How to quickly and correctly change the language on the keyboard Xiaomi: all the ways

Changing the language on the keyboard of a Xiaomi smartphone is a challenge that every user faces when starting a device for the first time or after resetting. Even if you have been using a Redmi, POCO or Black Shark phone for a long time, sometimes you need to add a new language, remove an unnecessary one or just switch between them. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways, from standard MIUI settings to the subtleties of working with Gboard and other keyboards.

Xiaomi smartphones have a unique feature that they can use several types of keyboards: the proprietary MIUI Keyboard, the popular Gboard from Google, or third-party apps like SwiftKey. Each of them has its own nuances of settings, and we’ll take a closer look at them all.

If you’ve just bought a Xiaomi smartphone or are faced with changing the layout for the first time, don’t worry: the process takes no more than a minute. For experienced users, we have prepared advanced tips – for example, how to set up hotkeys for a quick switch or add rare languages that are not on the standard list.

Why Xiaomi can’t change the keyboard language?

Before we get to the instructions, let’s look at the typical reasons why changing the language might not work:

• 🔄 Multiple keyboards installed: if the phone is active immediately MIUI Keyboard and Gboard, settings may conflict, and the system can automatically switch between them depending on the application.
• 📱 An outdated version MIUI: in old firmware (below) MIUI 12) the interface of the keyboard settings is different. MIUI 11 "Languages and input" was in another section.
• 🔒 Parental Control Limitations: If a device has Safe Mode or a child’s profile set up, some settings may be blocked.
• 🛠️ Keyboard malfunctions: sometimes after an application update (such as Gboard) language packs are reset.

Another common problem is that the language seems to be added, but when you type in the text, it doesn't show up in the switching list, and this may be because:

• 📌 Language added but not activated for a specific keyboard (e.g., Gboard needs to be enabled separately).
• 📱 Regional phone installed on the phone ROM (Chinese firmware, where some languages are blocked.
• 🔄 Keyboard resets after clearing cache or app data.

Method 1: Change the language in the standard MIUI Keyboard

MIUI Keyboard is Xiaomi’s default keyboard for all smartphones, and to change the language, follow the following steps:

1. Open any application where you can type text (such as Messages or Notes).
2. Tap the input field to make the keyboard appear.
3. Press the gear icon (⚙️) in the top row of the keyboard to open the settings.
4. Select the Input Languages (or Input Languages).
5. In the list of available languages, tick the ones you want to use, such as Russian, English (USA) or Ukrainian.
6. Press Ready or Save.

Now to switch between languages, it is enough to swipe your finger over the space to the left or right (depending on the settings) or click on the globe icon (🌐) keyboard.

In some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro or POCO X3 Pro) the keyboard interface may be slightly different. If you can't see the gear icon, try holding the globe icon (🌐) — It'll open up a language menu.

Method 2: Configure the language in Gboard (Google keyboard)

Gboard is the most popular alternative to Xiaomi's standard keyboard, offering more languages, better text prediction, and integration with Google services, to add or change the language to Gboard:

1. Open the phone settings.
2. Go to System and Device → Language and Input → Current Keyboard.
3. Select Gboard (if it is not active, click Keyboard Management and turn it on).
4. Click on Languages (or Languages).
5. Tap Add keyboard and select the desired language from the list, for example, German (Germany) or French (Canada).
6. After adding, go back to the input field and switch between languages by clicking on the globe icon (🌐) or sliding a finger over a space.

Gboard also has a feature for automatic language-switching to enable:

1. In Gboard settings, select Text Enter → Auto Replace.
2. Activate the option Automatic language switching.

This is convenient if you type in bilingual languages often — the keyboard will adjust itself to the text, but sometimes it is wrong, so it is better to test the function before active use.

💡

If Gboard doesn’t have the language you want, try downloading it separately. Select All languages in your keyboard settings → Find the language → Click Download.

Method 3: Adding rare languages (e.g. Chinese, Japanese, Arabic)

If you need to add a language that isn’t on the standard list (like Hebrew, Hindi, or Korean), do the following:

1. Make sure your phone has the latest version of the keyboard (MIUI Keyboard or Gboard) installed, and update it via Google Play if necessary.
2. For Gboard: Open Settings → System → Language and input → Gboard → Languages. Press Add Keyboard and scroll through the list to the end. There may be rare languages hidden here. If there is no language, try searching for it (the magnifying glass icon in the upper right corner).

MIUI Keyboard

• Open the keyboard settings through the gear icon (⚙️) keyboard.
• Select the Input Languages → Download languages.
• Download the language package you need (you will need an Internet connection).

If after deleting the languages, the keyboard began to work incorrectly (for example, the autoreplacement disappeared or the emoji disappeared), reset the settings:

1. For MIUI Keyboard: Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → MIUI Keyboard. Press Storage → Clear Data. Attention! This will remove all user settings, including added words to the dictionary.

Gboard

• Open Settings → Applications → Gboard → Storage → Clear data.
• After resetting, add the required languages again.

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Before resetting your keyboard settings, export your custom dictionary (in Gboard, this is done in the Dictionary section).

Problem Solving: Language is not saved or keyboard “forgets” settings

Sometimes Xiaomi users are faced with the keyboard language resetting after rebooting or locking the screen.

• 🔄 Keyboard conflict: if you are simultaneously active MIUI Keyboard and Gboard, the system can arbitrarily switch between them.Solution: leave only one keyboard (in Settings) → Language and input → Current keyboard).
• 📱 Energy saving: if the keyboard is in battery optimization mode, it can reset. Solution: add the keyboard to exceptions (Settings) → Battery → Optimizing the battery → All applications → find the keyboard → Choose Without Limitations).
• 🔧 Update failure: If the keyboard updated in the background, language packs could reset.Solution: manually update the keyboard in Google Play and re-add languages.
• 📁 Damaged cache: Clear the keyboard cache (Settings) → Annexes → Application management → [Keyboard name] → Clear the cache).

If the problem persists, try removing keyboard updates:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → [keyboard name].
2. Press three points (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Remove Updates.
3. Reboot your phone and reset the languages.

💡

On some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi 9A), the Russian layout may disappear after resetting the keyboard settings. In this case, add it again through Settings → Additional → Language and Region → Language.

⚠️ If you use custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), the standard settings are available. MIUI Keyboard may not work. Install Gboard or another keyboard from Google Play.

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing the language on the keyboard Xiaomi