Why Xiaomi BIOS may not have Russian and what to do about it
Owners of Xiaomi Mi Notebook, RedmiBook or Xiaomi Mi Box mini PCs often face a problem: when you first log in to the BIOS (or after resetting), the interface is displayed in Chinese or English, which creates difficulties, especially if you need to change the priority of downloading, update firmware or enable virtualization, the reason lies in the regional settings of UEFI firmware, which by default may not include Russian.
Unlike Windows or Android, where the language changes in a couple of clicks, BIOS requires a more careful approach. There is no universal solution: on some Xiaomi models (for example, Mi Notebook Pro 15 or RedmiBook 14), Russian can be selected directly, and on others - only through a firmware update or resetting. In this article, we will discuss all working methods, including hidden nuances for devices with UEFI and Legacy BIOS.
It's important to understand that changing the language in the BIOS doesn't affect the operating system language. These are two separate settings: one is responsible for the low-level firmware interface, the other is for Windows or Linux, and if you still load in Chinese after you change the language in the BIOS, you should look for the problem in the OS settings.
Method 1: Standard language change in the BIOS menu (if available)
On most modern Xiaomi devices (released after 2020), Russian can be selected directly in the BIOS interface.
- Turn off the device and turn it on again, immediately pressing the input key. BIOS. For Xiaomi, it's common: 🔹 F2 — For most laptops, Mi Notebook and RedmiBook; 🔹 Del – for mini PC Xiaomi Mi Box or motherboards; 🔹 Esc → F2 — on some fast-loading models.
In the menu that opens, look for the Language tab (may be called in Chinese), which is usually located in the top bar or in the Main section.
Choose Russian or Russian from the list. If you don't have one, move on to the next one.
Save the changes by pressing F10 (or selecting Save & Exit) and confirm the output.
If your Xiaomi model does not have the option of changing the language, do not try to update the BIOS at random - this can lead to a knock (inoperability) of the device.
Method 2: Update the BIOS firmware with the addition of Russian
On older Xiaomi models (e.g. Mi Notebook Air 12.5 or Mi Notebook Pro 15.6 2018), Russian may not be available in the BIOS due to an outdated firmware version. In this case, the UEFI update will help. Importantly, an incorrect BIOS update can bring the device down. Use only official firmware from the Xiaomi site!
Instructions for updating:
- Download the latest version of the BIOS for your model from the official Xiaomi website. Pay attention to the exact modification (for example, Mi Notebook Pro 15.6 2020 and 2021 may have different firmware).
- Unpack the archive and copy the firmware file (usually with the.fd or.cap extension) to the flash drive formatted in FAT32.
- Log in to the BIOS (F2 or Del keys) and look for the Advanced → BIOS Update section (or EZ Flash on some motherboards).
- Select the firmware file from the flash drive and wait for the process to be completed. Do not turn off the power or press buttons during the update!
After the reboot, check for Russian in the settings. If it is still not available, try resetting the BIOS to the factory settings (Exit → Load Default Settings section).
What if the device does not turn on after the BIOS update?
Method 3: Reset the BIOS to factory settings (if the tongue is lost)
Sometimes the language in the BIOS gets lost after a power outage or overclocking experiment, and in this case, a complete reset helps. There are two ways:
- 🔧 Program reset: Enter into BIOS (F2/Del). Go to the Exit section. → Load Default Settings (or Restore Defaults (F10) and reboot.
Hardware discharge
- Turn off the device and turn off the charging.
- On the back of your laptop, find a small hole labeled CMOS or CLR (usually next to the cooler).
- Insert a paper clip into it for 10-15 seconds to reset the settings.
- Connect the charging and turn on the device - the BIOS will return to the factory settings.
After reset, check the language in the Language section. If the problem persists, it is possible that the BIOS firmware is damaged and requires flashing in the service center.
☑️ Preparation for discharge BIOS
Table: BIOS entry keys for popular Xiaomi models
| Model of the device | BIOS entry key | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mi Notebook Pro 14/15 (2020–2023) | F2 | Click immediately after activation, before the Mi logo appears |
| RedmiBook 14/16 (all generations) | F2 or Del | Some models need to hold Fn + F2 |
| Mi Mini PC (Mi Box S, Mi Stick) | Del or Esc. | Connect the keyboard over USB before turning on |
| Mi Notebook Air 12.5/13.3 | F2 + Hold Power 5 seconds | On older models, you may need to disable fast booting in Windows |
| POCO Notebook (if released) | F2 or F12 | It is expected to have a similar login mechanism as RedmiBook. |
If your model is not listed in the table, try the standard combinations: F1, F2, Del, Esc. On some devices (for example, Xiaomi Mi Pad), the BIOS entry can be blocked - in this case, you will need to unlock the bootloader.
Method 4: Use of utilities to modify the BIOS language (advanced method)
If you BIOS There is no Russian language, but there is English, you can try to change regional settings through specialized utilities. UEFI-shell.
Procedure:
- Download SetupVar or UEFITool from GitHub.
- Create a bootable flash drive with FreeDOS or UEFI Shell.
- Boot from the flash drive and enter a command to view the current variables BIOS: setup_var ListVars
- Find the variable that is responsible for the language (usually contains Lang or Language).
- Change its value to ru-RU or Russian: setup_var 0x123 0x0419 (where 0x123 — variable address, and 0x0419 — Russian)
⚠️ Attention: Incorrectly changing variables UEFI This method is recommended only if you are confident in your actions or follow the instructions from official support Xiaomi.
Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
When trying to change the language in the BIOS, users often face typical problems, and here are the most common ones and how to solve them:
- 🚫 BIOS It won't open: The problem may be in the Fast Boot enabled on Windows, turn it off in the power settings, or press the Shift when you restart to enter the diagnostic menu.
- 🚫 No "Language" item on the menu: This means your version BIOS It doesn't support language change. Try updating your firmware or using an advanced method with utilities.
- 🚫 After discharge BIOS Chinese again: I think it's probably a regional priority in firmware. BIOS Russian language (for example, from the Xiaomi community) EU).
- 🚫 The keyboard doesn't work in BIOS: Connect. USB-keyboard to another port (preferably) USB Some Xiaomi models do not have wireless keyboards before loading the OS.
If none of these methods worked, contact the Xiaomi service center with the model and version of the BIOS (you can see it on the BIOS home screen), and your device may require hardware reprogramming of the chip.
💡
Before any manipulation of the BIOS, back up your current firmware. To do this, in the BIOS menu, find the Save BIOS to File option (if any) and save the file to the flash drive, which will help restore the device to work in the event of a failure.