Changing the input language on Xiaomi smartphones may seem like a trivial task, but in the shell of MIUI or the new HyperOS, this process has its own nuances that often confuse beginners. Users may find themselves in a situation where the Latin alphabet appears again when printing instead of Cyrillic, or the switch button disappears from the screen altogether, this is especially true for those who have just activated the device or updated the system software.
In this article, we will explore all the possible ways to quickly and efficiently switch the language on the keyboard in different use cases. You will learn not only about standard gestures, but also about the hidden settings that allow you to adapt a virtual keyboard to your individual preferences.
We'll look at the Mi Keyboard, Google's popular Gboard, and we'll also look at third-party solutions like the Yandex Keyboard. Regardless of your smartphone model, whether it's a budget Redmi or a flagship Xiaomi, the setup principles remain similar, but the visual design of the menu may differ. Let's dive into the technical details of the process.
Standard layout switching methods
The most obvious and quickest way to change the input language is to use a special interface element on the keyboard itself. In most cases, the input field, usually to the left or right of the space, is located an icon in the form of a globe or an acronym for the current language, such as RU or EN. A brief click on this element instantly changes the layout to the next one available in the list.
If the icon is missing, the system often offers an alternative way to control the button with a long press. Try to hold your finger on the space key for a fraction of a second longer than with normal typing. The screen should have a pop-up menu where you can select the desired language from the active list, which is especially convenient on large screens when the corner buttons are uncomfortable to reach.
Some versions of MIUI have a swipe across the space, and by swiping your finger to the left or right directly on the space key, you can cycle through the available languages, and it looks aesthetically pleasing and doesn't clutter the interface with the extra buttons, but it does require some habit to build muscle memory.
- 🌐 Click on the globe icon in the bottom row of the keyboard for instant change.
- ⌨️ Perform a long press on the space key to call the selection menu.
- ↔️ Swipe your finger left or right over the space for cyclic switching.
It is worth noting that the behavior of the keyboard may depend on the specific application in which you type. In messengers or browsers, standard gestures work faultlessly, while in some banking applications with increased input protection, the system keyboard can be blocked or replaced with a secure version with limited functionality.
Configure the input languages in Gboard
Google’s Gboard keyboard is the standard for many Android devices and is often set by default on Xiaomi smartphones. To add or remove the language, you need to go to the settings of the app itself. Usually, you need to click on the gear icon in the top bar of the keyboard or go to the phone’s system settings.
In the settings menu, find the Languages section. This shows a list of all currently active layouts. If the language you want isn't on the list, click Add Language and select it from the directory. You can also download additional dictionaries for offline work and correct text prediction, which greatly improves the comfort of printing.
⚠️ Note: Deleting the language from the list in the Gboard settings completely removes it from the keyboard. If you accidentally delete the Russian layout, you can only return it by re-applying it through the language menu.
An important feature of Gboard is the ability to adjust the behavior of the switch button. You can choose whether it will be displayed permanently, only if you have several languages or disappear altogether. For monolingual users, this helps to save usable screen space by making the space button wider.
Gboard's secret function
Control of layout on the MIUI keyboard
The Mi Keyboard (or Xiaomi Keyboard in the newer versions) is deeply integrated into the MIUI and HyperOS shell. Its settings are in the phone's general settings menu. To get to them, go to Settings → Additional settings → Language and input. This is where you control all the input methods installed on the system.
Unlike Gboard, the Mi Keyboard interface can offer its own options for where to place the language change button. Often the default is activated long tap over the space, but the visual button can be hidden. In the "Keyboard settings" section, you can turn on the display of the tool line where the switch is located.
Xiaomi keyboard features the ability to quickly change the theme and font, which sometimes affects the readability of characters in different alphabets. If after changing the theme you no longer understand which language is currently active, pay attention to the color of the prompts above the keys or return the standard design for verification.
☑️ Checking input settings
For users who often use mixed input (translite or code-switching), Mi Keyboard offers a multilingual mode that tries to guess a word in two languages at once without explicitly switching. However, for pure Russian or English text, this feature is better off to avoid autocorrect errors.
Adding new languages to the Android system
Before you switch the layout, make sure that the language you want is added to the system at all. Sometimes users buy devices with global firmware, where only English is activated by default, and forget to connect Russian or other necessary languages. Without this step, there will be nowhere to switch.
The process of adding is as follows: go to Settings → Language and input → Keyboard management. Select an active keyboard and find Languages. In the list that opens, click Add and find the language you want in the directory. The system can suggest downloading a language pack if it is not built into the underlying firmware.
| Language | ISO code | Features of layout | Need to load |
|---|---|---|---|
| Russian | ru-RU | YTSUKEN, phonetic | Usually built-in. |
| English (USA) | en-US | QWERTY Standard | Built-in. |
| Ukrainian | uk-UA | Yitsuken with i, yi, g, ye | Often times, loading |
| Kazakh | kk-KZ | Cyrillic with additional signs | Loading required |
It's important to distinguish between the system interface language and the input language. Changing the system language changes the menu names and settings throughout the phone, whereas the input language only affects the characters that appear when you type text. You can use the menu in English, but type in Russian, and vice versa.
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If you travel frequently, add all the necessary languages in the settings. This will take a couple of minutes, but eliminate the need to look for settings in an unfamiliar interface when you find yourself in another country and you urgently need to write a message.
Solving problems with the disappearance of the language button
One of the most common problems with Xiaomi smartphones is the sudden disappearance of the language switch or globe, most often after you update your system or install another keyboard update, the system can “deem” that only one language is active, and hide the switch button even if you have used two before.
The first thing to do in this situation is to force the device to restart, which is a trivial action that often clears temporary cache files that could have blocked the keyboard interface from rendering correctly. If the reboot didn't work, check if the "Show Language Switch" setting in the keyboard settings itself is lost.
In some cases, the problem is application conflict: Third-party launchers or memory cleanup applications can aggressively terminate the system keyboard processes without allowing it to load a full settings profile. Try disabling battery optimization for the keyboard application in the power saving settings.
⚠️ Note: If the button is missing after installing a new keyboard application, it may be that the default system activated it but didn't configure the languages. → Current keyboard.
A radical but effective method is to clean the keyboard data. From the Apps menu → All apps, find your keyboard, click Clear and select Clear All Data. This will return the keyboard to factory settings, after which you will need to re-select languages, but the switch button is guaranteed to appear.
Use of third-party keyboards for enhanced capabilities
If Xiaomi and Google’s standard tools don’t suit you, the Play Market offers a variety of alternatives, and popular solutions like Yandex Keyboard or SwiftKey offer more flexible switching settings, including automatic language change depending on which language you start typing your first word in.
To install a third-party keyboard, download the app from the store, launch it, and follow the instructions on the screen. You will be prompted to activate a new keyboard in the system and allow it to access data entry. Then a new item will appear in the Language and Enter menu, which you need to select as the main method of entering.
Third-party keyboards often have more advanced dictionaries and predictive input capabilities, which is especially true for complex languages or specific terminology. However, it is worth remembering the safety: choose only proven applications from reputable developers, since the keyboard has access to everything you type, including passwords.
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Third-party keyboards give more control over layout and autocorrection, but require careful setting of access rights and permissions for stable operation in the background.
Many users note that on older Redmi or Poco models, third-party keyboards may work less smoothly due to a lack of RAM, in which case it is better to stay on the standard Mi Keyboard solution, optimized specifically for the hardware of your device.