How to change the sound of the keyboard on Android-smartphones Xiaomi: from system settings to custom solutions

Why Users Want to Change Keyboard Sound to Xiaomi – and How to Do It Right

The audio typing experience on Xiaomi smartphones (including the Redmi, POCO and Mi models) is not just a whim, but an important element of the user experience. For some, it is a way to get tactile feedback when typing, for others, a way to personalize the device, and others want to get rid of annoying clicks. However, not everyone knows that on MIUI (the Xiaomi branded shell), the keyboard sounds are tuned differently from the “naked” Android.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can change your keyboard sound, from basic settings in the Sound and Vibration menu to installing third-party keyboards with custom audio packages. We’ll focus on the nuances that come up on different versions of MIUI 12/13/14 and smartphone models (such as the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ or POCO F5), and you’ll learn how to get around system limitations if standard methods don’t work.

Before you go to the instructions, make sure your smartphone is updated to the latest firmware version. Some options (such as downloading audio themes) may not be available on older versions of MIUI. Check the relevance of the software in Settings → About Phone → System Update.

Method 1: Change the sound through MIUI system settings

The easiest method is to use the built-in MIUI options. It is suitable for most Xiaomi models, including the Redmi 10, POCO X5 and Mi 11.

1. Open the settings on your smartphone.
2. Go to the section Sound and vibration.
3. Select Keyboard Sounds (on some versions of MIUI it may be called System Sounds → Keyboard).
4. Turn on the slider Sound when pressed if it is turned off.
5. Click on the Sound Type and select one of the options offered (usually 3-5 tunes are available).

Note that on some devices (e.g. Redmi Note 11 Pro) the sound list may be limited, due to Xiaomi’s memory optimization policy.

Check the version of MIUI (Settings → About the phone)

Make a backup of the sound settings (optional)

Connect to Wi-Fi to download additional themes

Close all background applications-->

Method 2: Install a third-party keyboard with custom sounds

If you don't like the built-in sounds, you can use alternative keyboards from Google Play, like Gboard (from Google) or SwiftKey (from Microsoft) that allow you to download audio packets.

1. Install Gboard from Google Play.
2. Activate the keyboard in settings: Settings → System → Language and input → Virtual keyboard.
3. Open the Gboard app and go to Settings → Themes, Emojis and GIFs → Keyboard Sound.
4. Select one of the suggested sounds or download additional ones through Get more sounds.

Important: Some Gboard audio packages require an internet connection to download. Also note that third-party keyboards may collect your input data (as stated in the privacy policy). If privacy is critical to you, use the MIUI Keyboard with limited settings.

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If the keyboard sounds don't change after you install Gboard, restart your smartphone. Sometimes the system doesn't apply the settings right away.

Method 3: Use of MIUI audio themes (for advanced users)

Starting with MIUI 12, Xiaomi has added support for audio themes — packages that change all system sounds, including the keyboard.

1. Open Settings → Sounds and vibrations → Themes of sounds.
2. If the section is missing, try to enter the request for the theme of sounds in the search by settings.
3. Choose one of the available themes (such as Nature or Classic).
4. Confirm the use of themes. Keyboard sounds will change automatically.

Unfortunately, the audio selection in MIUI is limited, and some models (such as the POCO M5) may not have that section at all, so the following method will help.

Method 4: Manually Adding Sounds Through File System (for the Experienced)

This method is suitable for those who are ready to work with the Android file system. It allows you to install any sound in.ogg or.mp3 format as the sound of the keyboard, but requires root rights or access to system folders through ADB.

Instructions:

1. Download a sound file (such as keypress.ogg) and place it in the /system/media/audio/ui/ folder.
2. Rename the file to KeypressStandard.ogg (for standard sound) or KeypressSpacebar.ogg (for space).
3. Change the file access permissions to 644 (r-w-r----).
4. Reset the device.

Warning: Mishandling system files can cause smartphone malfunctions. If you don't have experience with ADB or root, you'd better use other methods.

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Changing system sounds through the file system is the most flexible method, but also the riskiest, and is recommended only for experienced users with a backup.

Method 5: Using applications to customize sounds

If previous methods don't work, you can use third-party applications like Zedge or Ringtone Maker, which let you download and set custom sounds for keyboards, notifications and alarms.

1. Install Zedge from Google Play.
2. Open the app and go to the Sounds section.
3. In the search bar, enter the keyboard sound or keyboard.
4. Select the sound you like and click Set.
5. In the window that appears, select Keyboard Sound (on some devices, this item may not be available – then the sound will have to be installed manually through the file system).

Apps like Zedge regularly update their sound database, so you can find unique tunes that are not found in standard MIUI settings. However, beware: some sounds may be of low quality or contain ads.

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Before installing sounds from third-party sources, check for reviews about the application. Some programs may contain malicious code.

Table: Comparison of methods of changing the sound of the keyboard on Xiaomi

Frequent problems and their solutions

When changing keyboard sounds on Xiaomi, users often encounter common errors, and here are the most common ones and ways to fix them:

• 🔇 Sounds do not change after selecting in settings: Restart the device or clear the Settings app cache (Settings) → Annexes → Application management → Settings → Warehouse → Clear the cache).
• 🎵 There is no section "Sound themes" in MIUI: Update your firmware to the latest version or use alternative methods (such as a third-party keyboard).
• 🚫 The application does not allow you to set the keyboard sound: Check if the selected keyboard is activated in the system settings (Settings) → System system → Language and input → Virtual keyboard).
• 🔧 After manually replacing sounds, they won’t play: Make sure the files have the correct access rights (644) and format (.ogg or.ogg.mp3).

If none of these methods worked, you may have custom firmware or a modified version of MIUI installed on your device that blocks the system sounds from changing, and we recommend you to contact the XDA Developers or 4PDA forums for specialized solutions.

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Before experimenting with system sounds, back up your data to avoid losing important information when crashes occur.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions