Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones, purchased in the Chinese market or through gray importers, often face an obsessive problem - the Chinese calendar on the lock screen. Instead of the usual numbers and dates according to the Gregorian calendar, users see characters and lunar dates, which creates serious discomfort when using the device, this feature is sewn deep into the MIUI and HyperOS system, so standard methods through the settings menu, it is not always possible to turn it off.
The problem is that system widgets are often tied to a selected region that automatically sets as “China” when you first start your device. Even if you change the interface language to Russian, some design elements, including the lock screen, can continue to stream content targeted at the Chinese market.
In this guide, we will discuss all current methods, from simple settings to use. ADB-It is important to understand that the structure of the menu may vary slightly depending on the version of the shell. MIUI It's not HyperOS, but it's the same logic for all models, and doing these steps will allow you to enjoy a clean interface without too much visual noise.
Changing language and region as a primary method
The first and most obvious step to take is to check the settings of the region, and users often forget that the first time they turn on the smartphone, they chose the "China" region, which dictates that the system displays the relevant data on the lock screen, and changing this setting causes the phone to reconfigure the content of the widgets and service windows to a new locale.
To do this, you need to go to the Settings menu → Additional settings → Region. In the list that opens, select the country of your actual stay, for example, "Russia" or "Ukraine." After that, the system may require a reboot or update the widget data yourself. If the Chinese calendar is missing, but other artifacts remain, it is worth checking the settings for the date and time format in the same section.
⚠️ Note: After changing the region in the app store GetApps (Mi App Store) may change the list of available programs, as the content there is tied to geolocation.
Additionally, make sure that the date and time settings are network synchronization enabled. Go to Settings → Additional settings → Date and time and activate "Use Network Time" to ensure that the system clock is checked against global servers, not local Chinese standards.
Disabling MSA and system advertising
The Chinese calendar on the lock screen is often part of Xiaomi’s advertising ecosystem, and the system process is responsible for displaying and updating content. MSA (MIUI System Ads. Even if you've changed region, this service can continue to load widgets from Chinese sources. MSA — critical step to clean the interface.
To get to the right setting, go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Access to personal data. In the list that opens, find the "msa" and turn off the switch. The system will warn you that this may affect the operation of certain functions, and ask you to wait 10 seconds before confirming. Click "Cancel".
☑️ Checklist of ad-shutdown
It is also recommended to disable other system services related to advertising and analytics, such as Mi Daemon, Mi Video and Music.This will not only remove Chinese widgets, but also increase battery autonomy, as background processes will no longer consume resources.
If a standard shutdown didn’t work the first time (which happens due to MIUI bugs), try repeating the procedure 3-4 times in a row. Sometimes the system takes several attempts to permanently break the connection to the ad server.
Setting up the theme and lock screen
Often the problem is not the system bugs, but the set theme. Many themes, especially those downloaded from the Chinese theme store section, force the standard lock screen to replace their own, which contains a calendar with characters. Checking and changing the theme is a quick way to solve the problem.
Open the Themes app and go to the user profile (human icon). Select Themes and activate the standard Classic or Defult theme. After applying the theme, the lock screen should return to the standard view. If you want to use custom themes, look carefully at the lock screen preview before installing.
| Parameter | Standard theme | The Chinese theme | A third-party topic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Date format | Gregorian | Lunar + Hieroglyphics | Depends on the author. |
| Widget language | Systemic | Chinese | Different. |
| Advertising | Minimum | Present. | Often |
| Stability | Tall. | Medium | Low. |
Also, check the settings of the lock screen itself. Go to Settings → Lock screen and make sure that the Wallpaper Carousel or Lock Log section does not include subscriptions to Chinese image sources, which often come bundled with the calendar.
Why are topics dropped?
Using ADB to remove system widgets
If software methods fail, more radical measures are needed: Deleting or freezing system applications that control the lock screen and calendar through the ADB (Android Debug Bridge) is the most effective way, requiring the smartphone to be connected to a computer.
To start, activate the developer mode. Click 7 times on the build number in the About Phone menu. Then in Additional settings, turn on "Debugging USB." Connect the phone to your PC, install ADB drivers, and execute a command to remove the com.miui.personalassistant or com.android.deskclock package (be careful with the alarm clock).
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.personalassistantThe team above will remove the Google Discover/Mi Vision, which often pulls up calendar widgets. Deleting the calendar widget from the lock screen may require disabling the com.miui.lockscreen package, but it is risky because you lose the ability to unlock. The safer way is to disable the widget update service.
⚠️ Note: Removal of system components through ADB This can cause system instability, and before removing it, make sure you know the name of the package and its function.
Use utilities like Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools or Universal Android Debloater if you find the command line too difficult, which have a graphical interface and allow you to safely remove preinstalled software, including Chinese services, with a single button.
Resetting settings and flashing the device
When nothing works, the "nuclear option" is left - a complete factory reset. This action will delete all user data, so be sure to back up contacts, photos and documents. Reset allows you to clear the cache of system applications that could save the old settings of the region.
Go to Settings → About Phone → Reset and select “Erase All Data.” During the initial setup (Settings Master), carefully monitor the choice of region and language. Don’t agree to “Recommended Settings”, but select “Advanced” and manually specify Russia and Russian.
As a last resort, if the Chinese firmware (CN Version) is restless, consider a Global ROM, a complex procedure that requires unlocking the bootloader, and once unlocked, you can install an official European or global firmware that initially lacks Chinese services and calendars.
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Before the firmware be sure to unlock the bootloader through the official Mi Unlock website, the wait can take up to 168 hours (7 days).
Preventing the appearance of Chinese widgets
To prevent the problem from returning after a system update, you need to block access to the Internet to certain system applications. Chinese services often update their configs when connecting to Wi-Fi. Go to the application settings (for example, "Calendar" or "Security"), find the "Control traffic" item and prohibit data transmission over Wi-Fi and mobile networks.
It is also recommended to disable automatic updates of system applications through the GetApps store. Go to the store settings, find the "Auto Update" option and select "Never" or "Only via Wi-Fi" (with subsequent Wi-Fi locking for this application), this will prevent installation of new versions of widgets that can return the Chinese interface.
Check the installed list regularly. Sometimes Chinese software masquerades as system utilities with neutral names. If you see an application that has Chinese characters in its name or that you haven't installed yourself, feel free to delete it or disable it.
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Blocking internet access for system applications is the most reliable way to prevent the return of Chinese widgets after the MIUI update.