How to change the language on Xiaomi Redmi 7: step-by-step instructions

Changing the language bar on Xiaomi smartphones is often the first and most important step after buying a device, especially for the Redmi 7, which was once very popular due to its affordable price and long battery life. Many users purchase gadgets at international venues where the Chinese version of the firmware (CN ROM) is preinstalled, which does not have the usual English or Russian interface out of the box.

The process of adapting the menu to your needs can seem difficult if you first encounter a MIUI shell in an unfamiliar language. However, the configuration structure remains logical regardless of the localization chosen. In this article, we will discuss in detail the algorithm of actions that will allow you to quickly translate the interface into an understandable language, whether it is Russian, English or any other supported option.

It is also worth noting that the right language choice affects not only usability, but also the correctness of voice input, text autocorrection and some system applications, so it is important to perform this setting correctly, avoiding common errors that can lead to partial menu localization.

Definition of the firmware version and its impact on the language

Before you start setting up, you need to understand which software version you are dealing with. Xiaomi Redmi 7 smartphones can come with Global ROM (global version) or China ROM (Chinese version). The global version already contains a full package of languages, including Russian, and the switching happens in a couple of clicks. In the case of Chinese firmware, the situation is more complicated: Russian may not be there initially, but the menu will be in Chinese or English.

If you see the characters on the greeting screen, you're looking at CN ROM. It's useless to try to find Russian in the settings of such a system, it's not there. The only solution for full-fledged Russification in this case is to flash the device on a global version or install a custom build with multilingual support. However, if the menu is at least partially in English, the chances of successfully conducting the setup without flashing it are high.

It is also important to distinguish between Recovery ROM and Fastboot ROM if you plan to change your firmware manually. For a normal language change inside a running system, this knowledge is not yet required, but understanding the type of your current OS will help avoid confusion later on. Always check the version number in the About Phone section to accurately identify the software.

Change of language in the Global and EU versions

If your Redmi 7 has global or European firmware, the language change process takes literally a minute. The MIUI shell settings interface is standardized, so even if you don't have Russian, you can easily navigate by icons and English names. First you need to get to the main settings menu of the system.

To do this, look for the gear icon on your desktop or in the list of all apps. In the menu that opens, look for the section that is usually indicated by the icon with three horizontal lines or the letter “A” in a circle, or just the word Settings. Inside this section, you need to scroll down to the item Additional settings (Additional), which is often indicated by a three-dot icon or wrench.

In the submenu that opens, select Language & input, which is usually the first item on the list. Then click on the top line of Language. You will see the full list of available locales. You will find Russian or any other language you need and click on it. The system will instantly apply the changes, and the entire interface will go to the selected language.

Sometimes, after changing the language, you need to restart the device for the full operation of the fonts and system notifications. If you notice that in some applications the language remains the same, check the settings of the application itself, since some programs have their own independent localization settings.

What to do if the menu is in Chinese

The situation when a new smartphone meets the user with a screen with characters is frightening for many, but you should not panic. The algorithm of actions here is based on visual memorization of the location of buttons and icons, since it will be impossible to read the text. You need to methodically repeat the actions described above, focusing on color schemes and graphical designations.

Find an app on your desktop that shows a gear (usually gray). In the menu that opens, scroll down to the bottom of the green icon that contains three horizontal bars (the analogue of "Additional"). Inside this section, look for a line with the letter "A" or a globe - this is the input to the language settings and input.

⚠️ Warning: Be extremely careful when pressing buttons on the Chinese menu. One wrong action can cause you to reset your settings or run unnecessary services. Move slowly and check for icons.

If you don't see Latin or Cyrillic in the language list, your version of the software is really regionally limited, so the language selection screen will only contain Chinese characters, and the only way out is to install a third-party launcher or complete flashing, as we'll talk about in the next sections.

Installation of the language through the MoreLocale 2 app

For Chinese firmware owners who don’t want or can’t reflash their phones, there is a software method for activating hidden languages, using the MoreLocale 2 utility available on the Google Play Store, which requires a computer connection and minimal debugging commands, but it allows you to unlock Russian without losing data.

First, install MoreLocale 2 on your Redmi 7 directly from the Play Store. Once installed, run it — you’ll see a list of languages, but the change won’t come to anything until you give the app special rights through the Play Store. ADB (You will need a computer (Windows, Mac or Linux) and USB-cable.

You need to activate the developer mode on the phone. To do this, quickly click on the version number 7 times. MIUI In the "About Phone" section, then in the "Developers" menu that appears, insert a paragraph. USB-You plug your phone into your computer, download the package to your PC. ADB Platform Tools and open the command line in the tool folder.

adb install morelocale2.apk


adb shell pm grant jp.co.c_lis.ccl.morelocale android.permission.CHANGE_CONFIGURATION

After completing the command, enter a command to start the language change (this is already done on the phone via the application) or use the ADB command to force the installation:

adb shell am start -n jp.co.c_lis.ccl.morelocale/.UiActivity

Now in the MoreLocale app 2 On the phone, select Russian (ru_RU). The system interface has to change. This method is not perfect: some system applications may remain in English or Chinese, because they take the language from the system store, which has not been completely replaced.

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If after using MoreLocale 2, the keyboard remained in Chinese, go to the keyboard settings (usually space or through language settings) and manually add the Russian layout.

Comparison of methods of interface localization

The choice of how to change the language depends on your technical skills and ultimate goals. Below is a table that will help you compare the basic methods and choose the best one for your situation with the Xiaomi Redmi 7.

As you can see from the table, flashing is the best, but it requires caution. Using a localization application is a good compromise for those who are afraid to lock up the device. Standard setting is only available to lucky global users.

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ROM flashing is the only way to get a fully Russified system with Google notifications and services working on the Chinese version of the phone.

Setting up the keyboard and entering text

Once the interface language has been changed, it is critical to set the keyboard correctly. Often the menu has become Russian, but when you try to write a message, the keyboard continues to type in characters or only offers English, this is solved in the language and input settings section.

Go to settings, select Additional (or Advanced Settings), then Language and input. Find Keyboard Management or Current Keyboard. If you have Gboard installed (standard for global versions), click on it and select Languages. Add Russian by selecting the desired layout (physical, manual or voice input).

• 🇷🇺 Russian: Choose the standard layout or "A - I" for ease of printing.
• 🌐 Multilingual: Turn on automatic language switching so you don’t change them manually.
• 🎤 Voice input: make sure that the Russian language is also chosen for voice typing, otherwise the dictation will not work correctly.

Don’t forget to check your autocorrect settings. For Russian, it’s helpful to include predictive input that will suggest words during the printing process, greatly speeding up typing on the Redmi 7 screen.

Frequent problems and their solution

Xiaomi users may face a number of common localization challenges, with one of the most common being a “semi-Russian” interface, where part of the menu is in Russian and part is in English, often when using partial localization techniques or installing informal firmware assemblies.

Another problem is the lack of fonts, and if you see "squares" or incomprehensible characters instead of letters, it means that the system does not have a font package for the selected language, in which case installing an application with fonts from the MIUI theme store or changing the region in the settings (the Region item should be set "Russia" or "Ukraine") will help.

⚠️ Attention: Changes in region may affect some apps and content in the Mi GetApps store. After region changes, it is recommended to clear the app store cache.

If after all the manipulations the phone began to work unstable, there were constant pop-ups or system errors, the best solution is to perform a reset to factory settings (Wipe Data).

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions