How to change the language from Arabic to Russian on Xiaomi: 5 proven ways

You bought a Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphone with Arabic firmware, and the settings don't have Russian? This problem is familiar to many people who buy devices from the UAE, Saudi Arabia or other Arab countries. Even if the menu shows English, Chinese or local dialects, Russian is often not there, the manufacturer adapts the firmware to the regions of sale.

In this article, we will discuss 5 working ways to change Arabic to Russian: from standard settings to hidden functions. MIUI Important: some methods require an Internet connection or a computer, so prepare in advance. SIM-If your smartphone is blocked (for example, requires a previous owner’s Mi Account), unlock it first – otherwise the language change may not work.

All instructions are relevant for MIUI 12, 13, 14 and 15 (including global and Chinese versions), as well as for most models: Xiaomi 11/12/13 series, Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO F3/F4/F5 and others. If your device is older than 2018 (for example, Redmi 5 or Mi A1), some menu items may differ - focus on the logic of actions.

1. Standard method: search for Russian language in settings

Start with the simplest one, check if Russian is in the standard settings, even on Arabic firmware, it is sometimes hidden in additional options. Here's how to do it:

Open the settings (the gear icon or الإعدادات Arabic).
Scroll down and find the item. إعدادات إضافية (supplemental) → اللغة والمنطقة (language).
Tap it on. اللغة (If there is no Russian here, try changing the region to روسيا (Ukraine or Russia (if available).
After changing the region, restart your phone and check the list of languages again.

⚠️ Note: On some firmware (e.g. Xiaomi 12 Pro from UAE), region change blocks access to the mobile network. SIM-Map, return the region back or use the methods below.

💡

If the settings are Arabic characters, copy the item names from this article and paste them into the settings search bar (the magnifier icon at the top).

🔍 Search by settings: Enter the language or اللغة — The system will show the desired section.
🌍 Google languages: If you don’t have Russian on your system, but you have Google services installed, try adding the language through Settings → System system → Language and input → Languages.
🔄 Reboot: After changing language or region, always restart the device – changes don’t apply immediately.

2. Installation of Russian through Mi Account (official method)

If you don’t have Russian in your settings, but your smartphone supports Mi Account, try linking your account to a Russian region, which works on global firmware (e.g. MIUI Global), but doesn’t always work on Chinese or Arabic versions.

Instructions:

Open the Settings → Mi Account (or حساب مي in Arabic).
If you do not have an account, register a new one by selecting the country of Russia (روسيا). If you already have an account, tap on the avatar. → إدارة الحساب (account management).
Find a point. البلد/المنطقة (country/region and change to روسيا. Save the changes.
Go back to the language settings (الإعدادات → اللغة والمنطقة) Check the list and you will see Russian.

⚠️ Note: If after changing the region in Mi Account, the phone requires confirmation SMS, But the message doesn't come, check if your number is blocked for international services. SIM-map.

What to do if you don’t get an SMS from Xiaomi?

If the confirmation code doesn’t come in, try it: 1. Shut down. VPN (if you use). 2. Insert SIM-card of another operator (for example, MTS or Beeline instead of Tele2). 3. Wait 10-15 minutes, sometimes SMS come late. 4. Use an alternative confirmation method (email or backup number if tied).

Xiaomi model	Language change support via Mi Account	Notes
Xiaomi 13/13 Pro	✅ Yes.	It works on global and European firmware
Redmi Note 12	✅ Yes.	It may need to be rebooted.
POCO F5	⚠️ Partially.	The Arabic firmware may not work.
Xiaomi 11T	✅ Yes.	A stable internet connection is required
Redmi 10A (Chinese version)	❌ No.	We need to use other methods.

On some MIUI firmware, Russian is hidden in the engineering menu, a method suitable for advanced users because it requires commands. On models with a Snapdragon processor (for example, the POCO X3 Pro), the menu may differ from devices on MediaTek (Redmi 9A).

Instructions for MediaTek:

Open the Phone app and enter the code: ##36446339##.
You will be taken to EngineerMode. Go to MTK Settings → Language Switch.
In the list, find Russian and select it. Save the changes and restart the phone.

Instructions for Snapdragon:

Enter the code: ##4636###.
Select Usage statistics → click on the three dots at the top → Settings.
Scroll down to Language and select Russian if it is on the list.

⚠️ Warning: Do not change other options in the engineering menu - this can cause malfunctions in the smartphone. If after changing the language there are errors (for example, calls do not work), reset settings (Settings) → Additionally. → Reset).

📊 What is the processor in your Xiaomi?

MediaTek

Snapdragon

I don't know.

Other

Installation of Russian through ADB (for advanced users)

If standard methods don’t work, you can change the system language through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires a computer with Xiaomi drivers installed and USB debugging enabled.

Step-by-step:

Turn on Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and tap 7 times on the MIUI Version.
Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and activate Debugging over USB.
Connect your phone to your computer through USB-- Cable (original!) - Allow debugging on the phone.
Download ADB Tools and unpack it into a folder on your computer.
Open the command prompt in this folder (Shift + right mouse button → “Open command window”).
Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices If the device is displayed, type: adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.Settings$LanguageSettingsActivity This will open a hidden language menu.
If there is no Russian, enter the command for forced language change: adb shell "setprop persist.sys.locale ru-RU; setprop ctl.restart zygote" Phone will reboot.

⚠️ Attention: After teams ADB Some system applications (such as Mi Video or Mi Music) may not work properly. If errors occur, reset settings via Settings → Additionally. → Reset.

Install Xiaomi drivers on PC|Enable debugging on USB|Download ADB Tools|Connect the original USB-cable|Allow debugging on the phone-->

5. Full reset (Hard Reset) with the installation of Russian firmware

If none of these methods worked, the last option is a complete reset with the installation of global firmware, which will remove all data from the phone, so make a backup (for example, through Mi Cloud or Google Account).

Instructions:

Download Russian firmware for your model from the official Xiaomi website (choose Global or EEA version).
Transfer the firmware file (.zip format) to the root folder of the phone and rename it to update.zip.
Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
Click on the three dots at the top → Select a firmware file and specify update.zip.
Confirm installation. The phone will reboot and upgrade to the Russian version.

If the menu update doesn’t work (for example, on locked devices), use Recovery mode:

Turn off the phone.
Press Volume Up + Power before the Mi logo appears.
From the Recovery menu, select Install update.zip (use volume buttons for navigation).
After installation, select Reboot.

⚠️ Note: Installing unofficial firmware can result in the blocking of your Mi Account (if the phone is linked to the previous owner.

💡

A complete reset is the only way to change the language on Chinese firmware (e.g. Xiaomi for the domestic Chinese market).

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

When you change language to Xiaomi, users face typical problems. Here's how to solve them:

🔴 No Language in Settings: Check if it is hidden in Additional Settings → Special facilities → Sign language (sometimes hidden there).
🔴 After changing the language, the settings were lost: This is normal – reset the date and time manually (Settings) → System system → Date and time).
🔴 Phone asks for password after reset: If you don’t know the password from the previous owner, you will have to unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool (instructions on the Xiaomi website).
🔴 Russian is available, but partially: Some system apps (e.g. Mi Home) may remain in Arabic.Update them via Google Play.

Problem.	Possible cause	Decision
No Russian on the list of languages	Arabic or Chinese firmware	Use ADB or a full reset
After changing the language, the mobile network does not work.	Incompatibility of the region	Return the region back or set up APN manually
The phone freezes after the ADB team	Wrong command or interrupted process	Restart your phone in safe mode
I can't get into Mi Account.	The device is linked to another account	Unlock with Mi Unlock Tool or contact support

FAQ: Answers to popular questions

Can I change my language without a computer?

Yes, the first three methods (standard settings, Mi Account and engineering menu) do not require a PC, but if the phone has Arabic firmware without Russian on the list, you can not do without a computer - you will need ADB or a complete reset.

Why did some apps stay in Arabic after the language change?

This happens if the apps were installed before the language change or have their own language settings. Update them via Google Play or clear the cache (Settings → Apps → Select the app → Clear the cache).

Can I return the Arabic language after changing to Russian?

Repeat any of the methods and choose Arabic (العربية) If you've done a complete reset with the Russian firmware installation, you can't get Arabic back, you'll have to stitch back the Arabic version.

What to do if the phone is locked after resetting?

If the device requires the previous owner’s account after the reset, you need to: Contact the seller for account details. If this is not possible, unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool (it takes 7-15 days to wait for a new account link).

How to check what firmware is installed on the phone?

Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version. If the name has CN – Chinese firmware, Global – global, EEA – European. Arabic firmware usually has in the name AR or SA (Saudi Arabia).