How to change the input language on Xiaomi smartphones: all ways and solutions to errors

Changing the input language on Xiaomi smartphones is a challenge that every user faces when they first turn on a device or after resetting. Despite the intuitive MIUI interface, some nuances can cause difficulties, from the lack of the right layout in the list to the sudden disappearance of the language bar. This article covers all the current ways to change the keyboard and system language on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices running MIUI 14/15, and helps solve typical problems.

The feature of MIUI firmware is that it is closely integrated with Xiaomi services, which sometimes leads to conflicts when adding third-party layouts (for example, Gboard or SwiftKey).We will analyze not only standard settings, but also hidden parameters that allow you to flexibly manage language packets. If you are faced with a situation where the input language is reset after a reboot or does not appear in the notification panel, here you will find working solutions.

1. Standard method: change the input language through the MIUI settings

The most reliable method is the use of built-in system tools, which is suitable for all Xiaomi models, including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 and the flagship Xiaomi series 13/14. The main advantage of this method is stability: the language is saved after updates and reboots.

To add or change the input language:

Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen).
Go to Additional → Language and Entering (on some versions of MIUI 15, the path may be System and Device → Language and Region).
Select the Keyboard and entry methods.
Slip on the active keyboard (usually the Xiaomi or Gboard keyboard).
In the menu that opens, find the Input Languages and add the necessary layouts, moving them to the Active List.

If the language you want is not listed, you can download it via Add Language (Internet connection required).Please note that some regional variants (e.g. Ukrainian or Kazakh) may be hidden behind additional packages.

Check out the MIUI version (Relevant for MIUI 14 and later)

Connect to Wi-Fi (to download language packets)

Close all active applications (to avoid conflicts)

Restart the device after changes (recommended)

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2. Quickly switch languages from the notification panel

For users who often switch between layouts (for example, between Russian and English), it is more convenient to use the notification bar. This method only works if the language is already added in the keyboard settings.

Instructions:

📱 Swipe your finger down to open the notification bar.
🔍 Find the keyboard icon (usually an icon with the letter A or 🌐).
🖱️ Hold that badge. 1-2 Seconds – the menu of active layouts will open.
🔄 Choose the right language tap on it.

If the keyboard icon is not on the panel, it can be added:

Open the Settings. → Notification panel.
Choose Edit the icons.
Find the Input Language or Keyboard and drag it to the active area.

Through the notification panel

In the keyboard settings

Voice assistant.

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3. Problem Solving: The input language is reset or not saved

One of the most common problems with Xiaomi is that it automatically resets the input language after you reboot or update the system, which is due to the peculiarities of MIUI Optimization.

Method 1: Disabling MIUI Optimization

🛠️ Go to Settings. → The phone.
🔧 Tap 7 times on the version MIUI, to activate the Developer Mode.
🔄 Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
🔍 Find the option to Disable Optimization MIUI And activate it.
🔄 Reset the device.

Method 2: Resetting keyboard settings

If the tongue continues to reset, try resetting the keyboard settings to factory:

Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
Find a keyboard app (such as the Xiaomi Keyboard).
Select Warehouse. → Clear the data.
Reboot your smartphone and add languages again.

Why does MIUI reset the input language?

The reason lies in the background service MIUI Optimization, which tries to “optimize” the system by removing cache and time settings, which leads to a reset of user preferences, including language layouts, disabling this service (as described above) solves the problem, but can slightly increase battery consumption (2-5%).

4.Adding languages for voice input and Google Assistant

If you use voice input or Google Assistant, a standard keyboard change won’t affect these features.

For voice input (Google Gboard):

🎤 Open any text field and tap the microphone icon on the keyboard.
🔧 In the window that appears, select Settings. → Voice input.
🌍 Add the languages you need to the list of recognized languages.

For Google Assistant:

🗣️ Say, “OK Google, open the Assistant settings” or open the Google app. → Settings → Google Assistant.
🌐 Go to the languages → Add tongue.
🔄 Choose the main language to interact with.

Important: voice models load only when an active Internet connection is available and can take up to 500 MB of memory.

Change of system language (MIUI interface)

If you want to change the language of not only the keyboard, but also the entire MIUI interface (menu, notifications, system applications), follow the following steps:

Instructions:

Open Settings → Additional → Language and Region.
Select the language (first item in the list).
Scroll through the list and select the language you want (e.g. Russian (Russia) or English (United States)).
Confirm the change, the system will restart.

Some models (such as the Xiaomi 13 Ultra or POCO F5) may require you to download an additional language pack.

📥 Internet connection (packets are downloaded automatically).
🔄 Update of the system (Settings) → The phone. → Updating the system).
📦 Firmware region (some languages are only available in global versions) MIUI).

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If after changing the system language, some applications (for example, Mi Fit or Mi Home) display text in the same language, clear their cache in Settings → Applications → Application Management.

6. Features for different Xiaomi models

Despite the unification of MIUI, some models have unique nuances when changing the input language. Below is a table with features for popular devices:

Model	Features of language change	Typical problems
Redmi Note 11/12	Supports up to 5 active layouts at a time, and voice input is available only for the main language of the system.	After upgrading to MIUI 15, the language switching panel may disappear.
POCO X4/X5	It uses Gboard by default. Languages are added through Google's settings, not MIUI.	Conflict between Gboard and Xiaomi’s built-in keyboard while being used at the same time.
Xiaomi 13/14 Pro	Support AI-Real-time translation (activated in keyboard settings).	When using the theme of design in Chinese, the layout can be reset.
Redmi A2	A simplified version of MIUI without some language packs. Manual download is required.	There is no voice input in some regional languages.

For devices with Chinese firmware (for example, purchased on AliExpress without a global version), you may need to unlock the bootloader and firmware international software.

💡

On Chinese firmware (CN ROM) devices, some languages (such as Russian) may not be displayed correctly or at all, and the only solution is to flash it to the global version of MIUI.

7. Alternative keyboards: Gboard, SwiftKey and others

If the built-in keyboard Xiaomi does not suit the functionality or design, you can install third-party solutions.

📱 Gboard (from Google) – supports gestures, voice input and integration with Google Translate.
⌨️ SwiftKey (from Microsoft) – adaptive input and cloud synchronization.
🎨 Fleksy – Minimalist design and advanced themes.

To install and configure a third-party keyboard:

Download the app from Google Play Market.
Open Settings → System and Device → Language and Entering → Keyboard and Entering Methods.
Activate the new keyboard and set it by default.
Add the languages you want to use in the keyboard settings (not in MIUI!).

Warning: Some keyboards (e.g. SwiftKey) may conflict with MIUI Optimization, resulting in delays when switching layouts.

The standard Xiaomi keyboard

Gboard (Google)

SwiftKey

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8. Frequent errors and their solutions

Even after setting the input language correctly, let’s look at typical scenarios and how to fix them:

Problem 1: Language added but not displayed in the switching bar

⚠️ Note: This error often occurs on POCO M5 redmi 10C post-update MIUI 14.0.5. Cause of a bug in the service com.miui.systemAdSolution.

Decision:

Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
Find System Settings and clear the cache.
Reset the device.

Problem 2: The keyboard automatically switches to English

This is due to autocorrect or predictive input settings.

Open the settings of the active keyboard.
Go to the text input → Autocorrection.
Turn off Auto Replacement and Language Prediction options.

Problem 3: You can't add a language because of regional restrictions

Some firmware (e.g. MIUI CN) have limited language listings.

Install Gboard – it ignores regional MIUI locks.
Use a VPN when adding language (sometimes it helps).
Update the firmware to the global version.

How do I find out the firmware version?

Open Settings → About phone → MIUI version. If at the end of the name is CN – you have Chinese firmware, Global – international, EEA – European, RU – Russian localization.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions

Can I add an input language without the internet?

Yes, but only if the language pack has been loaded before. New languages require a network connection because MIUI downloads additional data (dictionary, autocorrection). If the Internet is not available, try: Connect to Wi-Fi for at least a few minutes to load the packet. Use a third-party keyboard (such as Gboard), which caches the languages.

Why did the new language disappear after the MIUI update?

This is a well-known MIUI 14-15 problem that involves clearing the cache of system applications during an update. Solutions: Add the language again through keyboard settings. Turn off AutoCache Cleanup in Settings → Storage. If the language is missing after a major update (e.g., from MIUI 13 to 14), you may need to reset the keyboard settings.

How to return a standard Xiaomi keyboard after installing Gboard?

To return to the built-in keyboard: Open Settings → System and Device → Language and Input → Keyboard and Type Input Methods. Tap on Gboard and turn it off. Activate the Xiaomi Keyboard and set it by default. If the standard keyboard has disappeared from the list, it can be returned through the Settings reset application (to App Management).

Can you use two languages at the same time (e.g. English + Russian)?

Yes, MIUI supports multilingual input. To do this, add both languages in your keyboard settings. Activate Mixed input (if available). Use a space or swipe over space to switch between languages on the fly. On Gboard, this feature is called Multilingual Input, and allows you to type in two languages without manual switching.

Why is the input language different from the main one on the lock screen?

This is a feature of MIUI: the lock screen uses the default system language (usually English), even if the keyboard settings have a different one. To change this: Change the system language to Settings → Language and Region. Or install a third-party keyboard (such as Gboard) that ignores this limitation. On some models (such as Xiaomi 12T), this behavior can be changed through Settings → Lock screen → Additional.