How to change the region on the phone Xiaomi: 5 proven ways (2026)

Changing the region on Xiaomi smartphones is a pressing task for users who are faced with application restrictions, incorrect Google services or need localized features. The manufacturer binds devices to the region of sale, which affects the availability of updates, preinstalled apps and even the frequency of advertising in MIUI. For example, owners of Redmi Note 12 purchased in China will not be able to use Google Play without changing the region, and European versions are deprived of some β€œchips” of Asian firmware.

In this article, we will analyze all working methods of changing the region - from the official (through settings). MIUI) to advanced (with the use of ADB We will pay special attention to the nuances for the new Xiaomi models. 14/POCO F6, Warning: some methods require unlocking the bootloader and may result in loss of warranty or locking the device if incorrect actions are taken.

If you bought a phone in another country or want to access regional features (e.g. Mi Pay in India or Telegram channels in Russia), this guide will help you avoid common mistakes.

1.Official method: change the region through the MIUI settings

The easiest and safest method is to use the built-in MIUI tools, which are suitable for most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models released after 2020, but has limitations: the region can only be changed once every 30 days.

To avoid mistakes, follow the step-by-step instructions:

  1. Open the Settings. β†’ The phone.
  2. Tap 7-10 times on the MIUI version until the notification β€œYou are a developer!” appears.
  3. Return to the main settings menu and select Additional β†’ Region (on some models, path: Settings β†’ System β†’ Language and Region).
  4. Click Change Region and select the country from the list.
  5. Confirm the action and restart the device.

⚠️ Note: After changing the region through settings MIUI Some apps (such as Mi Home or Mi Fit) may require re-authorization, and Google’s regional settings (such as weather, news in Discover) will reset).

Make a backup copy of the data (photos, contacts, SMS)

Remember current Wi-Fi and mobile network settings

Make sure your Mi Account is not linked to another region

Disable two-factor authorization in Mi Account (temporary)-->

This method works on MIUI 12-14 firmware, but on Chinese versions of devices (with the CN suffix in the model), the option may be blocked, in which case one of the alternative methods described below will be required.

2. Change region through Mi Account (for global firmware)

If the phone does not have a region change option, try changing the country in the Mi Account profile. This will only work for devices with global or EEA (European) firmware. Chinese versions (CN) require unlocking the bootloader.

Instructions:

  1. Open the Mi Account app (or go to Settings β†’ Mi Account).
  2. Click on the profile avatar β†’ Account management.
  3. Select Personal Data β†’ Country/Region.
  4. Please specify a new country and confirm via SMS or email.
  5. Reboot the phone.

After changing the region in the account may require:

  • πŸ”„ Update Google Play Services (they will reset to defaults).
  • πŸ“± Reinstall geolocation-dependent applications (e.g. Mi Video or Mi Music).
  • 🌍 Manually set the time zone in Settings β†’ System system β†’ Date and time.

Russia|Europe (EEA)|China|India|Other-->

If you have changed the region in your account MIUI Continues to show the old country, try to clear the Settings app cache (Settings) β†’ Annexes β†’ Application management β†’ Settings β†’ Warehouse β†’ Clear the cache).

3. ADB-Teams: Changing the region for experienced users

When standard methods don’t work (e.g., on the Chinese Xiaomi 13 Ultra or POCO F5), you can use the ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires an unlocked bootloader and developer mode on, but bypasses the limitations of MIUI.

Step-by-step:

  1. Install. ADB-drivers on PC (download from the official Android website).
  2. Enable USB Debugging on your phone (Settings β†’ About Phone β†’ MIUI Version β†’ 7 taps β†’ Additional β†’ For Developers β†’ Debugging by USB).
  3. Connect your phone to your PC and execute: Adb shell settings put global device_provisioned 1 adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.DevelopmentSettings
  4. In the developer settings that open, find the Force Global Region option (or Forced Global Region) and activate it.
  5. Reset the device.

To change the region to a specific country, use the command:

adb shell settings put global region [country code]

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

What if the ADB can’t see the device?
1. Check that the cable supports data transmission (not all) USB-cables fit). 2. Install drivers for your Xiaomi model (e.g. Mi Flash Tool). 3. Try another one USB-port (preferably) USB In the developer settings, enable Debugging by USB (security parameters) and confirm the PC permission.

⚠️ Attention: Some teams ADB This can cause a reset or lock of the device if entered incorrectly. e.g. adb shell settings put global hidden_api_policy 1 shuts down the hidden check API, What's wrong with that? MIUI.

4. Installation of custom firmware (for advanced)

If you want complete freedom from regional restrictions, consider installing custom firmware, such as xiaomi.eu or Pixel Experience.This method is suitable for models with an unlocked bootloader and requires technical skills.

Advantages of custom firmware:

  • 🌍 Free choice of the region without restrictions MIUI.
  • πŸš€ Lack of advertising and unnecessary system applications.
  • πŸ”„ Regular security updates (as opposed to official firmware for some regions).

Step-by-step:

  1. Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool (requires a 72-hour link to your Mi Account).
  2. Download the appropriate firmware from the forum xiaomi.eu or XDA Developers.
  3. Install TWRP Recovery for your model (the instructions are available in the same forums).
  4. Download your phone to Recovery mode (press Power + Volume Up) and run the firmware through TWRP.
FirmwareSupport to regionsUnlocking requiredRisks.
xiaomi.euAll regions, multilingualYes.Loss of warranty, possible bugs
Pixel ExperienceGlobal (without reference to Xiaomi)Yes.Unstable camera performance on some models
LineageOSGlobalYes.There are no Xiaomi branded features
Official globalLimited to the selected regionNo (but it is needed to unlock)Regional restrictions will remain

⚠️ Note: Installing custom firmware will result in loss of warranty and may block access to certain features, such as Widevine L1 (It is necessary to watch Netflix in the HD). On Xiaomi models 12T And the newer one may also stop working. 5G lock-in IMEI.

πŸ’‘

Before you run the firmware, save the persist.img file from /dev/block/bootdevice/by-name/persist to help restore the IMEI and serial number when crashes.

5. bypassing regional restrictions without changing the region

If you only need to bypass the blocking of specific services (for example, Google Play on Chinese firmware), you can use alternative methods without completely changing the region:

  • πŸ“± VPN Location-change: Applications like ExpressVPN or NordVPN allow users to pretend to be from another country, but some services like Mi Home are blocked. VPN.
  • πŸ› οΈ Modified APK: For Google Play, you can install a patched version from the APKMirror website (look for options marked no region lock).
  • πŸ”§ Change of change DNS: In the Wi-Fi settings, specify DNS Google (8.8.8.8) or Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) will help you bypass some geo-blocking.

For the POCO X5 and Redmi Note 12 models with Chinese firmware (CN), there is another trick:

  1. Install the Mi App Store app (if not available).
  2. Download Google Installer (search on request).
  3. Start the installer and wait until the end (the phone will restart).
  4. Google Play will appear after the reboot, but the region will still be Chinese. To change it, go to Settings. β†’ Google β†’ Google account β†’ Personal data β†’ Country.

These methods do not change the region of the device at the MIUI level, but allow you to use the basic services. However, note that some features (for example, Google Pay) may not work stable.

6. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When you change region to Xiaomi, users often face typical problems, and here are the most common ways to solve them:

Mistake.Reason.Decision
"This device is locked" when you try to unlockMi Account not tied to 72-hour deviceWait 3 days from the first link or use another account
Google Play has disappeared since the change of regionGoogle services removed (relevant to Chinese firmware)Install Google Installer or run GApps through TWRP
"Invalid country code" in ADBIncorrect country code (e.g. RUS instead of RU)Check the code on Wikipedia
Phone stuck on logo after firmwareIncompatible version of MIUI or interrupted installationFlash the device via Fastboot (instructions on xiaomi.eu)

Another common problem is that Mi accounts are blocked after frequent region changes, so as to avoid this:

  • πŸ” Do not change the region more than 1 time per month.
  • πŸ“§ Use the same email for your Mi Account.
  • πŸ“± Do not link one account to multiple devices with different regions.

πŸ’‘

If the phone has stopped updating after the region change, check if the new firmware matches the region you choose, for example, European firmware (EEA) will not install on a device with a Chinese region (CN).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions

Can I change the region to Xiaomi without unlocking the bootloader?
Yes, but only on global or European (EEA) firmware via MIUI settings or Mi Account. For Chinese versions (CN), unlocking is mandatory.
What happens if you change the region frequently?
Xiaomi may block Mi Account for suspicious activity (for example, if you change region more than 1 time every 30 days), and some applications (for example, banking) may block access due to frequent geolocation changes.
How to bring back the original region?
To return the original region, repeat the same procedure as when changing (via MIUI or ADB settings). If you installed custom firmware, return to the official one via the Mi Flash Tool.
Why is Google Pay not working after the change of region?
Google Pay is tied to the country of your Google account, not the MIUI region. To fix this, go to Google Settings β†’ Personal Data β†’ Country and select the country you want.
How to find out the current region of your Xiaomi?
There are several ways: In settings: Settings β†’ About Phone β†’ MIUI version – the last letter indicates the region (RU, EU, CN, etc.). Through ADB: run the command adb shell getprop ro.miui.region. From the device model: Chinese versions have the suffix CN, global – Global, European – EEA.