Owners of smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO They often encounter situations where the standard character set on the screen does not match what you expect, and this is especially true when entering phone numbers with additional ones, setting up calls through the phone. IP-The symbol of the grid or number, which in the international classification is designated as a hash sign, can be hidden behind several levels of the virtual input menu.
Finding this sign becomes critical when the system asks you to enter a confirmation code or a special prefix for the carrier. On devices with a MIUI shell and Android operating system, the location of the buttons can vary depending on the firmware version and the keyboard selected. Understanding the logic of switching layouts will help you save time and avoid errors in typing.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all possible ways to call a number symbol. We will look at the standard methods for the Gboard system keyboard, which is most often preinstalled on new models, as well as the nuances of working with the classic MIUI keyboard. You will learn how to quickly find the necessary signs using hidden gestures and additional menus.
Main location of the number symbol in the phone tube
The simplest and most obvious scenario where you need a number symbol is a Phone or Calls app. Unlike text fields in messengers, here the interface is adapted to GSM communication standards. When you open the dial, you have a digital bar where the characters "star" and "grating" are displayed on the main screen.
They're usually located in the bottom row of the keyboard, on the sides of the zero. However, if you use vertical button layout or a specific design theme, their visibility can be changed. In some cases, especially on Xiaomi Pad tablets in landscape mode, these buttons can be hidden behind the tone switch button.
If you don't see the number symbol on the main dial screen, look for the extra call control buttons. Sometimes, when you're making an active call or in the conference menu, you'll see an extra Add Call or DTMF panel, where the grate is hidden, so that you don't clutter up the main interface during the call.
- 📞 Standard location: bottom row, extreme right button next to zero.
- 🔄 Hidden Bar: Click the “More” button or the three-dot menu during a call.
- 📱 Landscape mode: flip the device to see the full layout of the buttons.
📊 Where do you most often search for a number symbol?
In the appendix Phone
In Chrome browser
In the Telegram messenger
In the Wi-Fi settings
Using the Gboard keyboard on Xiaomi smartphones
Google’s Gboard keyboard is the de facto standard for most modern Android smartphones, including Xiaomi devices. In this app, the number symbol is not on the main digital bar, but in the optional character menu. To get to it, you need to switch layouts.
Press?123 in the lower left corner of the screen, and you'll open a panel with numbers and basic punctuation marks, and if you can't see the grille right away, you'll need to press another transition button, usually denoted by =\\< or a down/right arrow, and that's where the second layer of the symbols is, and that's where the sign is hidden.
For power users, there is a faster way that doesn't require layer switching. The Gboard keyboard has a long-press function. If you press your finger on the plus button or the numerical transition button, a context menu with commonly used special characters, including hash, can pop up.
- 🔢 Level One: Press?123 to go to numbers.
- 📄 Level two: press =\\< access to additional symbols.
- 🖐️ Long press: Hold your finger on the character button for quick access.
Gboard's secret function
If you use a number symbol often, you can add it to the Quick Access Bar. Go to Gboard settings → Preferences → Character Bar and adjust the display of frequently used characters.> Features of the standard MIUI keyboard On Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices, your own keyboard can be activated from the developers of the MIUI shell. Its logic is somewhat different from the standard Google implementation. Here, developers have tried to make access to frequently used characters more intuitive, but sometimes this leads to confusion among users who are accustomed to a different location. The keyboard, the symbol is usually located in the upper number number, where the MIUI is located in the number number, or the button is located in the number number number number. In some localized versions (for example, for the Russian market), the layout can be adapted to the frequency of use of signs in the Russian segment. MIUI 14 The keyboard is more adaptive. It analyzes the context of the input: if you fill in the Password or Phone field, it can automatically suggest the number symbol in the string of clues above the keyboard. This is a smart predictor feature that you should consider when searching. ⚠️ Note: If you have updated the firmware and the usual character arrangement has changed, do not rush to reset the settings. → Advanced settings → Language and input and check which keyboard is the default.Maybe the system has switched to an updated version with a modified layout. The situation changes dramatically when you try to find the number symbol not in the call, but in the text field of the Chrome browser or the Telegram application. This is where the type of input field dictated by the Android operating system takes effect. If the application is programmed to accept only letters, the keyboard may not show the switch to numbers and characters at all, in which case you must force the full layout to be called. Often, a long click on the space or the globe button to change the language, which sometimes duplicates the function of calling the character menu. In the Chrome browser on Xiaomi, when you enter the address bar, a row with frequently used domain zones and symbols automatically appears, where the grille may not be present. For password or special code fields, the system usually switches the keyboard to mode. ASCII or. If this does not happen and the field requires a digital hash code, try copying the character from another location (e.g., from a digital hash). SMS It's a workaround that works 99% of the time when standard methods are powerless. Application Field type Action to call # Probability of success Phone button number set 100% Chrome Address bar Menu?123 → =\< 95% WhatsApp Text Message Menu?123 → =\< 90% Bank Password/Pin Code Auto-Switch 80% Alternative methods and character copy If none of the standard methods helps, or the interface of a particular application on Xiaomi behaves incorrectly, there are alternative methods of input. The most reliable of these is the use of a clipboard. You can find a number symbol once in any text editor or in this article, copy it and save it in your messenger's Favorites. Another effective method is using Google Assistant or XiaoAI voice input. You can just tap the microphone on the keyboard and clearly say "number symbol" or "grating." The system recognizes the command and inserts the desired sign into the text box. This method is especially convenient when hands are busy or the screen reacts with a delay. You can also use the "Text substitution" function in the keyboard settings, and you can specify clearly "number symbol in a certain combinations, for example, you can pre-set with a lot of time. # ☑️ Checking input settings Whether Gboard keyboard is enabled Whether full screen access Checked whether sensor operation Updated Dictionaries Completed: 0 / 4 Sometimes the problem lies not in the ignorance of the location of the button, but in a technical failure. On Xiaomi smartphones with a large amount of RAM, aggressive battery optimization can “freeze” the keyboard process, causing some buttons to stop displaying or pressing, in which case a simple reboot of the device helps. If the number symbol is missing after the system update, the input language settings may have been lost. → Advanced settings → Language and input. Make sure you choose the right language and layout. Sometimes it helps to delete and re-add the language, even if you don't plan to use it, it restarts the input module. In rare cases, a third-party application that intercepts input is to blame. Check if you have buffer management software, floating window translators, or design themes that change system fonts. Disabling such applications often returns functionality to the keyboard. ⚠️ Warning: Do not install questionable keyboards from unverified sources in an attempt to find a handy number symbol.Third-party input apps have access to everything you type, including passwords and bank card details. Use only Gboard or the official keyboard MIUI. Frequently asked questions (FAQ) Why is there no character transition button on Xiaomi's keyboard? This may be due to an error in the application you type in. Some input fields block the appearance of digital and character keys. Try opening Notes and checking if there's a button?123. If there's one, there's a problem in a particular app. How do you quickly type in a number character without switching the layout? On the Gboard keyboard, you can try to pinch a space button or a language change button. In some configurations, this causes a pop-up menu with frequently used characters. You can also use voice input by saying "hash" or "grides." Can you change the keyboard layout on Xiaomi? Yes, you can set any third-party keyboard from Play, for example, Swift characters in the Google Playboard, and the settings, and then you can use the keyboard in the unique settings. The?123 button will usually move to the bottom left or right corner, depending on the Android version. <) On the Gboard keyboard, or on the dialing bar in the Phone app. Use buffer copying or voice input for quick access.-->