Many users of Xiaomi smartphones encounter inconvenience when typing when the characters on the virtual keyboard seem too small. This problem is especially problematic for people with low vision or those who use devices with small screens in low-light conditions. Fortunately, the operating system Android and the shell MIUI provide flexible tools for personalizing the interface.
In this article we will analyze in detail all the available ways to change the font size. You will learn not only about the standard system settings, but also about the specific parameters of the keyboard itself, which is preinstalled on most brand devices. Correct settings will help make the process of communication in instant messengers and social networks much more comfortable. Gboard, which is pre-installed on most devices of the brand. Correct settings will help make the process of communication in instant messengers and social networks much more comfortable.
It is worth noting that changing the size of letters can affect the number of characters displayed on one line. Therefore, it is important to find a balance between readability and ease of typing, so that your fingers do not miss the necessary buttons due to their excessive enlargement.
Global system display settings
The simplest and most effective method of enlarging letters is to change the system display settings. In smartphones Xiaomi this parameter affects all interface elements, including the keyboard. To access these settings, you need to go to the menu Settings and select the section Screen.
In the menu that opens, find the item Font size. As you move the slider to the right, you will see the text become larger in real time. This change will affect not only the letters on the keyboard, but also chat messages, application names and system notifications.
⚠️ Attention: When the font is set to maximum size, some interface elements may not fit on the screen, which will require scrolling to access hidden buttons.
Also This section often contains a setting Element Size (or display scale). It enlarges not only the text, but also the icons, buttons and input fields themselves. Combining these two options allows you to achieve the ideal key size for your fingers.
If the standard adjustment range is not enough, you can take advantage of advanced options for developers. However, this requires caution, as incorrect settings may distort the display of other applications.
Setting the key size in Gboard
Keyboard Gboard from Google is standard for Xiaomi devices and has its own independent size settings. This allows you to enlarge the letters without changing the scale of the rest of the smartphone interface. Open any text entry application to bring up the keyboard on the screen.
In the toolbar above the rows of letters, find the gear icon or logo G. Clicking on it will take you to the settings menu. Select the section Settings, and then find the item Keyboard settings or Keyboard height.
Here you will see a slider, adjusting the height of the input panel. Moving it up will automatically increase the size of each key and, accordingly, the letters on them. This is the most accurate way to tailor the keyboard to individual needs without affecting other applications.
If you make it too large, it can overlap the text input field in instant messengers, which will create new inconveniences when typing long messages.
Use one-handed mode in Gboard settings if increasing the size of the keys has resulted in you being unable to reach the top row of letters.
Changing the scale through the options developer
For advanced users for whom the standard settings are not enough, it is possible to fine-tune the scale through the developer menu. This method allows you to change the display scale in DPI (dots per inch), which affects the pixel density and the size of all elements.
You must first activate Developer Mode. To do this, go to Settings → About phone and quickly click 7 times on the item MIUI version or OS version. After a notification appears that you have become a developer, return to the main settings menu.
Go to section Advanced → For developers. In the list of parameters, find the item Minimum width (or Smallest Width). The default value is usually around 360-390 dp.
Recommended value: 320-340 dp (enlarges elements)Default value: ~360-390 dp
Large value: 450+ dp (reduces elements)
Decreasing the number in this field will make all interface elements, including the keyboard, larger. Be careful: setting the value too low (for example, less than 300) may make the interface unreadable or cause some applications to crash.
⚠️ Note: The developer menu interface may vary between versions of MIUI and Android. If you cannot find the “Minimum width” option, look for “Interface scale”.
☑️ Activating developer mode
Using themes and third-party keyboards
Sometimes the problem is not the font size, but the contrast or style of the theme. Some themes for Gboard or third-party keyboards use larger, clearer fonts by default. You can find options with larger characters in the MIUI theme store.
Consider installing alternative keyboards such as Yandex Keyboard or SwiftKey. These apps often have more flexible font size and button height settings than the standard solution. After installation, do not forget to enable the new keyboard in the system settings.
In the settings of third-party keyboards, look for sections related to Appearance or Themes. There is often a separate font size slider that works regardless of system settings, providing maximum freedom of customization.
Changing the theme to a high-contrast one can also visually increase the perceived size of the letters. Black letters on a white background or vice versa are read better than gray characters on a colored background, even if their physical size remains the same.
Comparison of resizing methods
To make it easier for you to choose the appropriate method, we have prepared a comparison table of methods. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages depending on your goals and smartphone model.
| Method | Impact on the system | Complexity | Flexibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| System font | Everywhere (menu, applications, keyboard) | Low | Medium |
| Gboard height | Keyboard only | Low | High |
| Developer options | Entire interface (scaling) | High | Maximum |
| Third-party keyboards | Text input only | Medium | High |
As can be seen from the table, using height settings in Gboard is the safest and target solution. It does not disrupt the layout of other applications and allows you to quickly return everything as it was in case of failure.
The method with developer parameters should be used only in extreme cases, when other methods did not give the desired result. It requires an understanding of how interface rendering works in Android.
The optimal solution for most users is a combination of system font enlargement and manually adjusting the height of the Gboard keyboard.
Solving display problems and resetting settings
Sometimes after changing settings, the keyboard may not display correctly: letters may overlap on top of each other or cut off. In such situations, clearing the keyboard app cache helps. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications.
Find in the list Gboard or your current keyboard. Go to the section Memory and click the button Clear cache. Do not click “Clear all” if you do not want to lose your saved words and dictionaries.
If the problem persists, try restarting the device. This action often resolves temporary software glitches associated with applying new display settings. After a reboot, check if the changes were applied correctly.
⚠️ Warning: If you changed the DPI through the developer options and the interface became unreadable, a reboot does not always return the original values. You may have to connect your phone to your PC or use voice control to return the settings.
In rare cases, reinstalling keyboard updates through the store helps. Google Play. Removing updates will return the application to the factory version, where the settings are reset to default.
What to do if the keyboard disappears after a crash?
Try connecting a physical keyboard via an OTG cable or use Google Assistant voice input to get to settings and restore the software keyboard.
Frequently asked questions questions
Is it possible to increase only the numbers on the keyboard without touching the letters?
Unfortunately, using standard means Android i Gboard it is impossible to change the size of only the number row separately from the letter row. Scale settings are applied uniformly throughout the layout. The only option is to use third-party keyboards with custom themes, where you can visually highlight a number of numbers.
Why were the font settings reset after updating MIUI?
Major firmware updates sometimes overwrite user interface configurations, returning them to default values to ensure the stability of the new version of the system. You will need to reset the desired font size in the menu Screen.
Does increasing the font affect the speed of the phone?
No, changing the font size or interface scale does not have a significant impact on the processor performance or the speed of the smartphone. This is a purely visual setting that is processed by the graphics accelerator without loading the main computing power.
How to return all the settings back if it becomes inconvenient?
To return, just go to the same menus where you made changes, and move the sliders to the far left position or select the “Default” value. In the developer options, you need to return the original DPI value that was recorded before the changes.