How to Change the Keyboard on Your Xiaomi Device: A Comprehensive Guide

Changing the keyboard on your Xiaomi device can significantly improve your typing experience. Whether you’re looking for better autocorrection, gesture typing, or a more personalized interface, switching keyboards is a simple process that can make a big difference. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from choosing a new keyboard to installing it and configuring its settings. We’ll also cover some troubleshooting tips and common issues you might encounter.

Why Change Your Xiaomi Keyboard?

Before we dive into the how-to, let’s consider why you might want to change your keyboard in the first place. Xiaomi devices come with a pre-installed keyboard, often the Google Keyboard (Gboard) or Xiaomi’s own keyboard app. While these keyboards are functional, they may not meet everyone’s needs. Here are some common reasons to switch:

* **Improved Features:** Different keyboards offer unique features like advanced autocorrection, clipboard management, customizable themes, and integrated search.
* **Enhanced Customization:** You might want to change the appearance of your keyboard, such as its theme, size, and layout.
* **Better Language Support:** Some keyboards offer better support for specific languages or dialects.
* **Gesture Typing:** If you prefer swiping to type, you might want a keyboard with a more accurate and intuitive gesture typing system.
* **Privacy Concerns:** Some users are concerned about the data collected by certain keyboard apps and prefer more privacy-focused options.

Choosing the Right Keyboard App

The first step is to choose a keyboard app that suits your needs. There are many excellent options available on the Google Play Store, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Here are a few popular choices:

* **Gboard (Google Keyboard):** A highly popular choice known for its accuracy, integration with Google services, and clean interface. It offers features like gesture typing, voice typing, GIF search, and translation.
* **SwiftKey Keyboard:** Another top contender, SwiftKey boasts excellent autocorrection, prediction, and customization options. It learns your typing style over time to improve accuracy.
* **Grammarly Keyboard:** If you’re focused on grammar and spelling, the Grammarly Keyboard is an excellent choice. It provides real-time suggestions and corrections as you type.
* **Fleksy Keyboard:** Known for its minimalistic design and gesture-based controls, Fleksy offers a unique typing experience. It’s highly customizable and efficient for experienced users.
* **Chrooma Keyboard:** A visually appealing keyboard that adapts its color scheme to the app you’re using. It also offers gesture typing, prediction, and customization options.
* **OpenBoard:** OpenBoard is a 100% free and Open Source keyboard. It’s based on AOSP keyboard, and respects your privacy.

Consider what features are most important to you when making your decision. Do you prioritize accuracy, customization, privacy, or a specific feature like GIF search?

Step-by-Step Guide to Changing Your Xiaomi Keyboard

Now that you’ve chosen a keyboard app, let’s walk through the process of installing and setting it up on your Xiaomi device.

**Step 1: Download and Install the Keyboard App**

1. **Open the Google Play Store:** Locate the Play Store icon on your home screen or app drawer and tap it to open.
2. **Search for the Keyboard App:** Use the search bar at the top of the screen to search for the keyboard app you’ve chosen (e.g., “Gboard,” “SwiftKey”).
3. **Install the App:** Tap the “Install” button next to the app listing. Wait for the app to download and install on your device.

**Step 2: Enable the New Keyboard**

After installing the keyboard app, you need to enable it in your device’s settings. The exact steps may vary slightly depending on your Xiaomi device’s MIUI version, but here’s the general process:

*Option 1: Using a Notification*

1. **Check for a Notification:** After installing the keyboard app, it often sends a notification prompting you to enable it. Tap the notification to go directly to the language and input settings.

*Option 2: Through System Settings*

1. **Open Settings:** Locate the Settings app on your home screen or app drawer and tap it to open.
2. **Navigate to Language & Input:** Scroll down and find the “Additional settings” or “System” option. Tap it.
3. **Select Language & Input:** Within the “Additional settings” or “System” menu, look for “Language & input” or a similar option and tap it.
4. **Manage Keyboards:** Under the “Keyboards and input methods” section, you’ll see a list of available keyboards. Tap on “Manage keyboards” or a similar option.
5. **Enable the New Keyboard:** Find the keyboard app you installed in the list and toggle the switch next to it to enable it. A warning message might appear asking you to confirm that you trust the app. If you’re confident in the app’s security, tap “OK” or “Allow.”

**Step 3: Set the New Keyboard as the Default**

Now that the keyboard is enabled, you need to set it as the default keyboard so that it appears whenever you need to type.

1. **Navigate to Language & Input (Again):** Follow the steps in Step 2 to return to the “Language & input” settings.
2. **Choose Default Keyboard:** Under the “Keyboards and input methods” section, tap on “Current keyboard” or “Default keyboard.”
3. **Select Your New Keyboard:** A list of available keyboards will appear. Choose the keyboard app you installed from the list. This will set it as the default keyboard.

**Step 4: Configure Keyboard Settings (Optional)**

Most keyboard apps offer a range of settings that you can customize to your preferences. These settings may include:

* **Themes:** Change the appearance of the keyboard with different color schemes, backgrounds, and layouts.
* **Languages:** Add or remove languages for typing.
* **Autocorrection:** Adjust the autocorrection settings to be more or less aggressive.
* **Gesture Typing:** Enable or disable gesture typing and customize its sensitivity.
* **Voice Typing:** Enable or disable voice typing and choose your preferred language.
* **Prediction:** Customize the word prediction settings.
* **Clipboard:** Configure clipboard settings for saving and accessing copied text.

To access these settings, open the keyboard app directly from your app drawer or long-press the comma (,) key on the keyboard itself (this shortcut may vary depending on the keyboard app). Explore the settings menu to find the options that suit your needs.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

While changing your keyboard is usually a straightforward process, you might encounter some issues along the way. Here are some common problems and how to fix them:

* **Keyboard Not Appearing:** If the keyboard isn’t appearing when you tap on a text field, make sure you’ve enabled it in the language and input settings and set it as the default keyboard (Steps 2 and 3 above). Also, restart your phone.
* **Keyboard Lagging or Crashing:** If the keyboard is lagging or crashing, try clearing its cache and data. Go to Settings > Apps > [Keyboard App] > Storage > Clear Cache and Clear Data. Note that clearing data will reset the keyboard’s settings and learned words.
* **Autocorrection Issues:** If the autocorrection is too aggressive or inaccurate, adjust the autocorrection settings in the keyboard app (Step 4 above). You can also add words to the keyboard’s dictionary to prevent it from correcting them.
* **Language Issues:** If the keyboard isn’t recognizing your language correctly, make sure you’ve added it to the list of languages in the keyboard settings (Step 4 above).
* **Privacy Concerns:** If you’re concerned about the data collected by the keyboard app, review its privacy policy and consider using a more privacy-focused option like OpenBoard.
* **Keyboard overlapping text field:** This issue sometimes occurs due to compatibility issues between the keyboard and the application. Try a different keyboard or update the application. Restarting the device can also resolve this problem.
* **Problem: Keyboard does not remember my settings.** Solution: Check if battery saver is enabled. Certain battery saving settings may prevent the keyboard from working correctly in the background and remembering your saved preferences. Try disabling battery saver, or adding an exception for your keyboard.

Tips for a Better Typing Experience

Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your new keyboard:

* **Learn Keyboard Shortcuts:** Many keyboards offer shortcuts for common tasks like copying, pasting, and selecting text. Learning these shortcuts can significantly speed up your typing.
* **Customize Your Keyboard:** Take the time to customize your keyboard’s settings to your preferences. This includes adjusting the theme, autocorrection settings, and gesture typing sensitivity.
* **Use Gesture Typing:** If your keyboard supports gesture typing (swiping), try using it to type faster and more efficiently. It may take some practice to get used to, but it can be a game-changer.
* **Take Advantage of Autocorrection:** Autocorrection can be a lifesaver, but it’s important to proofread your text to catch any errors. Adjust the autocorrection settings to find a balance between accuracy and convenience.
* **Regularly Update Your Keyboard App:** Keep your keyboard app updated to ensure you have the latest features, bug fixes, and security updates.

Alternatives to Third-Party Keyboards

While third-party keyboards offer a lot of customization and features, you might want to explore alternatives if you are concerned about privacy or prefer a more streamlined experience.

* **Xiaomi’s Default Keyboard:** If you’re not happy with third-party options, consider using Xiaomi’s default keyboard. It’s often well-integrated with MIUI and offers a decent typing experience. You can typically find it pre-installed on your device or download it from the Xiaomi App Store (if available). It is not the most feature rich keyboard available, but the integration can improve the experience.
* **Voice Input:** The Google voice input is generally very accurate. While not a keyboard, it can assist in composing texts.
* **Using Hardware Keyboards:** You can connect a bluetooth keyboard for more complex typing scenarios. You can often connect a mouse as well to convert your phone into a miniature workstation.

Conclusion

Changing the keyboard on your Xiaomi device is a simple yet effective way to personalize your typing experience. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can easily install and configure a new keyboard to suit your needs. Remember to explore the settings menu to customize the keyboard to your liking and troubleshoot any issues you might encounter. With the right keyboard, you can type faster, more accurately, and more comfortably on your Xiaomi device.

Experiment with different keyboard apps until you find one that perfectly matches your typing style and preferences. Don’t be afraid to try new things and customize your keyboard to make it your own. Happy typing!