How to change the language on the phone Xiaomi from English to Russian: full instruction

You bought a Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphone with firmware in English and you don't know how to switch to Russian? This problem is familiar to many users, especially those who purchase devices at international sites or get them with factory settings. Fortunately, the process of changing the language to MIUI is intuitive, but has several nuances depending on the version of the shell and the model of the phone.

In this article, you will find step-by-step instructions for all current versions of MIUI (12, 13, 14), including features for devices with global and Chinese firmware. We will also look at what to do if the desired language is not on the list, and how to avoid common errors when changing language settings. If your Xiaomi “can’t see” Russian, we have a solution!

Why Xiaomi may not have Russian?

Before you get to the instructions, it is important to understand why your device is not Russian, and there may be several reasons:

• 📦 Chinese firmware: Devices designed for the Chinese market often lack multilingual support, and only Chinese and English are available by default.
• 🌍 Regional constraints: Some models (e.g, POCO F1 Redmi Note 7 for India comes with a stripped-down set of languages.
• 🔄 Reset: After Factory Reset, the phone can return to its original firmware language.
• 📲 An outdated version MIUI. In very old firmware (up to) MIUI 10) Russian language support may not be available even in global versions.

If your Xiaomi is bought in an official Russian store, but the Russian language is still missing - most likely, it has custom firmware installed (for example, Xiaomi.eu without Russification), in this case, you will need to reflash, but we will talk about this later.

Preparation before changing language

Before you change your language, follow a few simple steps to avoid problems:

1. Check out the MIUI version. Go to Settings → About phone → MIUI version. If the version is below MIUI 11, upgrade to the system via Settings → About phone → System update.
2. Connect to Wi-Fi. To download language packets (if necessary) you need a stable Internet connection.
3. Charge your phone. Make sure your battery level is above 30% to avoid crashes during changes.
4. Backup. While changing the language doesn't delete data, it's best to be safe: Settings → Additional settings → Backup & reset → Local backups.

If you bought a phone from hand or in a foreign market, check if it is locked under the carrier. In some cases, linking to the operator can limit the change in language settings. You can find this in the Settings → SIM cards & mobile networks menu - if there is a Carrier settings item, the device can be locked.

💡

If you are not sure about the firmware version, take a screenshot of the About phone screen and check it through the MIUI Version Checker service, which will help you determine whether you have global firmware or Chinese.

How to change the language to Xiaomi (MIUI 12/13/14)

The standard language change method works on most devices with MIUI 12 and later.

1. Open Settings. The icon looks like a gear. ⚙️.
2. Scroll down and select Additional settings.
3. Use Languages & Input (Languages and Input)
4. Select Languages. This will show you a list of established languages.
5. Click Add Language or simply select Russian from the list.
6. After choosing Russian, drag it to the top of the list to make it the main one.
7. Confirm the changes. The phone will automatically restart (on some models).

If some apps (like Google Play or Mi Browser) are left in English after changing the language, don’t worry, it’s okay.

What if the Russian language is not on the list?

If there is no Russian language in the Languages menu, it means that your firmware does not support it out of the box.

Method 1: Installation of a language package via Mi Community

Some Xiaomi models allow you to download additional languages through the official community:

1. Open the Mi Community app (if not, download from the Play Market).
2. Go to the Discover section → Language Packs.
3. Find the Russian Language Pack and click Download.
4. After downloading, go to Settings → Languages & Input → Languages and select Russian.

Method 2: Manually Adding Language Through ADB (For Advanced)

If you don't have a language pack in the Mi Community, you can try adding it manually through the Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a method that requires a computer and basic command line skills.

You'll need:

• 🖥️ A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB Tools.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → About phone → Tap MIUI version 7 times → Developer options → USB debugging).
• 📄 Language Package for Your Version MIUI (can be found on the forums 4PDA or XDA Developers).

Installation commands (enter into cmd after connecting the phone):

adb shell


su




mount -o rw,remount /system




cp /sdcard/russian_pack.apk /system/priv-app/LanguagePack/




chmod 644 /system/priv-app/LanguagePack/russian_pack.apk




reboot

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB It can lead to data loss or device blinking. If you are not sure about your actions, it is better to consult a specialist or use other methods.

Method 3: Reflashing to the global version of MIUI

The most reliable, but also the most radical, method is to install a global firmware (MIUI Global) that is guaranteed to add Russian and remove regional restrictions, but the process requires unlocking the bootloader and can void the warranty.

Step-by-step:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the official Xiaomi tool (you will need a Mi Account and wait 7-15 days).
2. Download the global firmware for your model from the MIUI Updates Tracker website.
3. Install firmware via Fastboot or Recovery (instructions are available on 4PDA).

Features of changing the language on different models Xiaomi

While the general language change algorithm is the same for all Xiaomi devices, some models have nuances, and the table below shows the features for the popular series:

If your model is not in the table, check it on GSM Arena – the specifications usually indicate which languages are supported.

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:

• 🔄 If the device is "hang" after choosing the Russian language, try to forcefully reboot it by holding the power button for 10-15 seconds. If the problem repeats, reset the settings via Recovery.
• 📵 There's no "Languages" in the settings, which means you have Chinese firmware without multilingual support.
• 🔠 The keyboard is left in English. Open any text box, swipe down the notification bar and click on the keyboard icon. Select Russian layout or install Gboard from Play Market.
• 📱 Some apps haven't switched to Russian. System applications (Mi Browser, Security) have their own language changed; third-party applications (like Facebook) have their own settings.

⚠️ Warning: If after changing the language, the phone switches back to English on its own, it's a sign of damaged firmware or conflict of language packs.

Additional settings after changing the language

After a successful switch to Russian, it is recommended to perform several additional settings for comfortable work:

1. Set up regional settings: Go to Settings → Additional → Language and input → Region. Choose Russia or Ukraine/Kazakhstan (depending on your location).
2. Update system apps: Open Play Market and update Mi Browser, Security, Mi Video and other Xiaomi apps. This ensures they are in Russian.
3. Set up voice assistant: If you use Google Assistant or Xiao AI, go to their settings and select Russian for voice commands.

Check the keyboard layout

• Open Settings → Additional → Language and input → Keyboard and add Russian layout.