How to turn on and configure the T9 on Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro: 3 working methods

The T9 keyboard (or predictive input) makes typing on smartphones much faster by offering word variants after the first letters are pressed. On the Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro, this feature is available, but not always activated by default — especially if you use a stock MIUI keyboard or third-party apps like Gboard. In this article, we’ll discuss how to turn on T9 on your device, customize the dictionary to suit yourself, and fix typical auto-replace issues.

It's important to understand that on the Redmi 8 Pro (model M1906G7G), predictive input algorithms depend on the version of MIUI and the keyboard installed. For example, in MIUI 12.5 and later, the path to settings may be different from older versions. We'll look at universal methods that work on all firmware, as well as nuances for popular keyboards.

If you find that T9 doesn’t offer words or doesn’t work correctly, the reason may be because of the permissions turned off, the language settings reset, or the conflict with the MIUI optimizer. At the end of the article, you’ll find an FAQ with answers to frequent questions and ways to diagnose malfunctions.

1. Check the current keyboard and its capabilities

Before you set up the T9, make sure your keyboard supports predictive input. The Redmi 8 Pro defaults to the MIUI keyboard (aka Mi Keyboard), but many users replace it with Gboard (from Google) or SwiftKey. The type of keyboard will determine the next steps.

To check the active keyboard:

1. Open any field to enter text (for example, in Messages or Notes).
2. Touch the gear badge (⚙️) ternary (⋮) on the keyboard, it will cause her to adjust.
3. Look at the name of the app at the top of the screen (e.g., “Gboard” or “MIUI Keyboard”).

If you have a MIUI stock keyboard, go to Section 2. For Gboard or other keyboards, go to Section 3.

2. Turning on T9 on the MIUI stock keyboard

The MIUI stock keyboard has a built-in predictive input, but it can be turned off in settings. To activate T9:

1. Open Settings → Additional settings → Language and input.
2. Select Current Keyboard (or Keyboard Management in newer versions of MIUI).
3. Slip on the MIUI Keyboard (or Mi Keyboard).
4. Go to Predictive Input or Text Input.
5. Activate the switches: 🔹 «Show clues” (includes sentences of words). 🔹 «Auto-replacement" (corrects typos). 🔹 «Personalized tips (takes into account your vocabulary).

If there is no Predictive Input, update the keyboard via Google Play or reset its settings (see Section 5).

⚠️ Attention: B MIUI 13+ Keyboard settings can be hidden behind System Apps in the main settings menu. Use the Settings search (lap in the upper right corner) to quickly find Keyboard MIUI».

3. Set up T9 on Gboard and other keyboards

If you use Gboard (keyboard from Google), the T9 enable algorithm is different:

1. Open any text field and tap the gear icon on the keyboard.
2. Select “Text Input Settings” → “Predictive Input”.
3. Activate: 🔹 «Showing clues». 🔹 «Auto-replacement». 🔹 «Next word (proposes continuation of the phrase).

Gboard

Dictionary

For SwiftKey, the path will be: Keyboard settings → Predictive input → Enable prompts. If the T9 doesn't work, try reinstalling the keyboard or clearing its cache (see section 5).

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If T9 offers the wrong words, add them manually to the keyboard dictionary, and then hold your finger on the word in the prompt bar and select "Add to the dictionary."

4.Why the T9 doesn't work: Common problems

If you have enabled predictive input but it still doesn’t work, check the following points:

• 📵 Internet not available: Some keyboards (like SwiftKey) require a connection to download a dictionary.
• 🌐 Incorrect language: Make sure the desired input language is selected (e.g. Russian or English (USA)).
• 🔄 Conflict with the optimizer MIUI: Open the Settings. → Annexes → Application management → Optimize and disable optimization for the keyboard.
• 📱 Outdated version of the keyboard: Update the app via Google Play.

Critical error: On some MIUI firmware (especially custom ones), the stock keyboard may not support T9 due to remote system libraries, in which case the only solution is to install Gboard or SwiftKey.

⚠️ Note: If after the update MIUI T9 stopped working, reset your keyboard settings (section 5) or wait for a patch from Xiaomi. Often, predictive input bugs are fixed in future firmware versions.

5. Resetting keyboard settings to factory

If the T9 settings are lost or the keyboard is not working correctly, reset:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find your keyboard (such as the MIUI or Gboard keyboard) and tap it.
3. Select Storage → Clear Data (this will delete saved words and settings).
4. Reboot your smartphone and reset the keyboard.

For Gboard, an alternative method is:

Gboard Settings → Additional → Resetting → Confirm

6.T9 Optimization: How to Make Tips More Accurate

To make a predictive input suggest relevant words, follow the following steps:

• 📚 Update the dictionary: In the keyboard settings, find the "Dictionary" section and download the current packages for your language.
• 🔍 Add frequently used words: Manually enter abbreviations, jargonisms or nominal nouns (for example, surnames) into the dictionary).
• 📊 Enable text analysis: In Gboard, activate “Personalized prompts” in the predictive input settings.
• 🚫 Turn off unnecessary languages: Remove unnecessary language packs so the keyboard doesn't confuse hints.

It is also useful for MIUI Keyboard to enable “Entering Learning” – this feature analyzes your type style and adapts the prompts. Find it in Keyboard Settings → More

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The more you use a keyboard with the T9 enabled, the more accurate the hints become. Algorithms are trained on your messages, search queries, and notes (when access is allowed).

7. Alternative ways to speed up typing

If T9 is not suitable for you or is not working properly, consider alternative methods:

• 🎤 Voice input: In Gboard, hold the microphone button on the keyboard to dictate text.
• ⌨️ Gestures: Turn on keyboard swipes (like Gboard Gesture Typing) to type words without lifting your finger.
• 📋 Clipboard Manager: Use buffer managers (such as Clipboard Manager) to quickly insert frequently used phrases.
• 🤖 Bots and templates: In instant messengers (like Telegram), set up quick answers or bots for automatic messages.

The Redmi 8 Pro also has a quick phrase feature in MIUI:

1. Open Settings → Additional settings → Special features → Quick phrases.
2. Add frequently used expressions (e.g., “I’m on the way” or “I’ll be back later”).
3. Now, when typing the first letters, the phrase will be offered for autocomplete.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the T9 on Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro