How to change the keyboard layout on the Xiaomi phone: 5 ways + error solving

Changing the keyboard layout on Xiaomi smartphones is a challenge that every second user faces after buying a device or updating a firmware. Even in fresh MIUI 15, the settings interface can be confusing: somewhere options are hidden in the submenu, and somewhere you need to install additional language packages. This article will help you understand how to quickly switch the layout, add a new language or eliminate typical errors like a missing keyboard after a reset.

We will look at all the current ways – from standard settings to hidden Gboard functions and the Mi Keyboard. We will separately focus on the nuances for models with global and Chinese firmware (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13T, etc.), and also give recommendations for optimizing input for multilingual users. If you are tired of random switching layouts or want to customize gestures for quick access, here you will find the answers.

1. Standard method: change layout through the notification panel

The fastest method of switching is to use the notification bar, which works on all Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 12 and later if the keyboard is already configured in several languages.

1. Open any application that requires text input (such as Messages or Notes).
2. Tap the text box so that the keyboard appears.
3. Swipe your finger down from the top of the screen to open the notification bar.
4. Find the “Input Language” icon (usually an icon with the letter A or the country flag).
5. Slip it and select the desired layout from the list.

⚠️ Note: If the language icon is not on the panel, you need to add it manually:

1. Deploy the notification panel in its entirety (swipe down twice).
2. Click on the icon. ⚙️ Settings in upper right corner.
3. Select Order of Icons and find “Input Language” in the “Other Icons” list.
4. Drag it to the active area.

This is a quick switching method, but it's not good if you haven't added the layout you want to use, so move on to the next partition.

2. Adding a new layout in the system settings

If the language you want is not on the switch list, you need to install it through system settings. Instructions are relevant for MIUI 14/15 and most Xiaomi models, including the Redmi 12, POCO F5 and Xiaomi 13 Lite.

Follow the step-by-step instructions:

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to the section Additional → Language and input (in some firmware, the path may be System → Language and Region).
3. Select the current keyboard (or keyboard management).
4. Slip on the keyboard you use (such as Gboard or Mi Keyboard).
5. In the menu that opens, find Languages or layouts and click Add keyboard.
6. Scroll through the list and tick the languages you need (for example, Russian, English (USA), Ukrainian).
7. Confirm the selection and go back to the input field – a new layout will appear in the switching panel.

Is the keyboard updated to the latest version?|

Is there enough space in the memory (required) ~50–100 MB for new languages)|

Is the phone connected to the Internet (some language packs are downloaded online)|

Is Application Restrictions Disabled in Settings → Annexes → Special access-->

On Chinese firmware (e.g., Xiaomi 13 Pro for the domestic market), the path to settings may be different: instead of Language and Input, look for Language and Font () and then Keyboard ().

If the desired language is not listed (for example, Tatar or Belarusian), you will need to install a third-party keyboard from Google Play (for example, Multiling O Keyboard or AnySoftKeyboard).

3.Tune gestures to quickly switch layout

Opening the notification bar constantly or pressing the space for language change is exhausting. Fortunately, MIUI and Gboard have hidden features to speed up the process. Let's look at both.

Method 1: Gesture of the space (Gboard)

This feature is only available in Gboard (Google keyboard) to activate:

1. Open any input field and call the keyboard.
2. Click on the icon. ⚙️ on the Gboard panel (near sentences of words).
3. Select Settings → Toolbar → Gestures.
4. Turn on the option to Switch on the space key.
5. Now it is enough to swipe the finger on the space to the left or right to change the layout.

Method 2: Double-click on Shift (Mi Keyboard)

The Mi Keyboard does not support gestures on the space, but it allows you to switch languages with double tap on Shift:

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Language and input → Mi Keyboard.
2. Select the settings of the layout → Switching layouts.
3. Activate the option of Double Press on Shift.

⚠️ Note: On some models (POCO M5, Redmi A2) double-press Shift is enabled by default to lock the upper case. To avoid conflict, turn off this feature in the keyboard settings.

4. Problem Solving: The layout does not change or disappears

Sometimes, after updating MIUI or resetting the keyboard, it starts to behave incorrectly: it doesn't switch languages, resets the layout, or disappears altogether. Here are the typical reasons and ways to fix them:

• 🔄 Reset keyboard settings: Go to Settings → Annexes → Manage applications, find your keyboard (Gboard or Mi Keyboard), open its settings and select Reset settings.
• 📱 Battery Optimization Conflict: Add Keyboard to AutoStart Exceptions List: Settings → Battery → Optimizing the battery → Find the keyboard and turn off optimization.
• 🌐 No language pack: Some languages (such as Kazakh or Armenian) require additional data downloads. Check your Internet connection and update your keyboard on Google Play.
• 🔧 Cache failure: Clear the keyboard cache in Settings → Annexes → [Keyboard name] → Memory. → Clear the cache.

If the problem persists, try reinstalling the keyboard:

1. Remove the current keyboard (such as Gboard) through Settings → Apps.
2. Reboot the phone.
3. Install the keyboard again from Google Play.
4. Activate it in Settings → Language and input.

Chinese firmware (Xiaomi 13 Ultra for the domestic market) may require the installation of Google Services Framework for the correct operation of Gboard, 4PDA or XDA Developers).

5. Hidden Keyboard Functions: How to Speed Up Typing

In addition to changing the layout, Xiaomi keyboards have some useful features that many people don’t know about, saving time when typing in multiple languages:

• 🎯 Language-based auto-replacement: You can set auto-replacement for each language on Gboard, for example, the word "hello" will only be corrected in Russian. → Correction of text → Personal dictionary.
• 🔤 Quick character addition: Hold the keys on the digital bar (123) to open additional characters (e.g, ©, €, ∞).
• 🌍 Translation on the fly: Gboard has a built-in translator. Select a word, click on the Google icon in the sentence bar and select Translate.
• 🖼️ Insertion GIF and emoji: In Mi Keyboard swipe left on the key ⌨️, to open the emoji and gif menu without switching to another layout.

For users who often type in English and Russian, it is useful to include transliteration:

1. Open the Gboard or Mi Keyboard settings.
2. Go to the text settings → Transliteration.
3. Turn on the option and select a language (e.g. Russian → English).
4. Now, when you type the word “privet” in the English layout, it is automatically converted to “hello”.

💡

If you often confuse layouts, turn on the "Show the flag of the country" option on the switch key in your keyboard settings. This will visually tell you the current language.

Nana POCO F4 GT And other Xiaomi gaming smartphones, you can activate one-hand mode for the keyboard, which is useful if you type with your thumb and accidentally hit the language change key. → One-hand mode).

6. Features for Chinese firmware and old models

Users of Xiaomi smartphones on Chinese firmware (Redmi K60, Xiaomi 12S, etc.) often face the lack of Google Play and a limited choice of keyboards.

• 📲 Install Gboard without Google Play: Download APK-Gboard file from a trusted source (e.g. apkmirror.com). Install the file through any file manager (allow installation from unknown sources in Settings → Security. Activate the keyboard in Settings → Additionally. → Language and input.

Using the Mi Keyboard with Chinese firmware:

1. Update your firmware to the latest version via Settings → About Phone → System Update.
2. Install India or Russia in Settings → Additional → Region (this will unlock additional languages).
3. Reboot your phone and add the required layouts in the Mi Keyboard settings.

⚠️ Note: On Chinese firmware without Google Mobile Services (GMS) Some Gboard features (such as voice input or translation) may not work, in which case use alternative keyboards like SwiftKey (installed via a keyboard). APK) Sogou Input (popular in China).

For older models (Redmi 5, Xiaomi Mi A1) with MIUI 10–11, the path to keyboard settings may be different:

Settings → System and device → Language and input → Current keyboard

If there is no option to add languages on the screen, update the firmware or install a third-party keyboard.

7. Alternative keyboards: what to choose instead of the standard

If the built-in Mi Keyboard or Gboard doesn't work, consider alternatives that offer unique features for multilingual input:

To install an alternative keyboard:

1. Download the app from Google Play (or APK for Chinese firmware).
2. Activate it in Settings → Language and input → Current keyboard.
3. Configure layouts and additional features in the keyboard menu (usually swipe opens to the left on the sentence bar).

⚠️ Note: Some keyboards (e.g. Fleksy) require permission to access special features services, which is necessary for gestures and autocomplete, but can trigger a warning system about a "potentially dangerous resolution." Allow access only to verified applications from official sources.

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing layout to Xiaomi