How to quickly call the keyboard on the Xiaomi TV: all working methods

Owning a Xiaomi smart TV gives you access to a variety of features, from installing apps to entering Wi-Fi passwords. But what if you want to type text on the screen and the virtual keyboard does not appear? This problem is familiar to many Mi TV and Redmi TV users, especially after system updates or when using third-party remotes.

In this article, we will discuss all the official and alternative ways to call the keyboard on Xiaomi TVs (including the models from 2020-2026), and explain why it may not open. You will learn how to activate text input from the remote, through the mobile application, by voice and even using the mouse.

Important: The instructions are suitable for Android TV and Google TV TVs, including the Mi TV 4A/4S/5X series, Redmi Smart TV and Xiaomi TV Q2/Q1E. If your model is older than 2018, some methods may not work – check the firmware version in Settings → About TV.

📊 What kind of Xiaomi TV is you?
Mi TV (2020–2026)
Redmi Smart TV
Xiaomi TV Q-series
Another model
I don't know.

1. Standard method: calling the keyboard from the Xiaomi remote

The most obvious method is to use the original remote from Xiaomi, and on most models, the keyboard appears automatically when you select a text field (for example, when you enter a Wi-Fi password or search on YouTube).

  1. Hover over the cursor on the field to enter the text (it will be illuminated by a frame).
  2. Press the OK button (center button on the remote) – the keyboard should appear in 1-2 seconds.
  3. If the keyboard does not open, hold OK for 3 seconds – this force activates the input.

On remotes with a microphone (for example, Xiaomi Mi Remote Pro) the keyboard can be called by voice command:

  • 🎤 Press and hold the microphone button (usually located in the upper right corner of the remote).
  • 🗣️ Say “Open the keyboard” or “Input text».
  • ✅ Wait for the virtual keyboard to appear on the screen.

💡

If the remote doesn’t respond to pressing, check the batteries or reconnect it: press Back + Home for 5 seconds until the indicator blinks.

⚠️ Note: On some firmware (for example, MIUI TV 3.0) the keyboard may not open when the game controller or mouse is connected. Disable external input devices in Settings → Input devices.

2. Alternative ways to call the keyboard

If the standard method didn't work, try one of these options, which is especially useful if you have a non-original remote or a TV connected to a PC.

Method 1: Using the Mi Remote mobile app

The Mi Remote app (available for Android and iOS) lets you control your TV from your smartphone, including calling the keyboard:

  1. Download the app from Google Play or the App Store.
  2. Connect to the TV (select it from the list of devices).
  3. Click on the Keyboard icon (the ABC icon in the bottom panel).

Method 2: Using a mouse or keyboard via USB/Bluetooth

Xiaomi TVs support peripheral devices:

  • 🖱️ Connect. USB-mouse or Bluetooth keyboard to the TV.
  • 🖼️ Click the left mouse button on the text field – a standard Android keyboard will appear. TV.
  • ⌨️ If a physical keyboard is connected, text will be entered directly.

Check device compatibility (USB 2.0 or Bluetooth 4.0+)

Disable other input devices in TV settings

Restart the TV after connecting

Update the firmware to the latest version-->

Method 3: Voice input via Google Assistant

If your TV is running on Google TV (Models 2022 and newer), you can use the voice assistant:

  1. Press the Google Assistant button** on the remote (or say “OK, Google”).

On TVs with MIUI TV, voice input works only to find content, not to enter passwords or logins.

3.Why the keyboard does not appear: reasons and solutions

If neither method worked, the problem could be system settings or hardware constraints.

Problem.Possible causeDecision
The keyboard does not open when you press OK.Misfunction of MIUI TV launcherReboot the TV or reset the launcher: Settings → Apps → Launcher → Clear the cache
No response to the remote.Batteries are dead or the remote is uncoupledReplace the batteries or reconnect the remote (clamp Back + Home for 5 seconds)
The keyboard appears but does not workConflict with a connected Bluetooth keyboardTurn off all external input devices in Settings → Devices → Bluetooth
No voice in the remote microphone.Disabled voice input in the settingsEnable Settings → Voice Search → Allow access to the microphone

Some versions of MIUI TV (e.g. 2.3.65 and 3.0.1) had an error that prevented the keyboard from opening in the password fields.

  1. Check the version in Settings → About TV.
  2. If the version is older than 3.0.5, update the firmware through Settings → System Update.
How to update your firmware manually if the automatic update doesn’t work?
1. Download the latest firmware for your model from the official Xiaomi website (section"TV"). 2. Save the file to USB-storage device FAT32). 3. Connect the flash drive to the TV and go to Settings → Updating the system → Update through USB. 4. Select the downloaded file and wait for the installation to be completed (do not turn off the TV!).

4. Manual keyboard control via ADB (for advanced)

If you are familiar with Android debugging, you can force the keyboard through ADB-This method is suitable for televisions with unlocked developer settings.

First, turn on the USB debugging:

  1. Go to Settings. → On TV.
  2. Click 7 times in a row on the line "Build number" (the notification "You became a developer").
  3. Back to Settings → For developers and include “Debugging by” USB».

Now connect the TV to your PC via USB (or Wi-Fi) and follow the command:

adb shell am start -n com.android.tv.settings/.inputmethod.InputMethodAndLanguageSettings

This will open the keyboard management menu where you can choose the standard Android TV Keyboard or install a third-party one (like Gboard).

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB It can cause a TV malfunction. Don't change system files without a backup.

5. Installation of a third-party keyboard

If the standard Xiaomi keyboard is unstable, it can be replaced with an alternative one, such as Gboard or SwiftKey support Android TV and offer more convenient input.

Installation instructions:

  1. Open the Google Play Store on your TV.
  2. Find the Gboard app (from Google LLC).
  3. Install it and go to Settings → Device → Keyboard.
  4. Turn on Gboard and set it with the default keyboard.

Advantages of third-party keyboards:

  • 🔤 Swipe support (swipe your finger by letter).
  • 🌐 Automatic switching of languages.
  • 📝 History of the entered text (convenient for passwords).
  • 🎨 Dark theme and customization of appearance.

💡

Third-party keyboards may require more RAM, which will slow down TVs with 1-1.5 GB of RAM (e.g., Mi TV 4A 32).

6. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Even after successfully calling the keyboard, users face some big problems, and here's how to solve them:

Error 1: The keyboard appears but does not enter text

Reason: conflict with a connected game controller (e.g. Xbox or DualShock)

  1. Disconnect the controller from the TV.
  2. Restart the TV (hold the power button on the remote for 5 seconds).

Error 2: The keyboard opens but disappears immediately

This is due to a failure in the Android System WebView service.

  1. Go to the Google Play Store.
  2. Find Android System WebView and update it.
  3. Clear the app cache in Settings → Applications → WebView.

Error 3: Voice input is not working

Check it out.

  • 🔊 Is the microphone enabled in the settings (Settings) → Confidentiality → Microphone).
  • 📶 Is the TV connected to the Internet (voice input requires cloud processing).
  • 🗣️ Is Google Assistant disabled in Settings? → Voice search.
Can I call the keyboard on Xiaomi TV without a remote?
Yes, there are three ways: Use the Mi Remote mobile app (requires a connection to a single Wi-Fi network). USB-Keyboard or mouse: Control via Google Home (if the TV is added to the app). If none of the methods work, try resetting the TV to factory settings (in the recovery menu).
Why is there no Russian keyboard on Xiaomi TV?
This happens if: The Russian language of the system is not installed (check in Settings). → Language and input. Reset keyboard settings (try reinstalling Gboard) Install outdated firmware (update TV) To add Russian: Open any text field. Click on the icon ⚙️ (Select "Languages" and add Russian.
How to reassign the button on the remote to call the keyboard?
Xiaomi’s standard remotes don’t support button reassignment, but you can use it: 🎮 Universal remotes (for example, Logitech Harmony), where you can configure macros. 📱 Remote applications (for example, Unified Remote), where there is a customization of buttons. IR-A blaster (such as the Mi Box) can program a keyboard call through Tasker. + plugin.
The keyboard works, but it's very slow. How do you speed it up?
Slowing down the keyboard is usually associated with: 🐢 Lack of memory (close background applications through Settings) → Annexes → Launched). 🔄 Old cache (clear keyboard data in Settings) → Annexes → Gboard/MIUI Keyboard). 📉 Low performance TV (on models with a 1 GB RAM, turn off animations in the developer settings. If the problem persists, try: Install a lightweight keyboard (like Simple Keyboard). Turn off text prediction in the keyboard settings.
Can I connect a keyboard from a PC to a Xiaomi TV?
Xiaomi TVs are supported by the: 🔌 USB-Keyboards (connect directly to the port) USB). 📶 Bluetooth keyboards (need to pair in Settings) → Devices → Limitations: Not all keys can work (e.g., Bluetooth, F1–F12 often ignored. Some models require OTG-adapter USB-For gaming keyboards (backlit) additional power may be required via USB-hub.