How to make Xiaomi always write with a small letter: the complete guide

Automatically replacing the first letter with a capital one is one of the most annoying features on Xiaomi smartphones, as you try to write a message in an informal chat, and the system persistently corrects "hello" to "hello", "thank you" to "thank you", spoiling all the slang or communication style, especially for users of Redmi, POCO and other lines running MIUI, where the auto-replace function is more aggressive than on "naked" Android.

Compounding the problem, different versions of the shell (MIUI 12, MIUI 13, MIUI 14) have different tweaks, and sometimes none in the standard keyboard. In this article, we’ll look at all the ways to disable autocapitalization, from settings on the standard keyboard to installing alternative solutions, and how to avoid it.

Why does Xiaomi automatically use capital letters?

The auto-replacement function of the first letter with a capital (autocapitalization) is built into Android at the system level.

• 📝 Spelling rules – in official letters or documents, a capital letter after a dot is appropriate.
• 💬 Messaging services – many users are used to every new message starting with a capital letter.
• 🤖 AI algorithms work – the keyboard analyzes the context and “assumes” you wanted to write a word with a capital letter.

However, on Xiaomi, this feature is overly aggressive for two reasons:

1. The MIUI shell modifies Android’s standard settings by adding its “chips” – including forced autocapitalization even where it shouldn’t be.
2. The standard Mi Keyboard (or Xiaomi Keyboard) has limited settings compared to Gboard or SwiftKey.

Interestingly, on some models (such as the POCO F3 or Redmi Note 11), the problem only manifests itself after upgrading to MIUI 13/14.This is because Xiaomi actively integrates artificial intelligence features into the keyboard that "guess" user intent - often mistakenly.

Method 1: Disable autocapitalization in the standard Mi Keyboard

If you use a standard keyboard from Xiaomi, try to disable auto-replacement through its settings. Note: depending on the version of MIUI and the model of the smartphone (Redmi, POCO, Mi), the path to settings may be different.

Instructions for MIUI 12/13/14:

1. Open any field to enter text (for example, notes or messenger).
2. Press the gear icon (⚙️) on the keyboard to open its settings.
3. Go to the Text Input section → Auto-replacement.
4. Find the option Automatically with a capital letter (or Capitalize first letter) and turn it off.

If there is no such item, try an alternative path:

1. Go to Phone Settings → Additional → Language and Enter.
2. Choose the Mi Keyboard (or Xiaomi Keyboard).
3. Go to the keyboard settings → Text input.
4. Turn off the Auto Replacement and Automatic Capital.

Check the version of MIUI in Settings → About the phone

Make sure the keyboard is updated to the latest version

Take a screenshot of the current settings (in case of reset)

Reboot your phone after the changes-->

Important! On some devices (e.g. Redmi 9A or POCO X3 Pro), the autocapitalization option may be hidden, in which case only resetting the keyboard settings or installing an alternative one will help.

⚠️ Note: After disabling autocapitalization, other auto-replace functions (such as typo fixing) may stop working in the Mi Keyboard.If these options are important to you, consider switching to Gboard.

Method 2: Using the Gboard keyboard (recommended method)

Google’s keyboard (Gboard) offers more options for customizing autocapitalization. It works consistently on all Xiaomi smartphones, including the Redmi Note 10, POCO F4 and other models.

How to set up Gboard to write with a small letter:

1. Install Gboard from Google Play.
2. Activate it in settings: Settings → System → Language and input → Virtual keyboard.
3. Open any text field, click on the Gboard icon (🅿️) and select Settings → Text input.
4. Turn off the option Automatically with a capital letter.
5. You can also turn off Auto Replacement and Autocorrection if they interfere.

The advantages of Gboard over the standard Xiaomi keyboard:

• 🔄 More flexible settings – you can disable autocapitalization separately for each language.
• 🌐 Support for multiple languages without switching layouts.
• 🤖 Better AI: fewer errors in word prediction.
• 🔒 Regular updates – Xiaomi often abandons the development of its keyboard.

If after installing Gboard, autocapitalization still works, check:

• Is this feature included in the settings of a particular messenger (for example, in Telegram or WhatsApp).
• Does Gboard conflict with other keyboards (remove unnecessary ones)?
• Is the keyboard updated to the latest version?

💡

If after turning off autocapitalization in Gboard, the first letter still becomes a capital letter, try manually entering a space before the word, and then removing it - this will reset the auto replacement.

Method 3: Configure via ADB (for power users)

If standard methods do not help, you can disable auto capitalization through ADB-This is a way for users who are willing to work with the developers of the settings.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on Developer Mode on Xiaomi: Go to Settings → About Phone. Click 7 times on MIUI Version until the notification "You've become a developer" appears.

USB-debugging

• Go to Settings. → Additionally. → For developers.
• Turn on USB debugging.
• Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell settings put secure auto_capitalization 0 This team is turning off auto capitalization at the system level.

If the team doesn’t work, try an alternative:

adb shell settings put global auto_capitalization_enabled 0

Attention! ADB requires caution, incorrect commands can cause system failures.

• Create a backup copy of the data.
• Make sure that Xiaomi drivers are installed on the PC.
• Use official tools (e.g. Google’s Platform Tools).

Method 4: Use of alternative keyboards (SwiftKey, Fleksy)

If neither Mi Keyboard nor Gboard is good, try the other keyboards.

• 🔠 SwiftKey (Microsoft) – flexible autocapitalization settings, gesture support, cloud dictionary.
• 🎨 Fleksy – minimalist design, advanced themes, the ability to disable all auto fixes.
• ⚡ Chroom is an open source lightweight keyboard (suitable for weak devices like Redmi). 7A).

How to set up auto capitalization in SwiftKey:

1. Install the keyboard from Google Play.
2. Activate it in the system settings (language and input).
3. Open SwiftKey Settings and go to Fix → Autocapitalization.
4. Turn off the option Automatically with a capital letter.

Fleksy offers an even more radical approach: shutting down all auto-fixes completely.

1. In the keyboard settings, select Extensions → Auto-Correction.
2. Transfer the Auto-Capitalization slider to the Off position.
3. If you want, turn off other auto functions (Auto-Space, Auto-Correct).

Comparison of alternative keyboards:

💡

Alternative keyboards not only solve the autocap problem, but also offer additional features that are not available in the standard Mi Keyboard (for example, synchronizing the dictionary between devices or advanced themes).

Method 5: Reset keyboard settings to factory

If autocapitalization turned on on its own after updating MIUI or installing a new application, resetting the keyboard will help, which will return all parameters to factory settings, but will not delete the user dictionary.

Instructions for Mi Keyboard:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Mi Keyboard (or Xiaomi Keyboard) in the list.
3. Press Warehouse. → Clear the data.
4. Confirm the action. The keyboard will reset to factory settings.

For Gboard or other keyboards:

1. Open the keyboard settings through its icon (🅿️).
2. Go to additionally → Reset settings.
3. Confirm the reset.

After the reset:

• You will have to reconfigure all parameters (themes, languages, gestures).
• The user dictionary (saved words) will remain intact.
• Autocapitalization will be enabled by default – don’t forget to turn it off again!

⚠️ Note: On some devices (POCO X3, Redmi 9T) If you reset your keyboard, it can cause you to temporarily inoperate, and if you reset the keyboard, you can restart your phone.

Why does auto capitalization turn on on itself?

Many Xiaomi users are faced with the fact that autocapitalization suddenly activated without their participation.

• 🔄 Update MIUI — after installing the new firmware version, the keyboard settings are reset.
• 📱 Application conflict – some programs (e.g., Clean Master or DU Speed Booster Resets System Settings.
• 🤖 Optimizing the battery — MIUI aggressively closes the background processes, which can lead to a failure of the keyboard settings.
• 🔧 Manual intervention – random clicking in settings (e.g., Language and input).

How to prevent spontaneous inclusion:

• Turn off automatic optimization for the keyboard in Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization.
• Do not use memory cleaners – they often break the system settings.
• After updating MIUI, check the keyboard settings.

If the problem is repeated regularly, the best solution is to switch to Gboard or SwiftKey, where the settings are more stable.

FAQ: Frequent questions about auto capitalization on Xiaomi