How to completely remove the keyboard on Xiaomi: from standard to Gboard

Keyboard on Xiaomi smartphones is one of the most controversial elements of the interface MIUI. The standard Mi Keyboard is constantly tossing ads, collecting typing data, and sometimes refuses to work properly. Third-party keyboards like Gboard or SwiftKey can also conflict with the system, causing lags or accidental changes in layout. If you’re tired of fighting bugs or just want to get rid of unnecessary software, this article will help you completely remove the keyboard from your device, whether it’s Xiaomi 13 Pro, Redmi Note 12 or more. POCO F5.

It's important to understand that the uninstall process depends on the type of keyboard (system or third-party), the version of MIUI (12 to 15) and even the model of the smartphone. Somewhere it is enough to turn off the application in the settings, and somewhere you will need ADB or factory reset. We will look at all the current methods, including hidden MIUI functions that are not written about in the official documentation. We warn in advance: some ways can lead to data loss or system malfunction - so do not miss the blocks with warnings!

1. How to disable the standard Xiaomi keyboard without removing

If you don’t like the Mi Keyboard, but don’t want to risk the system’s stability, deactivate it and switch to an alternative (like the Gboard), which works on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices with MIUI 12-15 and doesn’t require superuser rights.

Instructions:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔍 In the search bar, type “Keyboard” (or “Mi Keyboard” on English firmware).
• ⚙️ Tap on Mi Keyboard, then select Disable (if the button is inactive, first click Stop).
• 🔄 The system will prompt you to select another keyboard by default – confirm the choice (for example, Gboard).

⚠️ Note: After disabling the Mi Keyboard, some system features (such as searching in settings or entering a password when unlocked) may temporarily use the Android emergency keyboard with limited functionality.

2. Complete removal of Mi Keyboard via ADB (no root)

If you don’t want to physically remove a standard keyboard, you’ll need an ADB (Android Debug Bridge) that works on MIUI 13-15 and doesn’t require superuser rights, but can cause the system to malfunction if executed incorrectly.

Preparation:

• 🖥️ Install. ADB Tools on PC.
• 📱 Enable Developer Mode on Smartphone: Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (tap 7 times).
• 🔌 Connect your phone to the PC by USB and select the File Transfer Mode.
• 🔑 In the Developer Settings, activate Debugging by USB.

Removal:

1. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with ADB.
2. Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices (should display the serial number of the device).
3. Execute Mi Keyboard: adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.miuiinputmethod.latin For MIUI 14-15, an additional command may be required: adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.miuiinputmethod

Installed ADB drivers on PC

Debugging on USB on the phone is enabled

The smartphone is connected in the mode "File transfer"

Data backup created

Alternative keyboard (Gboard, SwiftKey) installed)-->

⚠️ Note: After removing the Mi Keyboard through ADB You can't get it back with standard methods. Recovery requires factory reset or manual installation. APK-Keyboard file. Also some functions MIUI (For example, search in settings may not work properly.

3. Removal of third-party keyboards (Gboard, SwiftKey, etc.)

Third-party keyboards are easier to remove than system keyboards, but there are nuances here, too: Google’s Gboard is often integrated into Google Play services, and deleting it could affect other apps.

Methods of disposal:

💡 Tip: Before removing Gboard, check if it is used in other services. For example, voice input in Google Search or Google Translate may stop working. Alternatively, disable the keyboard instead of deleting it.

4. Resetting the keyboard to factory settings

If the keyboard is not working properly (lag, no prompts, reset), but you don’t want to delete it, try resetting it, which will help you return the original state without losing data.

For Mi Keyboard:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Mi Keyboard.
2. Select Warehouse → Clear data and Clear cache.
3. Reset the device.

For Gboard:

1. Open the Gboard, tap on it. ⚙️ Settings → Additionally. → Resetting settings.
2. Confirm the reset.

5. Radical methods: TWRP removal or phone reset

If neither of these methods worked, there are extreme measures: installing custom firmware via TWRP or completely resetting the phone, which are guaranteed to remove the keyboard, but have serious side effects.

Reset to factory settings:

• 🔄 Go to Settings. → The phone. → Resetting settings → Delete all data.
• 📱 After restarting, the keyboard will be reset, but all data will be deleted.

Remove via TWRP (unlocked bootloader required):

1. Install TWRP Recovery on your Xiaomi.
2. Download to TWRP (Power buttons + Volume up).
3. Go to Advanced → File Manager.
4. Delete folders: /system/priv-app/MiuiKeyboard/system/app/MiuiKeyboard
5. Reset the device.

⚠️ Note: Delete system files through TWRP It can cause bootloop (locked boot) or loss of functionality. MIUI. This method is recommended only to experienced users with a backup of data.

💡

Before using TWRP, be sure to back up through Nandroid Backup in the recovery itself. Without a backup, system recovery may not be possible!

6. How to return the keyboard after removal

If you have removed the keyboard and want to restore it, there are a few ways:

For Mi Keyboard:

• 📥 Download. APK-Keyboard file from a trusted source (such as APKMirror) and install manually.
• 🔄 Reset to factory settings (return all system applications).

For Gboard or other third-party keyboards:

• 🛒 Install the keyboard again through the Play Store.
• 🔧 If the keyboard does not appear in the list of available, check the language settings: Settings → Additionally. → Language and input → Virtual keyboard.

💡 Tip: If the keyboard is not activated after recovery, try switching to it manually. To do this, open any text field, swipe the notification panel down and tap the keyboard icon (usually in the lower right corner).

7.Alternative Keyboards for Xiaomi: What to Choose Instead of Mi Keyboard

If you have removed the standard keyboard, you should find a decent replacement.

🔍 Recommendation: If you care about privacy, choose AnySoftKeyboard or FlorisBoard (another open-source project) which does not send data to servers and supports encryption.

Frequent Questions (FAQ)