How to Change Language on Xiaomi: A Complete Guide to Setup

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face a situation where the device interface is displayed in an incomprehensible language. This can happen after buying a gadget from China, after a failed system update or an accidental reset. Understanding how to change the language to Xiaomi is a basic skill for any user who wants to comfortably operate their device.

The localization change process depends on the version of the MIUI operating system installed or the new HyperOS, as well as the region for which the smartphone is released. Global versions usually have a full set of languages, including Russian, while Chinese firmware requires additional manipulation. In this article, we will discuss all possible scenarios and solutions in detail.

Don't panic if you see characters instead of the usual letters. Android, which is the shell of MIUI, allows you to flexibly manage multilingualism. The right sequence of actions will help you quickly adapt the interface to your needs without losing data.

Standard language change in MIUI and HyperOS settings

If your device already has Russian on the list of available languages, the activation procedure takes just a few seconds, you need to find the appropriate section in the settings menu, which is visually different depending on the current localization.

Once you log in, you should look for icons, because text signatures may not be clear, and you need to find the section that provides additional system settings, and in most cases it is located at the bottom of the list, or has a characteristic three-dot designation or slider designation.

The algorithm of actions is as follows:

• 🔍 Find the gear icon on your desktop and click on it to enter the settings.
• 📜 Scroll down the list to the bottom of the item with an icon of three horizontal lines or dots (this is the section "More»).
• 🌏 Select the menu item that usually goes first or second in the list of additional settings and has a globe icon or the letters "A».
• ✅ In the list that opens, find “Russian” (or “Russian / English”) and activate the switch on the right.

⚠️ Note: After choosing a language, the interface may not change completely. Some system applications, such as Explorer or Security, may require a separate activation of the Russian language within themselves.

Importantly, newer versions of HyperOS may have changed menu logic, so if you can't find the right item by description, look for the position of the items. Often, the desired section is hidden inside the General Settings tab, which is indicated by the adjusting slider icon.

Features of Chinese firmware versions (CN ROM)

This is a game-changer if you own a smartphone designed for the domestic Chinese market, which may not have Russian in the first place and will have a menu entirely in Chinese, not a marriage, but a feature of Xiaomi’s regional policy.

Chinese firmware (CN ROM) often lacks Google services and European language support out of the box. However, in recent versions of MIUI, developers sometimes add the ability to switch to English, which makes it easier to further install Russifiers. If only Chinese and English are on the list, you are more fortunate.

For users with the Chinese version of the system, there are two main ways to solve the problem: first, installing third-party applications to change localization, which does not require reflashing, and second, completely replacing the software with a global version, which is a more radical but effective method.

It is worth noting that using Chinese firmware has its advantages, such as getting security updates earlier and having exclusive features for the Chinese market.

Installation of Russian language through the application MoreLocale 2

If the phone settings do not have Russian, but there is English, you can use the MoreLocale 2 utility. This method allows you to force the locale without superuser rights (Root), but requires the execution of one command through a computer or a special terminal application on the smartphone itself.

The first step is to download and install MoreLocale 2 from the Google Play Store or a trusted source. APK-Once you install, run the program. You'll see a list of countries and languages. Search in the list "Russian" or "Russian" and click on it. If the system gives a success message, the language will change instantly.

However, on current versions of Android (starting at 7.0 and above), this method requires special permissions through ADB (Android Debug Bridge) to work.

Instructions for activation via ADB (PC required):

1. Connect your smartphone to your computer through USB-cable.
2. Turn on the phone "Developer Mode" (click 7 times on the build number in "About the phone").
3. In the menu for developers, activate “Debugging by USB”.
4. On the computer, open the command line in the folder with ADB Enter the command: adb shell pm grant jp.co.c_lis.ccl.morelocale android.permission.CHANGE_CONFIGURATION

After you type in the command on your computer (or through the terminal emulator app on the phone itself if it has access to ADB), go back to MoreLocale 2 and select Russian. The interface should switch. This method works on most Redmi and POCO models, but may not work on devices with heavily modified security.

Change of language in Recovery Mode

Sometimes it happens that the language gets lost after updating or resetting, and it is impossible to get into the settings in the usual way, or the language does not change with standard methods. In such cases, the Recovery Recovery menu can help.

To log in to Recovery on most Xiaomi smartphones, you need to turn off the device and then press the volume button and power button simultaneously. Hold them until the Mi or Android logo appears. If you have a phone with a physical power button, use it; if the button is built into the screen, the algorithm may differ (often you need to connect to the charger).

In the Recovery menu, you can navigate with volume buttons (up/down) and you can choose with a power button. You need to find an item called "Language" or an icon of the globe. If you don't have one, you don't have a language change in this version of Recovery, and it won't work for you.

List of possible actions in the Recovery menu:

• 🔄 Reboot - Reboot the device.
• 🗑️ Wipe Data – Complete data reset (use with caution!).
• 🔧 Connect with MIAssistant – Connect to a PC for firmware.
• 🌏 Language – Selecting the Recovery Menu Interface Language.

⚠️ Warning: Be extremely careful in the Recovery menu.Selecting the "Wipe Data" option will result in the complete removal of all your photos, contacts and applications without the possibility of recovery.

It’s worth noting that the language chosen in Recovery doesn’t always affect the language of the Android core system. However, if the problem was caused by a bug in the update, a reset in Recovery can help bring back factory settings where the language can be selected on the first run.

Reflashing to the global version (Global ROM)

If none of the above methods have worked, or you want to get rid of Chinese software and advertising altogether, the only reliable solution is to reflash the device to a global version (Global ROM).

The flashing procedure requires unlocking the bootloader. Without an unlocked bootloader, you can’t install third-party firmware. Xiaomi officially allows unlocking, but it requires a wait of 7 to 168 hours after submitting an application through a special Mi Unlock utility.

The main stages of reflashing:

1. Create a Mi Account and link the device to it.
2. Submit an application to unlock the bootloader through the phone settings.
3. Waiting for permission from the Xiaomi server.
4. Download the official global firmware for your model.
5. Install firmware through the Mi Flash Tool program on a PC.

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Before flashing, make sure to make a full backup of all important data to a cloud drive or computer, as the process of installing a new firmware will completely destroy the information on the phone.

It is important to understand the risks: improper flashing (for example, installing a version for another model) can lead to the “bricking” of the device, and when changing the firmware region (for example, from Chinese to global), you can experience problems with the operation of banking applications or NFC if all security conditions are not met.

Table of correspondence of regions and language packages

To better navigate firmware versions and available languages, it is useful to know the region markings. The designations in the firmware name (e.g. MIUI 14 Global) indicate which market the device is intended for.

As the table shows, the most problematic are devices labeled CN. Buying a smartphone from China saves you money but gets you to spend time setting up. Global and European versions (Global, EEA) are devoid of these drawbacks but can cost more.

Also, consider that in some cases, even on global firmware, Russian can be “cut” – some menu items remain in English.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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Changing the language to Xiaomi is a simple procedure for global versions, but Chinese firmware may require additional utilities or a complete flashing of the device.

To sum up, the language barrier on Xiaomi smartphones is surmountable, whether it’s a simple menu setup or a complicated flashing procedure, there’s always a solution, and the key is to act carefully and follow the instructions that are right for your model and version of the software.