Smartphone owners Xiaomi, Redmi i POCO often face the need to enter special characters, such as the number sign (#), when filling out forms, entering hashtags on social networks or specifying technical parameters. The interface of the virtual keyboard in the shell MIUI or HyperOS may differ from the usual layout on other devices, which causes confusion among users switching from other brands.
Searching for the desired character usually takes a matter of seconds if you know the logic of the location of the controls. Depending on which keyboard is installed by default - the standard one from Google or a third-party one - the path to the symbol may vary slightly. However, the general principle of navigation through layers of symbols remains the same for the entire ecosystem. MIUI Keyboard, Gboard from Google or third party SwiftKey — the path to the symbol may vary slightly. However, the general principle of navigation through symbol layers remains the same for the entire ecosystem Android.
Number symbol is one of the most popular signs in digital communication. In this article, we will analyze in detail the algorithms for searching for this character on various types of layouts, consider keyboard settings to speed up input, and provide solutions for cases when the symbol is missing or not displayed correctly.
Standard MIUI Keyboard layout
On most smartphones Xiaomi, released in recent years, the company's own development is activated by default - MIUI Keyboard. This layout is optimized for quick text entry in Chinese and English, but has full support for the Russian layout with all the necessary special characters. To find the number sign, the user needs to switch to the mode for entering numbers and symbols.
The first step is to press the mode key, which is usually located in the lower left corner of the screen or indicated by the icon 123 / ?123. After this, a panel opens with numbers and basic punctuation marks. If the sign # is not on the first symbols screen, you need to perform an additional action - click on the button to go to the next page of symbols, often indicated as =\\< or a right arrow.
On the second page of symbols, you are guaranteed to find a number sign in the top or middle row of keys. For the convenience of constant use, the system remembers the frequency of entering certain characters and can display them on the first screen by long pressing the corresponding key, for example, the key with the number 3 or the pound sign in other layouts.
- 🔍 Press the button
123in the lower left corner to switch to numbers mode. - 🔄 Use the button
=\\<to go to the second page of symbols. - 📍 Look for the sign # in the top row of the keyboard among other special characters.
⚠️ Attention: In some regional firmware versions MIUI for China or India, the standard keyboard may have a reduced character set. If you cannot find the number sign, it is recommended to change the input language or install a third-party keyboard from Google Play.
If you often use hashtags, hold down the key with the # symbol for a couple of seconds - in some versions of MIUI this allows you to pin it to the quick access panel.
Using Gboard (Keyboard Google)
Keyboard Gboard is the most popular solution for users Android thanks to its ergonomics and wide functionality. On smartphones Xiaomi it is often offered as an alternative when setting up the device for the first time or is installed manually by the user. The logic for searching for a number symbol is implemented here through a multi-stage nesting system of the symbol menu.
To access the sign # on Gboard you must press the key ?123located at the bottom left. A panel with numbers and basic symbols will open. However, the number sign may not appear on this page because it is considered less common in regular correspondence than question marks or exclamation marks. In this case, you should press the key =\\<located to the left of the return key (Backspace).
After this action, an extended set of characters will open, where the number sign is usually located in the first row from the top. Gboard also supports the "long press" function: if you hold down the key with the number 3 or a currency symbol, you may see pop-up menu with additional options, including #. This allows you not to switch between pages every time.
Another feature Gboard is the ability to customize a separate panel for frequently used symbols. In the application settings, you can activate the symbol panel above the letter row, which displays the number sign in one click without the need to switch to numbers mode. This significantly saves time when actively maintaining social networks or working with code.
Settings of third-party keyboards (SwiftKey and others)
Users who are not suitable for standard solutions often install third-party applications, such as Microsoft SwiftKey or Yandex Keyboard. These applications offer their own character layout algorithms, which may be more intuitive for a particular user. In SwiftKey, for example, the number sign is often placed on the first screen of symbols or is accessible through a long press on the key with the number 3.
In Yandex.Keyboard the logic is similar to Gboard: switching to symbol mode via the key 123, then move to the next page if necessary. However Yandex often uses a smart line above the keyboard, where predictive characters can appear, including a number sign, if the system recognizes the input context (for example, when entering an address or hashtag).
Important Please note that when installing a third-party keyboard on Xiaomi you must provide it with the appropriate permissions in the security settings. MIUI. Without this, the keyboard may not switch or work with limitations. Go to Settings → Advanced settings → Language and inputto activate and select a new default application.
- 📲 Install the keyboard application from the official store Play Market.
- ⚙️ Activate the keyboard in menu
Language and inputin the phone settings. - ✅ Select the new keyboard as the default input method in the system menu.
⚠️ Attention: When using third-party keyboards on devices Xiaomi with the "Protect" function active memory" or aggressive power saving may force the application out of memory. Add the keyboard to the power saving mode exceptions so that it does not turn off while entering text.
Input specifics in different applications
The behavior of the keyboard and the availability of the number symbol may depend on the context in which the input occurs. Different applications, such as instant messengers, browsers or banking clients, may request different types of keyboards automatically. For example, when entering a phone number, the system may suggest a number pad, where the sign # is often located next to the number 0 or asterisk *.
On social networks, such as Instagram or TikTok, when you start entering text after the "@" sign or in the description field, the keyboard may automatically prompt a number symbol to create hashtags. This is implemented through predictive input algorithms. If you type a word immediately after a space, the system may not suggest a character, requiring you to manually switch to the symbol panel.
In a browser Chrome or MI Browser When you enter a URL, the keyboard often transforms to suggest characters commonly used in web addresses, including slash, period, and number sign. In password input fields, on the other hand, access to some characters may be limited or hidden in deep menus for security purposes, although the number character is usually still available.
Why do some fields not have a number character?
Some application developers deliberately limit the set of available characters in input fields (for example, only letters or only numbers) to prevent data validation errors. In such cases, the number sign is not physically available on the keyboard until you switch to another input field with less strict restrictions.
Table of symbol location on popular layouts
For clarity, here is a summary table that will help you quickly navigate the location of the number sign on various types of keyboards used on smartphones Xiaomi. The data is relevant for the latest software versions.
| Keyboard type | Go button | Symbol location # | Additional access |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIUI Keyboard | 123 → =\\< |
Top row, 2nd page | Long press on number 3 |
| Gboard | ?123 → =\\< |
Top row, 2nd page | Character panel (if enabled) |
| SwiftKey | 123 |
Often on the 1st page | Long press on number 3 |
| Yandex | 123 → =\\< |
2nd page symbols | Smart line (contextual) |
As can be seen from the table, despite the differences in the interface, the general pattern of behavior is similar: you need to switch to symbols mode and often to the second page. Knowing this logic allows you to find the desired character on any new keyboard intuitively, without long searches.
Universal rule for all keyboards: if the character is not on the first screen of characters (after pressing 123), look for the page switch button (=\\< or arrow) - there will be a full set of special characters.
Problems with display and solutions
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the number sign is displayed incorrectly (in the form of a square or question mark) or is completely absent on the keyboard. This may be due to encoding issues, an outdated version of the keyboard application, or a system font conflict in the shell. The first step to resolve the problem is to update the keyboard application through the store. Developers regularly release patches that correct symbol display errors. It is also recommended to check your language settings: make sure that the current input language is set to the full layout and not a reduced version. HyperOS.
The first step to resolve the issue is to update the keyboard app through the store Google Play or built-in app store GetApps. Developers regularly release patches that correct symbol display errors. It is also recommended to check the language settings: make sure that the full layout is enabled for the current input language, and not a stripped-down version.
If the problem persists, you can try clearing the keyboard application cache. To do this, go to Settings → Applications → All applications, find your keyboard in the list, select Memory and press Clear cache. This action will not delete your dictionaries and settings, but will reset temporary files that may cause problems with the interface.
⚠️ Attention: Interfaces and menu names in shells MIUI and HyperOS may vary slightly depending on the Android version and firmware region. If you do not find the described item, use the search in the phone settings by entering the name of the function.
☑️ Diagnosing problems with the keyboard
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Why does the number sign not appear when typing in WhatsApp or Telegram?
This is not a keyboard problem, but a feature of the input field. In some cases, instant messengers may hide the symbol panel until you manually click on the mode switch button. Try pressing 123 or ?123 force, even if the keyboard shows letters.
Is it possible to add a number sign to the main screen of the Xiaomi keyboard?
In standard MIUI Keyboard this function is limited. However, in Gboard i SwiftKey you can enable the "Symbol Panel" in the settings, which displays a number of frequently used characters above the letters, including the number symbol.
How to enter a number symbol if the keyboard is frozen?
If the virtual keyboard does not respond to press, try to force reboot the device. If the problem persists, uninstall keyboard updates or install a temporary alternative from the app store.
Where is the number sign on the lock screen for entering a PIN?
On the lock screen, only the numeric keypad is usually available. The number sign is generally not required there and is not provided by the Android security interface. It is available only after unlocking the device in full input mode.
Why is a square displayed instead of #?
A square means that the system does not have a font containing a glyph for this character in this encoding. This is usually solved by updating the system or changing the system font in the settings Screen → Font to the standard one.