How to add and configure the Russian keyboard on Xiaomi Redmi 4X: all ways

Xiaomi Redmi 4X is still a popular budget smartphone, but many users face the problem of not having a Russian layout after resetting settings or buying a device with foreign firmware. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways to add Russian, from standard MIUI settings to manually installing the keyboard via APK.

The peculiarity of Redmi 4X (codename santoni) is that on some versions of MIUI Russian may be hidden in the system settings or not at all in the list of available ones. This is due to regional firmware restrictions (for example, Global ROM vs China ROM).

Important: If your smartphone was purchased in China or on AliExpress with Chinese firmware, the procedure will differ from the standard one.

Check the current version of MIUI and the firmware region

Before you add a Russian keyboard, you need to understand what firmware is installed on your Redmi 4X.

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Scroll down to MIUI version. Remember the number (e.g. MIUI Global 12.5.1).
3. Click on the MIUI version line several times until the caption “You’re a developer!” appears (this unlocks hidden settings).
4. Go back to the main settings menu and open Additional → Region, where you can find the current firmware region (e.g. India, China, Russia).

If Russia or Ukraine/Belarus/Kazakhstan are not listed in the list of regions, then you do not have global firmware, and Russian may not be in the system settings, in which case you will either need to change the region (see section 3) or install a third-party keyboard (section 5).

⚠️ Attention: If your Redmi is 4X working in China ROM, Trying to change the region through settings can cause a system failure, in which case you should immediately go to section 5 (install Gboard) or consider flashing on Global. ROM.

Method 1: Adding Russian through system settings (for Global ROM)

If you have global firmware (EEA, Russia, Ukraine), Russian is already pre-installed, but you need to activate it:

1. Open Settings → Additional → Language and input.
2. Tap the tongues (or add the language).
3. In the list, find Russian (Russia) or Russian (Ukraine) and select it.
4. Drag Russian to the top position on the list to make it the top one.

After that:

• 📱 The keyboard layout will automatically switch to Russian when you enter text (if you use the system keyboard). MIUI Keyboard).
• 🔄 To switch between languages, hold a space or click on the globe icon on the keyboard.
• ⚙️ If the Russian layout does not appear, check the keyboard settings: Settings → Language and input → Current keyboard → Settings (cogs) → Input languages.

If Russian is not on the list, your firmware doesn't support it out of the box.

Method 2: Change the firmware region (for limited localization Global ROM)

On some global firmware (for example, for India or Indonesia), Russian is hidden, but it can be unlocked by changing the region:

1. Open the Settings. → Additionally. → Region.
2. Choose Russia or Ukraine (if not, try Belarus or Kazakhstan).
3. Reboot your phone (required!).
4. After the reboot, go back to Settings → Language and Input → Languages and check for Russian.

If the change in the region did not help:

• 🔄 Try another region (for example, Ukraine instead of Russia).
• 📱 Make sure you don’t have China. ROM (see section 1).
• ⚙️ Update your firmware to the latest version through Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.

⚠️ Note: On some versions MIUI (Especially 8-9 region change can reset network settings. After the reboot, check your mobile Internet and Wi-Fi connection, if necessary, set up the network settings. APN freshly.

Method 3: Install the Russian keyboard via Gboard (for any firmware)

If the system methods don’t work, the most reliable option is to install Gboard (Google keyboard) with Russian support, which is suitable for all firmware, including China ROM:

1. Download Gboard from Google Play (if Play Market is not available, download APK from APKMirror).
2. After installation, open the application and click Enable in the settings.
3. In the phone settings, go to Language and Enter → Current Keyboard and select Gboard.
4. Return to the Gboard app, click Languages → Add keyboard and select Russian.

The advantages of Gboard:

• 🌍 Support for all popular languages, including Ukrainian, Belarusian, Kazakh.
• 🎯 Adaptive input (word prediction and gesture input).
• 🔒 It even works for China. ROM rusty.
• 📱 Synchronizing the dictionary with a Google account.

If after installing Gboard, the Russian layout does not appear:

• ⚙️ Check that the Gboard settings have Russian enabled (Settings) → Systemic → Languages → Russian).
• 🔄 Reboot the phone.
• 📱 Remove the keyboard cache: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Gboard → Warehouse → Clear the cache.

💡

If you have China ROM and Google Play is not working, download Gboard in APK format from APKMirror, pre-authorizing installation from unknown sources (Settings → Security → Unknown sources).

Method 4: Manually add language pack (for China ROM without Google)

On Chinese firmware (China ROM), Russian is not available at the system level, but it can be added through MoreLocale 2, an application for forced localization:

1. Download MoreLocale 2 (APK) and install it by allowing installation from unknown sources.
2. Open the application and select Russian (Russia) or Russian (Ukraine).
3. Press Set (set).
4. Reboot the phone.

Limitations of the method:

• ❌ Not all system applications will be translated into Russian (for example, settings may remain in English).
• ✅ keyboard MIUI Keyboard will receive a Russian layout.
• ⚠️ After updating MIUI MoreLocale settings may reset.

The alternative is to use the Xposed Framework with the App Settings module, but this requires root rights and is not recommended for beginners.

💡

MoreLocale 2 is the only way to add Russian to China ROM It's not flashing, but it doesn't work with all applications. ROM.

Method 5: Flashing to Global ROM (radical solution)

If none of these methods work, you can still reflash Redmi 4X on Global ROM with Russian language support, which is a last resort, but it is guaranteed to solve the problem.

The firmware will require:

• 📱 Unlocked bootloader (instructions on the official Xiaomi website).
• 💻 Computer with drivers installed ADB/Fastboot.
• 📁 Global Stable for Santoni (download from Xiaomi Firmware Updater).
• 🛠️ Mi Flash Tool Programming.

Step-by-step:

1. Unlock the bootloader via the Mi Unlock Tool (can take up to 72 hours due to Xiaomi restrictions).
2. Download Global Stable ROM for Redmi 4X (file with.tgz extension).
3. Unpack the archive and place the firmware folder in the root of the C:\ disk.
4. Launch the Mi Flash Tool, connect the phone in Fastboot mode (clip Volume Down + Power).
5. Select the firmware folder and press Flash.

⚠️ Attention: Firmware erases all data from your phone! pre-backup through Settings → Additionally. → Backup and Reset or Mi Cloud.Also make sure the phone model is exactly Redmi. 4X (santoni) – firmware from another model will lead to a “brick” (inoperability) of the device.

Important: After the Global ROM firmware, Russian will be available by default, but some features (such as NFC) may work differently than on China ROM.

Solving problems with the Russian keyboard

Even after successfully adding Russian, there may be problems.

If the problem is not resolved:

• 🔄 Try resetting the keyboard settings: Settings → Annexes → Management → keyboard → Warehouse → Clear the data.
• 📱 Install an alternative keyboard (e.g. SwiftKey or Fleksy).
• ⚙️ Check if an antivirus or optimizer is blocking language access (e.g., Xiaomi’s Security).

FAQ: Frequent questions about the Russian keyboard on Redmi 4X