Smartphone users Xiaomi often face a situation where they need to quickly enter a special character, for example, a number sign #. This is required when specifying hashtags on social networks, entering commands in the terminal, or using operator codes. The standard layout MIUI can hide these characters on additional screens, which causes confusion among beginners.
In this article we will look at all the ways to find the desired character on the virtual keyboard. We will look at standard methods for switching layouts, setting up third-party applications like Gboard and solving problems when the button simply disappears from view.
Access to special characters depends on the version of the shell HyperOS or MIUI, as well as on the default keyboard you have chosen. Sometimes one touch is enough, and in other cases you will need to go into deep text input settings.
Standard method of switching to symbols
Most devices Xiaomi have a default keyboard Gboard or proprietary MIUI Keyboard. To find the number sign, you need to switch from the alphabetic layout to the numeric and symbolic layout. This is usually done by pressing the ?123 or =\\< button in the lower left corner of the screen.
After the first switch, you will see numbers and basic punctuation marks. The number sign # often appears on this page, among other symbols such as hash marks, asterisks, and ampersands. If you don't see it right away, try pressing the character switch button again, often indicated as =\\< or an arrow.
The location may vary on some firmware versions. For example, on older models Android location may vary. For example, on older models Redmi symbols can be grouped separately from numbers. It is important not to confuse the number sign with the pound sterling symbol, although they may be visually similar in some fonts.
⚠️ Attention: On some global firmware versions, the layout may differ from the Chinese one. If you flashed your phone, the location of the buttons may be non-standard.
Setting up a quick symbol panel
For frequent use of special characters, it is most convenient to configure the top toolbar. In the settings Gboard you can enable a number of frequently used symbols above the letters. This eliminates the need to constantly switch layouts.
Go to the keyboard settings through the menu Settings → Additional settings → Language and input. Select the active keyboard and find the "Symbol Panel" or "Shortcut" option. Here you can add a sign # to the number of priority characters.
Hold the symbol button (usually ?123) to temporarily switch to numbers and signs without releasing your finger. This saves time during one-time input.
Using the Gboard keyboard
Gboard from Google is the most functional solution for Android. It offers flexible settings for displaying special characters. If the standard method does not work, check the language and layout settings inside the application itself.
- 🔍 Open Gboard settings and go to the "Preferences" section.
- 🔢 Activate the "Show numbers panel" option for constant access to numbers.
- ⚙️ In the "Layout" section, make sure that All necessary punctuation is included.
Interface Gboard Intuitive, but hidden features may not be obvious. For example, long pressing some buttons opens up additional character options. Try holding down the button with a period or a comma - perhaps the number sign is hidden there.
Updating the application to the latest version via Google Play often solves problems with buttons disappearing. Developers regularly change the algorithms for displaying keys depending on the input context.
Gboard Secret Feature
If you often use special characters, enable the “Split Keyboard” mode in the theme settings. This will expand the available area for buttons and make input more convenient with one hand.
Features of the proprietary MIUI keyboard
The proprietary keyboard Xiaomi has its own unique features that distinguish it from the standard one Android. It often implements gestures and specific menus for quick access to instant messenger functions. The number sign here can be located in a separate menu of emoticons or stickers.
To find the symbol in MIUI Keyboard, click on the emoticon or globe icon to open the emotions menu. Often next to the emoji tab there is a tab with special characters. There you will find not only #but also other technical signs.
Users note that in the update to HyperOS the logic of the button layout has changed. Some symbols are now hidden in the collapsible menu to reduce screen clutter. Be careful when searching and check all tabs.
⚠️ Warning: MIUI proprietary keyboard may collect input data to improve predictive typing. If you are concerned about privacy, it is better to use third-party open source solutions.
Solving problems with missing symbols
Sometimes a button with the desired symbol disappears completely. This may be due to a malfunction of the application or a version conflict Android. First of all, try clearing the keyboard cache in application settings.
Go to Settings → Applications → All applications. Find your keyboard in the list, click on it and select “Clear cache”. Do not click "Clear data" if you do not want to reset all personal settings and dictionary.
| Problem | Possible cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| No buttons # | Incorrect layout | Change input language to English (USA) |
| Gray button | Application conflict | Restart smartphone |
| Character cannot be entered | System crash | Update keyboard application |
| Small font | Screen settings | Change font size to system |
If the problem persists, try temporarily disabling and re-enabling the keyboard in the languages menu. This will restart the input service without losing data. As a last resort, installing an alternative keyboard will solve the issue instantly.
☑️ Keyboard diagnostics
Alternative input methods
If touch input is inconvenient or the button does not work, you can use voice input. Say “number sign” or “hash” and the system will recognize the command. This works in most modern notes and instant messaging applications.
You can also use the clipboard. Copy a symbol # from any text on the Internet and paste it into the desired location. For convenience, create a note with a set of frequently used special characters.
For advanced users, it is possible to connect a physical Bluetoothkeyboard. On it, the number sign is usually located above the number 3 and is entered with the combination Shift + 3. This is an ideal option for typing large amounts of text.
The most reliable way to always have access to special characters is to install a third-party keyboard with a customizable row of characters, for example, Yandex.Keyboards or SwiftKey.
Why is there no hash button on my Xiaomi?
Most often this is due to selected language layout. In the Russian layout, the sign can be hidden at the second level of characters. Switch to the English (US) layout, where the # symbol is prominently displayed.
How to make the number sign permanent on the panel?
In Gboard's keyboard settings, enable the "Character Panel" option. There you can add the necessary characters to quick access so that they are displayed above the letters permanently.
Is it possible to change the size of the buttons on the keyboard?
Yes, in the keyboard theme settings or in the “Text size and display” system settings you can change the scale of the interface, which will also affect the size of the input buttons.
Where can I find the number sign in the engineering menu?
To enter commands in the engineering menu (for example, ##4636##) use the standard dialer keyboard. Switch to symbols via the ?123 button, the # sign is available there immediately.