Replacing the keyboard on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones is a challenge that owners face after mechanical damage, fluid infestation or wear of contacts. Unlike flagship models, where the touch screen is often integrated with the display, budget and mid-budget Redmis (for example, Note 10/11/12, 9A/9C) can have a removable keyboard plume under the screen. This makes repair easier, but requires care: an error in disassembly can damage flexible cables or detach the touch screen.
In this article you will find step-by-step instructions with a photo, a list of necessary tools, tips for choosing an original spare part and unique nuances for models with a high-quality design. NFC-An antenna in the upper part of the body (for example, Redmi Note 11 Pro)+). We will also discuss when you can make a replacement yourself, and when it is better to contact the service - for example, if the keyboard stopped working after falling from a height of more than 1.5 meters.
Signs of a keyboard malfunction
Before you disassemble your phone, make sure the keyboard is the problem, not the software failure.
- 🔠 Individual buttons (such as volume or lock keys) do not work, although the sensor responds to touch.
- 💧 Sticky or sliding buttons after liquid hits (even if the phone switches on after drying).
- 🔊 Spontaneous taps – the phone turns on/off sound, locks without touching.
- 🔋 Buttons work only when pressed strongly - a sign of wear and tear of contact areas.
If symptoms appear after the MIUI update, try resetting to Settings → About Phone → Reset. If the problem persists, it’s a 90% hardware fault.
⚠️ Attention: On Redmi models 9/10 With a plastic case, the buttons are often squeezed inwards due to loosen latches. Before replacing the keyboard, check the integrity of the plastic locks under the lid - they can be restored with glue. B-7000.
What tools will you need
To replace the keyboard with Xiaomi Redmi, you will need a specialized set. Do not use improvised tools (knives, screwdrivers of the wrong size) - this almost always leads to damage to the body or plumes.
| Tool. | Appointment | Where to buy | Price, ₽ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plastic mediator (0.2–0.4 mm) | Unscratched separation of the shell latches | AliExpress, "Chip and Deep" | 50–150 |
| Cross screwdriver PH00 | Body and metal frame screws | Any tool store | 100–300 |
| Screen suction cup (∅50-60 mm) | Lifting the display module without damage to the touch screen | AliExpress, "The Connection" | 80–200 |
| Tweezers with curved ends | Disconnection of plumes and extraction of small parts | Radio parts stores | 150–400 |
| Thermoair station (or hairdryer) | Heating the glue under the screen (for models with OLED) | AliExpress, "All Tools" | 1 500–5 000 |
Redmi Note 12 and newer models with adhesive screen mounting will additionally require B-7000 or T-7000 adhesive to fix the new keyboard plume. Don't use superglue - it destroys plastic parts!
Step-by-step instructions for replacing the keyboard
The keyboard replacement process is different for models with a removable back cover (Redmi 9A, 8A) and a non-removable body (Redmi Note 10/11/12).
Turn off the phone and remove it. SIM-memory-card
Reduce the battery to 20-30% (for safety)
Prepare the workplace: clean surface, good lighting
Take a picture of the location of the screws and plumes before disconnecting-->
Step 1: Removing the back cover
On the Redmi Note models 10/11 The lid is attached to the latches and glue, and you need to carefully swipe the mediator around the perimeter, starting with the jack for the jack. SIM-For Redmi. 9A/8A enough to cover the bottom corner - it is removed without heating.
⚠️ Critical error: Don't pull the lid up with force - plumes pass under it NFC-antennas (on contactless models) and vibratory motors, which will lead to additional repair costs.
Step 2: Battery disconnection
When you remove the lid, first you turn off the battery by plugging the power supply with a plastic mediator. On some models (Redmi Note 11 Pro), the plume is covered with a metal plate, which you need to unscrew with a PH00 screwdriver.
Never disassemble a phone with a connected battery.
This can cause a short circuit and disable the motherboard.Step 3: Remove the old keyboard
The Redmi keyboard is a flexible board with buttons glued to a metal frame. Carefully tweez it, starting with the power key. On models with NFC (like the Redmi Note 10 Pro), an antenna runs under the keyboard - don't hurt it!
If the buttons are stuck from the liquid, before installing the new keyboard, clean the contact areas on the frame with an alcohol solution (90%+).
Step 4: Install a new keyboard
Compare the new part to the old one before you install it, and sometimes the Chinese ones have screw holes or entangled contacts. The original Redmi keyboards are code-marked, for example:
- MDY-11-13 – for the Redmi Note 11
- MDY-10-9 is for Redmi 10.
Once installed, check all buttons before the phone is assembled. Connect the battery and turn the device on in Fastboot mode (press Volume Down + Power). If the buttons do not respond, double check the connection of the plume.
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On IP53 (splash protection) models, after the keyboard is replaced, it is necessary to restore the tightness with a glue sealer. Without this, the phone will lose moisture protection!
Where to buy the original keyboard for Xiaomi Redmi
Part quality directly affects the durability of repairs, and here are proven sources with a warranty for parts:
- 🛒 Xiaomi’s official service centers are original details, but the price is 30-50% higher than the market.
- 🏬 Local stores (for example, "Svyaznoy", "M. Video") - sometimes there are available, but the range is limited.
Average prices for keyboards for popular models (2026):
| Model | Original, ₽ | Analog (China), ₽ |
|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 12 Pro+ | 1 200–1 500 | 400–700 |
| Redmi Note 11 | 800–1 000 | 300–500 |
| Redmi 10 | 600–800 | 200–400 |
| Redmi 9A | 400–600 | 150–300 |
⚠️ Attention: AliExpress often sells "universal" keyboards for the entire Redmi Note line. They are not suitable - each model has a unique wiring of contacts. Check compatibility with the code of the part (for example, MDY-11-13 Note only 11).
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Before you buy, ask the seller for a photo of the back of the keyboard — there should be a barcode with an article. Compare it to the original on the Xiaomi Parts website.
Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Even experienced masters make mistakes when replacing the keyboard.-5 problems and solutions:
- The buttons are working, but they're late, and the reason is: bad plume contact, solution: reconnect the plume or erase the contacts with a stripe (for oxidized sites).
- NFC doesn't work after assembly. Cause: the antenna plume under the keyboard is damaged. Solution: check the integrity of the wire and reconnect it.
- The phone doesn't turn on after it's been replaced. The reason is because it shorts when you plug in the battery. Solution: disconnect the battery and check the voltage on the board with a multimeter.
- The buttons crunch when you press them, and it's because there's dust or glue between the button and the body, and the solution is to take the parts apart and clean them with alcohol.
- The vibration is not working. The reason is that the vibratory motor plume has disconnected. Solution: check the connection (located next to the battery connector).
If the phone starts to spontaneously reboot after the keyboard is replaced, it is a sign of damage to the motherboard, in which case a diagnosis is required at the service center.
What to do if the new keyboard does not work?
When is the best time to contact the service
Replacing the keyboard with Xiaomi Redmi can be done on your own, but in some cases the risk outweighs the benefit.
- 🔧 Phone drop from a height of more than 1.5 meters - could damage the fastening of the motherboard.
- 💦 Getting liquid under the screen - requires complete disassembly and cleaning.
- 🔋 Battery swollen - self-replacement is dangerous (risk of fire).
- 📱 Model with OLED-screen (Redmi Note 12 Pro)+) — High risk of damage to the display during disassembly.
Average cost of keyboard replacement in the service (2026):
- Budget models (Redmi) 9A, 8A): 1 000–1 500 ₽ (spare-part).
- Mid-size segment (Redmi Note) 10/11): 1 500–2 500 ₽.
- Flagship (Redmi Note 12 Pro)+): 2 500–4 000 ₽.
In official Xiaomi service centers, repairs cost 20-30% more, but are guaranteed for 6 months. informal workshops can offer low prices, but often use non-original parts.