Changing the interface language is one of the first and most important operations faced by the owner of a new Xiaomi smartphone, especially if the device was ordered from China. Often users purchase gadgets of global versions or Global ROM, waiting to see the Russified menu immediately, but sometimes the system meets them with English or even Chinese text. Understanding how to change the language to Xiaomi is critical for further comfortable operation of the device, since without this it is impossible to properly configure accounts, keyboard and basic services.
With the modern MIUI shells and the new HyperOS, localization is as simple as possible for developers, but navigating an unfamiliar interface can cause a stupor. If you don’t know a single word in the language that is currently displayed on the screen, finding the right icon becomes a quest. In this article, we will examine all the nuances of switching to Russian, English or any other supported language, and also consider hidden functions and possible problems.
It is worth noting that the procedure is almost identical to most models of the line of Redmi, POCO and flagships of the Xiaomi Mi series. Regardless of which version of Android is at the heart of your system, the logic of the settings remains the same.
Standard procedure for changing the language in the settings
The basic algorithm of actions is universal for all current versions of firmware. You need to get to the main settings menu, which is usually indicated by the gear icon. If your phone is not yet configured and is in the initial activation stage, the choice of language will be suggested by one of the first screens, immediately after turning on.
If the device is already working and you need to change your current localization, follow this path. On most devices with a MIUI shell, the settings menu is in the second line of the desktop. The icon looks like a gray gear. After you log in, you need to scroll down to the section that is responsible for the additional system settings.
⚠️ Warning: Don’t confuse the “About phone” section with the basic settings. Language change is in the general settings of the system, not in the device information, although some versions of the firmware may have different logic.
In the list that opens, look for an item called Additional settings in English, and in the Russian interface it is signed "Additional." Inside this section, usually there is a paragraph called Languages & input.
In the list, select Russian or any other language you need, the system will instantly apply changes, and the entire interface, including menus, notifications and system applications, will be translated into the selected language. If the desired language is not in the list, this may mean that a specific regional version of the firmware (for example, China ROM) is installed, where support for other languages is limited.
Navigating the Chinese interface without knowing the language
The situation when a Xiaomi smartphone meets a user exclusively with Chinese characters is the most difficult. In this case, it is extremely difficult to navigate visually, since icons can be standard, but the captions say nothing. However, there is a universal algorithm that allows you to access the desired menu item by “pump” or the element’s position.
First, look for the settings icon (cogs). It's usually gray. After you enter the menu, scroll to the bottom of the screen. You want a section that's at the bottom of the list, often marked by a three-dot icon or an "A" in the square, but in the Chinese version, it's just characters. Focus on the position: it's the penultimate or last item in a long list.
☑️ Language search algorithm in Chinese menu
After you enter the "Additional" section (Chinese characters, usually 5-6 characters), you need to select the top item on the list that opens. This is "Language and Input." Inside you will see a list of languages. Russian in Chinese firmware is often denoted by hieroglyphs, but next to it may be the Latin transcription Ru or flag. If there are no flags, look for a word that starts with "P" (if the interface is in English) or just try the items until a familiar alphabet appears.
It is important to understand the difference between China ROM and Global ROM. In the Chinese version of the firmware, Russian may be completely absent or work incorrectly (untranslated menu items, lack of Russian keyboard layout by default), in which case the only solution will be to reflash the device to the global version.
Why is there no Russian language on the list?
Use of the quick switching function
Newer versions of the HyperOS shell and recent MIUI updates have a handy feature to quickly switch the language directly from the notification curtain or through search, which allows you to avoid digging into the depths of the menu every time you need to temporarily change the language, for example, to show the phone to a foreign colleague.
To take advantage of this, lower the notification curtain from top to bottom. Find a switch that might be called Language or have a globe icon. If there is no such switch in the standard set, click on the edit button of the control panel (usually a pencil or three dots in the corner) and add the Language widget to the quick access.
You can also use settings search. There's a search bar at the top of the Settings menu. If you know how the word "language" is written in the current interface language (or you can copy it from the translator), type it in there. The system will immediately give you the desired menu item, which greatly speeds up the process.
⚠️ Warning: Fast-shifting through the curtain is not available on all models. Low-end entry-level Redmi devices may not have this widget as standard.
Another life hack is the use of a voice assistant, which is that if you have a Google Assistant or Xiao AI setup (Chinese equivalent), you can try the voice command "Change language to Russian" or "Open language settings," but this method doesn't work if the main language of the system is different from the language of the voice command.
Features of changing the language in different versions of MIUI and HyperOS
Xiaomi's interface is constantly evolving, and the layout of elements can vary from version to version. In MIUI 12 and MIUI 13, the structure was more classic, reminiscent of pure Android, but with additional layers of customization.
With MIUI 14 and HyperOS, the logic has changed a little, and in some regions, language settings have been moved to a separate System & Device subsection, which is at the top of the main settings menu, not at the bottom, for the convenience of users who often change region or language.
| Shell version | Location of item | Title of section (EN) | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIUI 12 / 13 | Below the menu -> More | Additional settings | Classical location |
| MIUI 14 | Below the menu -> More | Additional settings | Added language search |
| HyperOS 1.0 | Top menu / Additional | System & Device | Changed settings grouping |
| Android One (Mi A series) | System system | System | A clean Android interface |
The owners of Mi A (Android One) devices are the lucky ones: they have the interface as close as possible to the stock Android, and the language changes through the System -> Languages & input section. There are no unnecessary add-ons, which reduces the likelihood of error.
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In the new versions of HyperOS, the language control can be moved to the top of the settings menu for quick access.
Problem Solving: If the language is not changed or reset
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where after choosing the Russian language, the interface does not change, or after rebooting the device, the settings fly back to English or Chinese, this can be caused by several factors, from software failures to the features of a particular model.
One common cause is application conflict: Some third-party launchers or optimization programs may force system settings back to default values, and check if you have apps like Clear Master or third-party themes that manage system settings.
The problem can also be the damage to the system's localization files, often after a failed air update or when using beta firmware, which can be done by cleaning the system's cache or completely resetting it to the factory settings.
⚠️ Before performing a full reset, be sure to save all important data, as this procedure will completely remove all information from the internal storage of the phone, including photos, contacts and applications.
If the language is constantly flying, try the following algorithm: remove all the extra languages from the list, leaving only Russian and English. Then set Russian first in the priority list. In some versions of MIUI, the system uses the first language on the list as the main language, ignoring the current choice if the priorities are incorrect.
Change the keyboard language after changing the system
It's often the case that the phone interface is translated into Russian, and the keyboard continues to type in Latin or Chinese characters, because the system language and input language settings are not automatically synchronized in some scenarios. You need to configure the keyboard separately.
For a standard Gboard or MIUI Keyboard keyboard, the process is as follows: Go to the settings, look for the "Additional" -> "Language and input" -> "Keyboard management" (or "Current keyboard"). Here you need to make sure that the Russian layout is activated.
Click on "Languages" inside the keyboard settings. If Russian is not on the list, add it with the "Add keyboard" button, and then switch between languages will be done by swiping the space or clicking on the globe, depending on your preferences.
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To quickly switch the layout on Gboard, use a long press on the space - this opens the menu of language selection, which is more convenient than constantly poking around the globe.
If you use third-party keyboards, such as Yandex Keyboard or SwiftKey, their settings are in a separate application. Make sure that the settings of the keyboard application itself also select the desired languages.