Owners of Xiaomi fitness trackers and smartwatches often face the unpleasant situation when, after unpacking or updating, the device meets their menu in a foreign language, most often when buying a “Chinese version” of the gadget or when synchronization with the main application fails. Instead of the usual characters, the user sees characters, which makes it impossible to initially configure and use all the functions of the device.
Fortunately, in most cases, the interface of the device is tightly tied to the language setting of the smartphone to which it is connected, which means that you do not need to look for hidden buttons or know Chinese to solve the problem. It is enough to set up the smartphone-wearable bundle correctly. However, there are nuances for different models, such as the Mi Band, Xiaomi Watch and Amazfit devices, which are controlled by different applications.
In this article, we will look at the algorithms for different scenarios, why a watch can not change language automatically, how to force the language package to be updated, and what to do if standard methods do not work. We will also look at the differences in the software Mi Fitness and Zepp Life, because the software chosen often depends on the success of the operation.
Relationship between smartphone language and clock
The basic principle of the Xiaomi ecosystem is to automatically inherit system settings. When you connect the tracker to your phone, the companion app reads the current language profile of the Android or iOS operating system and transmits this command to the wearable device. If the clock displays Chinese or English, although the phone is configured in Russian, then the synchronization process was incorrect.
Often the problem is that the wearable app itself has a different interface language than the system one. For example, your phone speaks Russian, but the Zepp Life or Mi Fitness program has English, so the watch will be instructed to switch to English, so the first step should always be to check the settings of the app itself.
⚠️ If you change the language on your phone, but the clock does not respond, try temporarily switching the language of the smartphone to English, synchronize the data, and then return the Russian language and synchronize again.
It's important to understand that not all models support all languages. Budget versions of trackers may have a limited set of fonts and localizations stitched into the device's memory. If the app's list of available languages doesn't have the option you want, it won't appear on the watch, regardless of the phone's settings.
Preparing for the change of language: Mi Fitness and Zepp Life
The success of the operation depends on what software you use to control the gadget. Xiaomi in recent years has divided its devices between the two main platforms. Old and budget models such as the Mi Band 4, 5, 6, are often controlled through the Zepp Life app (formerly Mi Fit). Newer models, including the Mi Band 7, 8, 9 and the Xiaomi Watch S1, S3, require the installation of the Mi Fitness app.
Before you try to change the language, make sure you have the latest version of the app installed. Developers regularly release updates that add support for new languages or fix sync errors. Go to the app store (Google Play or App Store), find your app and check for an Update button.
☑️ Checking before changing language
It's also worth checking the permissions you gave the app. To work properly and communicate settings, the program needs access to notifications, location, and background work. Without those permissions, the language change command may simply not reach the device or be blocked by Android.
Instructions for Mi Band and watches via Mi Fitness
For owners of modern devices such as the Mi Band 7 Pro, Mi Band 8 or Xiaomi Watch S series, the algorithm of actions is quite simple, but requires care. First, open the Mi Fitness app on your smartphone. Make sure the tracker is connected and the status of the device is displayed as “Online” or “Connected”.
Go to Profile (usually the person icon in the lower right corner) and find the name of your watch or bracelet in your device list and click on it. In the device management menu that opens, scroll down to Device Settings or Display & Brightness, where the setting is often hidden.
Find Language and Time or simply Language, and if it says Follow phone, try switching it to a specific language, like Russian, and then back to Follow Phone, which will force the language pack update process on the watch.
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If the language option is not in the Mi Fitness menu, it means that the device automatically takes the settings from the system, in which case the change of language is possible only through changing the language of the smartphone itself.
Once you've chosen the language, you'll start the data transfer process. You can have animations or a Xiaomi logo on your watch screen. Don't push buttons or move your watch away from your phone at that point. It takes 10 to 60 seconds, depending on the speed of your Bluetooth connection.
Language settings in the Zepp Life app
Users of older or budget models, such as Mi Band 4, Mi Band 5 or Mi Smart Band 6, that control devices via Zepp Life, should act a little differently.In this application, the logic of inheritance of language sometimes works incorrectly, especially if the application was installed on a phone with already changed the system language.
Open the Zepp Life app and go to the Profile tab. Select your device from the list. In the device settings menu, look for System Settings. It should be Language. If you see English or Chinese characters, click on this.
In the list that opens, select Russian or Follow the Phone. Unlike Mi Fitness, manual selection often helps. Once you confirm your choice, wait for the clock to vibrate. If the menu is in a foreign language, try logging out completely.
⚠️ Note: When you log out of your Zepp Life account, your workout data may not sync until you re-sign in. Make sure you remember the password from your Mi Account or Xiaomi account.
After re-entering the account, the application will request access rights and conduct full synchronization of profiles, which often shakes the system and causes the language to fall into place.
Problems with the Chinese version of devices (CN Version)
A separate and very common category of problems is related to so-called “Chinese versions” of devices, which are gadgets designed for the domestic market of China, and their distinguishing feature is the lack of global firmware and support for many languages out of the box, even when connected to a Russian phone, such a watch can persistently display Chinese or English interfaces.
In the case of the Chinese version, a standard change of settings in the application may not help, since the device physically lacks localization files for other languages, and manufacturers often block the ability to install a global language software to stimulate sales of more expensive global versions.
How to distinguish the Chinese version from the global one?
There is a way to flash these devices on a global version, but it requires a special charging adapter (Pogo Pin), a computer, a USB cable and command line skills. This process is risky: if you make a mistake, you can turn a watch into a brick. It is safer for the average user to just get used to the English menu, because the icons and structure remain unchanged.
If you do decide to flash it, you'll need to find an official global firmware for your model and revision of the device, and using firmware from another model is guaranteed to bring the gadget down.
Table of compatibility of languages and applications
To make it easier for you to understand which app is responsible for what and what to expect from language support, we have compiled a summary table that will help you understand whether you should try to change the language software or the device has limitations.
| Model of the device | Recommended annex | Support for the Russian language | Method of change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Band 4 / 5 / 6 | Zepp Life | Complete. | Through the settings in the app |
| Mi Band 7 / 8 / 9 | Mi Fitness | Complete. | Automatically or manually |
| Xiaomi Watch S1 / S3 | Mi Fitness | Complete. | Synchronization with the phone |
| Redmi Watch 3 / 4 | Mi Fitness | Complete. | Synchronization with the phone |
| Amazfit (all models) | Zepp | Depends on the model. | Through Zepp profile. |
Note that the Amazfit brand (which is a sub-brand of Xiaomi’s partner Huami) often requires a separate Zepp app (not to be confused with Zepp Life).The language change logic is similar there: Profile -> Device -> System Settings -> Language.
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A key success factor is the compliance of the firmware version of the device and the regional affiliation of the account to which it is tied.
What to do if the language doesn’t change: solving problems
There are times when all of the above methods fail. The watch stays silent or continues to speak a foreign language. First, try a banal but effective action: break the pairing in your smartphone's Bluetooth settings. Click "Forget the device" or "Cancel pairing," and then re-search and connect through the app.
If that didn't work, try clearing the app's cache. Go to your phone's settings, find the Apps section, select Mi Fitness or Zepp Life, go to Memory and click Clear Cache. Don't confuse it with Clear Data, because in the second case you'll have to re-enter your login and password.
⚠️ Warning: Before performing a full reset of your watch settings (Reset), make sure you know the password from your Mi Account. Once reset, the device will require authorization as a security measure.
The radical method is to completely reset the clock to factory settings. On the watch itself (if the menu is readable), find System -> Factory Reset. If the menu is not readable, this item is usually at the bottom of the settings list and is indicated by an icon of the arrow in the circle or an exclamation mark. After reset, the watch will suggest choosing a language when you first set up - it is important not to miss the moment and choose the right one.