Xiaomi laptops are a popular choice among users who value the combination of performance and affordable prices. However, after buying, many people face the need to change the interface language: whether it is Chinese by default on global models or English if you prefer Russian. In this article, we will analyze all possible scenarios, from the basic change of Windows language to the subtleties of setting up the BIOS and keyboard.
The feature of Xiaomi laptops (RedmiBook, Mi Notebook Pro, Book Air series) is the pre-installed firmware MIUI for PC on some models, which can complicate the process. We will take into account all the nuances, including cases where the language does not change through standard settings or requires manual installation of the language package.
Important: The instructions are relevant for Xiaomi laptops on Windows 10/11 (including Chinese versions with Office 365 preinstalled) and Linux models (such as Mi Notebook Pro X 15 with Ubuntu). If your laptop runs on a MacOS, that’s a different story, and it’s not relevant to the topic of the article.
Change the language in Windows 10/11: the basic method
On most Xiaomi laptops (such as the RedmiBook 15 or Mi Notebook Air 13), the language changes through standard Windows settings. However, there are pitfalls: Chinese versions of the OS may not have the Russian package on the default list, and some models block language change without an Internet connection.
To avoid problems, follow this algorithm:
- 🖥️ Open the Start. → Parameters → Time and language → Language and region.
- ➕ Click Add Language and select Russian (or the language you need).
- 🔄 If the language is not on the list, download the language package through Windows Update.
- 📛 Once installed, move the new language to the top of the list and restart your laptop.
Laptops running Windows 10 LTSC preinstalled in China (such as some Mi Notebook Pro 14) may require manual downloading of the localization package from Microsoft’s website.
- Download the lp.cab file for Russian (code: ru-RU) from the official resource.
- Install it via DISM in the command line (administrator): dism /online /add-package /packagepath: "C:\path\to file\lp.cab"
- Restart your laptop and repeat the steps from the first list.
⚠️ Attention: On models with MIUI for PC (For example, Xiaomi Mi Notebook Enhanced Edition, the standard method may not work, which requires a complete system reset or a clean Windows installation.
Make a backup copy of the data|Connect to a stable Wi-Fi|Check free disk space (minimum 5 GB)|Close all programs before restarting-->
2. Features of laptops with MIUI for PC
MIUI for PC is Xiaomi’s proprietary shell, which is found on some laptop models (e.g., the Chinese version of Mi Notebook 14 Horizon), which modifies the standard Windows interface by adding its own utilities and restricting access to certain settings.
If after purchase you see instead of the usual desktop MIUI Launcher with Chinese characters, act as follows:
- 🛠️ Go to Settings. MIUI → Additionally. → Language of the system.
- 🌐 Choose English (if there is no Russian) – this will make navigation easier for a while.
- 🔧 Now open classic Windows Settings through search (Win) + S) and follow the instructions in the first section.
- 🚫 If MIUI Blocks changes – Use Restore Mode (Slamming Down) F12 when booting) to reset to a clean Windows.
On some Xiaomi laptops (e.g. RedmiBook 14 II), MIUI for PC can be turned off completely:
1. Open C:\MIUI\MIUISystem\ and delete the MIUI.exe file.
2. Reboot the laptop.
3. Install Russian through the standard Windows settings.⚠️ Attention: Deletion of files MIUI This can cause branded utilities (e.g. Xiaomi Quick Charge or Fn keys) to fail!
3. Change the language in BIOS/UEFI on Xiaomi laptops
The default BIOS language on Xiaomi laptops is usually English or Chinese, and can only be changed on models with multilingual interface support (e.g. Mi Notebook Pro X 15 2022 and later). For older laptops (until 2020), you can’t change the BIOS language — you have to use a translator.
To check and change the UEFI language:
- Turn off the laptop.
- Press F2 (or Del on some models) and turn on the power.
- In the BIOS menu, look for the Language tab (usually in the upper right corner).
- Choose Russian or English (if available).
- Save the changes (F10) and reboot.
| Laptop model | Support for Russian in the BIOS | BIOS entry key |
|---|---|---|
| RedmiBook 14/15 (2020-2021) | No. | F2 |
| Mi Notebook Pro X 15 (2022) | Yes. | Del |
| Mi Notebook Air 13.3" | No. | F2 |
| RedmiBook Pro 14/15 (2023) | Yes (English/Chinese only) | F12 |
On Xiaomi laptops with AMD processors (like the RedmiBook 16 Ryzen Edition), the BIOS menu can be displayed in Chinese even when you choose English, a known problem that can only be fixed by updating the BIOS firmware.
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If the BIOS does not have Russian, take a picture of each screen on your phone – this will help you navigate in future settings (for example, when you change the priority of download).
4. Configure the language layout of the keyboard
Even after the system change, Xiaomi laptops may still have a problem with the keyboard layout. For example, RedmiBook 15 with Chinese firmware keys @ and " can give out characters, and Ctrl + Shift combinations do not change the language.
To set the layout correctly:
- 🎹 Go to the settings. → Time and language → Language and region → keyboard.
- ➕ Add the Russian layout (Russian - Russia).
- 🔧 Click on the three dots next to the layout and select Settings.
- 🔄 Make sure you choose the correct circuit (YTSUKEN, not the phonetic one).
- 🔑 Set up a keyboard shortcut to switch (such as Alt)+Shift).
On some Xiaomi laptops (such as the Mi Notebook Pro 14 2020), you may need to disable the proprietary keyboard driver:
1. Open Device Manager (Win + X → M).
2. Find the keyboards → Xiaomi Input Device.
3. Right-click → Update the driver → Search on this computer → Select from the list.
4. Select the standard HID Keyboard driver.⚠️ Note: After disabling the proprietary driver, the keyboard backlight (if any) and some Fn combinations (for example, brightness adjustment) will stop working. You can restore the functionality by reinstalling the driver from the official website.
What if the keys are printing the wrong characters?
5 Problems and Solutions: Language does not change
If after all the manipulations, the language on the Xiaomi laptop remains Chinese or English, the reasons may be as follows:
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Language resets after rebooting | Damaged user profile | Create a new user in Settings → Accounts |
| No Russian on the list of languages | There is no language package | Manually install via DISM (see Section 1) |
| Language changes, but the characters remain | MIUI System Fonts | Delete the folder C:\MIUI\Fonts\ and restart |
| You can't add a new language. | Group security policy | Disable via gpedit.msc (for Pro versions of Windows) |
On laptops with Windows 10 LTSC pre-installed in China (such as the Mi Notebook 14 for the domestic market), a complete system reinstallation may be required.
- Download the official image of Windows 11 from Microsoft's website.
- Create a bootable flash drive through Rufus (select the GPT partition scheme).
- Boot from the flash drive (F12 when turned on) and install the system with disk formatting C:.
- After installation, immediately add Russian in the settings.
On Xiaomi laptops with Intel 11th generation and newer processors (for example, RedmiBook Pro 15 2023) with a clean installation of Windows, Wi-Fi and sound support may disappear. Download drivers in advance from the official website!
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If you bought a laptop in China, it's likely to be running a special version of Windows with limited language packages, and the only reliable solution is a clean installation.
Change the language to Linux (Ubuntu, Deepin OS)
Some Xiaomi models (such as the Mi Notebook Pro X 15) come pre-installed with Linux (usually Ubuntu or Deepin OS).
For Ubuntu/Debian:
1. Open the terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T).
2. Install the language pack:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install language-pack-ru
3. Set the locale:
sudo locale-gen ru_RU.UTF-8
sudo update-locale LANG=ru_RU.UTF-8
4.Reboot.For Deepin OS (Chinese firmware on some models):
- 🛠️ Open the Settings. → Language.
- ➕ Add Russian and move it to the top.
- 🔄 If there is no language, download the package manually from the official website.
⚠️ Note: Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro X 15 with Deepin OS Changing the language can cause a failure in the work of proprietary utilities (for example, Xiaomi Power Management). After changing the language, it is recommended to update the system through sudo apt upgrade.
7. Additional settings: region, date format, voice assistant
After changing the language of the system on the laptop, Xiaomi may need to configure additional settings to avoid inconvenience:
- 📅 Date and time format: Go to Settings → Time and language → Date and time and select the DD.MM.GYYG format.
- 🌍 Region: B Parameters → Time and language → Install the region in Russia (this is important for the correct operation of the Microsoft Store).
- 🎤 Voice Assistant: If you use Cortana, reinstall the language packet for speech recognition into Settings → Annexes → Additional components.
- 🖱️ Mouse and Pencil Language: For tablet models (e.g. Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 in laptop mode) configure in Settings → Devices → Pen and Windows Ink.
On touch-screen laptops (such as the Mi Notebook Pro 2-in-1), gesture recognition may be lost after changing the language.
1. Open Control Panel → Equipment and Sound → Pen and touch devices.
2. Press the parameters of the pen → Input language.
3. Select Russian and save it.