Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face a situation where the standard keyboard layout changes and familiar characters disappear from the screen. This is especially true when entering passwords, site addresses or contact information, where frequent switching between letters and numbers is required. Users begin to panic, believing that the device is out of order, although most often the problem lies in the interface settings or changing the language layout.
Finding a number icon can take a long time if you do not know the logic of the MIUI shell or HyperOS. Depending on the version of the Android operating system and the keyboard installed (standard Gboard, SwiftKey or Mi Keyboard), the location of the buttons can be radically different. Sometimes the digital bar is hidden in the nested menu, and in other cases it is available through prolonged clicking on a special symbol.
In this article, we will take a closer look at all possible numerical key locations, learn how to return missing characters, configure permanent access to the numerical series, and what hidden features your Xiaomi virtual keyboard hides.
Standard location of the switch button on Gboard
Most modern Xiaomi smartphones have Google's Gboard keyboard installed by default. In classic typing mode, the switch to numbers and characters is usually located in the lower left corner of the screen. It is denoted by the symbol?123 or simply the number 1. Pressing this button instantly changes the layout, opening access to the numerical series.
However, if you use continuous input or voice dialing, the location of elements may shift. In some configurations, the number icon hides under a language change button, which often looks like a globe or abbreviation of the language (for example, RU or EN). Prolonged clicking on this area can cause a pop-up menu, where, among other things, the option of switching to numbers will be available.
Importantly, the updated versions of Gboard have introduced the Character Panel feature, which, if you activate this option in the settings, when you switch to numbers, the additional character series will not replace the main character, but will appear above it, which allows you to quickly return to the alphabetic input without losing context.
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To quickly return the digital bar to Gboard, go to the keyboard settings through the gear in the hint bar and select Settings → Character Panel.
Features of the Mi Keyboard in the shell of MIUI
The native Mi Keyboard, which is often pre-installed on Xiaomi devices for Asian markets and some global versions, has its own unique logic: Here, the digit switch button may be in the bottom row, but often it is combined with a button to call additional characters. Look for an icon resembling a #+= grille or a symbol of 123.
In older versions of the MIUI shell, there was a problem where when you typed text in certain applications (such as a browser or messengers), the keyboard forced to switch to letter mode, hiding the numbers, the solution was to change the type of input in the settings of a particular application or completely reset the keyboard to the factory settings.
Mi Keyboard users may also find that the digital bar only appears when focusing on numerical fields (e.g., when entering a phone number). In general-purpose text fields, it may be hidden. To fix this, check the Smart Switch settings in the keyboard menu itself.
⚠️ Note: When using third-party design themes for the Mi Keyboard, the graphical designations of the buttons may change. If you can't find the number icon, temporarily return the standard theme to make sure the interface is working.
Configuring the digital panel and a number of numbers
For those who need to enter numerical data all the time, the best solution is to include a separate series of digits above the letters, a feature that is available in most modern keyboards, including Gboard and SwiftKey. Having a constant series of digits eliminates the need to switch layouts every time, which greatly speeds up the set of passwords and codes.
To activate this feature, you need to go to the keyboard settings. In Gboard, the path looks like this: Settings → Settings → Settings → Several numbers. After you turn on the slider above the letter row, you will see a row with numbers from 0 to 9. This is especially convenient for owners of smartphones with large screens, where it can be difficult to reach the bottom corner.
Consider that adding an extra set of digits reduces the area allocated to the letters themselves. On Xiaomi compact models, this can lead to more frequent typos, so it is recommended to test both layouts before the final choice.
Use of SwiftKey and other third-party keyboards
Many Xiaomi users prefer to replace standard tools with more functional ones, such as Microsoft SwiftKey. In this keyboard, the logic of switching to numbers is implemented through the symbol button &123, located on the bottom left. SwiftKey is the ability to configure “Flow” when swiping numbers allows you to enter them faster.
Another popular option on third-party keyboards is Smart Bar, which analyzes the text you type and automatically suggests numbers if the context implies using them, for example, when you type the word "code" or "number," the keyboard itself will suggest a digital layout.
When installing third-party keyboards on Android, it is important to provide the necessary permissions. Without the right to "Map on top of other windows" or "Access to the clipboard", some functions may not work correctly, and the number icon may not appear in the desired applications.
- 🔹 SwiftKey: allows you to configure a separate tab for numbers and symbols, which is convenient for programmers.
- 🔹 Yandex Keyboard: offers voice input with high accuracy of digit recognition in Russian.
- 🔹 TouchPal: has many themes where the location of the buttons can be changed beyond recognition.
The Secret SwiftKey Function
Solving the Problems of Disappearance of Symbols
When the number icon is simply gone from the screen, it can be caused by a software failure of the Android system, often after updating the firmware or installing a new application that conflicts with the system input, the first step should always be to reboot the device, which is trivial, but 80% of the time solves the problem.
If the reboot didn't help, try clearing the keyboard cache. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find your keyboard (like Gboard) and select Clear the cache. Don't confuse it with Clear Data, as this will remove your vocabulary and settings.
In rare cases, the problem is that the system font files are damaged. If the buttons are replaced by squares or empty spaces, try changing the font in the settings of the Xiaomi screen to the standard one.
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| No button? 123. | Lay-out failure | Switch the language or reset the keyboard settings |
| Numbers not pressed | Touchscreen sticking | Wipe the screen or remove the protective glass |
| The keyboard doesn't pop up. | Application error | Restart your smartphone or app |
| Wrong symbols | Wrong input language | Check the language settings in Gboard |
Specificity of input in different applications
The behavior of the keyboard can vary depending on where you type. In WhatsApp or Telegram, the digital bar may behave differently than in the Chrome browser or Google search box. Some applications force the type of input, ignoring the system settings.
For example, in banking applications, Xiaomi often uses secure input that blocks third-party keyboards and hides text prediction. In such interfaces, the number icon can be displayed in a separate pop-up window or only be accessed through prolonged pressing.
In browsers when typed URL-Keyboard addresses often automatically switch to mode, where the.com domain and symbol/are next to the numbers.This speeds up navigation, but can confuse the user waiting for a standard layout.
☑️ Keyboard diagnostics
Hidden functions and hot keys
Knowing hidden features can make life much easier. For example, in many Android keyboards, pressing a dot for a long time turns it into a comma, and pressing a space with two fingers allows you to quickly move the cursor. Numbers also have their secrets.
If you press the number button on some keyboards, you can get additional mathematical symbols or fractions, which is especially useful when typing formulas or complex calculations in notes, and also swipes over the digital bar allow you to quickly enter numbers without taking your finger off the screen.