How to change the input language on the Xiaomi phone: all the ways

Changing the input language on Xiaomi smartphones (including the Redmi and POCO lines) is one of the most common tasks that users face after buying a device or installing a new firmware. Even if you purchased a device with a global version of MIUI, the default keyboard language may not be the one you want, for example, models for the European market often do not have Russian layout, and in Asian versions – English.

In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to change the input language, from basic configuration through system parameters to solving problems with missing layouts. We will focus on the nuances for different versions of MIUI (12-14) and popular models - Xiaomi 13/14, Redmi Note 12/13, POCO X5/F5.

If you are faced with a situation where the desired language is not in the list or the keyboard is automatically reset to Chinese after updating, there is a section at the end of the article with solutions to these problems.

1. How to check the current input language

Before you change layout, make sure that the problem is in the input language, not the system language of the interface. These settings are independent of each other: you can use the English MIUI interface, but type in Russian — or vice versa.

To see the active layout:

1. Open any application where you can type text (such as Messages or Notes).
2. Tap the field to enter - the keyboard will appear.
3. Pay attention to the Globe badge (🌐) or abbreviation of language (for example, RU, EN) keyboard.

If the icon is missing, you only have one layout installed, in which case you need to add a new language first, and then activate the switch between them.

💡

On some Xiaomi models (such as the POCO F4), the language icon can be hidden behind a long press on the space key. Try holding it for 2-3 seconds to open the layout menu.

2. Standard method: changing the language through keyboard settings

It is a versatile method that works on all Xiaomi smartphones regardless of the MIUI version. Instructions are suitable for the standard Gboard (from Google) and the branded Mi Keyboard.

Steps to change the language:

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to Additional → Language and Entering (in some versions of MIUI, the path may look like System and Device → Language and Input).
3. Select the Virtual Keyboard (or Keyboard Management).
4. Slip on an active keyboard (such as Gboard or Mi Keyboard).
5. Open the Languages (or Input Languages) section.
6. Click Add keyboard and select the desired language from the list.
7. Return to the input field and hold the globe icon (🌐), to switch to a new language.

If the language you want is not on the list, you may need to update your keyboard or install an additional language package, read about this in the "Problem Solving" section.

3. Quick switching between languages during recruitment

If you add a few layouts, you can switch between them right while you're typing, without going into the settings.

For Gboard (Google Keyboard):

• 🌐 Swipe by space: swipe left or right on the space key to change the language.
• 🔄 Globe Badge: Tap the icon 🌐 keyboard.
• ⚙️ Gesture settings: in Gboard settings, you can enable double tap switching over the space.

For the Mi Keyboard (branded Xiaomi keyboard):

• 🌐 Hold the space: press the space key for 1-2 seconds, the menu of languages will appear.
• 🔁 Auto-switching: in the keyboard settings, you can enable automatic language change by the first letters of the word (for example, when you enter hello, the Russian layout will be activated).

4. Adding languages that are not on the list

Sometimes the language is not included in the standard list, and this can happen for several reasons:

• 📱 You have a Chinese version installed. MIUI (For example, on Xiaomi 13 Pro for the Chinese market, where only Chinese and English are available by default.
• 🔄 The keyboard hasn’t been updated for a long time, and language packages are outdated.
• 🚫 Support for certain regions is disabled in the firmware (for example, Ukrainian or Belarusian languages may not be available in global assemblies).

Decisions:

1. Update keyboard: For Gboard: Open Google Play → My apps → Gboard → Update. For Mi Keyboard: check for updates through Settings → About Phone → System Update.

Install an alternative keyboard:

Google Play

SwiftKey

Microsoft Keyboard

AnySoftKeyboard

Change the region of the system:

Settings → Additional → Language and Region

Ukraine

💡

If the added language is missing after the MIUI update, try resetting the keyboard settings: Settings → Applications → Application Management → Keyboard → Storage → Clear data.

5. Features for different Xiaomi models

The process of changing the input language is generally the same for all Xiaomi devices, but there are nuances depending on the model and version of MIUI. The table below is the key differences:

On devices with Chinese firmware (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra for the Chinese market) before adding Russian or another language, you may need to unlock the bootloader and install a global version of MIUI. This is a complex procedure that voids the warranty - read more about it in our firmware guide.

💡

On the POCO F4 GT and other gaming models, the keyboard can automatically switch to English in games. To turn this off, go to Settings → Special Features → Game Settings → Turn off auto-switching.

6. Solving common problems

If the input language doesn’t change or disappears after the update, try the following steps:

Problem 1: Language resets to Chinese after reboot

⚠️ Note: This error is typical for devices with Chinese firmware MIUI (for example, Xiaomi 12S Ultra.The system forcibly returns the interface and input language to the factory settings.

Decision:

• 🔧 Install Gboard from Google Play and add the languages you want through it.
• 📱 Change the region to Russia or Europe in Settings → Additionally. → Language and region.
• 🔄 If the problem persists, run a global version. MIUI (requires unlocking the loader).

Problem 2: New language added but not displayed in switching list

Decision:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find your keyboard (Gboard or Mi Keyboard) and select Warehouse → Clear the cache.
3. Reboot the phone.

Problem 3: The keyboard does not respond to language switching

Decision:

• 🛠️ Check if third-party keyboard management apps (like SwiftKey or Chroom) are installed.
• 🔄 Turn off and turn on the keyboard again in Settings → Language and input → Keyboard management.

7.Alternative keyboards for Xiaomi

If standard solutions don’t work, consider installing third-party keyboards that offer more languages, themes, and features (such as real-time translation or gestures).

Popular options:

• 📝 Gboard (Google Keyboard): supports over 100 languages, there is voice input and translator. Download to Google Play.
• ⚡ SwiftKey (Microsoft): adapts to the style of printing, predicts words, supports rare languages (for example, Tatar or Bashkir).
• 🎨 Chroom: Minimalist keyboard with customization of gestures and color themes.
• 🌍 AnySoftKeyboard: Open source, support for old language packages.

To install an alternative keyboard:

1. Download the app from Google Play.
2. Open Settings → Language and input → Keyboard management.
3. Activate the new keyboard (switch to position Incl.).
4. Return to the input field, tap the keyboard icon in the notification bar and select the installed keyboard.

After installation, do not forget to add the desired languages in the settings of the new keyboard.

💡

Third-party keyboards may collect data about your input (for example, to improve predictions).To turn this off, go to the keyboard settings and deactivate the Personalization or Submit Statistics options.

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing the input language to Xiaomi