How to change the language on the Xiaomi smartphone: from MIUI 12 to MIUI 15

Changing the language on Xiaomi smartphones seems like a simple procedure — until you encounter unexpected nuances. MIUI 15 Russian is missing in the list of available languages? Or how to return the Cyrillic alphabet on the keyboard if the system stubbornly offers only Latin? This instruction covers all scenarios, from a basic change of language interface to the solution of rare bugs associated with localization.

We will not only disassemble the standard path through Settings. → Alternative methods for cases where:

• 🔄 Language lost after resetting to factory settings
• 📱 The list does not contain the language required (for example, Ukrainian or Kazakh)
• 🔧 Applications ignore system localization settings
• 🛠️ After the firmware through Fastboot, only English is displayed.

We will pay special attention to models POCO Redmi with global firmware (EEA/Global), Where the language set may differ from the Chinese version (CN). All instructions are relevant to Android 12–14 and shell MIUI 13–15.

1. Standard method: change the language through the MIUI settings

This is a basic method that works on 90% of Xiaomi devices, and it's suitable for smartphones with official firmware without root rights. MIUI (For example, on the Xiaomi 13 Pro CN), Russian may not be on the list - read about this in the section about custom firmware.

Steps to change the interface language:

1. Open the Settings app (cog icon).
2. Scroll down and select Additional Settings (or Additional Settings in English).
3. Slip on the item Language and input.
4. In the first section of Languages, click on the current language (e.g. English (United States)).
5. Find the language you want (for example, Russian (Russia)) and tap it.
6. Confirm your choice by clicking Ready or Apply.

If the language you want is not on the list, try:

• 🔍 Flick through the list to the end – sometimes languages are duplicated (for example, Russian (Russia) and Russian (Ukraine)).
• 📥 Click Download System Languages (if there is such a button) – this is relevant for the user. MIUI 14+.
• 🔄 Restart your phone – sometimes language packs don’t load immediately.

⚠️ Note: On some models POCO (for example, POCO F5) If you change the language, you may lose a region in Google services. → Google → Managing a Google Account → Data and personalization → Setting up the language and select the desired region.

2.Why Russian language disappears after the update MIUI?

The problem is typical for users who update the firmware through OTA Or manually through Recovery, which is most often done when you switch from a:

• 📉 Chinese firmware (CN) global (Global/EEA) — language packs are not carried.
• 🔄 Old versions MIUI (For example, 12 to 14 – some localizations are removed as obsolete.
• 🛠️ Custom firmware (for example, xiaomi.eu) on the official - there is a "cleaning" of unnecessary languages.

Decisions depend on the cause:

💡

After the update MIUI Russian is missing, but in the list of languages it appears as "downloadable", connect to Wi-Fi and wait for the download to finish (it can take up to 10 minutes!

Critical feature MIUI 15: In some builds (for example, for Xiaomi 14 Ultra), Russian localization is divided into two packages - Russian (Russia) and Russian (MIUI). If you choose only the first one, some of the system inscriptions will remain in English!

3. Change of keyboard language: Gboard vs. MIUI Keyboard

Even if you change the interface language, the keyboard can stay in English. MIUI There are two keyboard options:

1. MIUI Keyboard (built-in) – supports gestures and themes, but is limited in languages.
2. Gboard (from Google) is more flexible, but can conflict with system fonts.

Instructions for MIUI Keyboard:

1. Open any input field (for example, in Notes).
2. Slip the keyboard icon in the bottom panel and hold for 2 seconds.
3. Select Keyboard Settings (Keyboard Settings).
4. Go to Languages and Entering → Language management.
5. Activate the languages you want (e.g. Russian — QWERTY).
6. Return to the input field and swipe languages over the space (if this option is enabled).

For Gboard:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → System system → Language and input → Virtual keyboard → Gboard.
• 🌐 Select Languages → Add a keyboard.
• 🔍 Find Russian and add the desired layout (for example, Russian - Phonetic for transliteration).
• 🔄 Return to chat and hold the space to switch languages.

⚠️ Attention: POCO X5 Pro and other models with MIUI 14 may trigger a bug where Gboard resets languages after rebooting. Solution: in Gboard settings, turn off Auto Add Languages and manually pin the desired languages.

4. Regional settings: why is it important to change more than just the language?

Many users have missed the fact that in addition to the interface language, the MIUI You have some settings of the region and the localities:

• 📅 Date and time format (e.g. DD.MM.GYYYYY vs MM/DD/GYYYYYYYYY).
• 💰 Currency in system applications (rubles vs dollars).
• 📡 Available services (e.g. Google Pay may not work if the region is China).
• 📱 Proposals for MIUI Launcher (for example, weather for your city).

How to change the region:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap several times on the item version MIUI, You are a developer! (unless the developer mode is activated already).
3. Return to the main Settings menu and select Additional → Regional settings.
4. In the Region section, select Russia (or other country).
5. Restart your phone to apply the changes.

If some applications (such as Mi Fit or Mi Home) start to give out errors after changing the region, clear their cache:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find a problem app and tap it.
3. Select Warehouse. → Clear the cache.
4. Restart the app.

5. Language problems in individual applications

Sometimes the system language changes successfully, but individual applications (such as TikTok, AliExpress, or Mi Community) remain in English.

• 📱 The application ignores system settings and uses its default language.
• 🌍 Account settings (e.g. Google or Mi Account) indicate another region.
• 🔄 The application caches old localization settings.

Universal solutions:

1. Cleaning the application data: Settings → Annexes → Application management → [Title of the annex] → Warehouse → Clear data Warning: This will delete all unsaved data (such as drafts on WhatsApp).
2. Change the language in account settings: For Google services: Settings → Google → Account management → Data and personalization → Language settings. For Mi Account: Settings → Xiaomi account → Personal data → Language.

Use MoreLocale 2: Use of MoreLocale

If the app persists in not changing the language, install MoreLocale 2 from Google Play:

1. Open the application and provide permissions.
2. Select the language and region you want (for example, ru_RU Russian).
3. Activate the option to simulate the system locale.
4. Restart the problem app.

For some apps (such as Netflix or Disney)+) The content language is tied to the account region, not the phone settings:

• 🌐 Use of the VPN servers in the right country (for example, ProtonVPN for Russia).
• 📧 Creating a new account with the correct region.

6. Change of language on Chinese versions of Xiaomi (CN ROM)

If you bought Xiaomi with Chinese firmware (CN), Russian will be absent from the list of languages by default:

💡

Chinese firmware (CN) They don't support Russian out of the box. To add it, you either need to install a language package or you need to check out the global version.

Method 1: Installation of a language package (without root rights)

For MIUI 12-15 is suitable for the installation method APK-localization package:

1. Download the language package for your version MIUI (for example, ru_RU Russian).
2. Install. APK-file-like.
3. Reboot the phone.
4. Go to Settings. → Additionally. → Language and input → Languages and select Russian.

Method 2: Reflashing to the global version

If the language package doesn’t help or you want full support, go to Global or EEA version MIUI. For that:

1. Download the official firmware for your model from the Xiaomi website (choose Stable) → Global).
2. Use the Mi Flash Tool to run through Fastboot (instruction below).
3. After the firmware, reset to factory settings (Settings) → The phone. → Resetting settings).

⚠️ Attention: Fastboot firmware erases all data on your phone, including photos and messages. pre-backup through Settings → The phone. → Backup or Mi Cloud backup.

Method 3: Install custom firmware (e.g. xiaomi.eu)

Firmware from Xiaomi.eu supports Russian and other languages, but require unlocking the bootloader.

1. Unlock the bootloader through the official Mi Unlock tool (can take up to 720 hours to wait).
2. Download the firmware xiaomi.eu for your model from the forum.
3. Fly through TWRP or Fastboot.

7. Fastboot firmware for language restoration (instructions)

If the phone gets stuck in English or Chinese after a failed update or reset, and the language packages don’t help, it’s still firmware via Fastboot, a method that’s suitable for power users and requires a PC with Xiaomi drivers installed.

Step-by-step:

1. Preparation: Download the official firmware for your model (select the Fastboot version). Unpack the archive into a folder on the disk C:\ (for example, C:\miui_fastboot). Install the Mi Flash Tool.

Translating the phone to Fastboot mode:

1. Turn off the phone.


2.Put Volume down + Power and hold for 10 seconds.




3. Connect the phone to the PC via USB.

Firmware:

1. Open the Mi Flash Tool on behalf of the administrator.


2. Press Select and specify the folder with the unpacked firmware.




3. at the bottom, select clean all (full cleaning).)




4.Push Flash and wait for the end (5-10 minutes).

First launch:

After the firmware, the phone will restart. When you first set up, select Russian in the launch wizard.

⚠️ If the Mi Flash Tool is not finding fastboot, check it out: 🔌 Cable USB (Use the original from Xiaomi). 🖥️ Drivers (install Mi Phone Manager). 🔄 Fastboot mode (on the phone screen should burn a hare in a hat-eared hat).

8. Frequent errors and their solutions

Even after successful language change, users are confronted with bugs, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

If the language is still unchanged after all the manipulations, check:

• 📋 Version MIUI: Go to Settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI. If the version is older than 2 years (for example, MIUI 11), refresh.
• 🔧 Root rights: Some Magisk modules (such as App Systemizer) can block language change.
• 📡 Internet connection: Without Wi-Fi or mobile data, language packs won't boot.

💡

If the language problem has occurred after the update MIUI, Try to roll back to the previous version through Recovery. To do this, download the old firmware from Xiaomi Firmware Updater and manually run it.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions