Why change the region to Xiaomi and what risks does it carry?
Changing the region on Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphones is a procedure that can make life easier and create problems. The main reason for changing the region is access to local services (for example, Google Pay in Russia or Mi Video in India), software updates for a particular country or removing restrictions on installing applications. However, changing the region incorrectly without resetting to factory settings can lead to a locking of the Mi Account, loss of warranty or a “brick” of the device when upgrading.
The manufacturer links the region to the firmware and Mi Account, so a simple replacement SIM-This article will discuss three working methods (including hidden ones) relevant to the system. MIUI 14/15 And we'll talk about how to avoid common bugs, if you want to get around geo-restrictions in apps like Netflix or Disney.+), better VPN: Changing the system does not always solve this problem.
Method 1: Officially change region through settings (no root)
The safest way, but it doesn't work on all models and requires factory resets, suitable for devices with unlocked bootloader or purchased in official stores (not "gray" imports).
Instructions:
- 📱 Go to Settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI and click 7 times on the line with the version to activate Developer Mode.
- 🔧 Back to Settings → Additionally. → Developer mode and turn on Debugging by USB.
- 🌍 Open the Settings. → Additionally. → Language and region → Region and select the country you want (if the option is active).
- ⚙️ If the region does not change, reset through Settings → The phone. → Resetting settings (select Delete all data).
Make a backup copy in Mi Cloud|Remember the username/password from Mi Account|Connect your phone to Wi-Fi|Charge the battery. >50%-->
⚠️ Warning: After reset, the device may require a link to the Mi Account that was used earlier. If you bought the phone from hand, check with the seller if it is not tied to someone else's account, otherwise it will take up to 30 days to unlock the phone.
What if the Region option is inactive?
Method 2: Change region through ADB (for advanced users)
This is suitable for devices where the region is locked at the firmware level, requires a computer with ADB drivers installed and USB debugging enabled on the phone, does not work on devices with a locked bootloader (for example, on the new Xiaomi 14 without unlocking).
Step-by-step:
- Download Google’s Platform Tools and unpack the archive.
- Connect your phone to your PC via USB, select File Transfer mode.
- Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the adb folder.
- Enter the commands in turn: adb devices (the name of your device should appear) adb shell settings put global region [country code] Example for Russia: RU, for India: IN, for Europe: EU.
- Reboot your phone: adb reboot
adb shell settings delete global regionThen re-enter the new region.-->
⚠️ Note: On some firmware (for example, MIUI 14 for POCO F5) This method causes Google Play services to crash. If applications start to crash after rebooting, reset via Settings → Annexes → Application management → Google Play Services → Warehouse → Clear the data.
| Country code | Region | Features |
|---|---|---|
| RU | Russia | Blocking Google Pay, Restrictions on Some Apps |
| IN | India | Mi Video access, but NFC issues are possible |
| EU | Europe | Google services are fully supported, but updates are coming later |
| CN | China | There are no Google services, only Chinese apps |
| US | USA | Early updates, but possible 4G issues in other countries |
Method 3: Complete flashing with region change (extreme method)
If the first two methods didn't work, the radical solution is to flash the device to the firmware in another region, which is the riskiest way: if you make a mistake, the phone can turn into a brick, and it's only suitable for power users or devices that are no longer warranty.
What you need:
- 🖥️ Windows computer 10/11 (For the Mi Flash Tool).
- 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).
- 📄 Fastboot for your model and the desired region (download from the official website of Xiaomi).
- 🔓 Unlocked loader (instructions for en.miui.com/unlock).
Algorithm of action:
- Unpack the firmware in a folder without Cyrillic characters (for example, C:\MIUI\).
- Turn off the phone and press Volume Down + Power to log into the Fastboot.
- Connect your phone to your PC and start the Mi Flash Tool.
- In the program, select a folder with firmware, then press Refresh (the device should appear).
- Press Flash and wait until it is finished (10-15 minutes).
💡
After flashing, be sure to reset via Recovery (click Volume Up + Power when turned on) to avoid conflicts between old and new data.
⚠️ Attention: Firmware for China (CN) It does not contain Google services. To install them, you will need to manually install them through Google Installer. XDA Developers. on some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12S Ultra can cause problems with the camera.
Official (via settings) | Through ADB| Firmware |Haven't tried-->
How can we verify that the region has changed?
After the region changes, it's important to make sure the system has applied it correctly. Here are 3 ways to check:
- Through settings: Open Settings → About → MIUI version and look at Region bar (e.g. RU or EU).
- Through ADB: Connect your phone to your PC and type in the command: adb shell settings get global region, IN for India).
- Install Device Info and check the System → Region section.
If the region has not changed, but you have completed all the steps, there are two possible reasons:
- 🔄 The firmware of your device is blocked at the manufacturer level (relevant for “gray” phones from China).
- 🔒 Mi Account is linked to another region. Try logging out and logging in again.
Frequent problems and their solutions
Even if you change your region correctly, you're going to get bugs, and here are the most common ways to fix them:
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Google Play is not working. | Conflict of services after the change of the region | Clear data from Google Play Services and Google Play Store |
| No software updates. | The firmware region does not match Xiaomi servers | Install the update manually through Recovery |
| Blocking Mi Accounts | Too frequent region change | Contact Xiaomi with Proof of Purchase |
| NFC doesn't work | Firmware restrictions for some regions | Install Magisk Module with NFC Patch |
After the change of the region, the phone stopped seeing SIM-The card, most likely, the firmware does not support the frequencies of your operator, in which case only flashing on a global or EEA (Europe version MIUI.
Xiaomi’s new HyperOS: What’s Changed?
The new HyperOS shell, which debuted on Xiaomi 14 and Redmi K70, has changed the mechanism of region change.
- 🔒 ADB-This method only works on unlocked devices.
- 🌐 Official Shift Requires Linking to Mi Account in Same Region.
- ⚡ Automatic Detection: The system can reset the region to the original when connecting to a mobile network.
For HyperOS, it is recommended:
- First, change the region to Mi Account at account.xiaomi.com.
- Perform a reset settings through Settings → About phone → Reset.
- When you first turn on, select the desired region and connect to Wi-Fi (do not use mobile Internet!).
💡
On HyperOS, after changing the region, Mi Cloud may be lost. To restore it, go to Settings → Accounts → Mi Account and re-sign in.