How to remove Gboard on Xiaomi Redmi: The Complete Guide

Many Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone users are facing intrusiveness with Google’s standard keyboard. Despite its functionality, Gboard can be annoying due to constant offers, data collection or trivial bugs that lead to system freezes, especially on older models where RAM is limited and every megabyte counts.

Device owners often wonder if it is possible to completely get rid of this application without obtaining superuser rights. On standard MIUI and HyperOS firmware, it is impossible to completely remove the system Gboard without root rights through the usual settings menu. However, there are proven methods of deactivation and hidden removal through the computer that allow you to free up space and improve the speed of the interface.

In this detailed guide, we will look at all the available solutions to the problem, learn how to safely disable the service, replace it with a lighter one, and what to do if the keyboard stops working at the most inopportune moment. It is important to approach the process carefully so that you do not lose the ability to type in in critical situations.

Why users want to get rid of Gboard

The main reason for the discontent lies in the overconsumption of resources. Gboard is a heavy app that constantly hangs in the background, analyzing input and loading dictionaries. On low-end smartphones Redmi Note series or Poco entry-level, this can lead to noticeable delays in typing and increased battery consumption.

And many users are concerned about privacy, because the keyboard has access to everything you type, including passwords and private messages. While Google claims security, the desire to minimize the digital footprint is understandable, and replacing it with offline analogs or minimalist solutions is becoming a matter of digital hygiene.

Another factor is the compulsiveness of functions, GIF-animation and integration with the search engine often interfere with fast printing. Users accustomed to a clean interface perceive this as visual noise. Deleting or disabling the application returns control of the device.

• 📉 High RAM consumption causing lags on weak processors.
• 🔋 A noticeable battery discharge due to background activity and neural network training.
• 🔒 Collection of input statistics and potential risks of confidential data leakage.
• 👁️ Overloaded interface with advertising and unnecessary elements that interfere with printing.

⚠️ Warning: Before any manipulation of system applications, make sure that you have an alternate keyboard installed and activated.If you delete Gboard without replacing, you will not be able to enter text, passwords or search for information that will block access to settings.

It is also worth noting that in some regions and firmware versions, the MIUI Gboard is a deeply integrated component, and its forced removal can lead to errors in the work of other Google services, so before starting the procedure, it is recommended to weigh the pros and cons, assessing the current stability of your smartphone.

Preparing the device for removing system applications

The process of removing the system component completely requires preparation, and unlike regular programs that are removed with a long tap, system applications are hidden from the user, and to work with them, we will need to activate the hidden capabilities of the Android system.

The first step is to turn on the developer mode. It's a standard procedure that requires no special skills, but gives access to critical settings. Without this step, the computer will not be able to interact with the phone at the required level to remove packets.

You will also need a stable USB-Connection and computer running Windows, macOS or Linux. Using damaged cables can interrupt the debugging process, leading to error transmission of commands.

It is important to download and install an alternative keyboard, such as Simple Keyboard or Microsoft SwiftKey, before you delete Gboard, and the system should automatically switch to the new input method, and if you don't, you'll find yourself in a situation where you can't enter anything.

Disable Gboard through standard Android settings

The safest, though not the most radical, way is to force the app to shut down, in which case it stays in the phone’s memory but stops running, consuming resources and showing up on the active process list, which is enough for most users.

To do this, go to your Xiaomi Settings. Find the Apps section, then select All Apps. You need to find Gboard (could be called Google Keyboard) in the list. Click on it to open the management page.

In the menu that opens, you'll see a button called "Disable or Shut down," and the system will alert you that the app will stop working, confirm the action, and if the button is inactive (gray), your firmware version will not even shut down, and you'll have to use the ADB method described below.

Once you turn off Gboard, the system automatically prompts you to choose the new default input method. Choose the previously installed alternative. This action is safe and reversible: you can turn on Gboard again in the same settings menu at any time if the new keyboard does not suit.

Complete removal via ADB (for advanced users)

If a standard shutdown is not available or you want to physically delete application files from your device, you will need to use the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) toolkit, which allows you to send commands directly to the system, bypassing the limitations of the MIUI interface.

To start, download the Platform Tools package from Google’s official website and unpack it on your computer. Then, on your phone, in the Developer Menu (which you activated earlier), turn on Debugging over USB. Connect your smartphone to your PC with a cable.

Open the command line or terminal in the ADB folder and enter the command to check the connection:

adb devices

You'll see a debugging request on your phone screen, check "Always Allow" and press OK. If the device serial number appears in the terminal, the connection is successful, and you can now proceed to delete.

The removal command is as follows:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.inputmethod.latin

Here, com.google.android.inputmethod.latin is the system identifier for the Gboard packet. Once the command is executed, the application will disappear from the installed list. It will not take up space and cannot be launched.

⚠️ Note: Do not delete other system packages unless you know exactly what they are intended for. Mistaked removal of critical Android components can lead to a cyclic bootloop or complete smartphone failure.

Alternative keyboards for Xiaomi and Redmi

When you remove a standard keyboard, you have to choose a replacement, and the market offers a variety of options, from minimalist to overloaded functions, and it’s important for Xiaomi devices to choose lightweight apps that don’t conflict with the MIUI shell.

One of the best alternatives is Simple Keyboard.It's a completely free, open-source app that requires no permissions other than access to text input.It weighs less than 1MB and works instantly even on older devices.

For those who are used to swipe input and smart prediction, Microsoft SwiftKey is a great choice. It has a powerful prediction engine and supports many languages. However, it is also quite heavy and can require more resources than Gboard.

Your choices depend on your priorities. If you want speed, you need minimalist solutions. If you want to type in large volumes of text comfortably, you need to look at more functional ones. In any case, abandoning Gboard on Redmi often results in a measurable performance boost.

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When you install a new keyboard, adjust the key height and tactile return in its settings immediately, which will increase the comfort of printing and reduce the number of typos in the first days of use.

Possible problems and ways to solve them

Unforeseen difficulties can occur when replacing or removing a keyboard, and users are most often faced with a situation where a new keyboard does not pop up when typing, which is solved by re-selecting the input method in the settings or restarting the device.

Sometimes, after removing Gboard, voice input or dictation functions in other applications stop working, since they are tied to Google services, in which case you will either have to accept the lack of voice dialing, or use specialized dictation applications that do not depend on the system keyboard.

If you removed Gboard through ADB and now you want to get it back, but don't remember the command, don't panic. Resetting your phone to factory will bring back all system applications, but it's an extreme measure that requires a full data backup.

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Removing system applications via ADB is safe for the user, but requires care.The main rule is never to remove the last available application for typing.

Also worth mentioning is the update issue. Some system apps may try to automatically update through Google Play, returning Gboard to the device. To avoid this, go to Settings → Apps → Gboard (if left in the form of a stub) and disable auto-update from the Google Play menu.