“There was an error in the Gboard app” on Xiaomi Redmi 3: a complete guide to fixing

Google’s Gboard keyboard is one of the most popular text input solutions on Xiaomi Redmi 3, but sometimes users encounter a sudden error: “There was an error in the Gboard app.” A message can appear when trying to open any input field, from messengers to the browser. The problem is especially relevant for Redmi 3 due to the features of its MIUI firmware and limited hardware resources (only 2 GB of RAM and a Snapdragon 616).

In this article, we will look at all possible causes of failure – from the conflict with system updates to damage to the app cache – and offer 7 working solutions adapted specifically for Xiaomi Redmi 3. It is important to note that on this device some standard methods (for example, cleaning data through Settings) may work differently due to the modified MIUI 8/9 interface. We will also reveal the hidden developer settings that help stabilize the keyboard on the aging hardware.

Why Gboard is a Mistake on Xiaomi Redmi 3: 5 Reasons

Keyboard failures rarely occur on their own — usually preceded by specific actions or changes to the system. On Redmi 3, the most common triggers are:

• 🔄 Conflict after update MIUI. Firmware for Redmi 3 (especially versions) MIUI 9.6 and later) often contain optimizations that disrupt third-party keyboards, such as after upgrading to MIUI 10 Many Users Have Notified Failures Due to Forced Permission Changes for Gboard.
• 🗑️ Cache overflow: On devices with 16GB of memory (like the base version of Redmi 3), the application cache is cleared less often, leading to the accumulation of corrupted temporary files.
• 🛠️ Incompatibility with optimization MIUI. Battery function → Optimization in MIUI It aggressively closes the background processes, including the keyboard. On Redmi 3, it is more common because of a weak processor.
• 📲 Damage. APK-If Gboard was installed manually (for example, with APKMirror), there is a high probability of downloading an incomplete or modified version.
• 🔋 Lack of RAM: When using instant messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram) and Gboard simultaneously, Redmi 3 can force the keyboard to close due to a lack of RAM.

Interestingly, on newer Xiaomi models (like the Redmi Note 5), the same bug is less common due to improved MIUI 11+ architecture and support for 64-bit applications. On Redmi 3, the problem is complicated by the fact that the device has not officially received updates since 2019, and users are forced to rely on custom firmware or manual fixes.

Quick Solutions: 3 Ways to Return to Work Without Resetting

If this is the first time you have an error, start with the simplest methods, which do not require deep knowledge and take no more than 5 minutes:

1. Rebooting the device: banal but effective: holding the power button for a long time and choosing to reboot clears RAM and time processes. On Redmi 3, this is especially important because of the peculiarities of the Linux 3.10 kernel, which sometimes “forgets” to free up memory.
2. Replace keyboard by default: Open any input field (such as Notes). 🌐 (globe) on the keyboard and select System Keyboard MIUI. Back to Settings → Additionally. → Language and input → Current keyboard and activate Gboard again.
3. Clean the cache via Recovery (if the standard method didn't work): 1. Turn off the phone. 2. Press <power button> + <volume button> before the Mi. 3 logo appears. From the Recovery menu, select Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache. 4. Confirm the action and reboot.

Redmi 3 often helps with a combination of the first and second methods: rebooting “refreshes” system processes, and temporarily switching to a standard keyboard resets the Gboard settings. If the error persists, move to deeper methods.

Deep Cleanup: Resetting Gboard Settings and Data

If quick methods don't work, you'll have to resort to more radical measures. On Xiaomi Redmi 3, the Gboard data reset has nuances due to the features of MIUI:

• 📱 Through Settings. MIUI: Go to Settings. → Annexes → App management. Find Gboard in the list (use search if there are many apps). → Clear the data and clear the cache. Important: after that, you have to reconfigure the keyboard (languages, topics, dictionary).

Through ADB (for Advanced)

adb shell pm clear com.google.android.inputmethod.latin

To do this, you need to install ADB and connect the phone to the PC.

Once the data is reset, Gboard will automatically restart. If the error repeats, check the application permissions:

⚠️ Note: Redmi 3 may need to be re-activated in Settings after Gboard data reset → Language and input → The current keyboard. If the keyboard doesn't appear on the list, reinstall it.

Reinstall Gboard: step-by-step instructions for Redmi 3

If the data cleanup didn’t work, the only reliable way is to completely reinstall the app. On Xiaomi Redmi 3, this process has its own peculiarities:

1. Delete the current version: Go to Settings → Apps → Gboard → Delete. If the Remove button is inactive (grey), then the application is system and you need to disable: 1. Click Disable (if available). 2. Confirm action. 3. Install Gboard again from Google Play.
2. Install via APK (if Play Market doesn’t work): Download the latest compatible version of Gboard for Android 6.0 (Redmi 3 has Marshmallow) from the official APKMirror website. Version should not be newer than 10.6 – the more recent ones may not support the outdated architecture.
3. Configuring after installation: After reinstallation: 🔄 Activate Gboard in Settings → Language and input. 📱 Turn off battery optimization: Settings → Battery → Optimization → Gboard → No restrictions. 🔒 Give all permissions (see table in the previous section).

If the error persists after reinstalling, check the compatibility of the Gboard version with your firmware. For example, custom firmware like LineageOS 14.1 for Redmi 3 may require Gboard version 8.5 or lower.

💡

Before removing Gboard, install an alternative keyboard (such as SwiftKey or Microsoft Keyboard) to ensure you don’t have the ability to type text.

Additional MIUI settings for stable operation of Gboard

Even after reinstalling, Gboard may not work as smoothly due to aggressive MIUI optimizations. To avoid this, follow these steps:

• ⚡ Turn off optimization. MIUI: Go to Settings. → Battery → Battery Optimization. Find Gboard in the list and select Unlimited. Activate Autorun for the application.
• 🔧 Enable Developer Modes (if an error occurs when multitasking): Activate Developer Mode: Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (press 7 times. Go back to Settings. → Additionally. → For developers and turn on: Do not disable background processes Limit background processes → Standard Limitation Debugging for USB (if you plan to use ADB)

Clear the system cache.

This will delete temporary MIUI files that may conflict with Gboard.

1. Turn off the phone.


2. Press the <power button> + <volume button> to enter Recovery.




3. Select Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache (Do not choose Wipe Data!).




4. Reset the device.

These settings are especially important for Redmi 3, as its hardware platform (Snapdragon 616+2GB of RAM) does not do well with multitasking. MIUI optimizations often mistakenly close Gboard, perceiving it as a background process.

Alternative keyboards for Xiaomi Redmi 3: what to choose?

If the Gboard never worked, consider alternatives that are better adapted for the Redmi 3.

• 📱 Low RAM consumption (no more than 150 MB in the background).
• 🔄 Android 6.0 support (on Redmi 3 you can’t upgrade higher).
• 🌐 Multilingual (if you need a few layouts).

For most Redmi 3 users, the Microsoft Keyboard is 30-40% lighter than Gboard and less likely to encounter errors on MIUI. If you need a keyboard to work with ADB or Termux, look at Hacker's Keyboard.

⚠️ Note: When you install an alternative keyboard, first turn off Gboard in Settings → Language and input to avoid conflicts between multiple input services.

Frequent questions about the Gboard error on Xiaomi Redmi 3