How to change the language on the Xiaomi TV: from Chinese to Russian or English

Why Xiaomi TV is Chinese and how to fix it

You bought a Xiaomi Mi TV, Redmi Smart TV or another model of the brand, but instead of the usual Russian or English interface, you see characters? This is typical for devices officially intended for the Chinese market. The manufacturer installs local firmware with the default language - Chinese, and the ability to change the language is often hidden or limited. But don't panic: in 90% of cases, the problem can be solved without flashing.

In this article, we’ll look at all the working ways to change language on Xiaomi TVs, from standard settings to alternative methods for stubborn models. You’ll learn how to get around firmware restrictions, what to do if the language you want is not on the list, and how to avoid typical errors. The instructions are relevant for most models, including the Mi TV 4A/4S/5/5X, Redmi Smart TV X and others released after 2018.

Before you start, make sure your TV is connected to the Internet (preferably via cable) — this will be necessary for some methods. USB/Bluetooth — Managing a menu in Chinese without knowing the characters is extremely inconvenient.

Method 1: Standard language change through settings

On most Xiaomi TVs, you can change the language through the system menu, even if the interface is in Chinese. The main thing is to know the sequence of actions and navigate by icons.

1. On the remote, press the button Settings (cogs) or Menu (three horizontal lines).
2. On the menu, look for an icon with a picture of the globe (usually the item "Language and region" or "Language"). On Chinese firmware, it can be called.
3. Choose the first or second item in the submenu that opens - this is (language).
4. Scroll down. If you have English (Russian) or English, select it and confirm the choice.

If the language you want isn't on the list, don't despair, move on to the following ways. On some firmware (e.g. Mi TV 4A with MIUI TV 3.0), the language list is limited, but can be expanded through updates or alternative methods.

Find the Settings button on the remote

Make sure the TV is connected to the Internet

Prepare a mouse or keyboard (in case of difficulties)

Remember current sound/network settings (may reset)

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Method 2: Update the firmware to unlock languages

Often, the manufacturer restricts the list of languages in Chinese firmware versions, so the solution is to upgrade the TV to a global or European version of the software.

• 🔄 Automatic updates over the Internet (if available). Go to Settings → On TV. → System update (circle arrow icon) If you find an update, install it.
• 💻 Manual update through USB. Download the firmware for your model from the official Xiaomi website (support section) or forums like 4PDA, write it down on a flash drive in format FAT32, Then update the TV through Settings. → On TV. → Local Update.

Important: When you manually update, use firmware ONLY for your model. Installing incompatible software can cause the device to “brickle up.” Before the procedure, check your firmware version in Settings → About TV → MIUI TV version.

⚠️ Warning: If the TV stopped turning on or stuck on the logo after the update, try resetting to the factory settings. To do this, press the Power button on the remote for 10-15 seconds. If this does not help, you will need to flash it through Fastboot (see instructions on profile forums).

Method 3: Use of alternative remotes or applications

If navigating the Chinese menu seems unbearable, you can simplify the task by:

• 🖱️ Mouses or keyboards. USB Or Bluetooth, which would allow you to choose the menu items more accurately. TV maintained by standard HID-device.
• 📱 Remote apps: Install Mi Remote (available for Android and iOS) or a universal app like Unified Remote, which often have a pre-translation of the menu.
• 🎮 Gamepad. Some users use Xbox or PlayStation controllers to navigate — they're recognized by the TV as input devices.

If you connect the keyboard, remember the hot keys to speed up navigation:

• Esc – return to the previous menu
• Enter - the choice of a point;
• Strengths – switching between tabs;
• F1–F12 – Quick access to certain functions (depending on the model)

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If the connected mouse is not working, try restarting the TV or using it. USB-Hub: Some Xiaomi models TV require additional food for the USB-port.

Method 4: Reset your factory settings (if nothing helps)

If none of these methods worked, it's a hard reset, and it'll bring the TV back to its original state, but it'll delete all the apps and settings that it installed, and it'll make the reset.

1. Open the settings (cogs).
2. Go to the About TV section (the device information icon).
3. Find the Reset option (in Chinese – ) and confirm the action.

After the reboot, the TV can suggest you choose the language at the initial setup stage. If there is no Russian/English here, try connecting to the Internet - sometimes the list of languages expands after checking for updates.

⚠️ Note: On some Xiaomi models TV (Like Mi. TV 4C And the reset doesn't return the language choice, and you'll have to use manual firmware or utilities like this. ADB (instruction).

Method 5: Change the language through ADB (for advanced users)

If the standard methods don't work, you can try changing the language using Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires minimal technical skills, but gives you access to hidden settings.

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB Tools;
• 🔌 Cable USB-A → USB-A (or OTG-adapter);
• 📋 Included debugging by USB TV-wise.

Instructions:

1. On your TV, turn on USB Debugging. To do this, go to Settings → About TV → MIUI TV version and click on the version line several times until the message “You became a developer” appears. Then to Settings → Additional → For developers, activate Debugging via USB.
2. Connect the TV to your PC with a cable and open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux).
3. Enter the commands in order: adb devices (should appear device) adb shell setprop persist.sys.language ru; setprop persist.sys.country RU (for English, replace ru with en, and RU with US)
4. Reboot the TV with the reboot command.

If the instructions are executed without errors, the interface should be in the chosen language after the reboot, which works even on “locked” firmware, but requires caution – the wrong ADB commands can disrupt the system.

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ADB is a powerful tool, but only use it if you're confident in your actions. Mistakes in teams can cause your TV to crash.

Typical Problems with Changing Language

Even after successful language change, users are faced with nuances, and here are the most common ones and ways to solve them:

If after all the manipulations the TV behaves unstable (spontaneously restarts, brakes), reset to factory settings and repeat the procedure of changing the language. In extreme cases, contact the service center - some models (especially new ones) require official firmware with unlocking regions.

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing language to Xiaomi TV