How to translate the keyboard into Russian on Xiaomi Redmi 4: all ways

Xiaomi Redmi 4 is still popular due to its reliability and budget price, but many users face the problem: after buying or resetting the keyboard, the default remains in English, Chinese or another language, switching it to Russian seems easy, but in practice there are nuances - especially if the device has an informal firmware or no Russian localization in the system.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to change the keyboard language to Redmi 4, including standard settings, installing Google’s Gboard, and solutions for cases where Russian is not available. We will pay special attention to typical errors (for example, when the language changes, but the characters are displayed incorrectly) and give recommendations for optimizing input for Russian-speaking users.

Why the keyboard does not switch to Russian: the main reasons

Before you start setting up, it’s important to understand why the keyboard on Xiaomi Redmi 4 can “ignore” Russian.

• 📱 Absence of Russian in system languages: if the interface language itself is not added to the smartphone settings, the keyboard may not offer it as an option.
• 🔧 Standard keyboard MIUI without Russian support: in some versions of firmware (especially Chinese) the Russian layout is absent by default.
• 🔄 Resetting or software update: after these actions, the keyboard can return to factory settings.
• 📲 Conflict with third-party keyboards: if multiple input applications are installed (e.g. SwiftKey) + Gboard, they can block each other.

If your Redmi 4 is purchased abroad (e.g. in China), the likelihood of Russian not being available in the firmware increases, in which case you will either need to install an alternative keyboard or change the region of the device.

Method 1: Change language through standard MIUI settings

The most obvious method is to add Russian directly to the system settings, which works if the MIUI firmware supports Russian localization.

1. Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen).
2. Go to the section Additional settings → Language and input → Languages.
3. Click Add language and find Russian (Russia) or Russian (Ukraine/Kazakhstan) in the list.
4. After adding, drag Russian to the first position on the list to make it the main one.

Now go back to Language and Input → Current Keyboard and select MIUI System Keyboard. Check if Russian layout is available. If not, move on to the next method.

Method 2: Install Google’s Gboard (recommended method)

If the standard MIUI keyboard does not support Russian, the best solution is to install Gboard (Google Keyboard), which offers advanced features, including automatic dictionary layout switching, gesture input and thematic design.

Installation instructions:

1. Download Gboard from the Play Store (if it is not available, use it). APK-file from a verified source, such as APKPure).
2. After installation, open any field to enter text (for example, in Notes or Messages).
3. Click on the keyboard icon in the lower right corner and select Gboard.
4. There will be an icon in the input bar 🌐 — Click on it to add Russian language.

The advantages of Gboard for Redmi 4:

• 🔠 Support for multiple layouts at the same time (you can quickly switch between Russian and English).
• 🎨 Possibility of setting the themes and size of keys.
• 🔍 Google Search and Translator.
• 📲 Sync the dictionary between devices (if you use a Google account).

💡

If the Russian layout does not appear after installing Gboard, check the language settings in the application itself: open Gboard → Settings → Languages → Add Russian manually.

Method 3: Alternative keyboards (SwiftKey, Microsoft Keyboard)

If Gboard doesn’t fit for some reason, you can consider other popular keyboards, such as Microsoft SwiftKey is known for its intelligent text prediction, and Yandex.

Comparison of alternative keyboards for Redmi 4:

To install any of these keyboards:

1. Download the app from the Play Store.
2. Activate it in settings: Settings → Language and input → Current keyboard.
3. Configure the Russian language in the parameters of the keyboard itself.

Problem Solving: Why Russian is not added

Sometimes even after you install Gboard or add Russian to your settings, the system stubbornly ignores the changes.

⚠️ Note: If the keyboard continues to enter Latin instead of Cyrillic after changing the language, check if the English Only option is activated in the application settings (for example, in some messengers).

• 🔄 Reboot didn't help: Try clearing the keyboard cache in Settings → Annexes → Gboard (or other) → Memory. → Clear the cache.
• 📵 Russian is not in the list of languages: This means that the firmware does not support localization.The solution is to install custom firmware (for example, LineageOS) or use a third-party keyboard.
• 🔑 Keyboard switches by itself: Turn off auto-replacement in keyboard settings or reset it to factory settings.

If the problem persists, check the region of the device:

1. Go to Settings → Additional settings → Language and input → Region.
2. Choose Russia or another Russian-speaking country.
3. Reboot the phone.

💡

If Russian is not in the firmware, the only reliable way is to install a third-party keyboard. Attempts to change system files manually can lead to failures!

Additional settings for easy input in Russian

Just add Russian is not enough – to enter was really comfortable, we recommend you to configure the following parameters:

• ⚡ Auto-replace and text prediction: Enable keyboard settings to speed up typing. For Gboard, path: Settings → System settings → Text input → Auto-replacement.
• 🎵 Pressing sound and vibration: Helps avoid typos. Configure in Keyboard Settings → Sound and vibration.
• 📏 Keyboard size and layout: For Redmi 4 with a small screen, you can reduce the height of the keys or use one-handed mode.
• 🌐 Language bar: Enable the current language display in the input bar for quick switching.

It is also useful for Gboard to activate:

• Gesture input (swipe your finger on the keys without interruption).
• Voice input (microphone next to space).
• Synchronize the dictionary with a Google account.

What to do if nothing helps: radical methods

If all of these methods fail, there are more serious measures that should be taken only as a last resort, as they can affect the stability of the device.

⚠️ Warning: Changing system files or firmware can cause the warranty to be lost and the phone to fail!

Options:

1. Install custom firmware (for example, LineageOS or Pixel Experience): these firmware supports Russian by default. This will require unlocking the bootloader and using TWRP.
2. Manual System Font Replacement: If the Cyrillic display is a problem, you can replace the fonts via Root access (for example, using the FontFix app).
3. Factory reset: If the crash is due to an application conflict, a full reset can help. Way: Settings → Additional settings → Recovery and Reset → Reset.

To install custom firmware on Redmi 4, follow the official instructions on the XDA Developers or 4PDA forum. Remember that this process requires experience and can take several hours.

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing the keyboard to Redmi 4