How to switch from numbers to letters on Xiaomi: all the ways for any model

Have you accidentally switched to a digital layout on your Xiaomi and don't know how to get back to letters? Or does the keyboard stubbornly show numbers instead of alphabet when typing? This problem is familiar to many users of Redmi smartphones, POCO and other brands. Unlike iPhone or Samsung, where changing layouts is intuitive, on devices with MIUI, this process can be questionable - especially if you recently switched from a different operating system.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible ways to switch from numbers to letters, from standard methods through the system keyboard to alternative solutions for non-standard situations. You’ll learn how to do this on different versions of MIUI (12 to 14), what gestures simplify the process, and what to do if the keyboard is “hung” in digital mode, and also how to permanently disable unnecessary digital layout so that it no longer interferes.

Why do Xiaomi have numbers instead of letters?

Before we get to the solution, it is important to understand the cause of the problem. On Xiaomi smartphones, the digital layout can be activated in several cases:

• 🔢 Accidental pressing of the layout switch (most often it is a long hold of the key 123 or?123 on the keyboard).
• 📱 Automatic switching when entering data in certain fields (for example, in a calculator or when dialing a phone number).
• 🔄 Keyboard failure (especially after update) MIUI or install third-party keyboards such as Gboard or SwiftKey).
• 🎯 Default settings in some regional firmware versions (e.g. Chinese models without global firmware).

Interestingly, older versions of MIUI (before 11th) often featured a digital layout with double-clicking on the space, a feature inherited from earlier versions of Android. In newer firmware, this bug is fixed, but sometimes it manifests itself after resetting.

Method 1: Standard switching over the MIUI keyboard

The most obvious method is to use the built-in buttons on the keyboard. Depending on the version of the MIUI and the model of the smartphone (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13T, etc.), the appearance of the keyboard may differ, but the principle is the same:

1. Open any application where you can type text (such as Messages or Notes).
2. Tap the text input field to make the keyboard appear.
3. Pay attention to the bottom left button – usually the current layout is displayed there: 🔤 ABV ABC — alphabetical layout. 🔢 123 or?123 - digital layout.

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If the button doesn't respond, try holding it for 1-2 seconds, sometimes it opens up an extra layout menu, and on some models (e.g. Redmi 10C), swipe up the 123 button to switch.

Make sure the keyboard is active | Check if the screen is locked | Press the layout button once (do not hold) | If it does not work, try swiping up the button

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⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI for the European Region, the layout switch button may be located at the bottom right next to the key ↩ (It's about interface localization.

Method 2: Gestures for quick switching

If you're tired of poking the little button all the time, you can use gestures -- they work on all Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 12 and up -- and here are two of the most convenient ways to do this:

• 👆 Swipe down the space: swipe down the space from top to bottom, and it will instantly switch the layout from numbers to letters (and vice versa.
• 👉👈 Double swipe left-right on key 123: swipe left quickly, then right (or vice versa) is an alternative way to change the layout.

These gestures can be turned off or configured in the keyboard settings.

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Language and Enter → Current Keyboard (MIUI).
2. Select the keyboard settings → Gestures.
3. Activate or deactivate the Swipe option to change the layout.

Nana POCO F4 and other models with AMOLED-In this case, if you use screens, gestures can be unstable because of the sensitivity of the sensor, then try to increase the force of pressing in the screen settings.

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If the gestures don't work, check if the One Hand mode is on in the keyboard settings. It can block some swipes.

Method 3: Change the layout through the notification panel

Few people know, but on Xiaomi you can switch the keyboard layout directly from the notification bar. This is convenient if you type often and do not want to be distracted by searching for a button.

1. Swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open the notification bar.
2. Find the badge. 🔤 (Aa: This appears when the keyboard is active.
3. Tap the icon once – the layout will change from numbers to letters or vice versa.

If the icon is not present, it must be added manually:

1. Open Settings → Notification panel and status bar.
2. Select Change the order of the icons.
3. Find the keyboard or input language in the list and drag it to the active area.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI In Russia, the keyboard icon in the notification panel may disappear after rebooting. In this case, resetting the panel settings in Settings will help → Annexes → Application management → System applications → Notification panel.

Method 4: Configure the keyboard through system parameters

If standard methods don't work, the problem may be the keyboard settings, especially after you upgrade MIUI or install third-party keyboards, and here's how to get the letter layout back through the menu:

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Language and input.
2. Select the Current Keyboard (usually the MIUI or Gboard Keyboard).
3. Open the keyboard settings → layouts and languages.
4. Make sure that the layout you want is included (e.g. Russian (ABV) or English (QWERTY)).
5. If the digital layout is enabled by default, uncheck the Digital Keyboard or drag it down the list.

On Xiaomi with global firmware (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Global), you can also:

• 🌐 Turn off automatic switching to numbers when entering numbers.
• 🔄 Set the priority of layouts (put the letter first).
• 🚫 Remove unnecessary layouts so that they do not interfere.

If you use Gboard, the path is different: Gboard settings → layouts → layout management. You can turn off the digital bar completely, leaving only the letter bar.

Method 5: Alternative solutions for complex cases

If none of the above methods worked, the problem could be deeper.

• 🔧 Reinstall the keyboard: Remove updates to the keyboard MIUI In Settings → Apps or install an alternative keyboard (e.g. Microsoft SwiftKey).
• 📱 Screen reset: Sometimes sensor failures lead to a digital layout sticking.Reset settings to Settings → Display. → Additionally. → Resetting screen settings.
• 🔄 Update MIUI: On some models (Redmi) 9T, POCO M3) The digital layout bug was fixed in security patches. Check the updates in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 🛠️ Factory backtracking: The last resort if the problem is caused by system files being corrupted.Be sure to back up the data through Settings before doing so → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

On Xiaomi with the unlocked bootloader, you can try installing custom firmware (for example, Xiaomi.EU), where such bugs are eliminated.

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If the digital layout only appears in a particular application (e.g. Telegram or WhatsApp), the problem lies in its settings. Try clearing the app cache or reinstall it.

How to permanently disable the digital layout on Xiaomi

If you never need numbers when typing, you can completely remove the numerical layout from the system.

1. Open Settings → Additional → Language and Enter → Current Keyboard.
2. Select keyboard settings → layouts and languages.
3. Search the Digital Keyboard (or 123) and uncheck next to it.
4. Confirm the action - now when typing numbers will not appear.

Gboard's a different path.

1. Run any field to enter text and tap the icon ⚙️ keyboard.
2. Select the layouts → Managing layouts.
3. Turn off the Digital Keyboard and other unnecessary options.

After that, to enter the numbers, you will have to hold the corresponding letter keys (for example, W for 2, E for 3, etc.) or switch to a special numerical mode through a long press on 123.

⚠️ Note: On some models (Redmi) A1, POCO C40) Disabling the digital layout may cause the symbols to disappear (for example, @, #, $) In the main layout, in which case you'll have to return it back.

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing layout to Xiaomi