How to change region to Xiaomi Redmi 4: all the ways with instructions and warnings

Xiaomi Redmi 4 is one of the most popular budget smartphones of the brand, but its owners often face the problem of regional restrictions. The wrong region can block access to Google Play, limit the functionality of MIUI or even interfere with the installation of updates. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways to change the region to Redmi 4 (including versions of Redmi 4 Pro and Redmi 4A), their pros, cons and potential risks.

It's important to understand that changing a region isn't just about choosing a country in your settings. On Xiaomi, a region is tied to firmware. MIUI, And changing it may require deep interventions, and we'll look at both the official methods (through settings and Mi Account) and the alternative methods using hidden menus, ADB-If you're not sure about your technical skills, you should consult a specialist or use the safest ways.

Why should I change the region to Redmi 4?

Xiaomi’s regional restrictions are not a whim of the manufacturer, but a consequence of licensing agreements and local laws, and here are the main reasons why users want to change region:

• 🚫 Blocking Google Play: On Chinese firmware (China) ROM) Google is not available because of the ban in China. Without changing the region, you will not be able to install GMS (Google Mobile Services Officially.
• 🔄 No updates: Some regions get firmware later or don't get it at all. e.g. Redmi 4 on Indian ROM You may not see any updates for Global. ROM.
• 🛒 Mi Store Restrictions: Certain apps or themes are not available in some countries MIUI.
• 📡 Network problems: Chinese firmware may lack ranges 4G for your operator.

But it's not always a good idea to change your region, for example, if you bought a smartphone from your country's official store, it's best to leave your home region, which guarantees stable operation and support from Xiaomi.

• ⚠️ Loss of warranty (if the device was purchased in another region).
• ⚠️ Unstable operation of certain functions (e.g, NFC or IR-blaster).
• ⚠️ Problems with OTA-Updates (updates over the air may stop coming).

Change the region through Mi Account

The safest method is to use a Mi Account, which is suitable if your Redmi 4 is running on Global ROM or EEA ROM (European version).

1. Open the settings → My device → About this phone.
2. Click on the MIUI version 7-10 times until you have the message “You are a developer!”
3. Return to the main settings menu and open Additional → for developers.
4. Activate the OEM Unlock switch (if any).
5. Go to Settings → Mi Account → Sign out (if you are already logged in).
6. Log in to your Mi Account again, but link it to another region (for example, if you had an account from Russia, create a new one with an indication of India or Singapore).
7. Reset the device.

After the reboot, the system may suggest upgrading the firmware to a new region version. Don't agree right away - first check if important features (such as support for your language or network ranges) have disappeared.

Backup | Check the version of MIUI (Global/China) | Make sure your account is not tied to another device | Connect to stable Wi-Fi

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⚠️ If your Redmi 4 is working in China ROM, This method may not work, and then you'll need to flash it to Global. ROM use ADB-team.

Change the region through hidden menu (Engineer Mode)

The Xiaomi Redmi 4 has a hidden engineering menu (Engineer Mode) that allows you to change some regional settings, which is suitable for experienced users and requires caution.

Instructions:

1. Open the Phone app and enter the combination: ##4636##.
2. In the menu that appears, select Phone Information.
3. Scroll down to Set preferred network type and select the appropriate network standard (e.g. LTE/WCDMA/GSM for Europe).
4. Go back to the main menu and select Battery, then Battery Information, and you can reset the statistics, which sometimes helps you change the region of the network.

This method doesn't change the firmware region completely, but it can help with network settings, and more radical action will be needed to completely change the region.

Using ADB to change region (for advanced)

If previous methods have failed, you can try to change the region through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires an unlocked bootloader and installed ADB drivers on the computer.

Step-by-step:

1. Enable USB debugging in the developer settings (see previous section).
2. Connect Redmi 4 to your computer via USB-cable.
3. Open the command line (CMD) and type:

adb shell


settings put global region [regional code]

Where [regional code] is a two-letter country code (e.g. US for the United States, RU for Russia, IN for India), the full list of codes can be found here.

Once you have completed the command, restart the device. If the region has not changed, try to do the same.

settings put secure user_setup_complete 0

This will reset some settings, and the next time the system is turned on, it may suggest you select the region again.

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB This can cause a device to be reset or data loss. MIUI For Redmi 4, settings put global region may not work due to manufacturer restrictions.

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Before using ADB, back up your data via Mi Cloud or third-party apps like Titanium Backup to help you recover information if something goes wrong.

Reflashing on Global ROM: a radical solution

If all previous methods failed, the most reliable, but also the most risky, way is to completely reflash the Global ROM, which will remove all data from the device and replace the firmware with a version for another region.

What will be required:

• 🔓 Unlocked boot loader (instructions to unlock here).
• 💻 Computer with Mi Flash Tool drivers installed.
• 📥 Global Stable Firmware ROM Redmi 4 (you can download it on Xiaomi’s official website).
• 🔋 Battery charge of at least 60%.

Instructions:

1. Download and unpack the firmware in a folder without Cyrillic symbols.
2. Install the Mi Flash Tool on your computer.
3. Turn off Redmi 4 and press Volume Down + Power to enter Fastboot mode.
4. Connect your phone to your computer and start the Mi Flash Tool.
5. Select the firmware folder and press Refresh to allow the program to detect the device.
6. At the bottom, select Clean all and click Flash.

It takes 5-10 minutes. Once it's done, the phone will reboot with a new firmware. It can take up to 15 minutes to turn on the first one -- don't interrupt the process!

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Flashing to Global ROM is the only way to completely remove regional restrictions, but it requires unlocking the bootloader and erasing all data. If you're not sure about yourself, you'd better contact the service center.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When you change region to Redmi 4, users often encounter common mistakes, and here are the most common ones and how to fix them:

• 🔴 Mistake "This" MIUI version cannot be installed on this device": Means you're trying to install firmware not for your model. → About the device → The Redmi 4 may be a markw, and the Redmi may be a markw. 4A — rolex).
• 🔴 Phone does not catch network after region change: Reset network settings in Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → If it doesn't work, check if the new firmware supports your carrier's ranges.
• 🔴 Hanging on the logo MI After flashing: This is a bootloop - the device can't boot. Try flashing the phone back into the Mi Flash Tool by selecting Clean all and lock mode (but this will block the bootloader again).
• 🔴 Google Play is not working after changing the region: on Chinese firmware GMS Install them manually through APKMirror or use alternative stores (e.g. Aurora Store).

If the device becomes unstable after changing the region (for example, it discharges quickly or overheats), go back to your native firmware. MIUI Not optimized for your model.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions