If you're a Xiaomi smartphone owner and you notice an unfamiliar FaceMoji Keyboard application on your installed list, don't rush to remove it -- or install it. It's a keyboard with advanced emoji and animation features, but its origin and usefulness raise questions for many users. Unlike the standard MIUI keyboard, this application is not part of the basic firmware, but often appears after updates or third-party installations.
On the one hand, FaceMoji Keyboard promises easy entry with animated smileys and personalized stickers; on the other, users complain about unexpected installations, ads and suspicious permissions. In this article, we will look at what the app is like, how it gets to Xiaomi devices, and whether it should be used in 2026, and focus on security and alternatives.
Despite the name, FaceMoji Keyboard is not an official Xiaomi product, it is a third-party development that integrates into the system through partnership agreements, which is why many users discover it on their devices without explicit consent.
What is the FaceMoji Keyboard and who designed it?
FaceMoji Keyboard is an alternative keyboard for Android devices, specializing in advanced emojis, GIF- animations and personalized stickers. The app positions itself as a tool for “expressive communication”, offering users:
- 🎨 Design themes – interchangeable keyboard designs with animation;
- 🤖 AI prediction – clever completion of words and phrases
- 😂 Extended library of emojis—including animated and 3D- stickers
- 🔒 Cloud backup: Synchronize settings between devices.
But the key point is not Xiaomi’s product: the app’s developer is FaceMoji Inc., a U.S.-based company with offices in China, and it’s the partnership with Xiaomi that allows the keyboard to pre-installed on some smartphone models (especially in Asian regions) or offered through GetApps, the brand’s app store.
It’s important to understand that FaceMoji Keyboard is not a virus or malware, but its distribution through pre-installing raises questions about transparency, and many users discover it after updating MIUI or installing application packages (such as Mi Video or Mi Browser) where it goes “bonus”.
How does FaceMoji Keyboard get on Xiaomi smartphones?
There are three main scenarios in which this app appears on devices:
- Pre-installation – on some models (e.g. Redmi Note 11 for the Indian market or POCO X3 Pro), the keyboard is included in the standard set of applications, this is due to the regional partnerships Xiaomi.
- MIUI Updates – When installing major updates (e.g., switching from MIUI 12 to MIUI 13), the application may be added as a “recommended” app.
- Bandling with other programs – when downloading applications from GetApps (for example, Mi Community or Mi Pay), the user may involuntarily agree to install additional services, including the keyboard.
The app is most commonly used on devices purchased in Asia or embroidered in Asia, and is less common in European and Russian versions of MIUI, but it may not be entirely excluded.
⚠️ Warning: If you find the FaceMoji Keyboard on your smartphone but didn’t consciously install it, check the permission list in Settings → Apps → FaceMoji Keyboard → Permissions. By default, it can request access to contacts, messages and microphone — this is not typical for keyboards.
How to check where the application came from?
FaceMoji Keyboard: What does it do?
On paper, the keyboard's capabilities are impressive, and let's look at the key features and their real utility.
| Function | Description | Pluses | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animated emojis | Emoji with movement effects (such as flashing eyes or waving hand) | Visually attractive for messengers | Increases the size of messages, not all messengers support animation |
| Personalized stickers | Creating avatars based on a user photo | Unique content for chat rooms | Requires access to camera and gallery, generation quality average |
| Design topics | Interchangeable keyboard designs (dark theme, gradients, etc.) | You can adjust to the style of the interface | Many themes are paid, free are limited |
| Voice input | Transformation of speech into text | Convenient for long messages | The quality of recognition is worse than Google or Yandex |
In practice, most users note that FaceMoji Keyboard is inferior to the standard Google Gboard or MIUI Keyboard in terms of speed and stability, with the focus on visuals rather than typing convenience.
Another nuance is advertising, and even in the free version, the app shows banners at the bottom of the keyboard, which is annoying when you use it actively, and you can only turn off ads by buying a premium version.
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If you only need animated emojis but don’t want to install a separate keyboard, use standard sets on Telegram or WhatsApp – there are built-in packages with similar effects.
Security and Privacy: Should I Trust?
The main question that worries users is how safe is it to use FaceMoji Keyboard? the application requests a wide list of permissions, which raises suspicions:
- 📱 Full network access – can transfer data to developer servers
- 🗣️ Microphone – needed for voice input but running in the background
- 📷 Camera and storage to create stickers, but access remains active.
- 📧 Reading SMS and call logs is officially for "prediction enhancement," but it's redundant.
In 2022, independent security researchers found that some versions of FaceMoji Keyboard transmitted keystroke metadata to remote servers, and after the scandal, developers claimed to fix the vulnerability, but the risks remain, such as the privacy policy stating that data can be shared with “partners to analyze user behavior.”
In comparison, Google’s standard Gboard keyboard also collects data, but it does so transparently and with the ability to disable most options.In the case of FaceMoji Keyboard, the user cannot fully control what information is sent to the servers.
⚠️ Warning: If you enter passwords, bank details, or other sensitive information, do not use FaceMoji Keyboard. Switch to the standard keyboard in settings: Settings → System → Language and input → Current keyboard.
How to remove FaceMoji Keyboard from Xiaomi?
If you decide to get rid of the app, there are a few ways, from simply disabling to completely uninstalling, and the instructions depend on how the keyboard was installed:
Disable the keyboard in the input settings|Remove updates (if preinstalled)|Disable autostart|Remove through ADB (system-application)-->
Method 1: Disconnect (if deletion is blocked)
- Go to Settings → System → Language and input → Current keyboard.
- Turn off the switch next to the FaceMoji Keyboard.
- Return to Application Management, find the keyboard and click Disable (if the button is active).
Method 2: Complete removal (if installed as a user application)
- Open Settings → Applications → FaceMoji Keyboard
- Click Remove (if the button is not available, the application is system).
Method 3: Remove system applications via ADB (for power users)
- Activate Developer Mode in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times).
- Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.facemoji.keyboard
If the keyboard reappears after the MIUI update after removal, it means that it is sewn into the firmware, in which case only disabling or flashing on the custom version (for example, Xiaomi.EU) will help.
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Even after deleting, it is recommended to check the permission list for other apps (such as Mi Browser or Mi Video) – they can automatically install FaceMoji Keyboard as an addiction.
FaceMoji Keyboard Alternatives: What to Use Instead of It
If you need extended emojis or animated stickers but don’t want to risk security, consider these alternatives:
| Annex | Pluses | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Gboard (Google) | Fast, reliable, built-in GIFs and emojis | Less animations, but safer |
| SwiftKey (Microsoft) | Good prediction of text, topics | No personalized stickers |
| MIUI Keyboard | Optimized for Xiaomi, no advertising | Minimalist design |
| Bitmoji (Snapchat) | Personalized avatars, integration with messengers | Requires registration on Snapchat |
Individual applications can be used to create animated stickers, for example:
- 🎭 Zepeto - 3D-avatars;
- 🖼️ Snow - Animated stickers
- 🤳 Boomoji are selfie-based stickers.
The main advantage of such solutions is that they do not have access to the typed text, unlike keyboards.
User reviews: real-world experience
Analysis of feedback on forums (4PDA, Mi Community) and Google Play shows a mixed attitude towards FaceMoji Keyboard:
- ⭐ Positive reviews (≈30%): "Like animated smileys, kids are excited!" "It's convenient to create a sticker with your face."
- ⚠️ Neutral (≈20%): "It works fine, but it slows down on weak smartphones." "Advertising is annoying, but for free, what else can you expect?"
- 👎 Negative (≈50%): "I'm set myself, you can't delete it, it's divorce!" "Too many permits, I don't trust." "Lags at print, I'm going back to Gboard."
Interestingly, most complaints come from users who did not deliberately install the keyboard, and those who downloaded it purposefully (for example, to create stickers) are often satisfied.
There's a topic on Reddit where users are discussing that FaceMoji Keyboard can swap standard messenger emojis for its animated versions, which isn't always appropriate.