How to change the language on Xiaomi 6A: all ways + solving common mistakes

Xiaomi Mi 6A is a budget smartphone that is still used by many users due to its reliability and the ability to install custom firmware. However, owners often face the problem: after buying a used device or resetting, the system can be in Chinese, English or another unfamiliar language. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways to change the language to Mi 6A, including hidden MIUI settings, bypassing regional restrictions and restoring Russian through recovery.

The peculiarity of the model is that it was originally released for the Chinese market (China ROM), where Russian may not be in the firmware at all. We will consider not only the standard path through the settings menu, but also alternative methods - from installing a multilingual MIUI package to completely flashing through Fastboot. Importantly, some operations require unlocking the bootloader, so prepare a backup of the data in advance.

If you have bought Xiaomi 6A hand-held and come across a Chinese firmware, where even the settings menu is unclear, don’t panic. 90% of the time, the problem can be solved without going to the service center, the main thing is to follow the instructions clearly and not miss the steps of checking firmware compatibility.

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

If your Mi 6A has a global or European firmware (Global ROM or EEA ROM), Russian must already be on the system.

1. Open the Settings app (cog icon).
2. Scroll down and select Additional Settings → Language and Input (or Additional Settings → Language & Input in English).
3. Click on the first item - Language.
4. In the list, find Russian (Russia) and select it. If there is no language, read the next section.

On Chinese firmware (China ROM), the path may be different: → → → →. Here there will be no Russian language – you will need to install an additional package or a complete replacement of the firmware.

⚠️ Note: On some versions MIUI If you change the language, you may lose a region in Google services. To fix this, go to Settings. → Google → Managing a Google Account → Personal data → Language settings and select Russian.

Check the current version of MIUI in Settings → About the phone

Make a backup of contacts and photos

Connect to a stable Wi-Fi

Charge your phone at least 50 times%-->

2.If there is no Russian language: installation of a language package

On the Chinese firmware Xiaomi 6A by default available only Chinese and English, however, you can add Russian through the official package MIUI Language Pack. This method works on MIUI 10-14, but requires:

• 📱 Unlocked bootloader (if the packet is installed through TWRP).
• 🔗 Connect to the Internet to download files.
• 🛠️ Skills of working with the Android file system.

Instructions:

1. Download the current language package for your version MIUI from the forum Xiaomi.eu (section) MIUI Language Packs, for example, for MIUI 12 file fits miui_HM6ALanguagePack_V12.x.x.x.zip.
2. Move the archive to the root folder of the phone (without unpacking!).
3. Install via TWRP Recovery: 1. Go to TWRP (press Power + Volume up). 2. Select Install → specify the path to the language package. 3. Swipe for confirmation. 4. Once installed, run Wipe → Dalvik/ART Cache. 5. Reboot your phone.

If TWRP is not available, you can try installing the package via the MIUI System App (requires root rights):

1. Download the MIUI System App (unofficial version).
2. In the app, select Install update.zip and specify the path to the language pack.
3. Confirm the installation and restart the device.

⚠️ Note: Installing unofficial language packs can cause system applications to fail (e.g. com.android.phone).Be sure to check the compatibility of the package with your version before the procedure. MIUI — The discrepancy will lead to a hang on the Xiaomi logo.

Official Global ROM (Global ROM)

Chinese (China ROM)

Custom (LineageOS, Pixel Experience, etc.)

I don't know what firmware is.-->

3. Complete reflashing to global MIUI

If previous methods didn't work, the radical way is to install global firmware via Fastboot or Recovery, which is guaranteed to add Russian, but requires:

• 🔓 Unlocked boot loader (instruction below).
• 💻 Computers with Mi Flash Tool drivers installed.
• 📡 Stable Internet connection for downloading firmware (~2GB).

Step 1 Unlocking the bootloader

Xiaomi is blocking the bootloader on all devices to unlock it:

1. Link your Mi Account to your phone: Settings → Mi Account → Sync.
2. Go to Mi Unlock and download the Mi Unlock Tool.
3. Launch your phone in Fastboot mode (clip Power + Volume down).
4. Connect to your PC, open the Mi Unlock Tool, and follow the instructions, and it takes up to 72 hours (Xiaomi checks the request).

Step 2: Installation of global firmware

After unlocking:

1. Download the latest Global Stable ROM for the Mi 6A (codename cactus) from Xiaomi Firmware.
2. Unpack the firmware archive in a folder.
3. Install the Mi Flash Tool, connect your phone in Fastboot mode and select the folder with the firmware.
4. Press Refresh, then Flash, and it takes 5-10 minutes.

4. Alternative methods: ADB and third-party applications

If unlocking the bootloader seems difficult, you can try changing the language through ADB-This method works for teams (no root rights). MIUI 11-14, but it demands:

• 🖥️ Computer with Android installed SDK Platform-Tools.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 🔧 Included debugging by USB (Settings → The phone. → 7 times press on "Version" MIUI" → Back to Settings → Additional settings → For developers → Debugging by USB).

Instructions:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and open the command line in the platform-tools folder.
2. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices should appear the name of your device.
3. Install the Russian language command: adb shell am start -a android.settings.LANGUAGE_SETTINGS Language menu opens – choose Russian.
4. If the language is not on the list, try to force the locale: adb shell setprop persist.sys.locale ru-RU adb shell setprop ctl.restart zygote

To temporarily change the language without rebooting, you can use the App Locale 2 app (requires root or ADB), which allows you to assign Russian to individual applications, but does not change the system language.

1. Reinstall Xiaomi USB Drivers drivers.

2. Use another USB-port (preferably) USB 2.0).

3. Enable the debugging option in the developer settings USB (safe-haven).-->

5. Solving problems after changing language

After changes in the language settings on Xiaomi 6A, there may be errors.

🔴 Problem 1: System applications are getting dyed

If after installing a language package or firmware applications like Phone, Messages or Settings close with an error, this means that the package is incompatible with the version of MIUI.

• 🔄 Remove the language packet through TWRP And install the version corresponding to your firmware.
• 📲 Reset application settings: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Three points. → Reset the settings.

🔴 Problem 2: Google Play is not working.

Google services are not available on Chinese firmware, and after switching to global MIUI, you may need to:

1. Delete your Google account and add it again.
2. Update Google Play Services via APKMirror.
3. Reset network settings: Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting network settings.

🔴 Problem 3: The region lost in Xiaomi services

If Mi Cloud, Theme Store or Mi Video stop working after changing the language, check the region of your account:

1. Go to Settings → Mi Account → Account settings.
2. Select the Region and install Russia (if the option is not available, use a VPN with servers in Russia).

💡

If after changing the language, application icons disappeared or “empty” shortcuts appeared, clean the launcher cache: Settings → Applications → Launcher → Clear the cache.

6. Custom firmware: LineageOS and others

If official methods have not helped, consider installing custom firmware with support for Russian. For Xiaomi 6A available:

• 📱 LineageOS 16/17.1 (Android 9/10) — stable-firmware open source.
• 🎨 Pixel Experience – firmware with an interface like Google Pixel.
• ⚡ Havoc-OS – customizable firmware with many functions.

Advantages of custom firmware:

• 🌍 Full support for Russian and other languages.
• 🚀 Higher performance (no Bloatware from Xiaomi).
• 🔄 Regular security updates.

Disadvantages:

• ⚠️ Loss of official guarantee (if any).
• 🔋 Possible problems with autonomy (depending on the firmware).
• 📱 Certain functions MIUI (For example, dual applications may not work.

Instructions for installing LineageOS:

1. Unlock the bootloader (see Section 3).
2. Download firmware and GApps (Google Apps) from LineageOS.
3. Install via TWRP: 1. Wipe → Advanced Wipe →Dalvik/ART Cache, System, Data, Cache. 2. Install → select ZIP with LineageOS. 3. Install → select ZIP with GApps. 4. Reboot System.

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi 6A with custom firmware may not work module NFC (If it is in your modification. Before installing, check the list of supported features in the firmware theme on the 4PDA.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When changing language to Mi 6A, users often make common mistakes that lead to bootloop or data loss.

If you have “buried” the device, try to restore it through EDL-The Emergency Download Mode (ED) is the mode for this:

1. Download the firmware in.tgz format for Mi 6A (see 4PDA in the topic "Bricking").
2. Connect your phone to your PC by holding Volume up + Loudness down, then insert USB-cable.
3. In the Mi Flash Tool, select Flash All mode and specify the path to the firmware.

💡

Before any firmware manipulation, check the battery level — it should be at least 60%. If the phone runs out during the process, the chances of recovery will drop dramatically.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions