Changing the region on Xiaomi devices is a procedure that users face when moving, buying imported models or wanting to access local services. The manufacturer binds MIUI firmware to a specific market, which affects the available applications, languages, network frequencies and even the functionality of some modules (for example, NFC or 5G). However, the official way to change the region through settings is not always available – especially on devices with global firmware or China-based.
In this article, we will discuss all the current methods of changing the country to Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO, from standard settings to manual editing of configuration files. Particular attention will be paid to the models of 2023-2026 with MIUI 14/15, where the manufacturer has tightened restrictions, you will also learn how to avoid blocking the Mi Account and why some methods can lead to loss of warranty.
Why should you change your region to Xiaomi?
Country-specification not only defines the interface language, but also key features of the device:
- 📡 Local Area Network Support: Frequency 4G/5G, VoLTE and Wi-Fi Calling work by region, for example, Chinese firmware may not support European carrier ranges.
- 🛒 Access to services: Google Play, YouTube are not available in China, and Mi Pay or Xiaomi Cloud with full functionality in Europe.
- 🔄 Software updates: Devices get firmware depending on the market. Changing the region can speed up or block updates.
- 💳 Payment systems: NFC For contactless payments, it only works with local banks (e.g. Mi Pay in China or Google Pay in Europe).
However, there are risks:
- ⚠️ Mi Account locks when changing region frequently (especially if the device is tied to China).
- ⚠️ Loss of warranty if region change entails reflashing.
- ⚠️ Unstable operation of certain functions (e.g, IR-blaster or Quick Apps).
Official method: changing the region through settings
The safest method is to use the built-in MIUI functionality. It works on most global firmware (Global ROM), but can be blocked on Chinese (China ROM) or carrier-based devices.
Instructions:
- Open the Settings. → The phone.
- Tap the line MIUI 7-10 times until you are notified you are a developer!
- Return to the main settings menu and go to Additional → Region (or Settings → Additional → Language and Region on the new versions).
- Select the right country from the list and confirm the change.
Once the device is restarted, it will apply new settings, but this method has limitations:
The device is not tied to China (check Settings → About Phone → Model)
Global or European firmware (EEA) installed
There is no lock from the operator on the device
Mi Account is not linked to another region-->
| Xiaomi model | Support for the formal change of region | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi 13/13 Pro (2023) | ✅ Yes. | MIUI 14.0.5+ required |
| Redmi Note 12 (Global) | ✅ Yes. | In Chinese, only through ADB |
| POCO F5 | ✅ Yes. | In some regions, the list of countries is limited. |
| Xiaomi 12T Pro (China ROM) | ❌ No. | Requires unlocking of the loader |
⚠️ Note: If after changing the region the device stopped catching the network, check the settings APN In Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Access points (APN). They are often dropped to factory floors.
Change of region through ADB (for experienced users)
If the official method is not available, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which works on most devices, but requires an unlocked bootloader on Chinese firmware.
Step-by-step:
- Activate Developer Mode (as in the previous section) and enable USB Debugging in Settings → Additional → For Developers.
- Connect your phone to your PC and install ADB drivers (you can download from the official Android website).
- Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and type:
adb shell
settings put global region [country code]Where [country code] is a two-letter code of a region (e.g. ru for Russia, us for the United States, in for India), the full list of codes can be found on Wikipedia.
To apply the changes, do:
adb shell am broadcast -a android.intent.action.LOCALE_CHANGED💡
If the region hasn’t changed after the command, try restarting the device or manually resetting localization settings through Settings → System → Resetting → Resetting language and keyboard settings.
⚠️ Note: On some devices (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Ultra with HyperOS), this method may cause java.lang.SecurityException error.
Manual editing of the build.prop file (for advanced ones)
The most radical way is to change the build.prop system file, which contains information about the region of the device, which requires root rights and can lead to unstable system operation.
Instructions:
- Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
- Go to /system/build.prop and back up the file.
- Open the file in the text editor and find the lines:
ro.product.locale.region=[current code]
ro.product.locale.language=[current language]Replace them with the desired values (for example, ro.product.locale.region=ru for Russia) and save the file.
Reset the device.
After the changes, check the region through the command:
adb shell getprop ro.product.locale.regionWhat happens if you make a mistake in build.prop?
Change region through Mi Account (for new devices)
On devices with MIUI 13+ and HyperOS, the manufacturer has implemented region-specific Mi Account binding, which means that even after changing the settings on the phone, some features will be limited until the account region matches the device region.
To change the region of the account:
- Go to the Mi Account website and log in.
- In the Profile → Personal Data section, find the Region item.
- Click Change and select a new country. Confirm the action via email or SMS.
Important:
- ⏳ Change of region in the account is possible no more than 1 time in 30 days.
- 🔒 If the account is linked to China, a Chinese phone number may be required to change the region.
- 📱 After changing the region in the account, be sure to update it on the device through Settings. → Accounts. → Mi Account → Synchronize.
💡
If you buy Xiaomi abroad, register your Mi Account in the right region right away – this will save you from binding problems in the future.
Frequent problems and their solutions
When you change region, you're going to have a common mistake, and let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them.
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| There is no new region left. | Blocking the operator or Chinese firmware | Use ADB or reflash the device on Global ROM |
| Loss of network after region change | Incompatible frequencies of LTE/5G | Manually set up APN or reset network settings |
| This MIUI version cannot be installed on this device | Disparity between the firmware region and the device | Install firmware for your region through the Mi Flash Tool |
| Blocking Mi Accounts | Frequent change of region or suspicious activity | Contact Xiaomi for proof of identity |
If the device becomes unstable after changing the region, try:
- Reset the settings to factory (Settings → System → Resetting).
- Update the firmware through Settings → About the phone → System update.
- Install a patch for the region through Magisk (root required).
How to check the current Xiaomi region?
To find out which region your device is tied to, use one of the following methods:
- 📱 Through Settings: Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI → Look at the postfix firmware (for example, V14.0.5.0.TMCRUXM, where RU — Russia, EU — Europe).
- 🔍 Through ADB: adb shell getprop ro.product.locale.region
- 🛠️ Using Engineering Mode: Enter ##4636##, go to Phone Information and find the Local line.
You can also identify the region by the IMEI device.
- Find out about the IMEI via *#06#.
- Check the first 8 digits (TAC-code) on IMEI.info - the country of origin will be listed there.