Why Xiaomi is getting a Chinese keyboard and how to fix it
Many owners of Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphones are facing the sudden emergence of a Chinese keyboard layout - Baidu IME, Sogou Input or built-in MiuiKeyboard with characters. This happens even on global MIUI firmware due to preinstalled system applications or accidental activation through settings.
The problem isn’t just the inconvenience: the Chinese keyboard can collect input data (including passwords) and send it to Baidu/Sogou servers, posing privacy risks. Fortunately, there are several ways to disable it, from simply deleting it through settings to deep-cleaning system files.
In this article, we’ll cover all the current methods for MIUI 12/13/14 (including HyperOS) and how to prevent the Chinese layout from reappearing after the updates.
Method 1: Disconnect via keyboard settings
The fastest and safest method is to deactivate the Chinese layout in the keyboard control menu, which is suitable for most models (Xiaomi 11/12/13, Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO F3/F4/F5), if the keyboard is installed as an optional, rather than a system one.
Instructions:
- 📱 Open any field to enter text (such as notes or a message).
- 🔑 Swipe your finger over the space left/right to open the keyboard control panel.
- ⚙️ Click on the icon. ⚙ Settings (or ⋯ → Keyboard management).
- 🗑️ Find it on the Baidu list IME, Sogou Input or Chinese (simplified/traditional) and disable the slider.
If there is no Chinese keyboard, it is built into the MiuiKeyboard system application, in which case you go to Method 2.
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If the keyboard still appears after the switch is off, try restarting the phone, and sometimes the changes only apply after the reboot.
Method 2: Remove through application settings
Chinese keyboards are often installed as separate applications (Baidu IME, Sogou Pinyin) and can be removed or disabled via the app menu, but some are protected by the system and require ADB rights.
How to check and delete:
- Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- In the search box, type Baidu, Sogou or IME.
- If the app is found: 🗑️ Press Remove (if the button is active). 🔄 If you only have to disable it instead of deleting it, use it.
For system keyboards (such as those built into MiuiKeyboard), the delete button will be inactive, in which case the ADB shutdown will help.
Check the name of the keyboard in the input settings|Make a backup copy of the data (in case of failure)|Make sure that the phone has an alternative keyboard (Gboard, SwiftKey) installed)|Battery charge of at least 30%-->
Method 3: Resetting keyboard settings to factory
If the Chinese layout comes after a MIUI update or region change, resetting the keyboard will help, not removing the user data, but returning all input parameters to the "out of the box" state.
Step-by-step:
- Open Settings → System → Additional → Language and input.
- Select Virtual Keyboard → Keyboard Management.
- Put three points on it (⋯) in the upper right corner and select Resetting Settings.
- Confirm the action and restart the phone.
After reset, check the active keyboard list — the Chinese layout should disappear. If not, it is embedded in the system software and requires more radical measures.
Gboard (Google)|SwiftKey|Built-in MiuiKeyboard|The other Chinese (Baidu/Sogou)|Yours (specify in the comments)-->
Method 4: Disconnect via ADB (for system keyboards)
If the Chinese keyboard is built into the MiuiKeyboard or protected from removal, it can be disabled using the commands ADB (Android Debug Bridge), this method requires a computer and enabled debugging over USB.
Instructions:
- 🖥️ Install. ADB Tools on PC.
- 📱 On the phone, activate Settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Tap 7 times to turn on the developer mode).
- Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
- Connect your phone to your PC and type in the command line: adb devices (the device should appear).
- Run the command to disable the Chinese keyboard: adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.baidu.input or for Sogou: adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.sohu.inputmethod.sogou
For built-in MiuiKeyboard with Chinese layouts, use:
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.miuikeyboardAttention!
Gboard
What if the ADB can’t see the device?
Method 5: Remove via TWRP (for advanced users)
If all previous methods have failed and the Chinese keyboard continues to appear, it can be manually removed via the TWRP custom recavator, which is only suitable for unlocked bootloaders and requires firmware experience.
Algorithm of action:
- 🔓 Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool (if not done previously).
- 📥 Install. TWRP For your model (download from the official website twrp.me).
- 🗃️ Load into the Recavérie (Power) + Vol Up and go to Advanced → File Manager.
- 📂 Delete keyboard files by path: /system/priv-app/BaiduIME (for Baidu) /system/app/SogouInput (for Sogou) /system/priv-app/MiuiKeyboard (built-in, remove carefully!)
- 🔄 Reboot the phone.
⚠️ Attention, deleting system files through TWRP This can lead to bootloop. Before you do it, back up the partition. /system purely TWRP.
How to prevent the reappearance of the Chinese keyboard
Even after deleting, the Chinese layout can return after updating MIUI or resetting. To avoid this, follow these tips:
| Problem. | Decision | What firmware? |
|---|---|---|
| The keyboard is back after the update | Turn off automatic update in Settings → About Phone → System Update | All versions of MIUI |
| Appears after the change of the region | Don’t change region to China/Hong Kong in Settings → Additional → Region | MIUI 12+ |
| Installed with new applications | Before installing APK, check permissions in Settings → Applications → Special Access → Install Unknown Applications | MIUI 13/14, HyperOS |
| Recovered after discharge | Create a backup without system applications through Mi Mover or TWRP | All versions. |
An additional measure: install an ad blocker (such as AdGuard or Blokada) and blacklist the domains ime.baidu.com and pinyin.sogou.com. This will prevent updates to Chinese keyboards from downloading.
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The most reliable way to avoid returning a Chinese keyboard is to use MIUI EU or HyperOS Global global firmware instead of the Chinese (CN) version.
Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
When trying to remove a Chinese keyboard, users often face typical problems, and here are the most common ones and ways to solve them:
- 🚫 Error: "Can't disable the app" Reason: not enough rights. Solution: use ADB (Method 4 or get root.
- 🔄 Keyboard returns after reboot Reason: System app recovers Solution: Freeze it via Titanium Backup or Lucky Patcher.
- ⚠️ After removal, text input fails Reason: the main keyboard is removed Solution: install Gboard or SwiftKey in advance.
- 📱 No Chinese keyboard in the app listings. Cause: It's built into MiuiKeyboard. Solution: Use ADB deactivate.
⚠️ On some models (Xiaomi 13 Ultra, Redmi) K60 Pro) The built-in MiuiKeyboard keyboard contains Chinese layouts that cannot be removed without losing the main input, in which case the only way out is to install a third-party keyboard and disable the system keyboard via the main keyboard. ADB.