How to change the language to Xiaomi from English to Russian: instructions 2026

Why Xiaomi May Not Have Russian, and What to Do About It

You bought a Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphone with an English interface — and you can't find where to switch to Russian? This problem is familiar to many users, especially if the device is purchased abroad or through informal channels. The reasons for the lack of Russian can vary from regional firmware to errors in system settings.

Most of the time, the solution is on the surface: just go to the settings and select the language you want from the list, but sometimes you need to do more manipulation, like installing a local package or changing the region, and in this article, we'll look at all the ways that work, including those that work even on Chinese versions of MIUI without the Global ROM.

It's important to understand that the process can vary depending on the model and firmware version. For example, on Xiaomi 13 Pro with MIUI 14, the path to language settings will be one, and on Redmi Note 10 with MIUI 12.5, we took these nuances into account and prepared universal instructions.

Method 1: Standard language change through settings

If your smartphone supports Russian, but it is not the default, just follow a few simple steps, which works on most Global ROM devices and some Chinese versions with multilingual support.

Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen or in the app menu). Next, go to Additional settings → Language & input → Languages. Here you will see a list of available languages. If it has Russian, just tap it and confirm the choice.

• 📱 Find the Settings icon on the home screen or in the app menu.
• 🔧 Go to Additional Settings → Language & input → Languages.
• 🇷🇺 Select Russian from the list and confirm (Done button or check box).
• 🔄 Restart the device if the language has not changed immediately.

If Russian is not on the list, it means that your firmware does not support it out of the box, in which case move on to the following methods.

Method 2: Installation of a language package (for Chinese firmware)

Chinese versions of MIUI (e.g. China ROM) often do not contain Russian by default, but it can be added manually by installing a language pack.

• 🌐 Stable Internet connection (Wi-Fi is recommended).
• 📱 Access to developer settings (if installation is required) APK).
• 🔓 Permission to install applications from unknown sources.

The most reliable way is to use the official Mi Community app or third-party services like MoreLocale 2.

1. Download and install MoreLocale 2 from Google Play (if it’s not available, search for APK on trusted sites like APKMirror).
2. Open the application and grant it superuser rights (if requested).
3. In the list of languages, find Russian (Russia) and select it.
4. Reboot your smartphone.

Download MoreLocale 2 or similar app|Allow installation from unknown sources|Connect to Wi-Fi|Make a backup copy of the data-->

Important: Some Chinese firmware (e.g., Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra with MIUI China) may not work due to manufacturer restrictions, requiring a full firmware reflash on Global ROM.

Method 3: Change the region of the device

If you have Russian on the system, but it doesn't show up on the list, the problem might be regional settings, for example, if your smartphone is tied to China or India, some languages will be hidden to fix this:

1. Go to Settings → Additional settings → Region.
2. Select a country where Russian is supported by default (for example, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus or Kazakhstan).
3. Save the changes and restart the device.
4. After the reboot, go back to the Settings → Language & Input → Languages and check if Russian has appeared.

If the Russian language has not appeared after the change of region, it means that your firmware does not contain the corresponding localization files, in which case only flashing to Global ROM (see Method 5) will help.

💡

Before changing region, disable two-factor authentication in Mi Account if it is tied to a phone number.In some cases, changing country may block access to your account.

Method 4: Use ADB-Teams (for advanced users)

If standard methods don’t work, you can try changing the language through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which is suitable for power users and requires connecting a smartphone to a computer.

You'll need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and package ADB Tools.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB (Settings → About phone → MIUI version → Tap 7 times, then return to Additional settings → Developer options and include USB debugging).
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).

Instructions:

1. Connect your smartphone to your computer and confirm the debugging permission.
2. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and type:

adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.Settings$LanguageSettingsActivity

1. The smartphone screen will open the language settings. If Russian is not on the list, type:

adb shell settings put system system_locales ru-RU

1. Reset the device.

If the commands don’t work, try an alternative:

adb shell settings put global system_locale ru-RU

Method 5: Flashing to Global ROM (extreme case)

If none of the above methods work, the most radical way is to completely reflash the global version of MIUI, which is guaranteed to add Russian, but has risks:

• ⚠️ Data loss (take backup copy!).
• ⚠️ Possible loss of warranty (if the device does not officially support Global) ROM).
• ⚠️ Risk of “bricking” in case of error during firmware.

You'll need firmware.

• 🖥️ Computer with Mi Flash Tool.
• 📄 Official Global ROM For your model (download from en.miui.com).
• 🔧 Unlocked bootloader (on some models requires waiting) 7-15 days after requesting Mi Unlock).

Step-by-step:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool (instructions on the official Xiaomi website).
2. Download the appropriate Global ROM (for example, miui_GLOBAL_XXX.zip).
3. Unpack the archive and launch the Mi Flash Tool.
4. Connect your smartphone in Fastboot mode (press Power + Vol Down when the device is off).
5. Select the firmware folder in the program and press Flash.
6. Wait until the end (usually 5-10 minutes) and restart the smartphone.

⚠️ Note: Not all Xiaomi models support the official Global ROM. For example, some Chinese versions of Redmi K50 or POCO F4 You may need custom firmware like Xiaomi.eu. Before you run the firmware, check for compatibility on the forums (4PDA, XDA-Developers).

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When changing languages to Xiaomi, users often face typical problems, and here are the most common ones and ways to solve them:

Another common mistake is incomplete Russification, where part of the interface is in English, which is because some system applications (such as Mi Video or Mi Browser) take the language from the Google Play settings, rather than the system, to fix:

1. Open the Google Play Store.
2. Go to Settings → General → Application Region.
3. Choose a country with Russian support (Russia, Ukraine, etc.).
4. Update problem apps.

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If after all the manipulations, part of the interface remains in English, check the settings of individual applications (for example, in Mi Browser, you can change the language in its own settings).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions