Which keyboard is better to install on Android Xiaomi: a comparison of the 7 best options

Why Xiaomi’s standard keyboard isn’t always convenient

Xiaomi smartphones come with a pre-installed keyboard MIUI Keyboard (formerly SwiftKey in some models) is integrated into firmware and optimized for the ecosystem. MIUI, The main complaints are slow prediction of words in Russian, lack of flexible themes and limited gesture settings. MIUI Keyboard still doesn’t have full swipe support for digits or characters, a feature that has long been in alternative solutions.

In addition, the standard keyboard often hangs when dialing quickly, especially on budget Redmi models or on the back of the pack. POCO 4-6 GB of RAM, and that's due to optimization. MIUI, If you're actively using messengers, social networks, or documents, the delays in typing can be annoying. The solution is to install an alternative keyboard from Google Play.

But which one to choose? 7 popular keyboards on smartphones Xiaomi 13 Ultra, Redmi Note 12 Pro+ and POCO F5, Evaluating the speed of work, text prediction, customization and compatibility with MIUI 14/15. In this guide - an honest comparison with the pros and cons of each option, as well as step-by-step instructions for installation and configuration.

Top.-5 Keyboards for Xiaomi: a comparative table

Before you go into the details, look at the key differences between the market leaders. We ranked keyboards on 5 criteria: input speed, prediction quality, gesture settings, design and compatibility with the keyboard. MIUI. Here's what happened:

Note: on Xiaomi smartphones with MediaTek processors (for example, Redmi Note 11 or MediaTek). POCO M5) Some keyboards may be slower due to optimization features MIUI If your device is on Snapdragon, there's usually no problem.

Gboard vs SwiftKey: What’s best for Xiaomi in 2026

The two most popular Android keyboards, Google’s Gboard and Microsoft’s SwiftKey, are often the subject of debate. Let’s see which one is best for Xiaomi, given the firmware features. MIUI.

Gboard: pros and cons

Advantages:

• 🔹 Instant input: optimized for fast dialing, almost no lags even on budget Redmis.
• 🔹 Google integration: prediction based on search history, email, and YouTube (if sync is enabled).
• 🔹 Flexible gesture settings: you can configure swipe to move the cursor, hold for symbols, etc.
• 🔹 Voice support: more stable than standard keyboard MIUI.

Disadvantages:

• ⚠️ Data collection: Google analyzes input text to improve predictions (you can turn off in settings).
• ⚠️ Topics Advertising: In the free version, some themes require you to view ads before installing them.

SwiftKey: pros and cons

Advantages:

• 🔹 Best prediction in Russian: takes into account the context of sentences, not just individual words.
• 🔹 Device-to-device sync: If you use SwiftKey on PC, the dictionary will be shared.
• 🔹 Key Customization: You can change the size and location of the buttons (useful for larger screens, such as the Xiaomi 13 Ultra).

Disadvantages:

• ⚠️ Lags on weak smartphones: on Redmi 10A or POCO M4 Pro can slow down with prolonged recruitment.
• ⚠️ No voice input in the latest versions (removed by Microsoft).

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If you care about typing speed, go with Gboard. If your priority is accurate text prediction in Russian, especially for document management, SwiftKey is better.

How to Install and Configure an Alternative Keyboard on Xiaomi

Installing a third-party keyboard on Xiaomi is slightly different from other Android smartphones due to features MIUI. Follow the step-by-step instructions to avoid mistakes:

1. Download the keyboard from Google Play. For example, for Gboard, use this link.
2. After installation, open the keyboard app (such as Gboard) and click Enable in Settings.
3. Go to Settings → Additional → Language and input → Current keyboard.
4. Turn on the switch next to the keyboard installed (such as Gboard or SwiftKey).
5. Return to the Current Keyboard and select the new default keyboard.

Make sure the keyboard is included in Settings → Language and input

Check permissions (access to microphone for voice input)

Set up the main language (Russian/English)

Synchronize dictionaries (if you have an account) Google/Microsoft)-->

Nana MIUI 14/15 This is standard behavior, Xiaomi locks third-party keyboards by default to protect data:

1. Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management → Three dots (menu) → Special access → Keyboards.
2. Select the keyboard installed and allow it to be accessed.

⚠️ Note: If the keyboard doesn’t appear when you type in after installation, restart your smartphone. Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 11) require a reboot to apply the changes.

The best settings to speed up typing

Even the most advanced keyboard will work slowly if you don't optimize it for your needs, and here are the key settings you should change right after you install it:

1. Optimization of text prediction

• 🔹 In Gboard: Go to Settings → Correction of text → Show hints and turn on All hints. Also activate Random Press Block if you're often wrong.
• 🔹 In SwiftKey: In Settings → Prediction → Upload your data from Facebook, Gmail or SMS more accurate.

2. Customization of gestures

• 🔹 Swipe to enter: in Gboard this is called Sliding input (Settings) → Sliding input. Turn on and practice, which speeds up the set by 30 to 40%.
• 🔹 Retention for symbols: SwiftKey can configure long-term keystrokes to enter numbers or punctuation (Settings) → Layout and keyboards).

Themes and design

• 🔹 Gboard has a color palette function (Settings) → Themes) that tweaks the keyboard to your Xiaomi wallpaper.
• 🔹 In Fleksy, you can completely hide the keyboard, leaving only a prediction string – convenient for small screens (for example, Redmi). 10C).

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If the keyboard started to brake after the update MIUI, Clear her cache in Settings → Annexes → Application management → [Keyboard name] → Clear the cache. It helps 80 percent of the time.

Which keyboard to choose for specific tasks

There is no one-size-fits-all solution, depending on how you use your smartphone, and here are our recommendations for different scenarios:

📱 For social media and messengers

If you write a lot on WhatsApp, Telegram or VK, fast prediction and convenient stickers are important./GIF. Best choice:

• 🔹 Gboard – thanks to Google integration, there is a built-in search GIF and an emoji right out of the keyboard.
• 🔹 SwiftKey – If you switch between English and Russian often, its algorithms do better.

💼 For working with documents

When typing long texts (for example, in Google Docs or Word), the priority is accuracy of predictions and ease of editing.

• 🔹 SwiftKey – Best prediction for Russian, support for hot keys (for example, Ctrl+C/Ctrl+V).
• 🔹 Multiling O Keyboard – if you need macros (saved phrases) or custom layouts.

🎮 For gamers.

If you play on Xiaomi (such as Genshin Impact or X-rays) PUBG Mobile, the keyboard should be light and not interfere during streams:

• 🔹 Fleksy – minimalist design, you can hide the keyboard with one gesture.
• 🔹 Chroom is the lightest (weighs) ~5 MB), does not load the system.

👵 For older users

If you have a smartphone with your parents or grandparents, the keyboard should be large and simple.

• 🔹 Gboard – you can increase the size of the keys in Settings → Size.
• 🔹 Simple Keyboard (not from a table) – a simplified keyboard without unnecessary functions.

Frequent Problems and How to Solve Them

Even with the best keyboards, Xiaomi can have bugs, and we've collected some of the most common problems and ways to fix them:

🔄 The keyboard is constantly reset to standard

It's a typical mistake. MIUI, Especially after the updates:

1. Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management → Three dots (menu) → Special access → Keyboards.
2. Turn off all keyboards except the one you want to use.
3. Reboot your smartphone.

⌨️ The keyboard slows down or does not appear

The reasons may be different:

• 🔹 Low RAM: Close background applications (use Recent ones) → Close it all down).
• 🔹 Skin conflict: Turn off animations in Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (press 7 times) → For developers → The scale of the animation (select) 0.5x).
• 🔹 Keyboard Failure: Clear Cache and Data in Settings → Annexes → [Keyboard name] → Warehouse.

🔠 The emojis are not working or GIF

If Gboard or SwiftKey does not display stickers:

1. Check your internet connection (GIF plugged).
2. Update the keyboard in Google Play.
3. In Gboard, go to Settings. → Emoji, stickers and GIF → Download all emojis.

⚠️ Note: On some Xiaomi models (such as the Redmi Note 10 Pro), dark-themed keyboards may not display correctly due to a bug in the device. MIUI. The solution is to set a bright theme or update the firmware.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions