How to turn on the keyboard sound on Xiaomi Redmi 9: full setup

Owning a budget smartphone like the Xiaomi Redmi 9 often involves a deeper interface tweak to maximize comfort with daily use. One of the most annoying problems for many users is the lack of tactile or audio output when printing messages, which creates the feeling of a dead screen under your fingers. In the Android operating system with the proprietary shell MIUI, the sound effects settings are scattered across different menus, which can confuse the inexperienced owner of the gadget.

The sound of the Redmi 9 keyboard is not just an aesthetic nuance, but an important functional element that confirms the successful pressing of the virtual key. Without it, it is impossible to know whether the sensor worked, especially in poor lighting or when using a protective glass with low sensitivity. In this article, we will examine in detail all possible causes of sound disappearance and offer step-by-step solutions that will help you return the usual acoustic response.

We’ll look at both the standard system settings and the specific settings of the Gboard keyboard itself, which is the default on most Xiaomi devices, and the rare cases of software failures and third-party applications conflicts that can block system sounds. Prepare for the fact that the path to perfect sound may require attention to detail, but the result is worth it.

The main reasons for the lack of sound when typing

Before we get into active action to turn on the sound, we need to understand why it could disappear. In Redmi 9, several independent volume sliders are responsible for audio of the interface. Often users mistakenly lower the overall volume of the media or ringtone, forgetting that the system sounds, including keyboard clicks, are regulated separately.

Another common reason is that Do Not Disturb or Quiet Mode is activated, and in these profiles, the system compulsorily silences all notifications and system sounds to keep the user from distracting, and it's important to note that even if the media volume slider is twisted to its maximum, the keyboard will be silent in silence.

Also worth considering is third-party launchers or themes. Some custom MIUI themes may not contain the necessary audio files for interface sounds, or their configuration conflicts with system settings. If you recently changed the visual style of your Redmi 9, this may be the problem.

System volume setting in MIUI

The first step in solving the problem is to check the global audio settings of your device. In the MIUI shell, there is a separate channel for system sounds that users often ignore. To access it, you need to press the side volume button, and then press the three-dot button or the gear that appears on the pop-up scale.

In the menu that opens, you'll see a few sliders. We're interested in a setting that might be called System, System, or gear/note icon, and that slider is responsible for clicking typing, locking sound, and other system notifications. Make sure it's not at the minimum.

If the system slider is active but has no effect, check if the vibration mode is activated instead of the sound. In some Redmi 9 configurations, when switching audio profiles, the system can automatically turn off the audio output, leaving only the vibration response, this is done to save battery power and keep quiet in public places.

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Use physical volume buttons while typing in any field. If the volume scale doesn't show, press the menu button or home to activate the screen and repeat the action.

Activate the sound directly in Gboard

Xiaomi's main keyboard is Google's Gboard, which has its own system-independent audio settings. Even if the system has the audio on to maximum, there may be restrictions inside the application. To get to the desired menu, open any type of application, such as Notes or messenger.

When the keyboard appears on the screen, find the gear icon in the top toolbar. If it is not, click on the four-square icon or arrow to expand the additional menu. In the Settings section that opens, select Settings, then go to Preferences or Sound and Vibration.

Here you'll find the keystroke sound switch, which needs to be activated, and there's usually a volume slider next to it, which allows you to make the sound quieter or louder, regardless of the overall system volume, and it gives you flexibility in setting up, you can leave the loud ringtones, but you can barely hear the keyboard.

Specificity of the MIUI keyboard

While Gboard is the standard, some firmware versions for Redmi 9, especially in regions with China or India, may pre-installe their own MIUI Keyboard. It has its own settings interface that is different from standard Android. If you use it, the algorithm of actions will be different.

To adjust the sound in MIUI Keyboard, go to the general settings of your smartphone, find the "Advanced" section and select "Language and input." From the list of active keyboards, select the MIUI Keyboard. Inside the menu, look for the "Sound and Vibration" or "Sound & Vibration" section.

Unlike Gboard, the settings can be more in-depth and allow you to choose the type of sound from the classic click to softer or even game sound effects. Note that changing the theme inside the keyboard itself can also change the sound package, so check if you have a silent theme installed.

The Impact of Energy Saving and Do Not Disturb

Android’s MIUI-based system aggressively optimizes power consumption, which can shut down minor features, including interface sound. Power saving mode, especially in the Ultra or Maximum Savings version, can force the keyboard to turn off the sound output to save battery life.

Do Not Disturb also plays a key role, and unlike simple silent mode, it blocks not only incoming calls, but also system sounds. Check the settings of this mode: you may have a schedule for it to turn on, which is activated automatically at certain times of the day.

To check, go to Settings → Sound and Vibration → Don't disturb. Make sure the switch is off, or check for exceptions. Some versions of MIUI have the option to "Allow System Sounds" even in silence mode, but don't rely on it, it's better to turn off the mode completely if you need to print.

Third-party keyboards and application conflicts

If you use third-party solutions like Yandex Keyboard, SwiftKey or gaming keyboards with macros, the customization logic may be different.These applications often require additional permissions to work with sound and may conflict with the Redmi 9 system settings.

Often, the problem arises when the keyboard application is updated via Google Play, where developers can reset the settings or reset them to factory values, and then you have to go back to the sound settings inside the app, rather than through the system.

⚠️ Warning: When installing keyboards from unknown sources (not from the Play Market), be careful. Such applications may request excessive permissions, including access to the microphone and clipboard, which poses a threat to the security of your data.

It’s also worth checking if there are sound enhancement apps or equalizers that can intercept the audio stream.If you notice that the sound has gone missing after installing any audio filter or bass amplifier, try uninstalling this app and restarting your smartphone.

Diagnostics of hardware problems and resetting settings

In rare cases, the absence of sound may indicate a speaker malfunction, although on Redmi 9 this is not often the case for system sounds. To check the speaker, play any video or music. If there is media sound and there are no keyboard clicks, the problem is software.

If the software methods didn't work, you can try resetting your keyboard. From the Settings menu → Apps → All apps, find your keyboard (like Gboard). Go to Memory and click Clear Data and Clear Cache, which will return the keyboard to its original state, and you'll have to reconfigure the language and vocabulary.

A last resort is to completely reset your smartphone settings, but you should only resort to it if the sound is lost in the entire system.Be sure to back up important data before that, as all files will be deleted.

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In 95% of cases, the problem is solved by simply checking the System Sounds slider in the volume menu or turning on the switch in the settings of the Gboard keyboard itself.