Users of Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones often face a situation where the standard keyboard layout seems not functional enough to enter specific characters. In particular, finding the number icon (grid) can turn into a real puzzle if you are used to a different input system or updated firmware. The interface of the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS has its own navigation features that can confuse even an experienced owner of the gadget.
In this article, we will look at exactly where this symbol is hiding on your device’s virtual keyboard, and we will look at standard layout switching paths, Gboard system keyboard settings, and alternative input methods to help you quickly find the right sign in any situation.
Standard navigation in the keyboard layout
By default, most Xiaomi devices have Google’s Gboard keyboard, which has a logical but not always obvious character menu structure. To find the number icon, the user needs to press the switch button on the digital layout, usually marked as?123 in the lower left corner of the screen, then a panel with numbers and basic punctuation marks will open.
If you don’t see a grid on the first page of the digital layout, pay attention to the button. =\\< or 1/2, It's located next to the space button or in the corner, and clicking on it opens the second page of characters, where less-used characters, including the grille, are often hidden. MIUI This symbol can be accessed by prolonged clicking on other signs, such as a number. 3 currency-sign.
For those who use social media hashtags or programming tags, the standard path may seem too long. However, Android allows you to optimize this process. You can add commonly used characters to quick access or use voice input to dictate the word "grating" or "hash," which sometimes works faster than manual search.
- 📱 Press the?123 button to go to numbers and signs.
- 🔀 Use the button. =\\< to move to the second page of the symbols.
- 🔍 Try long-term clicking on neighboring characters to find hidden options.
- 🗣️ Use voice input to dictate the name of the symbol.
⚠️ Note: The location of the buttons may vary slightly depending on the shell version MIUI, HyperOS and the version of the keyboard application itself. If you didn't find the character on the standard path, check the input language settings.
Setting up the fast Gboard character panel
The Gboard keyboard has a powerful customization toolkit that allows you to put the icon of the number in a prominent place. To do this, you need to go to the settings of the keyboard itself. This is usually done through the gear icon on the top panel of the keyboard or through the system menu Settings → Additional settings → Language and input.
In the settings section, find the keyboard settings or preferences. Here you are interested in the option related to displaying additional characters or the panel above the keys. By activating the display of a number of numbers above the letters, you will get quick access to the numbers, but for special characters you need to look deeper. In the Settings menu → Keyboard settings → The character panel you can enable the display of frequently used characters directly above the letter row.
Another effective method is to use the "Personalization" function. Gboard analyzes the frequency of use of characters and can suggest a number icon in the text prediction bar if you start typing a word that starts with a bar, or just use this symbol often in messengers. Regular use of the "force" sign will cause the keyboard to display it in the Suggestions bar.
☑️ Setting up quick access to symbols
Remember that app updates can change the settings interface. If you upgraded Gboard through Google Play, the menu structure may change, so you can search inside your keyboard settings by entering the word "character" or "sign."
Alternative keyboards and their features
If a standard Xiaomi keyboard seems uncomfortable, the market offers a variety of alternatives. Popular applications such as Yandex Keyboard, SwiftKey or TouchPal have their own unique approaches to placing special characters. For example, in Yandex Keyboard, the number icon is often displayed on the main character screen or is available via a semicolon swipe.
Third-party keyboards often allow you to create your own layouts. You can assign a long tap icon to any letter or put it in a separate user bar. This is especially true for programmers or users working with hashtags on Instagram and TikTok. Installing such a keyboard requires permissions to access text input, which is standard Android security procedure.
When choosing an alternative, pay attention to language support and autocorrection quality. Some lightweight keyboards may not have such a rich set of characters out of the box, requiring manual adjustment. However, they may offer a more ergonomic key layout, which compensates for the time spent on initial settings.
| keyboard | Location of the grille (#) | Features of access |
|---|---|---|
| Gboard | Menu? 123 -> =\< | Access through 2 levels of nesting |
| Yandex | Symbols or swipe menu | Often in quick access, smart search |
| SwiftKey | Menu? 123. | Customizable character panel |
| TouchPal | Depends on the topic. | Ability to take to the main screen |
Security of Third-Party Keyboards
Use of voice input and dictation
With modern speech recognition, you can forget about looking for small characters on the screen. Voice input in Gboard and other systems understands the commands "grating", "hash" or "number." Just tap on the microphone and say the right word. The system automatically inserts the symbol # into the text.
This method is especially convenient when hands are busy or the screen of the smartphone is dirty. Recognition accuracy of Russian and English teams is high, however, in noisy environments, errors can occur. To improve efficiency, it is recommended to use a headset or speak clearly, being in a relatively quiet place.
Voice input also supports dictation of whole character phrases, so you can say, "My hash tag is summer vacation," and the system will type "#summer rest." This greatly speeds up typing on social media. If voice input doesn't work, check for an Internet connection, because complex queries often require online mode.
- 🎤 Click on the microphone icon on the keyboard.
- 🗣️ Say "grating" or "hash" clearly".
- ✅ Check the result in the text field.
- 🌐 Make sure you have a network connection for high accuracy.
⚠️ Warning: When using voice input in public, keep privacy in mind. Do not dictate passwords, SMS codes, or personal information that outsiders may hear.
💡
For maximum accuracy of voice input on Xiaomi, use an original microphone or high-quality Bluetooth headphones. Built-in microphones of low-end Redmi smartphones can do worse at noise cancellation in windy weather.
Problems with displaying symbols in different applications
Sometimes the number icon is not displayed or replaced with a square, not because of the keyboard, but because of the limitations of the application or font itself. This is often found in older versions of programs or when using specific encodings. In such cases, the keyboard works properly, but the recipient application cannot render the character correctly.
Check how the symbol is displayed in different applications: Telegram, WhatsApp, Notes. If the Grid is visible in Notes and not in the browser, the problem is on the browser or web page. Updating the application or changing the font in the system (Settings → Screen → Font) can solve the problem.
Also, it is worth considering that some corporate or secure applications may block the entry of special characters in password or login fields for security purposes. In such fields, the keyboard can automatically hide certain signs.
If the problem is systemic and the characters are "breaking" everywhere, try clearing the keyboard cache. → Annexes → All applications → Gboard (or Xiaomi Keyboard) → Warehouse → Clear the cache. This won't delete your dictionaries, but will correct possible display errors.
💡
If the character doesn’t appear in just one application, the problem isn’t with the keyboard, but with font compatibility or the encoding of a particular application.
Hidden functions and keyboard combinations
For advanced users, there are ways to enter characters through Unicode or special combinations, although this is rarely used on touch screens. However, knowledge of the symbol code can come in handy when using external keyboards or in the terminal — U+0023.
In some use cases, for example, when recruiting USSD-In the case of a carrier code, the number icon is mandatory, and here the keyboard is often switched to a special mode automatically when dialing an asterisk, or the grille symbol is displayed prominently next to the call button. In dial mode (Phone), the # icon is almost always on the first screen of the keyboard.
Users who connect a physical Bluetooth keyboard to a Xiaomi Pad tablet or smartphone can use standard PC combinations. On a physical keyboard, the number icon is usually on the 3 key and activated by Shift pressing. This is a universal rule for most layouts.
What if the icon is missing after the system update?
Can I change the size of the number icon?
Why are different Xiaomi icons in different places?
In conclusion, finding a number icon on the Xiaomi Redmi keyboard is a task that can be solved through a standard character menu or setting up a quick access panel. Understanding the logic of how Gboard works and using voice input makes this process instantaneous. Don't be afraid to experiment with settings to adapt the device to your habits.