How to change the keyboard layout on the lock screen Xiaomi: 5 working ways

You’re tired of the automatic English layout on Xiaomi’s lock screen when you try to type in PIN-Or maybe the keyboard suddenly switched to Chinese after the update. MIUI? This problem is familiar to many owners of smartphones Redmi, POCO Mi – the system often knocks down language settings on the lock, leaving the main interface in the native language.

In this article, we’ll look at all the available methods for changing layouts, from standard settings to hidden commands via ADB and editing configuration files. You’ll learn why the lock keyboard behaves differently than in applications, and how to make it show the desired language with a single touch. And for owners of older models (for example, the Redmi Note 8 Pro or Mi 9T), we’ll give separate instructions, taking into account the limitations of their MIUI versions.

Importantly, some methods require root or PC connectivity, and if you're not prepared for this kind of manipulation, focus on the first three methods, which work without any additional tools.

Why is the locking different from the main one?

The lock screen in Xiaomi uses the system keyboard AOSP (Android Open Source Project, not the one that is installed by default MIUI. This is done for security reasons: third-party keyboards (such as Gboard or SwiftKey) could theoretically intercept input. PIN-So even if you change the language in the main keyboard settings, it doesn't always affect locking.

Key causes of the layout failure:

• 📱 Update MIUI — After upgrade, the system resets the language security settings.
• 🔄 Automatic geolocation switching (if enabled in language settings).
• 🛠️ Manually modifying system fonts through Magisk themes or patches.
• 🔒 Resetting lock settings (for example, after unsuccessful attempts to enter a password).

On pure Android models (such as the POCO F1 on global firmware), the problem is less common, but still possible due to a conflict between LatinIME (the standard Android keyboard) and MiuiKeyboard.

Method 1: Change the language of the system (the simplest one)

If the layout is lost after updating or changing the region, the first thing you do is check the main language of the system.

1. Open Settings → Additional → Language and input.
2. Click on Language and Region (in some versions of MIUI, simply Language).
3. Select the language you want at the top of the list (e.g., Russian (Russia)).
4. Restart your phone – sometimes changes only apply after a reboot.

⚠️ Note: Some of the firmware (e.g., Chinese) MIUI China) changing the system language may result in the loss of functionality of some applications (e.g. Mi Pay or Mi Home.

If the language is already correct, but the layout on the lock does not change, try:

• 🔄 Remove all additional languages from the list, leaving only the necessary language.
• 📱 Switch the region to the corresponding language (for example, for Russian - Russia, for English - USA).
• 🔧 Enable the option “Use system language” in the keyboard settings (if available).

Check the current language of the system

Remove unnecessary languages from the list

Reboot your phone after the changes

Try PIN - has the layout changed?

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Method 2: Configure the lock keyboard via Safe Mode

If the standard method didn't work, there might be a problem with the installed applications.

1. Press the power button until the shutdown menu appears.
2. Press and hold the “Stop” option – a prompt will appear to go to Safe Mode.
3. Confirm the transition. The phone will reboot with third-party apps disabled.

In Safe Mode:

• 🔑 Check the layout on the lock screen – if it is correct, one of the installed applications is to blame.
• 📋 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management and sort by installation date.
• 🔍 Remove suspicious programs (especially keyboards, launchers, or customization apps).

After removing the problem software, restart the phone in normal mode. If the layout is lost again, try to clear the cache of system applications:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Press the three dots at the top. → «Show system-based».
3. Find the Android System Keyboard (or LatinIME) and clear the cache.

Method 3: Manually switching the layout on the lock screen

On most Xiaomi models (starting with MIUI 12), you can switch the layout directly on the lock screen without going into the settings.

1. Unlock the phone until the input field appears. PIN-code.
2. Touch and hold the globe icon (🌐) or an abbreviation of the current language (for example, «EN» or «RU») keyboard.
3. In the menu that appears, select the language you want. If the menu doesn't appear, try swiping left/right across the space.

🔹 If there's no Globe badge:

• 🔄 Try double-tapping over the space - on some firmware this switches the layout.
• 📱 On older models (e.g. Redmi) 5/6) You may need to press the language change button in the lower right corner of the keyboard.

⚠️ Note: On devices with a fingerprint sensor in the display (for example, Xiaomi 12 Pro or POCO F4) gestures on the lock keyboard may conflict with the fingerprint unlock. If the layout does not change, temporarily disable the biometrics in Settings → Password and security → Fingerprint.

Method 4: Reset keyboard settings via ADB (for advanced)

If standard methods don’t work, you can reset your lock keyboard settings via Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires a PC connection but doesn’t need root rights.

📌 What's the matter:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB Tools.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → Press 7 times, then Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).

🔧 Step-by-step instruction:

1. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.
2. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the adb folder.
3. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices must appear serial number of your device.
4. Perform a keyboard reset: adb shell pm clear com.android.inputmethod.latin For Xiaomi with customized keyboard, you may need: adb shell pm clear com.miui.internal
5. Reboot your phone: adb reboot

⚠️ Note: pm clear will reset all keyboard settings, including custom dictionaries and themes. After rebooting, the lock layout should return to the system language:

adb shell settings put secure default_input_method com.android.inputmethod.latin/.LatinIME

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If ADB doesn’t recognize the device, try reinstalling Xiaomi drivers via Mi PC Suite or manually through Windows Device Manager.

Method 5: Edit the configuration file (requires root)

For users with unlocked bootloaders and root rights, there is a radical method – editing the system file responsible for the lock layout – which is suitable for Xiaomi on custom firmware or heavily modified versions of MIUI.

🔧 Instructions:

1. Install any file manager with root access (such as Root Explorer or FX File Explorer).
2. Cross the path: /data/system/users/0/ Find the file. settings_global.xml.
3. Open the file in the text editor and find the line: <setting id="default_input_method" value="com.android.inputmethod.latin/.LatinIME" />
4. If the value is different, change it to the above (or to com.miui.internal/.inputmethod.MiuiInputMethod for the standard Xiaomi keyboard).
5. Save the file, reboot the phone.

📌 Additional settings:

• 🌍 To force the language, add a line: <setting id="system_locale" value="ru-RU" /> (Replace ru-RU with the desired language code, such as en-US).
• 🔑 To reset all keyboard settings, delete the file: /data/data/com.android.inputmethod.latin/shared_prefs/LatinIME.xml

⚠️ Warning: Incorrect editing of system files can lead to crashing of the interface or looping of the download. Before changing, back up the file! If after editing the phone does not boot, try resetting via Recovery Mode (Wipe) → Advanced Wipe → Dalvik/ART Cache).

💡

Editing system files is an extreme method. If you are not sure about your actions, use methods 1-3 or contact the service center.

Problem Solving: What to do if nothing helps?

If none of these methods worked, check the following points:

• 🔄 Update. MIUI Up to the latest version: new builds often fix keyboard bugs. Check the updates in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 📱 Reset the lock settings: Go to Settings → Password and security. Select "Delete password" (you need to enter the current one). PIN). Reset the password – sometimes it resets the keyboard settings.
• 🛠️ Check firmware integrity: If the phone has been previously flashed with custom builds, you may be able to damage system files.
• 🔧 Turn off optimization. MIUI: adb shell settings put global hidden_api_policy 1 This team will unlock the hidden API, Sometimes it helps with interface problems.