How to completely remove the Chinese keyboard on Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S: from disconnection to removal

Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S is a popular smartphone with excellent value for money, but many users are faced with a nasty feature of global and Chinese firmware: a pre-installed Chinese keyboard. It not only takes up space in memory, but can also accidentally activate, preventing you from entering text in Russian or English. In this article, we will discuss all working ways to remove or disable Chinese keyboards (Sogou Input, Baidu IME, iFlytek and others) without losing the functionality of the device.

It is important to understand that simply removing a system application can cause crashes – especially if the keyboard is integrated into the system. MIUI. Therefore, we will consider both safe methods (disabling, replacing by default) and radical (removing through the system). ADB All instructions tested on the Redmi Note 10S firmware MIUI 12.5–MIUI 14 (including global and Chinese versions).

1.Why does the Redmi Note 10S feature a Chinese keyboard?

Chinese keyboards are installed on Xiaomi for three main reasons:

• 📦 Pre-installing in firmware. Even global versions. MIUI often contain Chinese services (e.g. Sogou Input or Baidu) IME), which are activated after resetting or updating.
• 🔄 Update through OTA. When updating the firmware, previously deleted system applications, including keyboards, can be returned.
• 🌍 Regional settings: If the device was purchased in China or if the region is set up as China, the system automatically loads local services.

The Redmi Note 10S is the most common:

• 🔤 Sogou Input – the most common, with cloud input and advertising.
• 📊 Baidu IME — Keyboard from Baidu search engine, collects input data.
• 🎤 iFlytek Input – with voice input support, often installed with voice assistant.

Not only are these keyboards intrusive, they can send your input data to servers in China (for more on security), and fortunately, you can take them out — let's look at all the ways from simple to complex.

2. Method 1: Disabling the keyboard in the settings (without deleting)

The safest method is to simply turn off the Chinese keyboard and leave it in the system, and it won't delete it completely, but it will prevent accidental activation.

1. Open Settings → System → Language and input.
2. Tap the current keyboard (or keyboard management in newer versions of MIUI).
3. Find the Chinese keyboard (the name may be in Chinese – look for characters or the Sogou/Baidu logo).
4. Turn off the switch next to the name and confirm the action.

If the keyboard doesn’t appear in the list, try:

• 🔍 Enable the display of all applications in the settings (three dots in the upper right corner).
• 📱 Reboot your phone – sometimes keyboards appear after a reboot.

⚠️ Warning: If the keyboard still appears when switching languages after the switch is turned off, check the language and region settings. Set the main language as Russian (Russia) or English (United States) - this will reduce the chance of automatic activation of Chinese services.

3. Method 2: Replace the default keyboard with Gboard

Even if the Chinese keyboard is disabled, it can activate when you change the language. To avoid this, install the Gboard and make it the main one:

1. Download Gboard from Google Play.
2. Open Settings → System → Language and input → Current keyboard.
3. Select Gboard and turn it on.
4. Return to Language and Enter, tap Keyboard Control and turn off all Chinese keyboards (see Method 1).
5. Reboot the phone.

After that:

• 📱 With a long press on the gap in Gboard, you can quickly switch between languages.
• 🔍 If the Chinese keyboard still appears, check Settings → Annexes → Application management → All applications and manually disable unnecessary IME.

💡

In Gboard, you can add up to 5 languages and swipe between them by space. Configure this in Gboard Settings → Languages

Method 3: Remove the keyboard via ADB (without root)

If the shutdown doesn’t work, you can completely remove the Chinese keyboard through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a method that doesn’t require root rights, but requires minimal command-line skills.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI Version until the notification "You're a developer" appears.
2. Activate Debugging via USB: Return to Settings → Additional → Developer. Turn on the USB Debugging Switch and confirm the resolution.
3. Connect your phone to your PC, install it. ADB-Drivers and open the command line in the folder with the platform-tools.
4. Run the command to check the connection: adb devices (the name of your device should appear).
5. Delete the Chinese keyboard (example for Sogou Input): adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.sohu.inputmethod.sogou For other keyboards use packages: Baidu IME: com.baidu.input iFlytek: com.iflytek.inputmethod

⚠️ Note: Removing system applications through ADB It can lead to disruptions in work. MIUI, Especially if the keyboard is integrated into branded services (for example, in Xiaomi Cloud). → The phone. → Backup.

5. Method 4: Reset keyboard and language settings

If the Chinese keyboard comes back after updates or resets, it will help to completely reset the language settings and input, which does not delete data from the phone, but returns all keyboard parameters to factory ones.

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings → System → Resetting settings.
2. Select Reset Application Settings (or Reset Keyboard Settings in newer versions of MIUI).
3. Confirm the action. The phone will reboot.
4. After rebooting, reset the Gboard or other default keyboard (see Method 2).

If this method does not help, perform a partial reset:

• 📱 Reset Language and Region settings in Settings → Additionally. → Language and input → Additionally. → Resetting settings.
• 🔄 Set the region as Russia or the US (not China!).
• 🔤 Remove all Chinese languages from the keyboard list.

💡

Resetting keyboard settings does not delete personal data, but may require resetting gestures and vocabulary in Gboard.

Method 5: Removal via TWRP (for advanced users)

If you're ready for radical measures and you have a custom TWRP recap, you can manually remove the keyboard, which is a good way to use the Redmi Note 10S with an unlocked bootloader.

Step-by-step:

1. Download TWRP for Redmi Note 10S (rosemary model) and install it via fastboot.
2. Boot to TWRP (hold Power + Volume up when turned on).
3. Go to Advanced → File Manager.
4. Find folders with Chinese keyboards by the following paths: /system/priv-app/SogouInput /system/app/BaiduIME /system/app/iFlytekIME

.bak

Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Note: Delete system files through TWRP It can lead to bootloop (a looped boot) if you remove critical components. MIUI. Before the action, make a full backup through TWRP → Backup.

An alternative is to use Magisk and the System App Remover module, which allows you to remove system applications without risking damage to the firmware.

7.Security: Risks of Chinese Keyboards

Chinese keyboards not only interfere with input, but also pose privacy risks:

• 📡 Data Transfer: Most Chinese IME (Sogou or Baidu sends input statistics to servers in China, which can include passwords, messages and personal information.
• 📊 Advertising and tracking: Keyboards like Sogou display ads and collect data about your preferences for targeted ads.
• 🔓 Vulnerabilities: 2020-2022 in iFlytek and Baidu IME Vulnerabilities were found that allow remote code execution on the device.

To minimize the risks:

• 🔒 Remove all Chinese keyboards (see Methods 3-5).
• 🛡️ Use Gboard or AnySoftKeyboard with open source.
• 🚫 Turn off permissions for messaging and internet access for Chinese IME In Settings → Annexes → Permits.

💡

Check which apps have access to your keyboard: Settings → Apps → Permissions Management → Special Permissions → Text Entering. Turn off everything except trusted keyboards.

8. Frequent errors and their solutions

When you delete Chinese keyboards, users often face problems.

If none of these methods worked, consider flashing to custom firmware (like Pixel Experience or LineageOS) that doesn’t have Chinese services. However, this requires unlocking the bootloader and may take you out of warranty.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions