Auto-replacement of words and T9 tips on Xiaomi smartphones often annoy users: the system stubbornly corrects names, slang or professional terms for the “right” options. This is especially noticeable in MIUI 14/15, where machine learning algorithms have become more aggressive in “helping” when dialing. Unlike standard Android, where disabling T9 takes 2 clicks, on Xiaomi this feature is hidden deeper - and sometimes requires radical measures.
In this article, you’ll find 5 proven ways to disable auto-replacement, from basic keyboard settings to dictionary resets to even manual editing of system files (for advanced users).We’ve tested all methods on Redmi Note 12 Pro+, POCO F5 and Xiaomi 13 Ultra with the latest versions of MIUI Global/EU and Android 13/14. Importantly, some solutions only work on certain firmware – see the compatibility table below.
Why Xiaomi’s T9 is Behaving Differently Than Other Android Smartphones
It's the MIUI shell, which uses its own keyboard (even if you've installed a Gboard or SwiftKey).
- 📱 Your Message History (including Messengers and Social Media)
- 🌍 Regional settings (the dictionary is adjusted to the system language)
- 🤖 Xiaomi Cloud Data (if synchronization is enabled)
- 🔄 Frequency of use of words (less commonly used terms are replaced by popular ones»)
For example, if you write "priv", the system may offer "hello", "hello" or even "hello" - depending on which options you have encountered in your correspondence. Samsung or Google Pixel does not have such an aggressive auto-replacement, because they use standard Android algorithms.
MIUI 15 has introduced a feature called Contextual Input, which analyzes not only individual words, but entire phrases, and it requires separate actions to disable it — see the section on hidden settings.
Method 1: Disable auto-replacement in standard keyboard settings
The simplest method, which works on all versions of MIUI (including MIUI 12.5-15), is suitable for the standard Xiaomi keyboard:
- Open any field to enter text (such as Messages or Notes).
- Touch the badge. ⚙️ (gears) on the keyboard to open Settings.
- Go to the Text Input section → Auto-replacement.
- Turn off the sliders: 🔄 Auto-replacement (main function) T9) 📖 Input tips (pop-up options) 🔍 Predicting the next word
If there is no Auto-Replacement, then you have a third-party keyboard installed (see the section on Gboard/SwiftKey).
☑️ Checking the shutdown T9
⚠️ Attention: On some firmware (MIUI China or custom) the path to settings may be different. If you don't find Text input, try: Settings → Additionally. → Language and input → Virtual keyboard.
Method 2: Resetting the user dictionary
If auto-replacement continues after shutdown, the problem is in the accumulated dictionary data, the system remembers all your typos and "fixes," even if the function is turned off, to clear it up:
- Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Press three points (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Show Systems.
- Find the Xiaomi Keyboard (or the Android AOSP keyboard on older versions).
- Go to the Warehouse. → Clear the data.
- Confirm the reset (this will delete all saved words, including manual additions).
After resetting, the keyboard will be “clean”, but may disappear:
- ❌ Retained abbreviations (e.g. “Pjlst» → «please»)
- ❌ Enter history (you will have to “learn” the keyboard again)
- ✅ But the annoying corrections will disappear!
💡
Before resetting, export important words: open the keyboard → ⚙️ → Dictionary → Export (if the function is available).
Method 3: Disabling cloud dictionary synchronization
Xiaomi syncs your vocabulary with the Mi Account cloud so that the hints are the same across all devices, which means that even after a reset, the data can be recovered.
- Open Settings → Xiaomi account.
- Go to Mi Cloud → Synchronization.
- Find the Keyboard and Enter (or Input Settings) and turn off the slider.
- Back in Mi Cloud → Backup and delete the last copy (if it contains keyboard details).
This method is especially useful if you:
- 🔄 Often reinstall firmware (dictionary data will be restored from the cloud)
- 📱 Use several Xiaomi devices (fixes will be portable)
- 🔒 Worry about privacy (the dictionary may contain personal data)
Method 4: Install a third-party keyboard (Gboard, SwiftKey)
If standard methods don't work, a radical solution is to replace the keyboard completely.
- 🔹 Gboard (from Google) – the most stable, with flexible auto-replacement settings.
- 🔹 SwiftKey (from Microsoft) – supports multilingual input.
- 🔹 Fleksy – Minimalist keyboard with gestures.
How to install and configure:
- Download the keyboard from Google Play (such as Gboard).
- Open Settings → System → Language and input → Virtual keyboard.
- Turn on the new keyboard and set it by default.
- Open the keyboard settings (usually through the icon) ⚙️ on her own and turn it off: 🔄 Auto-replacement (Correction of text) → Auto-replacement) 📖 Tricks (predicting the text) 🌍 Learning from History (Personalization)
⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI Forced to return the standard keyboard after rebooting. To avoid this, disable automatic updates of system applications in Settings → Annexes → Application management → ⋮ → Auto-update.
Method 5: Manual editing of system files (for advanced ones)
If none of these methods work, you have to change the configuration files manually, which requires root rights or ADBs, and is only suitable for advanced users.
Instructions via ADB (without root):
- Enable USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times, then go back to Additional → For Developers).
- Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell settings put secure spell_checker_enabled 0
- To disable predictions, type: adb shell settings put secure text_correction_enabled 0
- Reset the device.
For users with root:
- 📁 Open the file. /data/data/com.miui.systemui/shared_prefs/com.miui.systemui_preferences.xml In any file manager with root access.
- 🔍 Find the lines with spell_checker and text_correction, change the values to false.
- 🔄 Save the file and restart the phone.
What if the keyboard stopped working after editing the files?
Comparison of methods: what way to choose
| Method | Difficulty | Required. root/ADB | Compatibility | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disconnection in settings | ⭐ | ❌ No. | MIUI 12–15 | Cloud data may remain |
| Dictionary reset | ⭐⭐ | ❌ No. | All versions. | All saved words are removed |
| Shutting down the cloud | ⭐⭐ | ❌ No. | MIUI with Mi Account | It does not help with local data |
| third-party keyboard | ⭐⭐⭐ | ❌ No. | All versions. | MIUI can reset settings |
| File editing | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ✅ Yes. | Only root/ADB | Risk of system errors |
💡
MIUI 15 will work with a combination of 1 + 2 + 3: disable auto-replace in settings, reset the dictionary and turn off cloud sync. This will remove all sources of smart clues.
Frequent problems and solutions
Problem 1: Auto Replacement returns after the reboot.
Solution: This is due to background synchronization of the Mi Cloud. Disable it (see Method 3) or install a third-party keyboard.
Problem 2: Some apps (like WhatsApp) have T9 working and others don’t.
Solution: Apps can use their own auto-replace mechanisms. Check the keyboard settings inside the messenger itself (usually in the chat menu).
Problem 3: After the MIUI update, the auto replacement turned on again.
Solution: Reset the dictionary (see Method 2) and re-disable the function. Newer versions of MIUI 15 add Reset Input Settings → System → Reset settings.