need a keyboard specifically for emojis, pay attention to:
- π¨ Kika Keyboard β more than 8000 emojis and stickers.
- π€ Chroom β keyboard with AI prompts and advanced emojis.
- π± Bitmoji Keyboard β for fans of personalized avatars.
Before installing an alternative, be sure to disable the Emoji Keyboard in the settings so it doesnβt conflict with the new keyboard.