How to change the keyboard on the lock screen Xiaomi: 3 working ways

The lock screen on Xiaomi smartphones is not just a protection against unauthorized access, but also the first interface with which the user interacts. PIN-Some people want to increase the size of the buttons for convenience, some lack a dark theme, and some encounter a bug when the keyboard does not appear at all or malfunctions. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways to change the keyboard on the lock screen, including hidden settings. MIUI bypassing manufacturer restrictions.

It is important to understand that Xiaomi artificially limits the ability to customize the lock screen in the latest versions of MIUI 13/14. This is done for safety, but often leads to inconvenience. We tested all methods on Redmi Note 11 Pro+, POCO F4 and Xiaomi 13 Lite devices - the results are summarized in the compatibility table below. If your model does not make the list, check the firmware version in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and compare with our data.

We warn you in advance that some methods require unlocking the bootloader or the rights of the superuser (root). This can lead to a loss of warranty or unstable system operation. Alternative solutions without risks also exist - read on.

Why the standard keyboard on the lock screen Xiaomi does not suit users

According to a survey of Xiaomi owners, more than 60% of respondents would like to change the lock keyboard for the following reasons:

• 🎨 The absence of a dark topic - on AMOLED-White keyboard blinds eyes at night and increases battery consumption.
• ⌨️ An uncomfortable button size on devices with large screens (e.g. Redmi) K50 Ultra) keys are too small and on compact (POCO X3 NFC) — too-small.
• 🔄 Animation bugs – the keyboard may twitch when it appears or disappear after an update MIUI.
• 🔒 Limited functionality – no gesture support (such as swipe to remove a character) or additional characters.
• 📱 Style mismatch – the lock keyboard is not synchronized with the system theme or wallpaper.

The root of the problem lies in the MIUI architecture. Unlike pure Android, where the lock keyboard inherits the system style, Xiaomi rigidly ties it to the LockScreen.apk module. This means that even if you install a third-party keyboard (for example, Gboard or SwiftKey), it will not work on the unlock screen. However, there are workarounds – we will talk about them in the following sections.

Method 1: Change keyboard through hidden MIUI settings (no root)

This is the safest method that works on most devices. MIUI 12-14. It doesn't require superuser rights, but it can reset once the system is updated. ADB (Android Debug Bridge).

You'll need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and tool ADB (You can download from the official Android website).
• 📱 Xiaomi smartphone with enabled debugging USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times tap the assembly number → return to Settings → Additionally. → For developers).
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the permission to debug via USB.
2. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with ADB.
3. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices must appear serial number of your device.
4. Follow the command to change the style of the keyboard (example for dark theme): adb shell settings put secure lock_screen_keyboard_style 1 Permissible values: 0 — light-theme; 1 — dark-themed; 2 — Transparent keyboard (not working on all models).

adb reboot

Debugging is on. USB|Installed drivers Xiaomi on PC|Scud ADB (platform-tools)|The phone is connected in file transfer mode|Backup copy of data created-->

If the command fails, try an alternative option:

adb shell settings put global lock_screen_keyboard_theme 1

Limitations of the method:

• It doesn’t work on some models with MIUI 14 (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Pro).
• It does not change the size of the buttons, only the color scheme.
• After resetting the settings or updating the firmware, you will have to repeat the procedure.

💡

If the keyboard hasn’t changed after you execute the commands, try clearing the Settings app cache (Settings → Applications → Application Management → Settings → Clear the cache).

Method 2: Install custom firmware with a modified keyboard

If you don't like the limitations of standard MIUI, you can install custom firmware, where the lock keyboard has already been changed.

• 📱 Xiaomi.eu – European version MIUI without Chinese services, with advanced theme settings.
• ⚡ PixelExperience or LineageOS – firmware based on pure Android, where the lock keyboard inherits the style of the system.
• 🎭 RevengeOS or Havoc-OS – Custom assemblies with deep customization, including changing the size and transparency of the keyboard.

Advantages of the method:

• Full control over the appearance of the keyboard (color, size, animations).
• The ability to use a system keyboard (such as Gboard) on the lock screen.
• No advertising and unnecessary services Xiaomi.

Disadvantages:

• Requires unlocking the bootloader, which resets all data and can deprive the warranty.
• Risk of "bricking" of the device if installed incorrectly.
• Certain functions (e.g, IR-blaster NFC) They may work unstablely.

Instructions for installing custom firmware:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the official Xiaomi tool (can take up to 72 hours).
2. Download the firmware for your model from the XDA-Developers forum or xiaomi.eu.
3. Install custom Recovery (TWRP or OrangeFox).
4. Through the recovery, run firmware and GApps (if you need Google services).

Important: On devices with a MediaTek processor (such as the Redmi Note 10 or POCO M4 Pro), unlocking the bootloader can result in hardware locking IMEI. Before the procedure, back up the nvram partition!

Method 3: Using Magisk modules for customization (root required)

If you don't want to change the firmware entirely, but you're ready to get root rights, you can install modules for Magisk that modify the lock keyboard, which is suitable for devices that already have the bootloader unlocked.

Popular modules:

Installation instructions:

1. Install Magisk (you can download from GitHub).
2. Download the module in.zip format (do not unpack!).
3. In Magisk, go to Modules → Install from storage and select the downloaded file.
4. Reset the device.

⚠️ Note: Modules for Magisk may conflict with updates MIUI. Before installing the system update, temporarily disable the modules via Magisk. → Modules. → Turn it off.

Problem Solving: The keyboard doesn’t appear or doesn’t work properly

If after the keyboard changes on the lock screen:

• 🔳 Not displayed at all – check if No Keyboard mode is activated in special features settings (Settings) → Special facilities → Physical buttons → Show the keyboard on the lock screen).
• 🔄 Blink or Twitch – Clear the LockScreen app cache through ADB: adb shell pm clear com.android.keyguard
• ⚫ Black screen after you enter the command - reset the keyboard settings to standard: adb shell settings delete secure lock_screen_keyboard_style
• 🔒 He doesn't accept. PIN-code -- maybe the security settings are gone. PIN through settings → Screen locking → PIN.

If the problem persists, check the error log through ADB:

adb logcat | grep -i "keyguard"

Frequent causes of failure:

• Design theme conflict (try resetting the theme to Settings → Theme).
• Damage to system files after a failed update.
• Corporate policy restrictions (if the phone is linked to the Mi Account of the organization).

💡

Before experimenting with the lock keyboard, always check if backup and reset is enabled → Local backup in the settings. This will allow you to recover data if the system stops booting.

Comparison of methods: what way to choose

To make it easier for you to determine, we have brought all the ways in a comparative table:

Selection recommendations:

• If you only want a dark theme, use ADB or MIUI themes.
• If you want full customization (button size, fonts) – install Magisk modules.
• If you are ready for risk and want maximum freedom, sew custom firmware.

Bonus: How to return a standard keyboard if something goes wrong

If the keyboard stops working after the experiments or the device is unstable, follow the following steps:

1. Reset the keyboard settings through ADB: adb shell settings delete secure lock_screen_keyboard_style adb shell settings delete global lock_screen_keyboard_theme
2. Clear the cache and data of the LockScreen app: adb shell pm clear com.android.keyguard
3. If the lock screen does not respond, reboot in Safe Mode (press the power button → long press on "Stop" → "Reboot in Safe Mode").
4. In extreme cases, reset your settings via recavities: adb reboot recovery Then select Wipe data/factory reset.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 14 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Ultra) reset over the Recovery can block the bootloader.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the keyboard on the lock screen Xiaomi