Keyboard for Xiaomi: Why You Need It and How to Use It

Xiaomi smartphones are known not only for their value for money, but also for their extensive suite of proprietary applications that extend the functionality of devices, such as Keyboard for Xiaomi, which is often installed by default on devices under control. MIUI. Many users do not even suspect that the standard keyboard on their smartphone is not just a typing tool, but a full-fledged application with unique features.

In this article, we’ll look at what Keyboard for Xiaomi is for, how it differs from third-party apps like Gboard or SwiftKey, and how to set it up to make typing faster and more convenient. We’ll focus on hidden features that few people know about, but can make everyday smartphone use much easier. If you haven’t used all the features of this keyboard yet, you’re missing out on a lot of useful things!

What is Keyboard for Xiaomi and how it differs from other keyboards

Keyboard for Xiaomi is a branded keyboard designed specifically for the ecosystem. MIUI. It is pre-installed on most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO, But many users are replacing it with alternatives, unaware of its benefits. Unlike universal solutions (like Google's Gboard), this keyboard is optimized for the interface. MIUI It is closely integrated with other Xiaomi services.

The main differences from competitors:

  • πŸ”Ή Deep integration with MIUI: Supports gestures and features only available on Xiaomi devices (e.g., quick access to Control Center or Quick Ball).
  • πŸ”Ή Localization for Russian-speaking users: better recognizes specific words, slang and grammatical constructions of the Russian language.
  • πŸ”Ή Minimalist design without unnecessary elements, which speeds up work on weak devices (relevant for budget models Redmi).
  • πŸ”Ή Support for themes from the Mi Themes brand store, which allows you to adjust the appearance to the style of your smartphone.

However, the keyboard has its drawbacks, such as not supporting some of the advanced features available on Gboard, such as built-in translator or search. GIF. But for most users, these disadvantages are overshadowed by advantages – primarily, stability of work and low resource consumption.

πŸ“Š What keyboard do you use on Xiaomi?
Keyboard for Xiaomi
Gboard
SwiftKey
Another.
I don't know what I have.

Keyboard for Xiaomi: what does the brand keyboard

At first glance, Keyboard for Xiaomi looks like a regular keyboard, but there are a lot of useful features hidden under the hood. Consider the most important ones that make typing faster and more convenient.

1. Intelligent input and auto-replacement

  • πŸ“ Contextual prompts: analyzes previous messages and offers a continuation of the phrase (works even in instant messengers).
  • πŸ”„ Automatic replacement of typos, taking into account Russian and English.
  • πŸ“Š User learning: remembers frequently used words and expressions (such as your name or address).

2.Gesturals and hot keys

  • ↔️ Swipe for dialing (as in SwiftKey): you can drive your finger on the keys without tearing it off.
  • πŸ” Quick search for emoji: just type in a word (e.g., β€œheart”) and the keyboard will suggest appropriate emojis.
  • πŸ“± Access to the clipboard with one click (clip icon in the top menu).

3. Security and confidentiality

Unlike many third-party keyboards, Keyboard for Xiaomi does not send the input to external servers for analysis. All data is processed locally on the device, which is important for users who value privacy.

How to disable data collection in Keyboard for Xiaomi?
Go to Settings. β†’ System and device β†’ Language and input β†’ Virtual keyboard β†’ Keyboard for Xiaomi β†’ Settings β†’ Confidentiality and disable the option "Improving input".

4. Support for multiple languages

The keyboard allows you to quickly switch between languages (up to 5 at a time) and even supports transliteration (for example, automatically converts "privet" to "hello").

FunctionDescriptionAnalogue in Gboard
Swipe inputType text by holding a finger on the keysThere is (Google Gesture Typing)
Local AIAuto-replace and prompts without sending data to the cloudNo (Gboard uses cloud-based AI)
Integration with MIUIQuick access to system functions (e.g. Quick Ball)No.
Design topicsSupport for branded themes from Mi ThemesYes, but without reference to MIUI
bufferStoring copy history with quick accessThere is (but with a time limit)

How to enable and configure Keyboard for Xiaomi: step-by-step instructions

If you've never used a keyboard or accidentally turned it off, it's easy to get it back.

  1. Open the settings on your Xiaomi smartphone.
  2. Go to the System and Device section β†’ Language and input.
  3. Slip on the item Virtual keyboard β†’ Keyboard management.
  4. Activate the switch opposite Keyboard for Xiaomi.
  5. Go back and select Current Keyboard, then set Keyboard for Xiaomi as the primary one.

Now we can start setting up.

  1. In the same section (Language and input) tap on Keyboard for Xiaomi β†’ Settings.
  2. Here you can: β˜‘οΈ What can be configured in Keyboard for XiaomiChange themeAdd/remove languagesConfigure auto-replace and promptsEnable swipe inputSwitch off vibration when pressed: 0 / 5

Please note the section Additional settings - here are hidden the most useful features:

  • πŸ”§ Customize keyboard height (comfortable for users with thumbs).
  • πŸ“± Display of a number series (you can enable a permanent display of numbers).
  • πŸ”Š Sounds and vibrations when pressed (can be turned off to save battery life).

πŸ’‘

If the keyboard started to brake, clear its cache: go to Settings β†’ Annexes β†’ Application management β†’ Keyboard for Xiaomi β†’ Clear the cache.

Keyboard for Xiaomi: 5 chips you didn’t know about

Even experienced Xiaomi users are often unaware of some of the hidden features of the brand’s keyboard, and here are the most useful ones:

1. Quick access to system functions

If you hold the 123 button (switch to numbers), a menu will appear with quick access to:

  • πŸ”¦ Lantern (on/off).
  • πŸ“· Camera (rapid launch).
  • πŸ” Searching by device.

2. Hidden mode of one hand

For users with large screens (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra or POCO F5 Pro) has a one-hand mode to enable:

  1. Hold the icon. βš™οΈ (settings) on the keyboard.
  2. Select One-Hand Mode.
  3. The keyboard will shrink and shift to the left or right corner of the screen.

3. Personal textual templates

You can create your own abbreviations that will automatically be replaced with full phrases, such as type in @address, and the keyboard will match your home address.

Settings β†’ Keyboard for Xiaomi β†’ Text templates

4. Built-in translator

Although Keyboard for Xiaomi doesn’t have a full-fledged translator (unlike Gboard), it can transliterate text, for example, if you type β€œzdravstvuyte”, the keyboard will offer the option β€œhello”, which is convenient for communicating in foreign chat rooms.

5. Hidden clipboard with history

Many people don't know that the keyboard has an extended clipboard that stores the last 20 copied items (including images!) to open it:

  1. Slap the icon. πŸ“Ž (paper clip) in the top menu of the keyboard.
  2. Select the clipboard tab.
  3. Here you can fix frequently used items (for example, phone number or email).

πŸ’‘

The hidden functions of the keyboard work only on devices with MIUI 12 and later. Older versions of firmware may not have some features.

Keyboard for Xiaomi vs Gboard: Which Keyboard is Best for Xiaomi

Many Xiaomi users are installing Google's Gboard, which they think is more advanced. But is it really? Let's compare the two keyboards in terms of key parameters:

CriteriaKeyboard for XiaomiGboard
Speed of operation⚑ Faster (optimized for the MIUI)🐒 Slower on weak devices
ConfidentialityπŸ”’ Data is not sent to the cloud☁️ Uses cloud-based AI (data can be analyzed by Google)
FunctionalityπŸ› οΈ Basic functions + integration MIUIπŸŽ›οΈ Extended Opportunities (interpreter, search) GIF, voice-input)
Language supportπŸ‡·πŸ‡Ί It works better with Russian and Chinese.🌍 Wide selection of languages, but worse recognizes slang
Battery consumptionπŸ”‹ MinimumπŸ”Œ Higher due to background processes

Who is the Keyboard for Xiaomi?

  • πŸ“± Users who appreciate stability and speed.
  • πŸ”’ For those who are concerned about privacy (no data sent to the cloud).
  • 🎨 Customization lovers (support for those from Mi Themes).

Who better to choose Gboard?

  • 🌐 People who frequently use translators or search engines GIF.
  • πŸ—£οΈ Users who need high quality voice input.
  • πŸ“Š People who work with many languages at the same time.

πŸ’‘

If you are using a Xiaomi smartphone on a weak processor (e.g. Redmi) 9A or POCO M3), Keyboard for Xiaomi will run smoother than Gboard.

Common Keyboard for Xiaomi Issues and How to Solve Them

Despite the optimization, sometimes the keyboard may not work properly, and let's look at typical problems and how to fix them.

1.The keyboard brakes or hangs

Reasons:

  • πŸ—‘οΈ The app cache is filled.
  • πŸ“± Lack of RAM (relevant for budget models).
  • πŸ”„ Conflict with other keyboards.

Decision:

β˜‘οΈ What to do if the keyboard brakes

Done: 0 / 4

2. Swipe input is not working

If the swipe function (typing by holding a finger) suddenly stopped working:

  1. Check if it is included in the settings: Keyboard settings β†’ Swipe input.
  2. If the option is active but not working, reinstall the keyboard updates via the Mi App Store.

3.The keyboard doesn't switch the language

Frequent issue, especially after update MIUI. To correct:

  1. Remove and add the language again to Settings β†’ Language and input β†’ Virtual keyboard β†’ Keyboard for Xiaomi β†’ Languages.
  2. Check if the keyboard conflicts with apps like SwiftKey or Multiling O.

4. The emoji panel has disappeared and GIF

If the emoji icon is missing:

  1. Press the button?123 (or ⌨️) and select Settings β†’ Keyboard layout.
  2. Make sure the Emoji Panel option is enabled.
What if the keyboard doesn’t appear at all?
This may be due to a system failure.Try: 1. Go to Settings β†’ Annexes β†’ Application management β†’ Keyboard for Xiaomi β†’ Warehouse β†’ Clear the data (WARNING: all settings will reset!!) 2. If it doesn't help, install the keyboard again via the Mi App Store.

5.The keyboard eats up a lot of battery

If you see in the battery settings that Keyboard for Xiaomi is consuming too much power:

  • πŸ”‹ Turn off vibrations and sounds when pressed.
  • πŸ“΅ Limit background activity in Settings β†’ Battery β†’ Battery consumption β†’ Keyboard for Xiaomi β†’ Limit background activity.
  • πŸ”„ Update the application to the latest version.

πŸ’‘

If the problem is not solved, try resetting the keyboard settings to factory: β†’ Keyboard for Xiaomi β†’ Additionally. β†’ Reset the settings.

How to customize Keyboard for Xiaomi: themes, fonts, layouts

One of the great things about a branded keyboard is that it's highly customizable, and you can change almost anything from the color of the buttons to the placement of the characters, and we'll figure out how to do that.

1. Installation of themes from Mi Themes

Xiaomi offers hundreds of free and paid keyboard themes that can be downloaded through the Mi Themes brand store.

  1. Open the Settings. β†’ Keyboard for Xiaomi β†’ Topics.
  2. Choose your favorite theme from the suggested ones or tap Download more to open Mi Themes.
  3. After applying the theme, you can further adjust the transparency and size of the keys.

2. Change the layout of the keyboard

If you are uncomfortable with the standard layout, you can change it:

  • πŸ”€ Number series: enable constant display of numbers in Settings β†’ layout β†’ Number series.
  • ↕️ Keyboard height: adjustable by slider in Settings β†’ Size.
  • πŸ”€ Symbols: You can swap Enter and 123, and add additional buttons (e.g., arrows for cursor).

3. Font setting

The keyboard supports changing fonts, but for this you need:

  1. Download the font from Mi Themes (Font section).
  2. Apply it to Settings β†’ Screen. β†’ font.
  3. The keyboard will automatically pick up the new font (if it is supported).

4. Creating your own theme

For advanced users, there is an opportunity to create a unique keyboard theme using third-party applications (for example, KLWP However, it requires root rights or use. ADB-For most users, standard themes from Mi Themes are enough.

How to return a standard keyboard theme?
If after experimenting with themes, the keyboard became unreadable, reset its settings: β†’ Keyboard for Xiaomi β†’ Additionally. β†’ Reset the settings β†’ Reset the subject.

5.Tune gestures

In addition to swipe input, you can configure additional gestures:

  • πŸ‘† Swipe up the space: moving the cursor.
  • πŸ‘‡ Swipe down the space: fold the keyboard.
  • ↔️ Swipe left/right on space: switching the language.

Configured in Settings β†’ Gestures.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About Keyboard for Xiaomi

πŸ”Ή Can I remove Keyboard for Xiaomi?
Yes, but not recommended. This is a system application, and removing it could cause malfunctions. MIUI. If you want to use a different keyboard, just turn off Keyboard for Xiaomi in the settings (Settings) β†’ Annexes β†’ Keyboard for Xiaomi β†’ Complete removal is only possible with root rights.
πŸ”Ή Why the keyboard doesn’t offer hints in Russian?
It's probably not enabled Intelligent Input. Check settings: Settings β†’ Keyboard for Xiaomi β†’ Text input. Make sure you have input prompts and auto-replace. If it doesn't work, clear the keyboard and restart your smartphone.
πŸ”Ή How to transfer keyboard settings to another Xiaomi smartphone?
MIUI It allows you to sync some settings through Mi Account, but the keyboard is not included in this list. To move the settings: Take screenshots of all the important settings (themes, layouts, text templates). Save frequently used words to Text templates and export them to a file (if available). on the new device, repeat the settings manually.
πŸ”Ή Why the keyboard doesn’t work in some applications?
It could be related to: πŸ“± Application restrictions (some banking apps block third-party keyboards). πŸ”„ Conflict with other keyboards (turn them off in settings). πŸ”§ Settings of special features (check Settings) β†’ Special facilities β†’ If the problem is only one application (e.g. Sberbank Online), try using a standard Android keyboard (AOSP).
πŸ”Ή How to Enable Voice Input in Keyboard for Xiaomi?
Unlike Gboard, Xiaomi's branded keyboard doesn't have built-in voice input. However, you can: Use Google voice search (hold the microphone button on the home screen), install Gboard and switch between keyboards as needed. In some regions (e.g. China), voice input is available via XiaoAI, but in the Russian version. MIUI This function is not.