How to change the region on the Xiaomi smartphone: 4 working ways (including circumventing restrictions)

Why Xiaomi smartphones are tied to the region and why to change it

Xiaomi smartphones with firmware MIUI automatically determine the region at the first inclusion SIM-This anchorage affects the services available, updates and even the functionality of the device. MIUI There are no Google services, and in the global, some Asian-branded features, but what if you bought a phone in another country or want to access regional chips?

The main reasons for the change in the region:

• 🌍 Access to local services (e.g. Mi Pay in China or Google Pay in Europe)
• 📱 Getting up-to-date updates for your region (Chinese firmware updates more often, but without Google)
• 🛒 Unlocking hidden functions (for example, 5G in some Asian models)
• 🔄 Error Fixing (some applications don’t work outside of your home region)

It’s important to understand that changing a region is not just a country choice in settings. MIUI ties the device to a region at the firmware level, and it takes from 5 minutes (via menu) to 30 minutes (via ADB). In this article, we will analyze all the current ways, including bypassing locks on the new models of Redmi, POCO and Xiaomi 2023-2026.

Method 1: Officially change region through MIUI settings

The easiest method is to use the built-in region change feature. It works on most Xiaomi smartphones with global MIUI 12-14 firmware, but has a limitation: you can change the region no more than 1 time every 7 days. If you have already tried this method and got the error "Too frequent change of region", go to methods 2-4.

Step-by-step:

1. Open Settings → Additional → Region (on some models, the path may differ: Settings → About Phone → General settings → Region).
2. Choose the country from the list. If your country is not, choose the nearest region (for example, "Russia" instead of "Belarus").
3. Confirm the change and restart the device.
4. After the reboot, check the region in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (should show the selected country).

Battery charge > 50%|Wi-Fi connection (updates can be downloaded automatically)|Disabled. VPN proxy|Backup of important data is made-->

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T Pro or Redmi Note 12 Pro+) After changing the region, you may need to re-assign your Mi Account. If you use Chinese firmware, this method may not work - you will need to unlock the bootloader (see method 4).

Method 2: Change region through MIUI Hidden Settings (without root)

If the standard method didn’t work, you can use hidden MIUI settings. This method does not require root rights, but is only suitable for devices with an unlocked bootloader (how to check – see below).

Instructions:

1. Install the MIUI Hidden Settings app (available on Google Play).
2. Open the app and give access to the Developer Settings (if requested).
3. Go to the Region & Language section.
4. Select the region you want from the list (e.g. eea for Europe or in India).
5. Save the changes and restart the phone.

⚠️ Note: On some firmware (for example, MIUI 14 for POCO X5 Pro) after this method, the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settings may be reset.

If MIUI Hidden Settings does not show the option to change the region, try an alternative method through ADB (method 3). Also note that on Chinese firmware (CN ROM), this method can lead to data loss - make a backup in advance.

Method 3: Changing Regions Through ADB (for Power Users)

The Android Debug Bridge (ADB) method is the most reliable, but requires a computer connection, it works even on locked bootloaders (if USB Debugging is enabled) and allows you to bypass the limitations of MIUI. It is suitable for all models, including the Xiaomi 14 and Redmi K60.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux
• 📱 USB-cable (original)
• 🛠️ Platform Tools (download from Android site)
• 🔧 Initiated Debugging Mode USB phone-on

Step-by-step:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI Version 7 times.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
3. Connect the phone to your computer and select File Transfer mode.
4. Open the Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with Platform Tools.
5. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices should appear the name of your device.
6. Execute the command to change the region (for example, to Europe): adb shell settings put global region eea Other region codes: ru (Russia), in (India), cn (China), us (USA).
7. Reboot your phone: adb reboot

adb shell am broadcast -a android.intent.action.LOCALE_CHANGED

This will force the local settings to be updated.-->

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware (MIUI 14 for POCO M5) after ADB-The commands may receive a notification "Unknown error of the region:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Three dots → Show system. 2. Find “MiuiRegion” and clear the data. 3. Reboot the phone.

Method 4: Completely change region through firmware (for Chinese versions)

If your Xiaomi was originally purchased in China (CN ROM), the standard methods won’t work — you’ll need to install global firmware, the most complex method, but it gives you full control over the region and access to all features, including Google Services.

What you need to know before the firmware:

• 🔓 Requires bootloader unlocking (can take up to 720 hours to wait on new Mi accounts).
• 📉 All data will be deleted (backup your computer or cloud).
• 🛡️ Risk of “brika” (turning the phone into a “brick”) when doing the wrong thing.
• ⚠️ On some models (Xiaomi 13 Ultra) it can be blocked after the firmware 5G — Check compatibility on the Xiaomi forum EU.

Step-by-step:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool (instructions on the official website).
2. Download global firmware for your model from the Xiaomi Firmware Updater website (choose Global or EEA version).
3. Install the Mi Flash Tool on your computer.
4. Transfer the phone to Fastboot mode (clip Volume Down + Power).
5. Connect the phone to your computer and in the Mi Flash Tool, select the downloaded firmware.
6. Press Flash and wait until it finishes (usually 5-10 minutes).
7. After the reboot, perform the initial setting by selecting the desired region.

💡

Fastboot firmware is the only way to completely change the region on Xiaomi’s Chinese models, and other methods will only have a temporary effect or block some features.

⚠️ Note: After the firmware check the work:

• 📶 Cellular communication (some firmware may not support local frequencies) 4G/5G).
• 🔊 Sound and microphone (on unofficial firmware may be bugs).
• 🔋 Charging (if the phone is not charging, try another cable).

Frequent mistakes and how to fix them

Even if you follow the instructions correctly, you can have problems, and let's look at the most common mistakes and their solutions.

If banking applications (for example, SberBank Online or Tinkoff) stopped working after the region change, check:

• 📱 Date and time settings (must be automatic).
• 🔒 Root rights (banks block root devices).
• 🌐 VPN and proxies (turn them off in settings).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions