How to enter the number (#) on the keyboard Xiaomi: all ways

You try to enter a hashtag in social networks, dial a phone number with additional characters or activate it. USSD-Team on Xiaomi, but can’t find a grille sign on the keyboard (#)? This problem is familiar to many smartphone owners of the brand – especially after the update MIUI Depending on the phone model, firmware version and keyboard used (standard Gboard, SwiftKey or proprietary Mi Keyboard), the location of the character can be radically different.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible ways to type a number on Xiaomi devices, including hidden combinations, alternate layouts and keyboard settings. You’ll learn where to look for # on different versions of MIUI (12 to 14), how to add a character to the Quick Access panel and what to do if the button disappears after the update. And for owners of older models (for example, Redmi Note 5 or Mi A1), we’ll give separate instructions – layouts on them are often different from modern smartphones.

1. Standard location of the # sign on the Xiaomi keyboard

On most Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 12-14 firmware and a standard Gboard (from Google) or Mi Keyboard keyboard, the grille sign is hidden behind an additional character panel.

1. Open any field to enter text (for example, in Messages or Notes).
2. Switch to English layout (if you use Russian).
3. Click on the?123 button (numbers and symbols) in the lower left corner of the keyboard.
4. On the second page of characters (click =< or 1/2) find # – usually located next to % or *.

On some models (such as the POCO X3 Pro or Redmi 10), the sign may be on the first page of characters – check the line with @, $ and &. If there is no button, try holding the * key with your finger – sometimes # appears in the pop-up menu.

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If you use the grille sign frequently, add it to the quick access bar: hold the # symbol on the keyboard with your finger and drag it to the top row (works in Gboard).

2.Where to search # on different versions of MIUI

The location of the # character may vary depending on the firmware version. Below is a comparison table for popular versions of MIUI:

If your version of MIUI is not listed in the table, try updating the keyboard via Google Play (for Gboard) or check the settings in Settings → Additional → Language and Input. On older smartphones (for example, Redmi 3S), the # sign can only be accessed when holding the 0 key digitally.

3. Alternative ways to enter the mark #

If the standard method doesn’t work, use one of these options:

• 📱 Copy from clipboard: copy the # character from this article (just highlight it) and paste it into the desired field.
• 🔤 Voice input: Say “number sign” or “grating” – Google Assistant or Mi AI Recognise the command (does not work in all languages).
• 🖥️ External keyboard: connect Bluetooth keyboard – it usually has # on the digital block on the right.
• 📋 Special symbols in MIUI: In some applications (such as Notes) you can insert # through the Insert menu → Symbol.

For owners. POCO And the Black Shark (Xiaomi gaming smartphones) has another life hack: activate the game mode in the keyboard settings, which often has # and * characters on the main panel for quick access to the main panel. USSD-team.

4.Why the # sign disappears after the MIUI update

Many users complain that after updating the firmware, the bar sign disappears from the keyboard.

• 🔄 Reset keyboard settings: go to Settings → System system → Language and input → Virtual keyboard → Resetting settings.
• 🌐 Change of input language: add English (US) Russian layout - sometimes the symbol is available only on them.
• 📱 Theme Conflict: Return the Standard Theme to Settings → Screen. → Theme.
• 🛠️ Firmware error: If the problem persists, check for updates in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.

⚠️ Note: If after the update MIUI If you have lost several characters (e.g., #, *, @), this may indicate that the system files are damaged, and only a factory reset will help (be sure to back up your files!).

Instructions for older Xiaomi models (Redmi 3/4/Note, Mi 5/6)

On Xiaomi 2016-2018 smartphones (e.g. Redmi Note 4X, Mi Max 2), the # sign is often hidden behind keyholding.

#

*

+

Settings → Language and input

0

Some devices (e.g., the Mi A1 with pure Android) may not have a grille sign at all.

1. Install an alternative keyboard (like SwiftKey or Fleksy) from Google Play.
2. Use the clipboard (copy the symbol in advance).
3. Activate Developer Mode and enable the option to Show the keyboard layout in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times).

On Redmi models 3S mi 4i The # sign can only appear when you enter USSD-code (e.g. 100#) – in this case, it is displayed automatically after typing.

6.How to add # to the Quick Access Panel

If you often need a grille sign, add it to the top line of the keyboard:

1. Open any field to enter and call the keyboard.
2. Find the # symbol (as described above).
3. Hold your finger on it for 1-2 seconds and a pop-up menu will appear.
4. Drag the symbol to the top panel (near the 😊 or ↑).

This method works on Gboard and some versions of the Mi Keyboard. If you don't have an option, try:

• 🔧 Update the keyboard via Google Play.
• 📲 Switch to another layout (e.g. English) US).
• 🎨 Change the keyboard theme in the settings.

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Adding a character to the Quick Access bar saves up to 50% of the time when used frequently (for example, for hashtags on social networks or for the use of a new character). USSD-request).

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When searching for a # sign, users often make these mistakes:

• 🚫 Search for a symbol on the Russian layout – on most keyboards it is available only in English or digital mode.
• 🚫 Do not update the keyboard – in older versions of Gboard or Mi Keyboard layout may differ.
• 🚫 Ignore additional character pages – # is often hidden in the second or third tab.
• 🚫 Do not check language settings – if only one language (e.g. Chinese) is enabled, the character may not be available.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI for the Chinese market (for example, on the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra with the MIUI CN) The # sign can be replaced with a character, in which case only the need to flash it to the global version or install an alternative keyboard will help.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions