You bought a Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphone, but you ran into a problem: a system in an incomprehensible language, a keyboard enters characters, and a voice assistant refuses to understand Russian? No problem! In this article, we will analyze all possible ways to change the language — from the system interface to keyboard settings and voice input. Step-by-step instructions with pictures, compatibility tables and solutions to typical errors will help even beginners cope in 5 minutes.
MIUI firmware (even in global versions) features hidden language packages and regional restrictions, such as some Redmi Note 12 models that may default to Polish or Hungarian when you buy in Europe, but the menu does not include Russian, and we’ll show you how to get around these restrictions without the risk of bricking your device, and why some apps (like Google Assistant) continue to work in the old language after changing the language and how to fix it.
1. How to change the system language on Xiaomi
The system language specifies the display of menus, notifications and embedded applications (Weather, Calendar, Settings). On newer versions of MIUI 14/15, the path to settings may be different from older firmware. Here is a general instruction:
Open the Settings app (cog icon) and then go to the section:
Settings → Additional → Language and input → Language and regionOn some models (e.g. POCO X5 Pro), the path may be shorter:
Settings → Language and input →- 🌍 Add language: Click Add language and select the language from the list (Russian, English, Ukrainian, etc.) and the system will automatically download the language pack if it is missing.
- 🔝 Change the order: Press and drag the language up the list to make it the main one. This is important for applications that take the language from system settings.
- ⚠️ Regional restrictions: If you don't have Russian on the list, your firmware doesn't support it out of the box. The solution is to change the region or install a custom language package (more on this below).
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If after changing the language, some of the words remain in the same language (for example, in Mi Video or Mi Music), restart the phone.
2. Keyboard settings: Gboard, MIUI Keyboard and others
Xiaomi's keyboard can work independently of the system language, for example, even if the phone is in Russian, the default device may be the MIUI Keyboard with English layout.
Go to:
Settings → Additional → Language and input → Current keyboardHere you will see a list of keyboards installed. Click on the one you are using (such as Gboard or MIUI Keyboard) and select Languages.
| keyboard | Supported languages | Features |
|---|---|---|
| MIUI Keyboard | Russian, English, Chinese, 50+ languages | Built into firmware, supports gestures and themes |
| Gboard (Google) | 100+ languages, including dialects | Requires installation from Play Market, the best auto fixer |
| SwiftKey | 80+ languages | AI word prediction, synchronization between devices |
For Gboard, after selecting the language, it is recommended to include:
- 🔄 «Auto-replacement" (corrects typos)
- 🎯 «Instructions on entry" (suggests words)
- 🔊 «Voice input (if you need a dictation)
Install Gboard from Play Market|
Add Russian in the keyboard settings |
Enable auto-replacement and prompts |
Set up the theme and size of the keys-->
3. Voice input and assistants: Google Assistant vs XiaoAI
If you're using voice search or commands, it's important to set the language separately for each assistant.
- Google Assistant (works through Google App):
- XiaoAI (Integrated Assistant Xiaomi):
Google Assistant|
XiaoAI|
I don't use voice assistants |
The other (Yandex Alice, Siri, etc.)-->
Critical feature: On some models (e.g. Redmi 10C with firmware for India), Google Assistant may not be on the app list at all, due to Google’s regional restrictions, such as changing the region in the Google Play settings or manually installing APKs.
4 Regional restrictions: what to do if there is no Russian language
If the list of languages is not Russian (or other language you need), the problem lies in the regional firmware. Xiaomi releases different versions of MIUI for different markets:
- 🇨🇳 China ROM — Chinese and English only;
- 🇪🇺 EEA (European languages (Russian is available, but may require manual installation);
- 🇮🇳 India ROM — Hindi, English and local languages;
- 🇷🇺 Global/Russia ROM — Russian.
Decisions:
- Change the firmware region (requires unlocking the bootloader and firmware through Fastboot – risky for beginners).
- Install the language package via MoreLocale 2 (the application from the Play Market, works without root on Android 10+).
- Manually replace localization files (for advanced users, requires access to /system).
How do I find out my version of the firmware?
⚠️ Note: Installing unofficial language packs can cause system applications to crash (e.g. Mi Home or Mi Fit).Before experimenting, back up via Settings → Additionally. → Backup.
5 Problems after language change and their solutions
Sometimes when you change your language, you get bugs, and here are the most common ways to fix them.
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Some apps remain in the old language | The app ignores the system language | Clear the app cache or reinstall it |
| The keyboard does not switch to Russian | In the keyboard settings, no language is added | Add Russian to Gboard/MIUI Keyboard settings |
| Voice search doesn’t understand Russian language | Google Assistant does not have Russian language | Change the language in the Google App settings |
| After the reboot, the tongue dropped | Failure of system settings | Reset language settings in Settings → System → Resetting settings → Resetting language settings |
If Mi Account or Mi Cloud stop working after the language change, it is because some Xiaomi services are tied to the firmware region. For example, on Chinese firmware (CN ROM), you may need a Chinese phone number to log in to your account, and the solution is to create a new account through a VPN (by selecting the region corresponding to your firmware).
6. Specifics for different Xiaomi models
Language settings may vary depending on the model and version of MIUI, and here are the key features for popular devices:
- 📱 Xiaomi 13/13 Pro (MIUI 14+): Support for dynamic language switching (you can quickly change the language by gesture on the lock screen).
- 📱 Redmi Note 12 Series: Some regional versions of the Russian language is hidden – you need to manually add it through “Additional language settings».
- 📱 POCO F5/X5 Pro: The default can stand POCO Launcher with English interface, even if the system language is Russian.
- 📱 Xiaomi Pad 6: On tablets, language settings are duplicated in the Settings menu → Tablet → Language and layout.
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On Xiaomi with a MediaTek processor (like the Redmi 12C), a language change may require a reboot to apply changes to system applications. On Snapdragon models, changes are usually instantaneous.
7. Alternative methods: ADB and engineering menu
If standard methods don’t work (e.g. on locked corporate devices), you can change the language through a computer. ADB-These are advanced methods that require caution!
To change language through ADB:
- Turn on Debugging. USB In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Press 7 times on "Version" MIUI», Then go back to “Settings”. → Additionally. → For developers»).
- Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell am start -a android.settings.LOCALE_SETTINGS This will open a hidden menu of languages.
- For forced language change in Russian use: adb shell settings put system system_locales ru-RU
⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB Do not change the settings unless you are sure of their purpose. For example, the command adb shell settings put secure. user_setup_complete 0 Reset all phone settings to factory!
The engineering menu (#4636##) allows you to change the language encodings, but this is only true for older Android 8-9 models. On new devices, the engineering menu is usually blocked.