How to put the number icon (#) on the Xiaomi keyboard: step-by-step instructions

The grille symbol (#), aka "number," "hashtag" or "sharp," is one of the most popular special characters on a smartphone, and without it, you can't type in your Wi-Fi password, write a hashtag on social media or activate it. USSD-However, on the Xiaomi keyboard (especially on Redmi Note 12 models, POCO X5 Or Mi 11, it's not always visible at first sight, where it's hiding, and how to quickly insert it?

Many users spend minutes searching for # by switching layouts and pressing random buttons. The reason is simple: depending on the version of MIUI and the keyboard installed (standard Gboard from Google or branded Mi Keyboard), the location of the symbol changes. In this article, we will analyze all possible ways of entering the grid, from basic to alternative, including voice input and third-party applications.

If you often encounter missing characters, bookmark this instruction. First, let’s determine which keyboard is installed on your Xiaomi – this is the key point!

1.Where is # on the standard Xiaomi keyboard (Mi Keyboard)

The Mi Keyboard is the default keyboard on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones (unless you've changed it manually), and the grille symbol is hidden in the digital layout, but its location depends on the MIUI version:

On MIUI 12–14 (relevant to Redmi Note 11/12, Xiaomi 13 and later):

1. Open any field to enter text (such as notes or a message).
2. Click the?123 button in the lower left corner of the keyboard to switch to the numbers.
3. In the top row you will see the # symbol, which is between the numbers 3 and 4.

On MIUI 11 and older (e.g. Redmi 9A, POCO M3):

⚠️ Note: On older versions, the # symbol may be on the second page of the digital layout. After pressing?123, swipe left on the key. =+ or press the arrow to the right.

If you can’t see the grille even after switching the layouts, check the keyboard settings:

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Language and input → Current keyboard.
2. Select Mi Keyboard and open its settings (cog next to the name).
3. Make sure that the option to show special characters is enabled.

2. How to enter # on Gboard (Google keyboard)

Gboard is the most popular alternative to the standard keyboard on Xiaomi, where the grille symbol is elsewhere, but it's easier to find because of the intuitive interface.

Instructions for Gboard (relevant for all versions):

• 🔢 Click the?123 button in the lower left corner to open the digital layout.
• 🔍 The # symbol will be in the upper row on the right, between ) and $.
• 📱 If you can’t see #, swipe left on the key. =+ — The grid might be on the second page.

If the symbol is not available even after swiping, update Gboard via Google Play or reset your keyboard settings:

1. Open Settings → System → Language and input → Virtual keyboard.
2. Select Gboard and click Reset Settings.

💡

In Gboard, you can add # to the Quick Access Panel: press the symbol on the digital layout and drag it to the top panel.

3. Alternative ways to enter the symbol #

If standard methods don’t work (for example, because of a keyboard failure), use one of these options:

Method 1: Copying from the clipboard

• 📋 Copy the # character from this article (select and click Copy).
• 📲 Insert it in the desired field (hold your finger in the text field and select Insert).

Method 2: Voice input

1. Click on the Microphone icon on the keyboard (near the space).
2. Say out loud: "number sign" or "grating."
3. Google Assistant or MIUI Voice recognizes the command and inserts #.

Method 3: Using Unicode

If you are working with documents or code, you can enter # via Unicode:

Hold the key in the input field → Select "Unicode" → Enter U+0023

4. Keyboard comparison: where is the easiest to find #

To save you time, we tested popular keyboards on Xiaomi and made a table with the location of the grille symbol:

From the table, you can see that the easiest way to type # on SwiftKey is to hold the number 3. But Fleksy, despite its convenient gestures, does not support the change in a way that can be critical for Xiaomi users who are used to customization.

5. Problem Solving: What to Do If # Is Not Shown

If you tried all the ways, but the symbol of the grid never appeared, check these points:

Problem 1: Keyboard failure

• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone – it will reset temporary errors.
• 📥 Update your keyboard via Google Play (for Gboard) or System Update (for Mi Keyboard).

Problem 2: Unsupported layout

⚠️ Note: If you use a keyboard in Chinese, Arabic or other language without Latin characters, # may be missing (EN keyboard).

Issue 3: Firmware limitations

On some custom firmware devices (such as Xiaomi.eu or LineageOS), the standard keyboard may not work properly, and the solution is to install Gboard or SwiftKey from the official store.

Make sure the keyboard is updated | Check the current layout (EN) |Reboot the smartphone |Install an alternative keyboard-->

6.How to add # to the Quick Access Panel

If you have to enter the grid often (for example, for the USSD-You can add it to the quick access bar. This works in Gboard and SwiftKey:

For Gboard:

1. Open the digital layout (?123).
2. Find the # symbol and hold it with your finger.
3. Drag it to the top panel (next to the QWERTY letters).

For SwiftKey:

1. Go to the keyboard settings.
2. Select the layout and keys → set up the keys.
3. Add # to the Quick Access section.

Now the symbol will always be at hand – just swipe to the right of the key 1 (in SwiftKey) or click on the panel from above (in Gboard).

💡

Adding # to the Quick Access Panel saves up to 5 seconds each time you enter a character – especially useful for the user. USSD-commands (*100#) or hashtags.

7. Frequent Questions About Entering Symbols on Xiaomi