How to set up Russian language on Xiaomi: the complete guide

Buying a Xiaomi or Redmi smartphone from Chinese online stores often comes as a pleasant surprise in the form of a low price, but immediately puts the user in front of a serious obstacle. The device turns on, the screen lights up with bright colors, but all the inscriptions are in hieroglyphics, making the gadget almost useless for a person who does not speak Chinese. ROM versions that are essentially Chinese firmware without a preinstalled multilingual package.

Fortunately, the situation is not critical, and you can translate the menu into understandable Russian in several ways without having the skills of a programmer. Depending on the version of the MIUI operating system or the new HyperOS, and the type of firmware installed, the methods can differ from simply changing the region in settings to using specialized localization applications.

In this guide, we will discuss all the current ways to localize the interface, from the standard tools of the system to advanced methods for locked versions. You will learn how to properly prepare the device, what risks exist when using third-party software and how to avoid turning a smartphone into a “brick.” It is critical to determine the type of your firmware (CN or Global) before starting any action, since it depends on the choice of method.

Determination of firmware version and preparation of the device

Before you start taking a proactive step towards changing the language, you need to understand what software you’re dealing with. Xiaomi smartphones come with two main firmware types: Chinese (CN ROM) and Global (Global ROM). In the global version, Russian is usually present by default, but can be hidden until the appropriate region is selected, whereas in the Chinese version it may not be at all.

For initial diagnosis, look for standard Google apps. If you first turn on the Play Market, Google Play, and YouTube, you're probably on a global version or a re-interrupted Chinese phone, and if you're on the other side of the list with Chinese apps like GetApps or apps that aren't known by characters, you're looking at a clean CN ROM.

⚠️ Warning: Don’t try to reset to factory settings unless you’re sure of the firmware type. On some Chinese versions, the system may lock in the region after the reset or require verification through a Chinese account.

It is also important to check the Android and MIUI version. To do this, find the settings icon (usually a gear), then go to the About section (often the first or second icon on the top). There will be a version of the software. Write down this data or take a screenshot, as it may be necessary when looking for specific instructions for your model.

Basic method: changing the region in settings

The easiest and most secure way to do this, which works on most global firmware versions, is to manually change the region, and often the interface language is geographically positioned, and country switching automatically tightens the language packets that you need, and it doesn't require any additional software to be installed, and it's safe to guarantee the device.

To do this, look for the option section in the settings menu. In MIUI, it's usually a three-dot icon or a gear that says "Additional." Inside this section, you'll search for a region-related item (often a globe or flag icon).

The listing you'll need to find Russia or another Russian-speaking country, and the system may need to reboot or simply change the interface language, dates and number formats instantly, and if Russian has appeared but some items are still in English or Chinese, you may need to restart the device completely.

It's worth noting that changing regions can affect some embedded services, such as the themes available in the theme store, the news feed in the browser, or the set of pre-installed apps, but this does not have any negative consequences for the basic functionality of the phone.

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If the language has not changed after the change of the region, try to find the item "Language and input" (often immediately under the choice of the region) in the same menu and force the Russian language to be displayed there.

Use MoreLocale 2 for full localization

In situations where standard methods of activating the Russian language fail, the time-tested application MoreLocale 2 comes to the rescue. This tool allows you to force the installation of any language locale in the system, even if it is hidden by the manufacturer.

To get started, you'll need to download the application's installation file (.apk format) from a trusted source, as Chinese app stores may not have one. Once installed and launched, you'll see a list of available languages. Search Russian or Russian and click on it. The system can issue a region change alert, agree.

However, on modern versions of Android (starting with 6.0 and up), the application requires advanced access rights. Conventional installation is not enough. You will need to connect the smartphone to your computer and use ADB (Android Debug Bridge) debugging, or use the built-in Wi-Fi debugging mode if it is available in your version of MIUI.

The process of activation through the computer is as follows: turn on the developer mode (often you need to 7 times click on the kernel version or MIUI in the About Phone section), activate “Debugging over USB.” Then connect the phone to the PC and enter a special command in the command line for application rights.

pm grant jp.co.c_lis.ccl.morelocale android.permission.CHANGE_CONFIGURATION

After completing the command, the application will receive the necessary rights, and you can choose the Russian language that will apply to the entire system.

⚠️ Attention: When in use ADB-Be very careful when typing, and a mistake in the team's syntax can lead to the application not being granted rights, or, in rare cases, a conflict of system processes.

Comparison of localization methods: table of possibilities

The choice of localization method depends on your technical skills and the type of device, and to make it easier to make a decision, we have prepared a comparison table that will help determine the best way to solve the problem for your case.

As you can see from the table, for most users, the best option is a combination of changing the region and using MoreLocale 2. Flashing the device is an extreme measure that requires unlocking the bootloader, which in turn leads to the complete deletion of all data and waiting for 7 days (168 hours) on the part of Xiaomi servers.

Translation problems in new versions of MIUI and HyperOS

With the release of new versions of the MIUI 14, MIUI 15 shells and the transition to HyperOS, Xiaomi has strengthened the system protection and changed the structure of language packages. Users often face a situation where even after using MoreLocale 2, part of the menu remains in English or Chinese, due to the fact that some system applications now load language resources dynamically from servers.

In such cases, check for system updates. Sometimes it is enough to simply update a specific system application through the built-in GetApps store or Play Market. Go to the update settings and click "Check Updates." If the system finds packages for your region, it can download missing translations.

You should also pay attention to Google apps, which are Chinese firmware, but you have manually installed Google services, and they may conflict with the system settings of the language. Try Google's settings (language section) to force Russian for all services of the search giant.

Another common problem is floating translation in the notification menu and curtain, which is treated by clearing the Settings and System Interface app cache, and to do that, go to application management, find the relevant system processes, and select Clear -> All Data. After that, the phone will reboot and the language packs should be re-indexed.

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In new versions of HyperOS, it is critical to update all system applications after changing the language, as old cached data can override new localization settings.

Frequent Questions and Answers (FAQ)