How to permanently remove Emoji Keyboard from Xiaomi Redmi 9: 5 working ways

The emoji keyboard on the Xiaomi Redmi 9 often comes unexpectedly: replaces the standard layout, slows down text input, or even blocks access to the main keyboard. The problem is compounded by the fact that MIUI aggressively integrates system applications, and simply disabling through settings does not always work. In this article, we will discuss all possible methods for removing the Emoji Keyboard from basic to advanced (including ADB and manual intervention in system files).

The Redmi 9 (M2003J15SC/M2003J15SS) feature is that the emoji keyboard here can be either a separate application (com.sohu.inputmethod.sogou.xiaomi) or part of the MiuiSystemUI system package. This means that there is no universal solution – you will have to test several approaches. We analyzed user feedback on the 4PDA and Mi Community forums to collect only working methods for current versions of MIUI 12.5-14.

Why does the Emoji Keyboard appear on its own?

The reasons for automatically activating the emoji keyboard on Redmi 9 fall into two categories:

• 🔄 Update MIUI: After installing the new firmware version, the system can reset the default keyboard settings by activating Sogou Input (Chinese keyboard with emoji) instead of Gboard or MiuiKeyboard.
• 📱 Application Conflict: Installing third-party keyboards (such as SwiftKey or Chroom) sometimes results in the installation of keyboards. MIUI «Loses the main layout and substitutes the backup - Emoji Keyboard.
• 🔧 Failure in settings: In the Settings menu → Additionally. → Language and input may disappear from the main keyboard, and the Emoji Keyboard will be the only active option.
• 🦠 Viral software: Rarely, but it happens that malware applications change the input settings. Check permissions in Settings → Annexes → Application management.

Before you start deleting, make sure that the problem is not a temporary failure. Restart your phone and try to manually select another keyboard in the settings. If that doesn't help, read on.

Method 1: Disconnect via MIUI settings (without root rights)

The safest method is to deactivate the Emoji Keyboard from the keyboard control menu, which is suitable for most users, but does not always work (depending on the version of MIUI).

1. Open Settings → System → Language and input.
2. Slip on the current keyboard (or keyboard management in older versions).
3. In the list of active keyboards, find the Emoji Keyboard (may be called the Sogou Input or the Emoji Keyboard).
4. Turn off the slider next to the name. If there's no slider, click on the keyboard name and select Turn it off.
5. Return to the menu and activate the main keyboard (such as Gboard or MiuiKeyboard).

If the Emoji Keyboard is not on the list, then the keyboard is integrated into the system software.

Make sure that an alternative keyboard is installed (Gboard, SwiftKey)

Make a backup of settings in Settings → Additional → Backup

Check the version of MIUI in Settings → About the phone

Close all applications that use text input-->

Method 2: Remove via ADB (without root)

If the keyboard is not disabled through the settings, you can delete it using Android Debug Bridge (ADB).The method requires connecting the phone to a PC, but does not violate the warranty and does not require superuser rights.

Attention: before executing commands, make sure that the phone is debugging via USB (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times tap on version → return to Additional → For developers → Debugging by USB).

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.sohu.inputmethod.sogou.xiaomi

If the team returns the Failure error [DELETE_FAILED_INTERNAL_ERROR], Try an alternative package:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.xiaomi.miui.emoji

Once done, restart the phone. The emoji keyboard should disappear from the system.

Method 3: Reset keyboard settings (without data loss)

If the Emoji Keyboard appears due to a glitch in the input settings, you can reset them to factory without affecting the rest of the phone data.

1. Go to Settings → System → Resetting settings.
2. Select Reset App Settings (not to be confused with a full reset!).
3. Confirm the action. The phone will reboot.
4. After turning on, reconfigure the keyboard in Settings → Language and input.

This method helps in 60 percent of cases where the problem is caused by a setting conflict, but it won't remove the emoji keyboard itself, it will only make the main layout more important.

💡

If the Emoji Keyboard is activated again after reset, try installing a third-party keyboard (such as Gboard) and assigning it to the default keyboard before the system prompts you to select the layout.

Method 4: Remove the system APK (root required)

For root users, a radical method is available, the physical deletion of keyboard files. Attention: wrong actions can cause the system to fail!

Use any root-enabled file manager (such as Root Explorer or FX File Explorer) and delete the following files:

• 📁 /system/priv-app/EmojiKeyboard/EmojiKeyboard.apk
• 📁 /system/app/SogouInput/SogouInput.apk
• 📁 /data/app/com.sohu.inputmethod.sogou.xiaomi-*/base.apk (if)

After deleting, restart the phone. If the system detects an error when booting, return the files back or reset to factory settings.

⚠️ Attention: Removal of system APK may disrupt MIUI, Especially if the keyboard is integrated into MiuiSystemUI. Before the action, make a full backup through the TWRP Mi Backup.

Method 5: Firmware rollback (extreme case)

If none of the methods worked and the Emoji Keyboard is disrupting the work, the last option is to roll back to an older version of MIUI, where the emoji keyboard was not yet available, a radical solution only suitable for power users.

Instructions:

1. Download stable firmware for Redmi 9 (e.g. MIUI 12.0.8) from Xiaomi’s official website.
2. Unpack. ZIP-firmware file and find the file recovery_rom.zip.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and copy the ZIP to your internal memory.
4. Start System Update (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Update).
5. Click on three dots in the upper right corner → Select a firmware file → specify the downloaded ZIP.
6. Confirm the rollback. The phone will reboot and install the old version.

Running back firmware is a last resort, as you will lose all data (if you don’t back up) and new MIUI features. Use it only if other methods haven’t helped.

💡

Before rolling back the firmware, be sure to check the compatibility of the version with your Redmi 9 model. Installing firmware from another modification (for example, Redmi 9A) will lead to a brick (inoperability) of the phone!

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When you remove the Emoji Keyboard, users often face typical problems, and here's how to prevent them:

• 🔌 The phone is not detected through ADB: Install Xiaomi drivers USB Drivers and check the connection in File Transfer Mode (not Charging).
• 🔄 The keyboard comes back after the reboot: This means it's integrated into the system software. ADB root.
• ⚠️ Error: "Unfortunately, the keyboard has stopped": Install any third-party keyboard (such as Gboard) and assign it to the default.
• 📱 Can't find the Emoji Keyboard in the settings: It could be hidden under the name Sogou Input or Keyboard MIUI.

⚠️ Note: If after removing the keyboard, the phone stopped loading (hang on the logo) MI), Try to go to Fastboot Mode (squeeze power). + Volume down) and flash the device through the Mi Flash Tool, which will bring the phone back to life, but delete all the data.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions