Xiaomi Redmi 4 is still a popular budget smartphone, but many users are faced with the problem of the lack of Russian in the firmware, especially for devices purchased at foreign sites like AliExpress or brought from trips. In this article, we will analyze all working methods of Russification, from official to alternative, taking into account the nuances for different versions of MIUI.
It is important to understand that the process depends on the initial firmware of your Redmi 4. For example, on the global versions (Global ROM), Russian is already pre-installed, and on the Chinese (China ROM) or Indian (India ROM) it will have to be added manually, We will look at options for all cases, including devices with a locked bootloader.
Before you start, check the current version of MIUI in the settings: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version. This will help you choose the right method and avoid errors.
1.Official method: change of region in MIUI
The safest method is to change the system region to Russia or Ukraine (where Russian is supported by default), which runs on Global ROM and some versions of EEA ROM (Europe), but is not suitable for Chinese firmware.
Instructions:
- 📱 Open the Settings. → Additionally. → Language and region.
- 🌍 Click Region and select Russia or Ukraine.
- 🔄 Restart the device – after that, Russian will appear in the list of languages.
- 📝 Select Russian in the Language section.
If Russia is not on the list of regions, then your firmware does not support this method, in which case move on to the following methods.
⚠️ Note: On some versions MIUI 12+ After the change of region, you may need to connect to VPN with a server in Russia for downloading a language package.
2. Installation of Russian language through Recovery (TWRP)
Devices with China ROM or outdated firmware will require custom TWRP Recovery and manual firmware for the language package, a method that is suitable for advanced users, as it requires unlocking the bootloader.
Steps:
- Unlock the bootloader through the official Xiaomi tool (requires a Mi Account account and wait 7-15 days).
- Install TWRP with fastboot: fastboot flash recovery twrp.img fastboot boot twrp.img
- Download the language package for your version of MIUI (for example, from the 4PDA forum or XDA Developers).
- Sweat the package through TWRP → Install.
Once installed, Russian will appear in the language settings, a method that is universal but requires technical skills.
Backup of data (via Mi Cloud or TWRP)
Battery charge > 50%
Download the language package for your version of MIUI
Unlocked loader
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Alternative method: MIUI Multilang Pack
For users who don’t want to unlock the bootloader, there is a solution, the MIUI Multilang Pack, which is an informal language package that is installed on top of the standard firmware.
How it works:
- 🔗 Download the archive from Xiaomi.eu (select the version for Redmi) 4/4X).
- 📁 Connect your phone to your PC and transfer the archive to the root memory folder.
- 🛠️ Install through System Update → Select a firmware file.
- 🔄 Reset the device.
This method does not require TWRP, but it may not work on all versions of MIUI. Check compatibility on the forum before installing.
⚠️ Note: Unofficial language packages may contain translation errors or conflict with system applications.
4. Comparison of Russification Methods
To choose the best way, compare them by key parameters:
| Method | Difficulty | Unlocking required | Supported firmware | Risks. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Change of region | ⭐ | ❌ No. | Global, EEA | Minimum |
| TWRP + language package | ⭐⭐⭐ | ✅ Yes. | Anybody. | Data reset, brick |
| MIUI Multilang Pack | ⭐⭐ | ❌ No. | China, India (not all versions) | Translation errors |
Important: On Redmi 4 with Snapdragon 430 processor (markw model), the methods may differ from the version with Snapdragon 435 (prada). → The phone. → Model.
5. Frequent errors and their solution
When Russification is done, users often face typical problems, and let's look at the most common ones:
- 🔴 The error "Cannot install this package" means that the language package is incompatible with the version MIUI. Solution: Download the package for your exact firmware version.
- 🔴 The phone does not turn on after firmware - there may have been an error during installation TWRP. Solution: Repeat the process with the correct version of recovery.
- 🔴 Russian is available, but partly in Chinese, which is typical of unofficial packages. MIUI EU ROM (fully-russified firmware).
If after Russification there are lags or system errors, reset settings through Settings → Additional → Restore and reset.
What if the Play Market disappeared after Russification?
6. MIUI EU ROM firmware - full Russification
The most reliable way to get a fully Russified system is to install MIUI EU ROM, an informal firmware from the European community where Russian is sewn out of the box, plus support for Google Services.
Instructions:
- Unlock the bootloader (as in the method with TWRP).
- Download MIUI EU ROM for Redmi 4/4X
- Flush through TWRP (Dalvik/ART Cache, System, Data)
- Restart the device (the first start can take 10-15 minutes).
The advantages of MIUI EU ROM:
- 🌐 Full Russification (including system applications).
- 🚀 Optimized productivity.
- 🔒 No Chinese software or advertising.
- 📱 Regular updates.
⚠️ Attention: MIUI EU ROM supportive OTA-Updates will have to manually download new versions and stitch through the standard menu. TWRP.
💡
Before you install MIUI EU ROM, turn off the TWRP Mi Account verification if your phone requires authorization after reset. Go to Mount → Disable Mi Account Check in TWRP.
7. Russification without unlocking the bootloader
If unlocking the bootloader is not available (for example, due to binding to the operator), you can try to do without it:
- Install a launcher with support for Russian (for example, Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher). This will not translate the system, but will simplify navigation.
- Use translation apps like Google Translate with real-time screen translation.
- Sweat through the Mi Flash Tool (only for unlocked devices, but without TWRP).
These methods will not completely Russify, but will help to temporarily solve the problem.
💡
If your Redmi 4 is purchased from an official dealer in Russia, it is likely already running a global firmware with Russian. Check this in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (must be Global in the title).