How to turn on the keyboard on Xiaomi: from the screen to the physical

The screen keyboard on Xiaomi smartphones (including the Redmi, POCO and Mi series) can suddenly disappear after a MIUI update, a setup reset or a system failure. And the physical keyboard on some models (for example, Xiaomi Black Shark or POCO F1 with gaming accessories) requires a separate setup. In this article, we will discuss all the ways to enable the keyboard – from standard to hidden MIUI functions, and also solve typical problems: no input field, failure of language packs and conflicts with third-party keyboards.

It’s important to understand that the algorithm of actions depends on the version of MIUI (12/13/14) and the device model. For example, on the Redmi Note 12, the path to keyboard settings is different from the POCO X5 Pro, and on older smartphones (up to MIUI 10) you may need to manually activate through the developer settings. We will look at universal methods that work on 90% of the brand’s devices, and also point out nuances for specific lines.

1. Standard on-screen keyboard enabled via MIUI settings

If the keyboard is missing after an update or reset, check its status in the system settings first.This method works on all Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 11 and later, including Redmi 10/11/12, POCO F4/X4 and flagship Xiaomi 13/14.

Open the Settings app (cog icon) and follow the path:

Settings → Additional → Language and input → Current keyboard

From the list of available keyboards, select Gboard (from Google) or Xiaomi Keyboard (branded). If the desired keyboard is not in the list, click Keyboard Management and activate it with a slider. Then go back and install it as the default keyboard.

Activate the keyboard in the "Keyboard Management" menu |

Install it as a default keyboard |

Reboot your smartphone to apply changes |

Check the input field in any messenger (Telegram, WhatsApp)

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⚠️ Note: On some firmware (for example, MIUI Global for the European market) Xiaomi's branded keyboard can be disabled by default.In this case, the system will automatically substitute the Gboard, but it will need to be downloaded from Google Play if it is not installed.

2. Enable the keyboard through "Developer Settings"

If the standard method didn't work, it's possible that the keyboard is locked at the system level, which often happens after manually resetting or installing custom firmware, and unlocking it requires access to the developer's settings.

First, activate the developer mode:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Find the MIUI version and tap it 7 times in a row.
3. Enter the pattern lock or PIN-code, if required.

Now go back to the main settings menu and open a new section of the Developer Settings. Scroll down to the Input box and check the following options:

• 🔄 Show the keyboard at launch - should be turned on.
• 📱 Use a physical keyboard (for devices with docking stations or game controllers).
• 🔧 Disable the input correction – if the keyboard appears but does not type.

3. Resolve problems with language packs

The keyboard may not appear due to lack of language data, which is true for multi-user devices or after changing the region in the settings, for example, if you switched from MIUI Global to MIUI China, the Russian layout may disappear.

To restore languages:

1. Open Settings → Additional → Language and Entering → Virtual Keyboard.
2. Select your keyboard (such as Gboard).
3. Slip on languages and download missing packages (Russian, English, etc.).

If the language you want isn't on the list, update your keyboard via Google Play or install an alternative (e.g. SwiftKey or AnySoftKeyboard (MIUI China) may require manual installation APK-file with support for the right languages.

Gboard (from Google) |

Keyboard Xiaomi|

SwiftKey|

AnySoftKeyboard|

Another (write in the comments)

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4. Enabling a physical keyboard (for gaming smartphones and accessories)

Xiaomi Black Shark, POCO F1 devices with gaming docking stations or external keyboards (such as Xiaomi Bluetooth Keyboard) require separate configuration.

1. Connect the device via USB-C or Bluetooth.
2. Go to Settings → Connected devices → Keyboard.
3. Activate the option to use the physical keyboard.

Black Shark may need to enable Shark Space, as the physical keyboard is only activated in this mode. On POCO F1 with docking, check that the Developer Settings have enabled Enable Keyboard Simulation.

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If the physical keyboard is not working properly (key sticks, incorrect layout), try calibrating it through the engineering menu. To do this, type in the dialer code # # #36446337## (does not work on all models).

5. Resetting keyboard settings and reinstallation

If none of these methods worked, do a full keyboard reset, which will remove all user dictionaries and settings, but often solves problems with disappearing or freezing.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find your keyboard (like Gboard or Xiaomi Keyboard).
3. Slip on the Warehouse → Clear the data and Clear the cache.
4. Reboot your smartphone.

If the keyboard still doesn’t work after resetting, delete it and install it again:

• 📲 For Gboard: Remove via Settings → Apps and download from Google Play.
• 🔧 For Xiaomi Keyboard: Update MIUI Up to the latest version (see next section).

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Resetting your keyboard settings removes all saved words and phrases. If you use Gboard, pre-export the custom dictionary to Gboard Settings → Dictionary → Export.

6.Renewing MIUI as a last resort

If the keyboard is not working due to a system file failure, a firmware update will help, which is true for devices on MIUI 12 and older where keyboard bugs have been common (for example, on the Redmi Note 9 Pro or POCO X3 NFC).

Check for updates:

Settings → About the phone → System update

If the update is available, install it. If not, download the latest version of MIUI for your model from Xiaomi’s official website and manually scrolle through System Update → Three Dots → Select a firmware file.

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Before upgrading, make sure you have enough battery power (at least 50%) and a stable Wi-Fi connection. If the upgrade is interrupted, it can result in data loss or a device "brick" (some models require Fastboot flashing).

7.Alternative keyboards and their settings

If standard methods don't work, install a third-party keyboard.The best options for Xiaomi are:

• 🎯 Gboard – supports gestures, voice input and themes.
• ⚡ SwiftKey – Best Predictive Printing and Inter-Device Synchronization.
• 🔍 AnySoftKeyboard – open source and maximum customization.
• 🎮 Fleksy – optimized for games and quick input.

After installation, go to Settings → Language & Input → Current keyboard and select a new keyboard. Be sure to give it permissions to access the microphone (for voice input) and contacts (for autocomplete).

⚠️ Attention: MIUI China without Google Services (GMS) Some keyboards (such as Gboard) may not be installed, and use APKMirror or alternative stores like Aptoide.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the keyboard on Xiaomi