How to permanently disable T9 on Xiaomi Redmi 4: the complete guide with pictures

Xiaomi Redmi 4 is still a popular budget smartphone, but its owners often encounter the annoying feature of auto-replacement T9 — when the keyboard arbitrarily “corrects” words, adds spaces or changes the register. This especially interferes with the entry of usernames, passwords, technical terms or non-standard words. In this article, we will discuss all the working ways to disable the T9 on Redmi 4 (including the models of Redmi 4A/4X/4 Pro) with the features of the MIUI 8-14 firmwarewareware.

It’s important to understand that the configuration depends on two factors: the version of the MIUI and the keyboard used. Xiaomi has the Mi Keyboard installed by default, but many users install third-party solutions like Gboard or SwiftKey. We’ll look at options for all cases, including hidden developer settings.

If you've tried to turn off auto-replacement through standard settings, but it didn't work, don't rush to drop your phone. 90% of the time, the problem is solved by changing just 1-2 parameters that most users don't know about. Next, you'll find step-by-step instructions with pictures, a method compatibility table, and answers to frequent questions.

1. How to determine your MIUI version and keyboard

Before you start settings, you need to know exactly what firmware and keyboard are installed on your Redmi 4. This is critical, since the settings menu in MIUI 8 and MIUI 12 are radically different.

To check out the MIUI version:

  1. Open the settings (cog icon).
  2. Scroll down to the phone item.
  3. Click on the MIUI version and the number will be listed here (e.g. MIUI Global 12.5.4).

To find out the current keyboard:

  1. Open any field to enter text (e.g., in Messages).
  2. Touch the keyboard icon in the bottom panel (usually a gear or emoji).
  3. A window will pop up with the name of the active keyboard (Mi keyboard, Gboard, etc.).
📊 What keyboard do you use on Xiaomi Redmi 4?
Mi keyboard (standard)
Gboard (Google)
SwiftKey
Another.
I don't know.

If you have MIUI 8-9, the interface will be simplified, and many of the settings are hidden in the developer menu. MIUI 10+ has a separate section for the keyboard, but some options still require manual editing.

2. Method 1: Disable T9 in the standard Mi keyboard

This method is suitable for users who have a native Mi keyboard installed (or Xiaomi Keyboard in older versions). MIUI 10–14:

  1. Open Settings → Additional → Language and input.
  2. Slip on the Current Keyboard (or Keyboard Management in MIUI 12+).
  3. Select the Mi → Settings (cog icon).
  4. Go to Text Input or Text Correction.
  5. Turn off the following switches: 🔄 Auto-replacement (that’s what it is) T9) 🔤 Automatic space-space arrangement 📛 Correction of double symbols 🔠 Input tips (optional)

Save the changes and restart the keyboard (close and open any text box again).

In MIUI 8-9, the path to settings is different: Settings → All settings → Language and keyboard → Current keyboard → Input settings. There may not be a separate auto-replace item here – instead, look for Prediction of Text and Auto-correction.

☑️ Checking the shutdown T9

Done: 0 / 4

If auto-replacement still works after these actions, then your Redmi 4 has a modified firmware installed (for example, custom LineageOS or Pixel Experience).

3. Method 2: Configure Gboard (Google keyboard)

Many Xiaomi Redmi 4 users install Gboard as an alternative to the standard keyboard, where the T9 settings are hidden deeper, but you can also turn them off:

  1. Open any text field and tap the icon. ⚙️ keyboard.
  2. Select the text input settings.
  3. Go to Correction of text.
  4. Turn it off: 🔄 Auto-replacement 🔤 Automatic arrangement of punctuation marks 📊 Showing hints (optional)

Dictionary

Personal dictionary

Gboard has an additional feature called "Learning Lock" that prevents new words from being memorized, to activate it:

  1. In Gboard settings, select the Dictionary.
  2. Tap on the Learning Block and add words that should not be adjusted (e.g., nicknames, technical terms).

💡

If the keyboard is slower after the T9 is turned off, try clearing its cache: Settings → Applications → App Management → Gboard → Clear the cache.

Method 3: Reset keyboard settings through the developer menu

If standard methods didn't work, maybe you could have a system-level keyboard setting, which would help with a developer menu reset, which is universal for all MIUI versions and keyboard types.

First, you need to activate the developer mode:

  1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
  2. Tap 7 times on the MIUI version (you will be notified “You became a developer”).

Now do the reset:

  1. Return to the main Settings menu and open Additional → for developers.
  2. Find the text entry section (in older versions – Keyboard).
  3. Slip on Reset keyboard settings or Clear input data.
  4. Confirm the action and restart the phone.
What to do if there is no item "Reset keyboard settings"?
Some versions of MIUI don't have this option. Alternatively, delete keyboard data manually: Open Settings → Applications → Application Management. Find your keyboard (Mi or Gboard keyboard). Tap Storage → Clear data. Confirm action (this will delete all user words and settings) and then the keyboard will return to factory status.

If this method did not help, the last option remains – the installation of an alternative keyboard.

5. Method 4: Install an alternative keyboard without a T9

If none of the previous methods worked, the most reliable solution is to install a keyboard in which auto-replacement is disabled by default.

keyboardAdvantagesDeficienciesDownload link
AnySoftKeyboardFull disabling of auto-replacement Multilingual Support Minimalist DesignNo cloud dictionaryGoogle Play
Hacker’s KeyboardIdeal for terminal and code No auto-replacement at all Arrow and Ctrl supportInconvenient for plain textGoogle Play
Simple KeyboardMinimalism and speed No data collection Customized topicsNo word predictions.Google Play

To install an alternative keyboard:

  1. Download the application from the table above.
  2. Open Settings → Language and input → Current keyboard.
  3. Activate the new keyboard (the switch next to its name).
  4. Return to any text field, tap the keyboard icon and select the installed alternative.

💡

If you often work with terminals, code, or special characters, Hacker’s Keyboard is the best choice. Simple Keyboard or AnySoftKeyboard is the best option for plain text without auto-replacement.

6. Frequent problems and solutions

Even after the T9 is turned off, Redmi 4 users sometimes face unexpected problems, and here are the most common ones and ways to solve them:

⚠️ If word prompts are missing after auto-replacement is turned off (but not auto-replace), check the text prediction setting - it can be left on, it does not affect the setting. T9.

Problem 1: Auto Replacement is disabled, but the keyboard still corrects the words.

  • 🔍 Reason: Cloud dictionary enabled (in Gboard or Mi Keyboard).
  • 🛠 Solution: Open the keyboard settings → Dictionary → Turn off Cloud Sync and Learning from the Device.

Problem 2: After rebooting, the settings are reset.

  • 🔍 Reason: Keyboard cache error or conflict with optimizer MIUI.
  • 🛠 Solution: Clear the keyboard cache in Settings → Annexes → Application management. Turn off Auto-Optimization in Settings → Battery → Optimizing the battery.

Problem 3: You can’t turn off auto-replacement for a particular language (e.g. English).

  • 🔍 Reason: In some versions MIUI language-linked settings.
  • 🛠 Solution: Remove unnecessary language in keyboard settings or install an alternative keyboard (see Method 4).

Problem 4: The keyboard brakes after the T9 is turned off.

  • 🔍 Cause: Conflict with other system processes.
  • 🛠 Solution: Clear the cache and keyboard data. Turn off the interface animation in Settings → For developers.