How to turn on the sound of keystrokes on Xiaomi smartphones: the full guide

The audio behind keystrokes on Xiaomi smartphones is not just a nice little thing, but an important feedback element that helps users control their actions, especially for those who are just starting to learn touch devices or switching from button phones. However, after updating MIUI or resetting the settings, this feature often turns off by default, leaving users wondering why the keyboard became “dumb”?

In this article, we will explore all the possible ways to turn on keystroke sound on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices, from standard MIUI settings to hidden developer settings, learn how to customize the sound for the system keyboard, third-party applications (including Gboard and SwiftKey), and what to do if the sound disappears after updates, pay special attention to typical errors that prevent the function from activating, and give recommendations for choosing optimal sound circuits.

Why can the sound of the keystrokes be turned off?

Before we get to the settings, it's important to understand why the keystroke sound suddenly stopped working.

• 🔄 Update MIUI: After installing a new firmware version, many audio settings are reset to factory values, including disabling tactile feedback.
• 📱 Resetting: If you reset to factory settings (for example, before selling the device), all personal settings, including keyboard sounds, will be lost.
• 🔇 Do Not Disturb: In some versions MIUI This mode blocks not only notifications, but also system sounds, including the keyboard.
• 🎛️ Third-party applications: Utilities to optimize the battery or "clean" the system can turn off "unnecessary" sounds to save charge.
• 🔊 Hardware problems: In rare cases, the lack of sound is due to a malfunction of the speaker or headphone jack (the device "thinks" that the headphones are connected).

If the sound is lost periodically, check if this is due to automatic switching of sound profiles (for example, when connecting to Bluetooth devices), and make sure that the keyboard settings do not activate the “Vibration instead of sound” mode – this option is often turned on accidentally.

Method 1: Enable sound through standard MIUI settings

The easiest way to get the keystroke sound back is to use the built-in MIUI settings. The instruction is suitable for most modern Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices (MIUI 12-14 versions):

1. Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen).
2. Go to the section Sound and vibration.
3. Select Other Sounds and Vibrations (in some versions, System Sounds).
4. Activate the switch next to the option of Keystroke Sound or Keyboard Sound.
5. If necessary, adjust the volume with the slider below.

If your version of MIUI doesn’t have Other Sounds, try an alternative route:

Settings → Special features → Hearing → The sound of pressing the keys

On some devices (such as the POCO F5 or Redmi Note 12 Pro+), the sound of the keys may be tied to the theme of the design. If you are using a third-party theme from the Mi Theme Store, try temporarily switching to the standard MIUI theme and check if the sound has appeared.

Make sure that media volume is not at a minimum.|Turn off the "Do Not Disturb" mode"|Check if the headphones are connected.|Update. MIUI last-minute-->

Method 2: Adjust sound for third-party keyboards (Gboard, SwiftKey)

If you use a keyboard from Google (Gboard) or Microsoft SwiftKey, the keystroke sound is set separately from the system settings.

For Gboard (Google keyboard):

1. Open any field to enter text (for example, in Messages) to make the keyboard appear.
2. Press the badge. ⚙️ Settings in the top panel of the keyboard.
3. Select Settings → Sound when pressed.
4. Activate the switch and select the appropriate sound from the options offered.

For SwiftKey:

1. Launch SwiftKey and go to its settings via the icon ⚙️.
2. Choose Sound and Vibration → Keyboard sound.
3. Turn on the option and adjust the volume.

Note that if the sound on the third-party keyboard doesn't work even after you turn it on, check the permissions of the application. Sometimes MIUI blocks access to system sounds for third-party utilities.

Settings → Applications → Application Management → [Select Keyboard] → Permissions → Enable "Changing System Settings"

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If the sound in Gboard is too quiet, try to increase the volume of the media through the side volume buttons ONLY with the Active Keyboard – this is a separate regulator!

Method 3: Activate sound through special features settings

In some versions of MIUI (especially older models like the Redmi 5 or Mi A2), the keystroke sound is hidden in the feature menu.

1. Go to Settings. → Special facilities.
2. Select the Hearing section (or Audio settings in older versions).
3. Find the option of Keystroke Sound or Audio Feedback.
4. Turn on the switch and select a sound circuit if necessary.

On devices with MIUI 10 and below, this path may be different. For example, on Xiaomi Mi 8, the keyboard sound is tuned as follows:

Settings → Additional → Special features → Auditory settings → Keyboard sound

If you don't have these items on your menu, try searching by settings (the magnifier icon in the top right corner of Settings) and query "key sound." The system will tell you where the option is.

Method 4: Using Developer Parameters (for experienced users)

If the standard methods didn't work, you can try to turn on the keys through the developer's settings, which is suitable for advanced users, because it requires activation of the hidden menu.

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Find the MIUI Version and click on it 7 times in a row until the "You've become a developer" notification appears.

Settings

For developers

Keystroke sound

Audio feedback

Turn it on and if necessary, set the volume.

In the developer menu, you can also adjust the sound delay (key delay option) if the sound is played with a delay. The optimal value is 50-100 ms.

⚠️ Warning: Do not change other options in the developer menu without understanding their purpose! Incorrect settings (e.g., Debugging by Debugging) USB or not turning off the screen may result in security vulnerabilities or increased battery consumption.

Problem Solving: The sound of the keys is not turned on

If you have followed all the instructions, but the keystroke sound still doesn’t work, check the following points:

• 🔊 Media volume: Make sure the volume slider is not at a minimum.On some devices, the sound of the keys is tied to the volume of the media, not notifications.
• 📵 Silent mode: Even if the keys are on, it may not play in silent mode. Check the switch on the sidebar of the device.
• 🔄 Application conflict: Some battery-saving apps (like Security or Battery Saver) can block key sounds.
• 🎵 Damaged System Files: If the sound disappears after the update, try resetting the Keyboard app settings via Settings → Annexes.

On custom firmware devices (such as LineageOS or Pixel Experience), the keys may not work due to the lack of proprietary MIUI audio files, in which case you will have to manually replace system sounds via TWRP or install a third-party keyboard.

If none of the methods helped, reset the sound settings:

Settings → System → Resetting settings → Resetting sound settings →

⚠️ Note: On some devices (Redmi 9, POCO M3) Keyboard sound may conflict with Dynamic sound (in audio settings) and turn it off if the sound is being played intermittently.

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If the keys sound is running in the headphones but not through the speaker, the problem is in the hardware. Check the speaker for damage or contact the service center.

How to choose the best sound of the keys?

There are several options available in MIUI for keyboard audibles, to choose the right one:

1. Go to Settings → Sound and vibration → Other sounds → Sound of keystrokes.
2. Click on the current sound (usually displayed as Default or Classic).
3. Listen to the options available: Classic - standard MIUI sound (suitable for most); Soft - muffled sound, not distracting when dialing; Mechanical - mimics the sound of a physical keyboard (likes users who have switched from button phones); Without sound - turns off the sound completely.

On devices with stereo speakers (such as the Xiaomi 13 Pro or POCO F4 GT), the keys will play more clearly, and if you don’t like any of the standard sounds, you can install third-party audio packages through the Mi Theme Store or apps like Zedge.

For users who often type in public, we recommend that you choose Soft Sound or turn it off altogether so as not to disturb others, but for gamers or those who work a lot with text, Mechanical Sound will help you better control your clicks.

FAQ: Frequent questions about keyboard sound on Xiaomi