How to change the keyboard language on Xiaomi phone: 3 ways + problem solving

Changing the language on the Xiaomi keyboard is a challenge faced by every second owner of a smartphone of this brand. Especially relevant problem for users who bought the device in foreign stores or received it with pre-installed Chinese software. Even if you have long used Redmi, POCO or Mi, the unexpected disappearance of the Russian language after the update MIUI can be unsettling.

In this article, we will not only discuss the standard way to change the language through settings, but also alternative methods for cases when the keyboard refuses to switch or the desired language is missing from the list. Particular attention will be paid to the nuances of different versions of MIUI (from 12 to 15) and popular models - Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13T. And if you encounter a bug after the firmware, at the end of the article you will find a checklist to diagnose the problem.

Why does Xiaomi not change the keyboard language?

Before we get to the instructions, it's important to understand the reasons why your keyboard might ignore your attempts to change language.

• 🔄 System bug MIUI — post-update MIUI 14/15 Some users lose the ability to switch languages due to a malfunction in the Gboard or standard keyboard Xiaomi.
• 🌍 Lack of language package – if the smartphone is purchased in China or Asia, the firmware may not have Russian/English in principle.
• ⚙️ Keyboard conflict – Gboard, SwiftKey and standard Mi keyboard are installed simultaneously, causing crashes.
• 📱 Manufacturer restrictions on some models (e.g. Redmi) 10C for India) artificially blocked language change without root rights.

If your case doesn't fit any of the points, don't worry -- 90 percent of the time, it's solved in 5 minutes, and let's start with the simplest method.

Method 1: Standard language change via MIUI settings

This method works on all Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 12 and later, including the latest versions of HyperOS. Instructions are universal for Redmi, POCO and Mi line:

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to the section Additional → Language and input (on some firmware, the path may be System and Device → Language and Region).
3. Slip on the current keyboard (or keyboard management).
4. Select an active keyboard (such as Gboard or MIUI Keyboard).
5. Click Languages and activate the desired options (Russian, English, etc.) with sliders.
6. Return to the input field (e.g., in messages) and swipe the space left/right to switch.

If the language does not change after these actions, check:

• 🔹 Is the keyboard active - in the input settings should be a tick next to its name.
• 🔹 Are there any restrictions – some applications (for example, banking) block language change.
• 🔹 Is the keyboard updated – go to Google Play → My apps and update the Gboard.

On Xiaomi models with Chinese firmware (for example, Redmi K50 Ultra for the Chinese market), the standard method may not work – you will need to install global firmware or manually add a language package.

Method 2: Quickly switching languages with gestures

Few people know, but Xiaomi has a hidden feature for instant language switching without going into settings. It works on both the standard MIUI keyboard and Gboard:

1. Open any field to enter text (for example, in Messages or Notes).
2. On the keyboard, find the button with the globe (🌐) — It is usually located near the gap.
3. Hold it for 2 seconds until the menu with available languages appears.
4. Select the desired tapom language or swipe the list with your finger.

If the Globe button is missing:

• 🔧 For Gboard: Go to the keyboard settings → Preferences → Turn on the tongue switch button.
• 🔧 For the standard keyboard MIUI: Settings → Language and input → keyboard MIUI → Layout and style → Show the tongue button.

On some models (e.g. POCO F5), gesture switching works differently – swipe the space left/right. If this doesn’t work, check the gesture settings in the keyboard section.

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If the globe button disappeared after the update, try resetting the keyboard settings: go to Settings→Applications→Gboard→Storage→Clean up the data.

Method 3: Adding language through Google Account (for Gboard)

If the language you want is not listed (such as Ukrainian or Kazakh), you can add it through your Google Account.

1. Make sure that your phone has an authorized Google account.
2. Open Settings → System → Language and input → Virtual Keyboard → Gboard.
3. Tap your tongues. → Add a keyboard.
4. In the search box, enter the name of the language (for example, "Russian").
5. Choose the right option from the list (may be several dialects).
6. Click Ready and go back to entering the text.

If the language never came up,

• 🔄 Update Gboard to Google Play.
• 🔄 Check your internet connection – without it, Google won’t download language packs.
• 🔄 Remove and install Gboard again.

On some MIUI firmware (especially Chinese ones), Gboard can be blocked by the system, which can be used to install an alternative keyboard, such as SwiftKey or AnySoftKeyboard.

Table: Compatibility of methods with MIUI versions

If neither method worked, it could be deeper, either in system files or firmware, and we'll talk about that in the next section.

Problem Solving: Language is not changed or missing from the list

Situations where language is not added or switched are most commonly associated with:

1. Chinese firmware - it does not have European languages.
2. Failure of system settings - after updating or resetting.
3. Keyboard conflict – several keyboards interfere with each other.

Here is the algorithm for each case:

If you have a language but don’t switch:

• 🛠️ Clear the keyboard cache: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Gboard/keyboard MIUI → Warehouse → Clear the cache.
• 🛠️ Restart your phone in Safe Mode (hold the power button) → "Safe Mode" and check the keyboard.
• 🛠️ Turn off all keyboards except one: Settings → Language and input → Virtual keyboard → Keyboard management.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 11 Pro)+ 5G) After resetting to factory settings, the keyboard languages are reset to English/Chinese. To avoid this, make a backup to Settings before resetting. → The phone. → Backup.

Features for popular Xiaomi models

Some Xiaomi smartphones have unique nuances when changing the keyboard language.

• 📱 Redmi Note 12/Pro/Pro+: These devices may not have a globe button on the standard keyboard. MIUI. The solution is to install Gboard or enable gesture switching in the settings.
• 📱 POCO F4/F5: After upgrading to HyperOS, Russian may disappear.
• 📱 Xiaomi 13/13T/14: On the flagships with MIUI 14 Sometimes a bug is triggered when the language changes only after a reboot.
• 📱 Redmi 10A/10C: Budget models may not support some languages due to firmware limitations.

For models with Indian firmware (e.g. Redmi 9 Power for the Indian market) it may be necessary to manually install the language package via the Indian firmware. APK-The instructions can be found on the forums. XDA Developers or 4PDA.

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On Xiaomi smartphones with a MediaTek processor (such as the Redmi 12C), a language change may require additional reboot after installing a new language package.

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing the language to Xiaomi

If your question isn't covered in the FAQ, check Xiaomi's official resources or thematic forums. Often keyboard issues are solved by installing the Gboard beta or resetting to factory settings.