How to add language to the keyboard on Xiaomi Redmi Note 9: the complete guide

Buying a new Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 smartphone is often a joyous event, but the first launch of the device can overshadow users from certain regions. You unpack the gadget, turn it on, and suddenly you find that the standard keyboard lacks the usual layout, and instead of the expected letters display incomprehensible characters or only Latin, this situation is not a critical breakdown, but only a consequence of regional settings of the MIUI firmware.

The Android system installed on your device is global by default, but a specific version of the shell may have limitations. Redmi Note 9 owners face the need to manually activate the desired input language to fully use messengers and the browser, a process that is not complex, but requires careful navigation through the settings menu.

In this guide, we will take a look at all the possible solutions to a problem: you will learn how to force the layout through system settings, what to do when the language is hidden, and how to use third-party solutions in extreme cases. On the Redmi Note 9 with global firmware, the input language is often tied to the system interface language, so changing the system language is a key step.

Why the language is missing from Xiaomi keyboard

Before you start taking action, you need to understand the cause of the situation. Xiaomi smartphones come with a pre-installed keyboard from Google or the proprietary development of MIUI Keyboard. The lack of the desired language is often explained by the fact that the current region of the device does not require its use by default.

The problem may also be in the firmware version: Chinese versions of MIUI, cross-flashed to global, or European models may have a pared-down list of available layouts until manually activated, saving resources and not connecting dictionaries for languages that do not fit the selected region.

Sometimes users accidentally delete the language packet or disrupt the input settings after updating the system, in which case the keyboard simply forgets that there are other alphabets besides English, and understanding the source of the problem helps you choose the most effective method of solving.

⚠️ Note: If you have purchased a device with Chinese firmware (CN ROM), The list of available languages can be significantly limited without installing a global version of the software or using special activation methods.

Basic settings via the Gboard menu

The most common and secure way to add layout is to use Google’s built-in keyboard settings, which works on most Redmi Note 9 devices with Google services installed, and you don’t need root rights or a computer connection.

To start, you need to call the keyboard itself in any text field, such as in a browser search or in notes, then go to the input settings, usually through the gear icon on the top panel of the keyboard or through the main settings menu of the phone.

• 📱 Open any application that requires text input to make the keyboard appear.
• ⚙️ Press and hold the comma or find the gear icon in the top row of the keyboard.
• 🌍 Go to the "Languages" section in the settings menu that opens.
• ➕ Click the "Add keyboard" button and select the language you want from the list.

After selecting a language, the system will offer you to download additional vocabulary and predictive functions, which will improve the quality of autocorrection. If the desired language is not in the list of "Recommended", scroll down to the section "All languages".

Change the system language of the device

In some cases, especially on MIUI-enabled devices, the list of available input languages depends on the system interface language. If your phone "speaks" in English or Chinese, the keyboard may ignore other layouts.

To fix this, you need to change the language of the entire system, and this action translates all menus, notifications and system messages into the language you choose, which automatically adjusts the appropriate input settings. For the Redmi Note 9, this is often the only working solution.

Go to Settings, find the Additional or System section, then select Language and input. In the list of available languages, select the language you want. If it's not in the list, you may need to change the region of the device.

After the language change, the system may suggest a reboot.Agree to have the changes take effect for all applications.In most cases, after the reboot, Gboard will already have an active Russian or other necessary layout.

Changing the region in the settings of Xiaomi

The MIUI shell has a geo-region-based content and settings function, which affects the Security app, the theme, the app store, and, importantly for us, the language packages available, and if the phone thinks it's in China, the Russian layout may be hidden.

The process of changing a region is simple and requires no special knowledge, so you need to go to the basic settings of your smartphone and find the "Region" item, and changing this setting will instantly update the list of available languages and system services.

• 📍 Open Settings on the main screen.
• 🌐 Find the "Advanced Settings" section or "Region" at the top of the list.
• 🇷🇺 Choose from the list "Russia" or your country of residence.
• ✅ Wait for the settings to be applied, the system can update the list of applications.

Once you change region, go back to the keyboard settings, and now the languages that are available should be those that were previously missing, especially for those who own devices that you bought on AliExpress or other Chinese platforms.

⚠️ Note: Relocation may change the set of pre-installed applications and themes. Some system applications may require re-authorization or updates.

Use of third-party keyboards

If standard methods didn’t help or the built-in MIUI keyboard seems uncomfortable, you can always install an alternative solution from the Google Play store. Third-party keyboards often have more flexible settings and support for rare languages.

Popular options are SwiftKey, Yandex Keyboard or Grammarly Keyboard, which can be easily installed as regular apps, and once installed, the system will prompt you to activate the new keyboard in the settings.

To activate, go to Settings → Additional → Language and input → Keyboard management. Here you need to switch the slider opposite the installed application to the "On" position.

Activation path:


Settings -> Additional -> Language and input -> Current keyboard -> Select a new one

The advantage of third-party keyboards is that they have built-in dictionaries, themes and voice input capabilities that can work better than standard keyboards, but it's worth remembering the security of data entry.

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When installing a third-party keyboard, carefully read the permissions it requests.The keyboard has access to everything you type, including passwords, so only choose verified apps from known developers.

Solving the problems with switching layout

There are times when the language is added, but you can't switch to it. On the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9, a space or a special button with a picture of a globe usually answers the switch. If the swipe on the space does not work, check the settings.

There's a "Swipe by space" option in Gboard settings, and make sure it selects "Swipe by space" or "Tongue switching key," sometimes removing the extra languages by leaving only two primary languages, like English and Russian, helps.

It's also worth checking if the "Only One Language" mode is included in the special features, which are designed for people with visual impairments, but can block the change of layout for ordinary users.

• 🔍 Go to the keyboard settings and check the "Preferences" item".
• 🔄 Make sure that the active languages lists the flags you need.
• 🗑️ Remove unused languages by clicking on the basket icon next to them.
• 🔄 Reset the device to reset the input cache.

If the problem persists, try to clear the Settings app or keyboard data, which will return it to factory settings, but will not delete your personal files or contacts.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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In 95% of cases, the problem is solved by simply changing the device region in the phone settings, after which the necessary language package becomes available for activation.