How to change the language of the vacuum cleaner Xiaomi: a step-by-step guide

Smart appliance owners often face a situation where a gadget purchased, especially from abroad or ordered from Asian venues, has an interface exclusively in Chinese. This creates a tangible barrier to initial setup and further operation of the device. Xiaomi vacuum cleaners are no exception, and the issue of menu localization is quite acute for many users who want to manage cleaning without language difficulties.

Fortunately, today’s smart home ecosystems provide flexible personalization tools, and most of the time, the problem is solved software-based through a mobile app, but there are nuances that depend on the model and regional version of the firmware. Understanding the Mi Home architecture will help you avoid unnecessary actions.

In this article, we will take a look at all the ways you can adapt your assistant interface to your needs, learn how to link your device to the right server, what are the limitations for the global and Chinese versions, and also look at manual reset methods if automatic synchronization does not work.

Features of regional versions and globalization

The first thing to decide before you start setting up is the origin of your device. Xiaomi produces equipment for the domestic market of China (CN Version) and for international use (Global Version), which dictates the available methods of changing the language.

Global versions typically have a pre-installed multilingual interface that automatically adapts to the language selected in the smartphone app. Chinese versions often require additional manipulation because their native language is Chinese and they are tailored to work with servers in China.

• 🌏 Global Version: Supports Russian out of the box, works with the server "Russia" or "Europe" in the application.
• 🇨🇳 CN Version: Originally a Chinese interface, it requires changing the region in the application to "China" for full functionality.
• 🔄 Hybrid models: Some new flagships allow you to change the language of the voice packet regardless of the region of reference.

It is important to understand that trying to change the system files of the firmware on the Chinese version can lead to loss of warranty or “bricking” of the device, so we will only consider the standard, secure methods provided by the manufacturer.

Setting up the language through the Mi Home app

The main tool for controlling the robot vacuum cleaner is the Mi Home application, which is the primary synchronization of language settings. The algorithm is simple: the application translates the selected interface language to the connected devices, if they support this function.

First, make sure your smartphone is connected to a Wi-Fi network and the app itself is the correct region, so if you're trying to set up the Chinese version, you'll have to change the region in your profile settings to China.

Inside the app, go to your robot card. Usually, in the upper right corner, there's a three-dot menu or a gear setting, and you can find "Voice Package" or "Language" where you can choose between English, Chinese and sometimes Russian.

⚠️ Note: If the robot continues to speak Chinese after changing the language in the app, try removing the device from the list completely ("Delete the device") and conduct the pairing procedure again, making sure that the phone is on the same Wi-Fi network (2.4 GHz).

Some models require a separate voice packet download. In the cleaning settings section, look for Voice Control or Voice Package, where you may need to connect to Wi-Fi to download audio files from the server.

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Before re-pairing, clear the Mi Home app cache in your smartphone settings to eliminate conflicts of old configuration data.

Problems with the Chinese version (CN Version)

Owners of devices ordered directly from China often find that even when choosing English in an app, the robot continues to make Chinese sounds, because the device’s internal memory contains only a Chinese voice packet.

The only way to officially change the language on these models is to flash it to a global version, which is a complex and risky process that requires special tools and knowledge. However, there is a workaround for some popular models, such as the Roborock S50/S55 or Xiaomi Vacuum 1S.

The idea is to use modified voice packets that enthusiasts place on third-party resources, download a voice file (usually a file with the extension.pkg), upload it to the robot’s cloud storage via a web interface or special utilities, and then select it in the application.

It is worth noting that using third-party files always carries a potential risk. If you are not sure about the source of the file, it is better to leave standard Chinese, as the basic cleaning functions do not suffer from this.

Change of voice and sound notifications

Special attention should be paid to the setting of audible notifications, the robot can report the status of cleaning, errors or completion of work, in modern models Xiaomi and Roborock, these sounds are separated from the main system language interface.

To change voice messages, open the Mi Home app, select your vacuum cleaner, and click on the settings button (three dots). Find the Voice or Voice section. Here you will see a list of available languages.

The boot process can take anywhere from 30 seconds to a few minutes depending on the speed of your Internet connection, and while booting, the robot can make sounds or flash indicators — this is normal.

• 🔊 Volume: In the same menu, you can often adjust the volume of voice notifications or turn them off altogether.
• 🗣 Female/Male Voice: Some models allow you to choose the timbre of your voice, which adds personalization.
• 📢 Test: After installing a new package, click the “Listen” or “Test” button to make sure the work is correct.

If the available voices do not include Russian but it is stated in the specification, try changing the application region to Singapore or Germany – sometimes this helps activate hidden language packs.

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Loading a new voice packet requires a stable Wi-Fi connection; interrupting the boot may result in no audio signals until the next successful upgrade.

Resetting and re-binding

In situations where the software settings are lost or the language does not change despite the correct actions, it may be necessary to completely reset the device to the factory settings, which will return all parameters to the original state.

To perform reset on most models, you need to simultaneously press two buttons on the case (usually an on button and a return to base button) and hold them for 5-10 seconds until a characteristic audible signal or voice message.

Once reset, the Wi-Fi indicator should start flashing, signaling the pairing mode, and you can now add the device to the app again, choosing the correct region and language of the system.

⚠️ Warning: After resetting all stored maps of the premises will be deleted. The robot will need to reconfigure the map of your home, which may take one or two full cleanings.

Make sure you remember the password from your Wi-Fi network before resetting, as it will need to be re-entered during the setup process.

Frequent errors and ways to fix them

Even following the instructions, users may encounter errors, the most common problem being "Device not found" or the inability to complete the setup at the language selection stage.

Often the reason lies in the incompatibility of Wi-Fi frequencies. Xiaomi vacuum cleaner robots work exclusively in the 2.4 GHz band. If your router distributes a 5 GHz network with the same name (Smart Connect), the phone may try to connect the vacuum cleaner through 5 GHz, which will lead to an error.

Recommended solution:


Separate 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks on the router by giving them different names (SSID).




Connect your phone to a 2.4GHz network before setting up.

Another mistake is the wrong time zone or region in the app. If you are in Russia, but the region in Mi Home is installed "USA", some features and language packages may not be available.

Also worth checking is the version of the Mi Home app itself.Outdated versions may not work properly with new models of vacuum cleaners.Update the app via Google Play or App Store to the latest available version.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions