Are you trying to enter a phone number, password or special character on your smartphone Huaweibut can’t find the right keys? The problem is familiar to many: the standard keyboard Android on devices of this brand often hides the number pad behind additional menus, and some symbols (for example, # or *) have to be searched for several seconds. In this article we will analyze all possible ways of typing numbers and characters - from basic to little-known ones.

The peculiarity of keyboards Huawei (including models P60 Pro, Mate 50, Nova 11 and budget series) is the use of a proprietary shell EMUIwhich modifies the standard Gboard or offers its own keyboard Huawei Keyboard. Depending on the firmware version and region, the interface may differ - so we will consider universal methods that work on most devices.

You will learn:

  • 🔢 How to quickly switch to the numeric keyboard (including hidden gestures).
  • 🔍 Where the symbols are hidden *, #, + and others special characters.
  • ⚙️ How to customize the keyboard to suit your needs (including adding additional rows).
  • 📱 Alternative ways to enter numbers (voice input, clipboard, third-party keyboards).

1. Standard method: switching to the numeric keypad

The most obvious method is to use the switch to numeric mode button. On the keyboard Huawei it looks like ?123 or 12# and is located in the lower left corner. However, its behavior depends on the current input field:

  • 📞 Field for phone number: numbers appear automatically when you click on the input line (for example, in an application Contact or Phone).
  • 🔑 Password field: often requires manual switching on ?123, since the alphabetic layout opens by default.
  • 📝 Regular text input (messengers, browser): numbers are hidden behind the button = or ?123.

If the button ?123 is not displayed, check:

  1. Is the mode one-handed activated (it shortens the keyboard and can hide elements).
  2. Not in use smooth typing (Swipe gestures), which sometimes blocks additional panels.

📊 What keyboard do you use on Huawei?
Standard Huawei Keyboard
Gboard from Google
Other (Samsung, SwiftKey, etc.)
I don’t know which one is worth

2. Where are the * and # symbols (asterisk and hash)

Symbols * i # most often needed for typing USSD commands (for example, *100# to check your balance) or entering passwords. On the keyboard Huawei they are hidden in the second layer of the digital layout. Here's how to find them:

  1. Press ?123to. switch to numbers.
  2. A panel with symbols will appear in the top row. * usually located on the number key 8, and # on the number key 9 (as on old push-button phones).
  3. To enter, hold your finger on the number key until the desired character appears, or press it once - in some versions EMUI the characters are displayed immediately.

If the characters do not appear:

  • 🔄 Try pressing the button =< (it reveals additional characters).
  • 📱 Check if the mode T9 (predictive input) is activated, which can hide special keys.

What to do if * and # are not displayed?

If the characters are missing even after switching to the numeric keyboard, the problem may be a problem with the system fonts or language settings. Try:

1. Switch to the English layout (button with a flag or language abbreviation).

2. in Settings → Applications → Huawei Keyboard → Uninstall updates.

3. Reset the keyboard to factory settings in the same menu.

3. Alternative ways to enter numbers

If standard keyboard Huawei you are not satisfied, you can use other typing methods:

Method How to use Pros Cons
Voice input Click on the microphone next to the space bar and say the numbers (for example, “one hundred twenty-three”). Fast, no need to switch layout. Requires an Internet connection, recognition errors are possible.
Clipboard Copy a number from another source (SMS, contacts) and paste it with a long tap on the input field. Eliminates typing errors. Not suitable for unique codes (for example, one-time passwords).
Third-party keyboards Install Gboard, SwiftKey or AnySoftKeyboard from AppGallery. More settings, convenient arrangement of characters. May conflict with EMUI, require access permission.

Important: when using voice input for USSD commands (for example, *100#), pronounce characters like “asterisk” and “hash”, not “multiply” or “number”. Otherwise the system may incorrectly recognize the request.

💡

If you often enter the same numbers (for example, to top up your account), save them in Contact labeled “USSD”. When dialing in the call line, they will be prompted automatically.

4. Customizing the Huawei keyboard to suit your needs.

If you are annoyed by constantly switching between alphabetic and numeric layouts, you can optimize the keyboard in the settings:

  1. Open Settings → System → Language and input → Current keyboard (or Huawei Keyboard).
  2. Select item Layout and input or Additional settings.
  3. Activate options:
    • 🔢 Show number row (adds a top line with numbers in alphabetic layout).
    • 📱 Gesture to switch to numbers (swipe down on the key ?123).
    • 🔍 Show special characters (displays *, # and other characters on the main screen).

On some models (for example, Huawei P40 or Mate 30) a function is available Smooth number input —it allows you to draw numbers with your finger without pressing each key separately. To enable it:

  1. Go to Keyboard settings → Smooth input.
  2. Activate the option Numbers.

Add numeric row to letter layout|Configure a gesture to switch to numbers|Enable the display of special characters|Activate smooth input of numbers (if available)|Install a third-party keyboard with a convenient layout-->

5. Problems with the keyboard and their solutions

Sometimes numbers and symbols disappear or the keyboard does not work correctly. Let's look at typical problems. and ways to eliminate them:

  • 🔄 Numbers do not switch: reset the keyboard settings in Settings → Applications → Huawei Keyboard → Memory → Reset.
  • 📵 The * and # symbols are missing: update the keyboard via AppGallery or reinstall it.
  • ⚡ The keyboard is slow: clear the cache in the same application settings.
  • 🔒 You cannot enter a password: try use safe keyboard (appears automatically in banking applications).

If the problem persists, check:

  • Are not installed widgets or themesthat conflict with the keyboard.
  • Is mode for the visually impaired activated (it can change the location of the keys).

💡

Before resetting the keyboard settings, save the user dictionary (in the menu Settings → Personal dictionary → Export) so as not to lose the added ones words.

6. Features of the keyboard on different Huawei models

The keyboard interface may differ depending on the smartphone series and version. EMUI. Here are the key differences:

Model/Series Keyboard features Where to look for numbers
Huawei P60 Pro, Mate 50 (EMUI 13+) Adaptive layout, smooth input by default. Swipe down by ?123 or holding down the number key.
Huawei Nova 11, Nova 10 (EMUI 12) The number row is hidden behind the button =<. Double-click on ?123 to fix the numbers.
Huawei Y7, Y9 (budget, EMUI 10-11) Simplified interface, no gestures. Only manual switching to 12#.
Huawei MatePad (tablets) Split keyboard in landscape mode. Numbers on the right panel or through ?123.

On devices with HarmonyOS (for example, the latest versions Mate i P-series), the keyboard may use a different text prediction algorithm, but the arrangement of numbers and symbols remains the same. EMUI.

💡

On tablets Huawei you can connect a physical keyboard via Bluetooth or USB-C —this will speed up entering numbers and symbols, especially for working with documents.

7. Security: how to enter passwords and USSD commands

When entering confidential information (passwords, PIN codes, USSD requests), you should consider the risks of data interception. Here are some safety tips:

  • 🔒 Use safe keyboard, which appears automatically in banking applications (for example, SberBank Online or Tinkoff). It blocks viruses from recording your keystrokes.
  • 📵 For USSD commands (*100#, *111*1#) it is better to use the standard one application Phone, not third-party dialers.
  • 🔍 Check the address bar before entering your password - scammers can replace the keyboard on fake sites.

If you suspect that keyboard is behaving suspiciously (for example, highlighting keystrokes or asking for unnecessary permissions), follow these steps:

  1. Remove all recently installed keyboards (except Huawei Keyboard i Gboard).
  2. Check the list of applications with permissions accessibility in Settings → Accessibility → Applications.
  3. Run a virus scan via Huawei Mobile Services or Dr.Web.

💡

Never enter passwords and USSD commands through the keyboard in the browser or instant messengers. Fraudsters can intercept clicks using phishing pages.

⚠️ Attention: some USSD commands (for example, to transfer money or change a tariff) can be executed automatically when you type them. Always check the command text before sending - it will be impossible to cancel the action.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about the Huawei keyboard

How to return the standard keyboard if it is missing?

Go to Settings → System → Language and input → Current keyboard and select Huawei Keyboard. If it is not in the list, install it via AppGallery (search for "Huawei Keyboard").

Why don't numbers appear when dialing a phone number?

This may be due to:

  • A crash in the application Phone —restart it.
  • Activated mode T9 —disable it in the settings keyboard.
  • System error - restart your smartphone.

Can I add my own character to the keyboard?

Yes, but only through third-party keyboards (for example, AnySoftKeyboard). The standard Huawei Keyboard this function is missing. An alternative is to use the clipboard to insert rare characters.

How to enter a plus (+) when dialing an international number?

Hold the number key 0 - the symbol will appear +. Or switch to the digital layout and click on the button + in the top row (next to 1).

The keyboard slows down when typing numbers. What should I do?

Clear the keyboard cache in Settings → Applications → Huawei Keyboard → Memory → Clear cache. If this will not help, disable text prediction in the keyboard settings.

If your problem is not solved, check the smartphone model and version EMUI (you can find it in Settings → About phone) - this will help you choose more accurate instructions.