Disconnect T9 WhatsApp on Xiaomi Redmi: 5 working ways

Auto-replacement of the T9 on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones is often a source of irritation: instead of the right words, the program substitutes ridiculous options, and fixing errors takes time. This is especially noticeable with fast typing, when the algorithm “guess” the words by the first letters. The problem is compounded by the fact that in MIUI the keyboard settings are hidden deeper than in standard Android, and WhatsApp itself does not provide its own tools for managing auto-replacement.

Many users mistakenly believe that the T9 is a feature of the messenger itself, but in fact it depends on the system keyboard (usually Gboard or Xiaomi Keyboard), which means that you can only turn off auto-replace through the keyboard settings, not through WhatsApp. In this article, we will analyze all the available methods, from standard settings to alternative solutions for owners of the Redmi Note 10/11/12, Redmi 9/10 and other models.

It’s important to understand that completely disabling T9 can affect the ease of typing in other apps, but if auto-replacement interferes with WhatsApp, you can set exceptions or use specialized keyboards without smart features.

1. Disable T9 via Xiaomi Keyboard Settings

If your Redmi has a standard MIUI keyboard (aka Xiaomi Keyboard), the algorithm will be as follows, which works on most models, including the Redmi Note 11 Pro, Redmi 10C and POCO X3.

First, open any type field (even WhatsApp) and call the keyboard bar. Then tap the gear settings (⚙️) If this icon is not present, tap and hold the comma (,) or space until the menu appears.

In the window that opens, select:

1. Keyboard settings
2. Text Input (or Prediction of Text)
3. Auto-replacement or T9

Here you need to turn off the slider next to Auto Replace or Word Prediction, which may be called Smart Input on some versions of MIUI.

After disabling, check WhatsApp: Auto Replace should disappear, but you will still have word hints above the keyboard (you can turn them off separately in the same menu).

Open WhatsApp and start typing|Check if words are automatically substituted|Make sure that the tips over the keyboard do not interfere|Reboot your smartphone if the changes don’t apply-->

2. Setting up Gboard (Google Keyboard)

If you use Gboard, the process will be a little different.This keyboard is the default on some Redmi models, especially if you chose the Google version of the firmware when you set up your phone.

To turn off the T9 in Gboard:

1. Open any application with a text field (such as WhatsApp).
2. Touch the gear icon (⚙️) keyboard.
3. Select Settings → Correction of text.
4. Turn off the sliders: 🔄 Auto-replacement 💡 Input tips (optional) 📝 Show correction options

An important nuance: Gboard has a Personal Dictionary feature where you can manually add or delete words that the keyboard "remembers." If the T9 continues to replace specific words (such as jargon or names), check this section and delete unnecessary entries.

On some versions of Gboard (especially Redmi with MIUI 13/14), the path to settings may be different. If you don't find Text Correction, try: Gboard Settings → System Settings → Languages and Types → Virtual Keyboard → Gboard → Text Correction.

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If the keyboard becomes "dumb" after the T9 is turned off and doesn't even suggest obvious words, try turning back the Tips when you type in, but leaving Auto Replace off. This will keep you comfortable without forced fixes.

3. Alternative keyboards without T9

If standard settings don’t help or you want to get rid of smart features completely, consider installing an alternative keyboard.

To install an alternative keyboard:

1. Download the app from Google Play.
2. Go to Settings → System → Language and input → Virtual keyboard.
3. Turn on the new keyboard and set it by default.
4. On WhatsApp, tap the input field, click on the keyboard icon in the status bar, and select a new one.

On the Redmi models with MIUI 14 and later, additional permission for "Mastering over Other Windows" may be required for some keyboards. → Annexes → Special rights.

4. Reset keyboard settings to factory

If you've tried different settings, but the T9 still doesn't work properly, resetting the keyboard to factory settings will help, which will delete all user words and bring back standard prediction algorithms.

For the Xiaomi Keyboard:

1. Go to Settings → System → Language and input → Virtual Keyboard → Xiaomi Keyboard.
2. Select Additional (or Resetting)
3. Click Reset keyboard settings and confirm.

For Gboard:

1. Open Gboard Settings → Additional → Resetting.
2. Select Clear the input data (this will delete the word history).

Once reset, the keyboard will work as if it were first installed, so you'll have to turn off the T9 again, but you'll have to eliminate all the accumulated errors and "learned" wrong words.

5. Disable T9 for WhatsApp Only

If you don't want to turn off auto-replace globally, you can set up an exception specifically for WhatsApp, and Keyboard Profiles in some input managers will do.

At Gboard, it's done like this:

1. Open Gboard Settings → Themes and Profiles.
2. Select Add Profile and specify WhatsApp.
3. In the profile settings, turn off Auto Replacement and Text Prediction.

For Xiaomi Keyboard, there is no such feature, but you can use a workaround:

1. Install Tasker or MacroDroid.
2. Create a rule: “If WhatsApp is open” → Turn off auto-replacement” (via ADB-commands or keyboard settings).

This method requires additional effort, but allows you to keep the ease of typing in other applications.

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Disabling T9 for WhatsApp only is the best option if you need auto-replacement in other messengers or browsers, but this will require a keyboard with support for profiles (for example, Gboard).

Problems and Solutions: Why the T9 doesn't shut down

Sometimes Xiaomi Redmi users find that auto-replacement continues to work even after all settings are turned off.

⚠️ Note: If you are using the beta version MIUI, Some keyboard settings may not work smoothly. Check the firmware version in Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI.

• 🔄 Keyboard reset after update: After major updates MIUI (For example, 13 to 14, the keyboard settings can reset.
• 📱 Conflict with other apps: Apps like SwiftKey or Grammarly can override settings. Disable them or uninstall them.
• 🔧 Cache Error: Clear the keyboard cache in Settings → Annexes → [keyboard] → Warehouse.
• 🌐 Regional settings: If the keyboard language is set incorrectly (e.g. English instead of Russian), T9 It might work strange. Check the keyboard settings. → Languages.

If nothing helps, try reinstalling the keyboard:

1. Remove updates for Xiaomi Keyboard or Gboard in Settings → Apps.
2. Reboot the phone.
3. Update the keyboard again via Google Play.

7. RAD-Method: Complete removal of the system keyboard

For advanced users willing to take drastic measures, there is a way to completely remove the standard MIUI keyboard and replace it with an alternative one, which will help if the auto-replacement is stitched up at the firmware level.

Warning: This method requires root rights or ADBs and can cause the system to run in an unstable manner.

Instructions via ADB:

1. Connect Redmi to your PC and enable USB Debugging (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times click on the version, then go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers).
2. Open the command line on your PC and type: adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.miuikeyboard (for Gboard, use com.google.android.inputmethod.latin)
3. Reboot the phone.

Then install an alternate keyboard from Google Play. If you want to return a standard keyboard, follow the command:

adb shell cmd package install-existing com.miui.miuikeyboard

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Deleting the system keyboard via ADB is a last resort.Be sure to back up your data before doing so, as incorrect actions can cause MIUI to fail.

FAQ: Frequent questions about T9 on WhatsApp on Xiaomi