How to turn on the vibration when typing on the keyboard Xiaomi Redmi 9: all the ways

Tactile feedback on a smartphone keyboard is not just a nice bonus, but a useful feature that helps you type faster and more accurately. On Xiaomi Redmi 9, the vibration when you press the keys can be turned off by default or accidentally deactivated after updating the firmware. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to turn it on, from standard MIUI settings to fine-tuning popular keyboards like Gboard.

The thing about the Redmi 9 (codenamed lancelot) is that there's one vibration motor, but it's responsible for both the system notifications and the haptic response of the keyboard, which means that if the vibration doesn't work at all, the problem can go deeper, into access settings or even hardware malfunctions.

Why the keyboard vibration may not work on the Redmi 9

Before proceeding to settings, it is worth eliminating the typical reasons for the lack of tactile response:

🔕 The vibratory motor is disabled, see if the vibration is working on the calls or notifications.
📱 Third-party keyboard – not all applications (e.g. SwiftKey) support vibration MIUI.
🔄 Resetting – after updating the firmware or resetting to the factory settings, the vibration parameters are reset.
🛠️ Hardware malfunction – if vibration is not working in any application, the engine may be damaged (a common problem after falls).

If the vibration is only absent in the keyboard, but works in other parts of the system (for example, when touching navigation buttons), the problem lies in the settings of the particular application.

📊 What keyboard do you use on Redmi 9?

Standard MIUI

Gboard (Google)

SwiftKey

Another.

I don't know.

Method 1: Enabling vibration in a standard MIUI keyboard

The MIUI stock keyboard on Redmi 9 supports tactile response, but the option can be hidden in the depths of the menu.

Open any application to enter text (such as Messages or Notes).
Touch the badge. ⚙️ (gear) on the keyboard to open its settings.
Go to the section Settings of the keyboard → Tactile feedback.
Activate the Vibration switch when pressed.

If tactile feedback is not available, update the keyboard via the Play Store or check the MIUI version:

MIUI version	Vibration support	Notes
MIUI 11	Yes.	Option in the Additional section
MIUI 12/12.5	Yes.	Item renamed as Response upon pressing
MIUI 13+	Yes.	Added vibration force adjustment

On firmware below MIUI 11.0.2.0, the keyboard may not vibrate due to performance limitations, in which case only updating or installing a third-party keyboard will help.

Is the keyboard open in the text field?|Is there a gear icon on the keyboard?|Is the firmware up to date MIUI 12+?|Vibration checked in other applications?-->

Method 2: Set up vibration in Gboard (Google keyboard)

Gboard is a popular alternative to the standard keyboard, and its vibration settings are more flexible, to activate the tactile response:

Open Settings → System → Language and input → Virtual keyboard.
Select Gboard from the list.
Go to Settings → Sound when pressed.
Turn on the Vibration option when you press the keys.
In the Vibration Force section, adjust the intensity (recommended 50% for the balance between response and battery savings).

If the option is not available, check:

🔋 Charge savings - in Ultra-saving mode, vibration is turned off automatically.
📵 Do Not Disturb – can block all vibrational signals.
🔒 Permissions for Gboard – go to Settings → Annexes → Gboard → Permits and make sure that vibration access is enabled.

💡

If the vibration in Gboard is unstable, clear the app cache in Settings → Apps → Gboard → Memory → Clear the cache.

Method 3: Using third-party keyboards with vibration support

If the standard solutions are not satisfied, you can install alternative keyboards with advanced vibration settings.

keyboard	Vibration support	Features
SwiftKey	Yes.	Adjustment of the force and duration of vibration
Chroom	Yes.	Minimalist design, low energy consumption
Fleksy	No.	Quick input, but without tactile response
AnySoftKeyboard	Yes.	Open source, flexible setting

To install and configure, for example, SwiftKey:

Download the app from the Play Store.
Activate it in Settings → System → Language and input → Virtual keyboard.
Open SwiftKey settings and go to Sound and Vibration → Vibration when pressed.
Adjust the intensity and duration of the vibration (optimally: Short + Medium).

Third-party keyboards can consume more battery, so after setting up, check the charge consumption in Settings → Battery → Battery Use.

How to return the standard MIUI keyboard?

If you want to go back to the standard one after installing the third-party keyboard: 1. Go to Settings → System → Language and Input → Virtual Keyboard. 2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Reset Settings. 3. Activate the MIUI keyboard and remove unnecessary applications.

Method 4: Verification of system vibration settings on Redmi 9

If the vibration doesn't work in any keyboard, the problem may lie in the global settings of MIUI.

Open the Settings. → Sound and vibration.
Make sure that the vibration is active when touching.
Scroll down and check the System Vibration section – Vibration should be enabled here when pressed.

On some versions of MIUI (e.g. 12.0.3.0), the keyboard vibration option is separately rendered:

Settings → Additional settings → Language and input → MIUI Keyboard → Tactile response

If all settings are enabled but vibration is still missing, reset the vibration settings:

Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
Select Reset Sound and Vibration settings (does not affect user data).
Reset the device.

💡

If the vibration started after the reset, the problem was the setting conflict. Otherwise, check the hardware (vibration engine).

Diagnostics of hardware problems with vibration

If none of the software methods worked, the vibratory motor could malfunction.

🔊 Test call: call the phone from another device. If there's no vibration on the call, the engine is faulty.
🎵 Play music - play a track with bass frequencies (for example, via Spotify).If the body does not vibrate, the problem is with the speaker or engine.
🛠️ Disassembly - if you have experience, you can open the back cover and check the connection of the plume of the vibration engine (located next to the bottom speaker).

On the Redmi 9, the vibrating engine is marked JF-0715A and connected through the connector FPC-4P. It'll cost you 300 to 500 to replace him. ₽ Before visiting the workshop, perform a full reset (Settings) → The phone. → Reset to factory) to rule out software failure.

⚠️ Warning: Redmi 9 self-disassembly voids warranty.If the device is warranty service, contact the official Xiaomi service center with a check and a box.

Optimizing vibration to save battery

The tactile response of the keyboard increases the charge consumption by 3-7% per day (according to the GSMArena tests on Redmi 9).

⚡ Reduce vibration strength by 30-40% in keyboard settings.
⏱️ Shorten the duration – choose Short Vibration instead of Long Vibration.
🌙 Turn off vibration at night through sleep mode in Settings → Screen and brightness.
🔋 Use adaptive vibration (available in Gboard and SwiftKey) which reduces intensity when charged low.

To check the actual battery consumption:

Charge the phone to 100%.
Activate the keyboard vibration and use it for an hour (e.g. in Telegram).
Check the consumption in Settings → Battery → Battery use.

If the consumption exceeds 10% per hour of active use, calibrate the battery: discharge the phone to 0%, then charge to 100% without interruption.

💡

The optimal balance for the Redmi 9 is a 40% force vibration and a Short duration vibration, which maintains a tactile response and adds just 1-2% to the daily battery consumption.

FAQ: Frequent questions about vibration on Redmi 9

Vibration works in games, but not in the keyboard. What's the matter?

This is a typical permission conflict problem. Try: Clear the keyboard cache in Settings → Applications; Reinstall the keyboard (like Gboard); check if the One-Hand mode is on in the keyboard settings, which sometimes turns off the vibration.

After the MIUI update, the keyboard vibration is gone.

Updates often reset settings. Run: Reset keyboard settings (see spoiler above). Check the MIUI version — if it's a beta, roll back to stable via Settings → About Phone → System Update → Three points → Select a service pack. If the problem persists, wait for the patch (usually released within 1-2 weeks of a major update).

Can you adjust different vibrations for different keys (for example, for a space)?

The standard MIUI keyboard doesn't. But Gboard and SwiftKey have Custom Vibrations: Gboard: Settings → Themes, Emojis and GIFs → Keyboard Customization → Vibration. SwiftKey: Settings → Sound and Vibration → Vibration settings for keys. This allows you to set a stronger vibration for the Space, Backspace or Enter.

The keyboard vibration turns on on itself. How do you fix it?

It's a sign of a sensor or software malfunction: 🔄 Reboot the phone. 🧹 Clear the system cache (Settings) → Memory. → Clear the cache). 🛡️ Check for viruses (for example, through Malwarebytes). 📱 Reverse keyboard updates in the Play Store (click on three dots in the app card).If the problem persists, reset to factory settings (be sure to back up your phone!).

Are there any apps for testing vibrations on Redmi 9?

Yes, you can use the Vibration Test for diagnostics, Phone Doctor Plus for all sensors, including vibration, CPU-Z for vibration frequencies, if the vibration doesn't work in the tests, it's a hardware problem.