How to change the language on Xiaomi: from global to Chinese

Buying a new smartphone, especially one ordered from abroad, often confronts the user with an unexpected barrier: a menu in an unfamiliar language. Instead of the usual Russian or English inscriptions, the owner sees characters or other characters, which makes initial configuration of the device difficult. However, changing the interface language on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices is a standard procedure that does not require deep technical knowledge or root rights.

Modern MIUI and HyperOS shells have a flexible localization system that allows you to switch between dozens of languages in a pair of touches. The problem often lies not in the lack of a function, but in the fact that the desired language may be hidden in the depth of the menu or the system initially does not support it at the firmware level, requiring additional actions. In this article, we will analyze all possible scenarios, from simple switching in settings to solving problems with Chinese versions of smartphones.

Don't panic if you buy a device that speaks Chinese to you. The menu algorithms in different versions of Android and Xiaomi shells are similar, and even without language knowledge, you can navigate by icons and item location. The main thing is to act consistently and carefully monitor the changes on the screen after each step.

Definition of firmware version and regional features

Before you start taking action, you need to understand which version of the software you are dealing with. Global Version usually already contains a full suite of languages, including Russian and Ukrainian, and the problem is solved by a simple choice on the list, which is complicated if you have a Chinese version of the smartphone, intended for the domestic market of China.

Chinese firmware may initially lack support for European languages, or it may be hidden by developers, and in such cases, the standard settings menu will not help, and you will have to resort to more complex methods, such as unlocking the bootloader and flashing, or using special locator applications.

⚠️ Warning: When buying a smartphone on foreign sites, always check with the seller the type of firmware (CN ROM with Global ROM) — It's not the same as the original global version, and when updated through the air, the language can fly.

To quickly check the current version of the software, you can use the code in the engineering menu, although this is more relevant for advanced users. The average owner just go to the section about the phone and look at the letter designations in the MIUI version. The presence of the letter C often indicates China, and E or G - European or Global.

Standard language change in global versions of MIUI and HyperOS

If your smartphone has officially shipped to your region or has global firmware, the language change process takes less than a minute. Xiaomi's system follows Android standards, so the logic of finding settings here is predictable. You won't need third-party tools, everything is done by regular means.

First, you have to go to the main settings menu, and most devices have a gear icon, and if the interface is entirely in a foreign language, look for a gear-like symbol, which is usually located at the top of the app list or in the notification curtain, and then you go to the menu and you look for the section that's responsible for the extra settings.

The algorithm of actions is as follows:

• 📱 Find and click on the gear icon (Settings) to open the settings menu.
• 🔍 Scroll down to the three-dot section or the “more” symbol, often at the bottom of the list (Additional Settings).
• 🌐 Inside this section, look for a paragraph with a planet symbol or the letter "A" with a character - this is a menu of languages (Languages & input).
• ✅ Select the language you want from the list by touching on the name; the system will immediately apply the changes.

In newer versions of the HyperOS shell, the menu structure may have changed a little, but the principle has remained the same. Sometimes the language item is placed in a more prominent place at the top of the list of basic settings, next to the Mi Account. If you do not see the desired language in the list, you may need to add it manually through the Add Language button or plus in the corner of the screen.

💡

If you accidentally chose the wrong language and got confused in the icons, just remember the order of the items that were before the shift, or take a screenshot with the settings before the experiment.

Solving problems with the Chinese version of firmware

Owners of devices ordered directly from China often face a situation where the list of languages is completely missing Russian or English, this is not a defect, but a feature of the software that is sharpened for the domestic market, in which case the standard path through the settings will not lead to the desired result, since the desired option is simply not in the database of the system.

There are several ways to address this problem: the most radical, but also the most effective, is to reflash the device to a global version, which requires unlocking the bootloader, which in turn can lead to loss of warranty and data. A softer method is to use third-party localization applications that "tighten" the translation over the system interface, although this does not always work stably.

Another option is to search for a hidden language menu through engineering code, but on modern versions of Android, access to it is often closed, so if you are not ready for complex manipulations with PCs and firmware, the only reliable way is to install global firmware through Fastboot mode.

⚠️ Warning: Flashing the Chinese version to the global version can result in an anti-rollback protection if the software versions are incompatible. Always check for region compatibility before firmware!

For those who don’t want to take risks, there are special launcher apps that completely replace the desktop and menus with the usual ones. This does not change the system language completely (for example, in deep-level settings it will remain Chinese), but makes using a smartphone comfortable for everyday tasks.

Using third-party applications to translate the interface

When standard methods fail, Google Play Store apps that are designed specifically to localize devices come to the rescue. One of the most popular and time-tested tools is MoreLocale 2, which allows you to force any language that supports Android, even if the manufacturer has hidden this feature.

These applications often require a computer connection and USB debugging (ADB) or wireless debugging rights. It's not a complicated process, but it requires care. Once you install the application, you'll need to find your language (e.g. Russian) and activate it.

Here’s what the activation process looks like through ADB (for advanced users):

adb shell pm grant jp.co.c_lis.ccl.morelocale android.permission.CHANGE_CONFIGURATION

Once this is done, the MoreLocale 2 app will have a language installation button, but it’s worth remembering that this is a crutch: system applications may remain in English or Chinese, and some features may not work properly.

Table of correspondence of menu items in different languages

To make it easier for you to navigate the menu, if the interface language is already changed to a strange one or you are setting up a phone for a relative, use a match table. These terms are key to navigating Xiaomi’s system, regardless of the localization you choose.

Knowing these basic terms will help you stay in touch with a completely unfamiliar interface. Note that in different versions of MIUI icons may differ slightly in design, but their meaning load remains unchanged. For example, three dots almost always mean "more" or "additional".

💡

The matching table is your main assistant when setting up your device in an unfamiliar language. Save the image of the key icons in the phone's memory just in case.

Resetting settings to factory as a last resort

If you get confused, change system settings and the phone starts to behave inappropriately, or change the language has led to critical interface errors, a complete reset may be required. This procedure will return the device to the "out of the box" state by removing all user data, but is guaranteed to offer a choice of language when you first boot.

Resets can be done via the Recovery Mode menu, which requires turning off your smartphone and pressing the key combination (usually the on button and the volume button), and in the menu that appears, which often looks ascetic, you need to select Wipe Data or Clear Data.

It is important to understand the consequences of this action:

• 🗑️ All photos, contacts and apps will be permanently deleted.
• 🔒 The device will request a password from the Mi Account if theft protection was enabled.
• ⏳ The process can take from 5 to 15 minutes, at which time the phone can not be touched.

⚠️ Warning: Before resetting, make sure the battery is charged at least 50-60%. Interrupting the data reset process due to battery discharge may result in the inability to boot the system.

Once the reset is complete, the phone will reboot and you will see a welcome screen where the first question is to choose the language.This is the perfect moment to set the correct language from the very beginning of using the device, avoiding confusion in the future.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)