How to change the keyboard layout on Xiaomi phone: all ways and solutions to problems

Changing the keyboard layout on Xiaomi smartphones is a challenge that every user faces when they first turn on the device or after resetting, POCO Mi is sometimes lost when a standard keyboard is used. MIUI It suddenly stops switching between languages or completely forgets previously added layouts. In this article, we will discuss not only the basic ways to change the input language, but also the nuances for different versions of the shell (MIUI 12/13/14), and also solving typical problems – from the disappearance of the switch button to conflicts with keyboards from third-party developers.

The peculiarity of Xiaomi is that the manufacturer offers users a choice: use the built-in keyboard. MIUI (You can use branded chips like gesture input, or you can install an alternative like Gboard, SwiftKey, and so on, and each has its own customization features that many people don't know about. MIUI 14, you have a function to automatically switch the layout by the context of the message? POCO By default, hide the system settings of the keyboard?

If you’re looking for a way to add Russian to your firmware, return a language that has disappeared after an update, or simply optimize your text input, here are step-by-step instructions that take into account all the pitfalls. At the end of the article, we’ll answer a lot of questions, including why Xiaomi’s keyboard sometimes “self-changes” when copying text.

1. Basic method: changing the layout through settings MIUI

The most obvious method is to use the system settings of the shell MIUI. It is suitable for most models, including the Redmi Note 12, Xiaomi 13 and the Redmi Note. POCO X5, The main condition is that you must have a standard Xiaomi keyboard active (if you use Gboard or another, read the following section).

To add or change the layout:

1. Open “Settings” (the gear icon on the desktop or in the application menu).
2. Go to the section Additional → Language and input (in some versions, the path may look like a system and device) → Language and input).
3. Tap on the current keyboard line (or keyboard management in the MIUI 14).
4. Select the Input Languages (or layouts), then click Add Language.
5. Find the language you want (e.g. Russian, English, Ukrainian) and select a specific layout (e.g. Russian – Standard or English — QWERTY).
6. Confirm the addition and go back to the keyboard menu, and now the layout will be available for switching.

On the text input screen (e.g., in messages or browser), the language switch button usually appears next to the space. MIUI 13/14 It looks like a globe icon or an abbreviation of the current language (for example, a globe, RU If there is no button, read the problem-solving section.

2. Configure layout in Gboard and other third-party keyboards

If you prefer Gboard or other alternatives like SwiftKey, the process of adding layout will be different, the main difference being that the keyboard settings are hidden inside the app itself, not in Xiaomi’s system settings. This is often confusing for beginners who are looking for languages in standard settings. MIUI.

For Gboard:

• 📱 Open any field to enter text (such as notes or WhatsApp message).
• 🔍 Press the badge. ⚙️ (gear ≡ (three dots) on the keyboard bar to open its settings.
• 🌐 Select Languages → Add a keyboard and mark the desired languages (for example, Russian, English (USA)).
• 🔄 To switch between layouts, swipe your finger over the space left or right (in Gboard this is a standard gesture).

For SwiftKey:

• 📱 Go to the keyboard settings through the icon ⚙️ input panel.
• 🌍 Select Languages → Add language and download the necessary packages.
• 🔄 Switching is done by pressing the globe icon or swipe on the key 123.

If it doesn’t appear in the list of available languages after adding the language to Gboard or SwiftKey, check if the keyboard is included in Xiaomi’s system settings:

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Language and input.
2. Make sure your keyboard (Gboard, SwiftKey) is included in the Keyboard Management section.
3. If not, tap the switch to activate it.

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In Gboard, you can set up automatic layout switching for the first word of the message. To do this, in the keyboard settings, turn on the option Auto-Replacement. → Automatic input and add frequently used languages.

3. Quickly switching the layout with gestures (for the MIUI 13/14)

In the latest versions MIUI There are handy gestures that you can use to change the input language that many people don't know about, and this is especially useful if you type in two or three languages a lot and you don't want to waste time looking for the switch button:

For the standard MIUI keyboard:

• 👆 Swipe up the Space key – switches the layout to the next language in the list.
• 👇 Swipe down the Spare key – returns the previous language.
• 🔄 Double press 123 (numbers) – opens the language selection menu.

For Gboard:

• ☝️ Swipe left/right by space – switching between the last two languages used.
• 🔢 Holding the 123 key opens the extended menu of languages.

These gestures can be adjusted or disabled in the keyboard settings. MIUI The 14th way will be: Settings → Additionally. → Language and input → keyboard MIUI → Gestures.

4. Problem Solving: Why is the layout not changing?

Sometimes Xiaomi users are faced with a situation where the keyboard layout gets stuck in one language, the switch button disappears, or the added languages suddenly disappear. MIUI Before conflicts with a memory optimizer, let's look at typical scenarios and how to fix them.

The language change button has disappeared.

If the Globe icon or the abbreviation of the language (RU/EN) They stopped showing up on the keyboard:

• 🔍 Check if the button display option is enabled in the keyboard settings (the path is indicated in the spoiler above).
• 📱 Restart your phone – sometimes it helps to return the button after a crash.
• 🔄 Remove and add the language again (in the language settings and input).
• 🛠️ Reset the keyboard settings to standard: Settings → Annexes → Application management → keyboard MIUI → Warehouse → Clear the data.

4.2 Language resets after copying the text

This is a common problem in MIUI 12/13, When you insert copy text, the keyboard automatically switches to the language of the inserted snippet to turn off this "smart" behavior:

1. Go to Settings. → Additionally. → Language and input → keyboard MIUI → Advanced settings.
2. Find the Automatic Language Switch option (or Adapt Language to Content) and turn it off.

Added languages disappear after update

After installing updates MIUI Some users notice that previously added layouts disappear, and this is because the system resets the keyboard settings to the standard:

• 🔄 Re-add the required languages through Settings → Language and input.
• 📋 Export your keyboard settings (if you have one) before upgrading.
• 🛡️ Turn off keyboard optimization in battery settings: Settings → Battery → Optimizing the battery → Find the keyboard in the list and select “No Limits».

Check if the keyboard is included in the settings MIUI|Reboot the phone.|Clear the keyboard cache in the app settings|Update the keyboard via Google Play (for Gboard)|Reset the keyboard settings to standard-->

5. Features of settings on Chinese firmware (Global vs China) ROM)

Xiaomi Owners on Chinese Firmware (China) ROM) There are many cases where the keyboard languages are not available in Russian or other European language layouts, due to regional limitations of the manufacturer:

Method 1: Install Gboard or SwiftKey

The easiest option is to download an alternative keyboard from Google Play (if available) or manually install it. APK-Gboard file. Unlike the standard keyboard. MIUI, Gboard supports all languages regardless of the firmware region.

Method 2: Russification through MIUI bootloader

If you are interested in using the standard Xiaomi keyboard, you can try:

1. Install the application MIUI bootloader (available on Xiaomi's official website).
2. Download the language package for your model (e.g, MiuiLanguagePack_ru).
3. Install the package through Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (tap several times on the version to activate the developer mode, then select Install Service Pack).

Method 3: Reflashing to Global ROM

The last option is a complete change of firmware to the global version (Global) ROM). This will solve the language problem, but it will require unlocking the bootloader and may be insecure. For detailed instructions on flashing, see the updates and firmware sections.

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On Chinese firmware (China) ROM) keyboard MIUI The solution is to install Gboard or Russify the system through language packages.

6.Input optimization: tips for convenience

In addition to the basic layout change, Xiaomi has many hidden features that will make printing text faster and more comfortable.

1. Customize auto-replacement and dictionary

In the standard keyboard. MIUI You can add your words to the dictionary or disable auto-replacement for certain languages:

• Go to the keyboard settings MIUI → Dictionary and input → Personal dictionary.
• Add frequently used words or jargon that are not in the standard dictionary.
• Turn off auto-replacement for a specific language if it interferes: Settings → Text input → Auto-replacement.

2.Gesturals and hot keys

In Gboard and SwiftKey you can configure additional gestures:

• 👉 Swipe to the left by space - returns the last deleted word.
• 👈 Swipe to the right by space - inserts copied text.
• 🔢 Holding the comma key opens the emoji menu.

3. Dark theme and keyboard design

If you are annoyed by the standard look of the keyboard, you can change it:

• V MIUI: Keyboard settings → Appearance → Topics (options with dark background, transparency, etc. are available.).
• In Gboard: Settings → Topics → Select a background (you can upload your own image).

4. Voice input and handwriting

V MIUI 14 has improved support for voice input and handwriting (for Chinese, English and some European languages:

• Open the keyboard and tap on the icon. 🎤 (microphone) for voice input.
• For handwriting, go to Keyboard Settings → Input methods → Handwritten input.

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If you type in bilingual languages often, you can set up bilingual layout in Gboard. Select Languages in your keyboard settings → Add a bilingual keyboard (e.g. English) + Russian).

7. Keyboard comparison: MIUI vs Gboard vs SwiftKey

The choice of keyboard depends on your needs: someone cares about the speed of input, someone — customization, and someone — support for rare languages. In the table below, compare the key features of the three popular options for Xiaomi:

So the bottom line is, if you want maximum customization and support for all languages, go for Gboard or SwiftKey. MIUI — Xiaomi's standard keyboard is better. For Chinese firmware, Gboard is the only reliable option.

Frequent Questions (FAQ)

If your question isn't covered in this section, try looking for a solution in Xiaomi's official forums or in the community dedicated to your smartphone model, and often keyboard problems are solved by updating your firmware or resetting it.

So, no matter what keyboard you choose, update it regularly through Google Play or the App Store to avoid bugs and get new features. And if you type in multiple languages often, look at auto-replace and personal vocabulary settings, which make it much faster to type.