How to change the input language to Xiaomi: all ways in 2 minutes

Changing the input language on Xiaomi smartphones is a challenge that every second user faces after buying a device or installing a new firmware. Even in 2026 with the release of MIUI 15, the settings interface remains not obvious to beginners: somewhere the language parameters are hidden in the keyboard menu, and somewhere in the system settings. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways to switch the language, including the nuances for the standard Mi Keyboard and Gboard from Google, and also consider the typical errors that can “fly” back.

Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices have a unique feature: they duplicate language settings in multiple sections. For example, you can add Russian in system settings, but the keyboard will still offer English layout. Or vice versa: the keyboard menu selects the language you want, and the system prompts remain in Chinese, and we will show you how to synchronize these settings and avoid conflicts between MIUI and applications.

Why Xiaomi doesn’t change the input language: 5 reasons

Before we get to the instructions, we'll look at why the language might not be switching at all your efforts, and most of the time, the problem is one of the following:

• 🔄 Keyboard conflict: Mi Keyboard and Gboard are installed simultaneously, and the system confuses the settings between them.
• 📱 Regional restrictions: firmware for the global market (Global) ROM) vs. Chinese version (China) ROM) different sets of languages.
• 🔧 Resetting settings: after updating MIUI or reset to factory parameters language packets can fly.
• 🚫 System lock: In some regions (e.g. India) Xiaomi limits the number of available languages.
• 📲 Cache error: corrupted keyboard application data prevents changes from being applied.

If you're facing one of these problems, don't worry, in the following sections we'll give you solutions for each of them, but in the meantime, check what version of MIUI you have and the firmware you have:

⚠️ Attention: On devices with China ROM (Chinese firmware) the list of available languages is limited. To unlock all options, you will need to reflash the phone on Global or EEA version.

Method 1: Change the language through MIUI system settings

This method works if you need to change the interface language and add a new input language at the same time. It works on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models with MIUI 12 and later.

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to the section Additional → Language and input (on some firmware, the path may look like Settings → All settings → Language and region).
3. Click on the Language and select the one you want from the list. If there is none, tap Add the language and search for it (for example, "Russian" or "Ukrainian").
4. Go back and select the Keyboard and Types → Current Keyboard.
5. Click on the gear icon next to the active keyboard (Mi Keyboard or Gboard) and add input languages through Languages and layouts.

After this, the interface language and keyboard should be synchronized, and if the list does not contain the language you want, it is not supported by your firmware, you will need to install an additional keyboard (more on this below).

Method 2: Configure the language in Mi Keyboard (standard keyboard)

The Mi Keyboard is the standard keyboard on all Xiaomi smartphones, and supports up to 5 simultaneously active languages, but their list depends on the firmware region.

1. Open any field to enter text (for example, in Notes or Messages).
2. Tap the keyboard icon in the bottom panel and hold it for 2 seconds → select Keyboard Settings.
3. Go to Languages and layouts.
4. Activate sliders next to the languages you want. To add a new tap, select Language Management from the list.
5. To change languages (display priority), press the icon ⋮⋮ Next to your tongue and drag it up/down.

On devices with MIUI 14+, Mi Keyboard has introduced the automatic first-word language switching feature. To turn it off, go to Keyboard Settings → Text Recognition → Automatic language switching and deactivate the option.

⚠️ Note: If after adding the language to Mi Keyboard it does not appear in the active list, try clearing the app cache: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Mi Keyboard → Warehouse → Clear the cache.

Method 3: Switching the language to Gboard (keyboard from Google)

Gboard is an alternative keyboard from Google that many users install instead of the standard one, and it supports more languages and has flexible settings, so you can change the input language.

1. Open any text field and tap the keyboard icon in the bottom panel.
2. Press the gear icon (⚙️) → Languages.
3. Add a keyboard and select the languages you want from the list (you can add several at the same time).
4. To remove the tongue, swipe it left in the active list.
5. For a quick switch during the set, use the Globe icon (🌐) keyboard.

Gboard has a unique Multilingual Typing feature that allows you to type in multiple languages without manual switching.

Gboard settings → Languages → Multilingual input → Add languages

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If Gboard doesn’t have the language you want, check if Google Languages is installed in the Play Market, and without it, some layouts (such as Tatar or Bashkir) may not show up.

Method 4: Reset keyboard settings (if language is not saved)

Sometimes, after a change of language, the changes do not apply, or the keyboard "forgets" the settings after the reboot, this is due to cache damage or data conflict, in which case the reset will help:

For Mi Keyboard:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Mi Keyboard and select Warehouse.
3. Click Clear Cache and Clear Data (Warning: This will remove all custom words from the dictionary!).
4. Reboot the phone.

For Gboard:

1. Open Settings → Apps → Gboard.
2. Select Warehouse. → Management of space.
3. Click Clear all data.
4. After restarting, reconfigure the input languages.

⚠️ Note: Resetting keyboard data will remove all saved words from your personal dictionary and your input history. If you sync with your Google account (in Gboard), the words will recover after you re-enter.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even after setting the input language correctly, it may not work properly. Here are the typical errors and their solutions:

• 🔠 Keyboard switches itself: Turn off the option in the keyboard settings Automatic language switching or Language recognition by text.
• 🌍 No language to use: Install Gboard or check if you have Chinese firmware (China) ROM).
• 🔄 Language resets after update: It's a bug MIUI. After the update, add languages again in the keyboard settings.
• 📵 Swipe Switching Does Not Work: In Mi Keyboard, check if Swipe Switching Languages by Space in Gesture Settings is enabled.
• 🔑 Blocked access to settings: If you use a work profile or child mode, some settings may be restricted by the device administrator.

If the problem persists, try installing an alternative keyboard (like SwiftKey or Fleksy) from the Play Market.They often offer more stable language work than standard solutions.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions

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If the input language is unchanged after all the manipulations, check if there are parental control apps or corporate policies (such as Mi Work or Knox) on the phone that can block changes to system settings.