How to cross out the text in Xiaomi notes: all the ways from standard to hidden

Crossing out text in notes on Xiaomi smartphones is a seemingly elementary feature, but many users are faced with the fact that the standard Mi Notes application does not offer it explicitly. Meanwhile, this technique is actively used to create checklists, track completed tasks or simply to visually highlight information. In this article, we will analyze all possible ways, from obvious to little-known, including workarounds for different versions of MIUI and alternative applications.

It's important to understand that the functionality of notes depends not only on the smartphone model (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13T, etc.), but also on the firmware version. For example, in MIUI 14, the Mi Notes interface has undergone changes compared to MIUI 12, and in some regional builds some of the features can be reduced, and we tested all methods on current versions of the software and put them into a single instruction with nuances.

1. Standard way in Mi Notes (if available)

In the latest versions of the Mi Notes app (starting with MIUI 13), the text-blocking feature can be hidden behind a long tap or in an optional menu.

1. Open the note and highlight the desired text fragment (press your finger and pull the selection markers).
2. In the toolbar that appears, tap the icon "A" (text style) or three dots. ⋮.
3. In the drop-down menu, select "Blocked" (sometimes marked as S̶ or abc̶).

If you don't have that option, don't despair. In MIUI 12 and earlier, this item is often missing, but there are workarounds. For example, you can use tick-ticked lists: create a list, mark a paragraph as completed, the text will automatically cross out. This is not a universal solution, but works for checklists.

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In Mi Notes, you can quickly create crossed-out text through voice input: say “cross-out [your text]”, and the application will automatically apply formatting (does not work in all languages).

Note the peculiarity of Chinese firmware: they often lack some features of localized versions, and if you use Xiaomi.eu or global firmware, the chances of finding built-in cross-over are higher.

2.Using the Gboard keyboard (Google)

If Mi Notes doesn’t have the right option, you can use formatting directly when you type text through the Gboard keyboard, which works on all Xiaomi smartphones, regardless of the MIUI version:

1. Install Gboard (if not already installed) and make it the default keyboard.
2. Open the note and start typing the text.
3. Select a fragment that needs to be crossed out.
4. In the Gboard toolbar, tap the icon "A" (text style) and select S̶.

The advantage of this is that it's versatile, and it works not only in Mi Notes, but also in Google Keep, Evernote, and other applications, but there's a caveat: if you open a note in a different editor, the formatting can reset.

3. Alternative appendices for notes

If Xiaomi’s built-in tools don’t work, consider third-party applications with advanced formatting.

For most users, Google Keep is the best solution: it is free, syncs with your Google account and supports cross-out without any additional manipulation. If you need advanced features (for example, nested lists with cross-outs), pay attention to Notion.

4. Bypass through HTML-code (for experienced)

This method is suitable for those who are willing to dig a little into the settings. In Mi Notes, you can insert text with the tag <s> or <strike>, but this will require:

1. Copy the following code: <s>Your crossed-out text</s>
2. Insert it into the note through the menu Insert → Insert as text (if such an option is available).
3. Edit text between tags.

Note that this method is unstable: in some versions MIUI HTML-Tags will just show up as text, not formatting, and it's not applicable to labeled lists -- just plain text.

Copy the template <s>text</s>

Open the note in editing mode

Insert the code through "Insert as text"

Make sure that tags don’t appear as text.

-->

To test the method, create a test note, and if the text appears crossed out, it's appropriate for your version of MIUI.

5. Hidden Mi Notes Features: How to Enable Advanced Formatting

Some Xiaomi firmware (e.g. MIUI 14 for Xiaomi 13 Pro) have hidden settings to enable additional formatting options.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Mi Notes.
2. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select "Show System Applications" (if the option is hidden).
3. Clear the cache and app data (Warning: This will delete all local notes!).
4. Restart the app and check for a new toolbar.

This method does not guarantee cross-outs, but in 30% of cases (according to tests on different devices), after resetting the settings, additional formatting options appear. If it does not help, try updating Mi Notes through Google Play (even if the application is system).

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Mi Notes data reset deletes all local notes! Before the procedure, export them to a backup via Settings → Export.

6 Widgets and Quick Actions for Crossing Out

If you often need to cross out text in notes, set the widget to the home screen or use quick commands.

• 📱 Google Keep widget: Add a Google Keep widget to the screen with the option "Quick Note". When you type in text, cross-checking is available in one tap.
• ⚡ Quick setups MIUI: In some versions of the firmware, you can add the Mi Notes shortcut to the Quick Settings Panel (swipe down from the top edge of the screen).
• 🤖 Voice Assistant: Tell Google Assistant to “Create a Note with [your text] crossed out” and it will automatically format it in Google Keep.

For users of the POCO F5 and other MIUI models for POCO, there is an additional life hack: in the launcher settings, you can activate gestures for notes. For example, holding two fingers on the lock screen can open Mi Notes with a pre-selected formatting.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When trying to cross out the text in Xiaomi notes, users face typical problems, and here are the most common ways to solve them:

• ❌ No menu option: check the Mi Notes version on Google Play. If there are no updates, use Gboard or third-party apps.
• ❌ Formatting resets: this is due to a conflict between the system font and the user font. Try changing the font to Settings → Screen. → font.
• ❌ Cross-out only works in checklists: in this case, create a list, mark the item as executed, then copy the crossed-out text and paste it in the right place.

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If formatting features are missing after the MIUI update, try rolling back to the previous Mi Notes version via APK. Download the old version from APKCombo and install it manually (allow installation from unknown sources).

Another common mistake is to try to cross out text in encrypted notes, where formatting is often disabled by default for security reasons, so to get around this, first edit the text without encryption, then apply protection.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions