Changing the keyboard layout on Xiaomi smartphones is a challenge that every user faces when they first get acquainted with the device or after resetting. Despite the intuitive MIUI interface, many Redmi, POCO or Mi owners are lost in finding the right menu, especially if they have previously used devices from other brands. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to switch layouts, from standard methods to solving atypical problems.
The keyboard on Xiaomi is very closely integrated with the MIUI shell. There is no universal algorithm: different versions of the firmware (from MIUI 12 to MIUI 14) can have different paths to settings, and some models (for example, POCO F5 or Redmi Note 12 Pro+) have unique chips, and if you use third-party keyboards like Gboard or SwiftKey, the configuration process will be different. We took into account all the nuances and collected them in one guide.
Method 1: Quickly switch layouts right while typing
The most obvious and quickest method is to use the built-in language change function directly in the keyboard interface, which works on all Xiaomi devices regardless of the MIUI version, if you use the standard Mi Keyboard keyboard.
To change the layout:
- 📱 Open any application that requires text input (such as Messages or Notes).
- 🌐 Click on the globe icon (or an acronym for the current language, such as RUS)./ENG) It's usually on the left of the space.
- 🔄 Swipe through the available layouts on this button or tap on it until you select the desired one.
If the icon is missing, it means that only one layout is added to the system, in which case you first add additional languages (for this in the next section). On some models (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra), the switch button can be hidden, so you need to change the keyboard settings to display it.
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On the Gboard keyboard, the language change button looks like a down arrow next to a space. Hold it to see a list of all the layouts available.
Method 2: Adding and removing layouts in system settings
If you don't have the layout you want, or if you want to delete the languages you don't need, you'll need to go to system settings, which is suitable for all versions of MIUI, but the path to the menu may vary slightly.
Instructions for MIUI 14 (relevant to Xiaomi 14, Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 Pro, etc.):
- Open Settings → Additional → Language and input.
- Slip on the current keyboard (or keyboard management in older versions).
- Select the Mi Keyboard (or other keyboard you use, such as Gboard).
- Go to the Input Languages and activate the desired layouts by moving the sliders to the right.
To remove the unnecessary layout, simply deactivate it in the same menu. Note that if you turn off all languages except one, the layout switch will disappear from the keyboard.
Connect to the Internet (some languages require downloading)
Check the space available (minimum 50 MB)
Close all applications with active text input
Restart your smartphone if the keyboard is unstable-->
Method 3: Set up the Gboard (Google) keyboard on Xiaomi
Many Xiaomi users prefer the Google Gboard keyboard because of its flexibility and integration with the company's services. If you use Gboard, the layout change process will be different.
Steps to add a new layout:
- 🔧 Open any text field and call the Gboard keyboard.
- 📌 Click on the gear icon (⚙️) in the top row of the keyboard to open the settings.
- 🌍 Select Languages → Add a keyboard and mark the desired languages.
- 🔄 Return to text input and hold the layout switch button (arrow down next to the space) to select the language.
Gboard also has a multi-finger gesture feature for quick switching: swipe the space left or right. To activate it, go to Gboard Settings → Gestures → Switching layout.
Standard Mi Keyboard
Gboard (Google)
SwiftKey
Another.-->
Problems in changing the layout and their solutions
Sometimes switching layouts to Xiaomi doesn't work correctly: there's no button, languages don't save, or the keyboard hangs in one layout, and let's look at the typical problems and how to fix them.
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| No switching button for the layout | Only one language added or keyboard settings are lost | Add a second language to Settings → Language and input or reset keyboard settings |
| The layout spontaneously changes | Conflict with MIUI optimizer or third-party application | Turn off Auto-Optimization in the battery settings or check the application rights |
| Keyboard 'forgets' language after reboot | Failure of the system cache or keyboard | Clear the cache in Settings → Applications → Application Management → Mi Keyboard |
| You can't add a new language. | Restrictions of regional firmware | Install global firmware or use a VPN to download the language package |
Important: if after the MIUI update all the added layouts disappeared, this is due to the peculiarities of the Xiaomi firmware, in which case only manually adding languages again or rolling back to the previous version of MIUI via Fastboot will help.
⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Redmi) 10C or POCO M4 Pro) after resetting to factory settings, the keyboard binding to the Mi Account may be lost. Before reset, save a backup copy of the keyboard settings in Settings → Additionally. → Backup.
How to change the layout on Xiaomi with gestures
Modern versions of MIUI support keyboard control through gestures, which makes it easier to switch layouts, a feature that is especially useful for devices with large screens (such as the Xiaomi 13 Pro or Redmi K60 Ultra), where it is not always convenient to reach the change of language button.
To tune the gestures:
- Go to Settings → Additional → Language and Enter → Current Keyboard → Mi Keyboard Settings.
- Select Gestures (or Additional Features in older versions).
- Activate the swipe option on the space for changing the language.
- Test the gesture: swipe your finger over the space to the left or right to switch between the layouts.
On the Gboard keyboard, a similar feature is configured in the Settings → Gestures → Swipe layout switching by space. The difference from MIUI is that you can select the swipe direction (left / right) for each language separately.
What to do if the gestures don’t work?
Features of changing layout on POCO and Redmi
POCO and Redmi line devices often have stripped-down versions of MIUI with modified settings. For example, on the POCO X3 Pro or Redmi Note 11, the path to keyboard settings may differ from the flagship models.
- 📲 Nana POCO s MIUI for POCO Keyboard menu hidden in Settings → System system → Language and input.
- 🔍 Some firmware for Redmi does not have a separate Mi Keyboard item – instead, keyboard management is used.
- 🌐 On budget models (e.g. Redmi) A1) Support for some languages may be disabled due to memory limitations.
If you don't find the right settings, try using MIUI: open Settings and type "keyboard" or "language" in the search box. The system will tell you the current path for your model.
⚠️ Attention: On devices POCO With custom firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience), the standard Mi Keyboard can be removed, in which case you will need to install an alternative keyboard from Google Play.
Resetting keyboard settings to factory
If all of these methods are tried, but the layout is still not switching or is not working properly, resetting the keyboard will help, and this procedure will bring all the parameters back to the factory, including the added languages and custom dictionaries.
How to reset your settings:
- Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Find the Mi Keyboard (or Gboard if you use it) in the list.
- Slip on the Warehouse → Clear the data and confirm the action.
- Reset the device.
Once reset, you'll need to re-add all the layouts and customize the keyboard for yourself, and if the problem was a setting conflict, this method will fix it, but remember, along with the settings, all the saved words from the user's dictionary will be deleted.
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Resetting the keyboard is a last resort, and before using it, try clearing only the cache (Clear the cache in the storage menu), which often solves the problem without losing data.