How to turn on T9 on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones: a complete guide with pictures

Tired of slow messaging on Xiaomi Redmi and want to bring back the traditional auto-word-change keyboard? T9 (or its modern counterpart, predictive input) speeds up printing by prompting words by the first letters, but after updating MIUI or resetting, this option often turns off automatically.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways to turn on the T9 on Redmi smartphones, from the standard Gboard keyboard to the Mi Keyboard brand solution. You’ll learn how to configure auto-replacement for SMS, Telegram, WhatsApp and other applications, and what to do if the feature doesn’t work even after activation. Instructions are relevant for Redmi Note 12/11/10, Redmi 13C/12C and other devices on MIUI 14/13.

What is the T9 and why it doesn’t work for Xiaomi Redmi

The term T9 (Text on 9 keys) came from the era of push-button phones, where words were typed in numbers (e.g., "2" for A-B-B). In smartphones, this technology has evolved into predictive input, where the keyboard prompts words by the first characters. Xiaomi Redmi responds:

• 🔹 Gboard (keyboard from Google) – used by default on most devices.
• 🔹 Mi Keyboard – a proprietary solution from Xiaomi with support MIUI.
• 🔹 SwiftKey or other third-party keyboards (if manually installed).

If T9 does not work, the reasons may be as follows:

• 📵 The function is disabled in the keyboard settings (often after updating) MIUI).
• 🔄 Resetting smartphone settings or reinstalling the keyboard.
• 📱 Conflict with other applications (e.g., Clean Master or Security from Xiaomi).
• 🌐 Internet access (some keyboards require a connection to download a dictionary).

Before you set up the T9, check which keyboard is active on your device.

1. Open any field to enter text (such as SMS or Notes).
2. Touch the gear badge (⚙️) ternary (⋮) keyboard.
3. See the name at the top of the menu (e.g., “Gboard Settings”).

Method 1: Enable T9 on the standard Gboard keyboard

Gboard is the most popular keyboard on Xiaomi Redmi, as it is set by default.

1. Open any application to enter text (e.g. Messages).
2. Put the pin on the gear badge (⚙️) keyboard.
3. Select Text Input → Predictive Input.
4. Activate the slider Show hints (should turn blue).
5. In the section "Style of hints" select "Floating" or "In the row" (optional).

If the Predictive Input option is not available:

• 🔄 Update Gboard via Google Play.
• 📥 Reinstall the keyboard (remove and install again).
• 🌍 Check the input language: go to Settings → System system → Language and input → Virtual keyboard and make sure you choose Russian or other language you want.

Make sure Gboard is installed as default keyboard |

Enable "Predictive input" in settings|

Update the Gboard app to the latest version|

Check your internet connection (to download the dictionary)-->

Important: On some MIUI firmware, the Predictive Input option may be called Auto Replacement or Word Instructions. If you don't see this item, try resetting your keyboard settings (in the menu Additional → Reset).

Method 2: Setup T9 on the Mi Keyboard

The Mi Keyboard is a standard keyboard from Xiaomi that is installed on some Redmi models (e.g. Redmi 9A or Redmi 10C) to enable auto-replacement:

1. Open Settings → Additional → Language and input.
2. Select the Current Keyboard → Mi Keyboard.
3. Slip on the keyboard settings (cog icon).
4. Go to the Text Input section.
5. Activate options: 🔘 Auto-replacement (corrects typos). 🔘 Word hints (shows options when entering). 🔘 Adaptive input (remembers frequently used words).

If Mi Keyboard doesn’t offer hints even after enabling features:

• 📲 Remove the keyboard cache: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Mi Keyboard → Clear the cache.
• 🔄 Update the keyboard via the App Store (if available).
• 📚 Check if the dictionary is loaded: in the keyboard settings, find the dictionary section and download the package for your language.

⚠️ Note: On some versions MIUI (for example, MIUI 12.5) Mi Keyboard may conflict with Gboard. T9 prompts do not appear, try to disable the second keyboard in the language settings.

Method 3: Alternative keyboards with T9 support

If standard solutions do not suit, you can install a third-party keyboard with advanced auto-replace functions.

To install an alternative keyboard:

1. Download the app from Google Play (like SwiftKey).
2. Open Settings → System → Language and input → Virtual keyboard.
3. Activate the new keyboard (switch the slider).
4. In the text input field, tap the keyboard icon (🌐) and select the set.

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If the new T9 keyboard doesn’t work after you install it, try turning off the energy-saving mode for it. Go to Settings → Battery → Select apps and add the keyboard as an exception.

Why T9 may not work even after setting up

Sometimes auto-replacement fails to function even when the settings are right.

• 🚫 Energy conservation: MIUI aggressively optimizes background processes. Add keyboard to exceptions: Settings → Battery → Choice of applications → [Keyboard name] → No restrictions.
• 📵 Internet down: Some keyboards (like Gboard) require a connection to download the dictionary.Check mobile traffic or Wi-Fi.
• 🔒 Security restrictions: Antivirus or Security from Xiaomi can block keyboard operation. temporarily disable protection and check the result.
• 📱 Container conflict: On MIUI 14 and later, sometimes reset the keyboard settings after rebooting. Try to roll back to the previous firmware version.

If the problem persists, reset the keyboard settings:

1. Open the keyboard settings (as described above).
2. Find the Additional or Reset section.
3. Choose Reset Settings or Clear Data (Warning: This will delete saved words!).

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI Global Stable may require reloading the language pack after resetting the keyboard. Open any text box and wait for the dictionary to download notification.

How to improve the T9 experience on Xiaomi Redmi

To make auto replacement work more accurately and faster, use these tips:

• 📚 Update the dictionary: In the keyboard settings, find the dictionary section and download the current version for your language.
• 🔄 Teach the keyboard: Enter a few messages manually – the algorithm will remember your writing style.
• 🚫 Eliminate unnecessary words: In Gboard, you can remove incorrect clues by keeping your finger on the word in the prediction bar.
• 🌐 Set up sync: If you use SwiftKey or Gboard, enable sync through your Google account to transfer the dictionary to other devices.

The Mi Keyboard has an optional option, manual word entry, to add a commonly used word to the dictionary:

1. Open the Mi Keyboard settings.
2. Go to the Personal Dictionary.
3. Add and enter a word (e.g., "Hello").
4. Save the changes.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When setting up T9, users often make the following mistakes:

• 🔘 Use the wrong keyboard: Check Gboard settings, Mi Keyboard is active (or vice versa). Always check the keyboard name in the input bar.
• 🔘 Ignoring updates: An outdated version of the keyboard may not support predictive input.Renew apps via Google Play.
• 🔘 Disable permissions: Keyboard needs permissions to access SMS, Contact and Storage for Training. Check permissions in Settings → Annexes → [keyboard] → Permits.
• 🔘 Do not clear cache: Accumulated data may conflict with new settings. Clear keyboard cache periodically.

If after all the manipulations, the T9 still doesn't work, try an alternative method of input, voice dialing.

1. Open the keyboard in any application.
2. Slap the microphone badge (🎤) near-space.
3. Say the text – it is automatically converted into a message.

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If none of these things worked, the problem could be in the firmware. Check for MIUI updates in Settings → About Phone → System Update. Xiaomi forums often post patches to fix keyboard bugs.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions