How to Change a Country on a Xiaomi Phone: All Ways in 2026

Changing the country (region) on Xiaomi smartphones is a procedure that you might need when you move, buy a device abroad or want to access local services. However, the manufacturer limits this opportunity through the branded MIUI shell, linking the region to your Mi Account account and firmware. In this article, we will analyze all the working methods of changing the country, from official to hidden, and also talk about the pitfalls that can turn a simple setup into a headache.

It’s important to understand that Xiaomi is blocking arbitrary regional change for a reason, because of licensing restrictions (like the lack of Google services in China), local regulations (like in India or the EU), and firmware optimization for specific markets. Mistakes can lead to loss of warranty, account lockdown, or even device bricking, so before you change country, carefully consider all the risks and prepare for the possible consequences.

Why you might need to change your country to Xiaomi

The most common reasons why users want to change their region to their Redmi, POCO or Black Shark are:

• 🌍 Moving to another country – the device is tied to the old region, which causes local services to fail (for example, Mi Pay or Mi Cloud).
• 🛒 Buying a phone abroad – a smartphone with Chinese firmware (CN ROM) Does not support Google Play or other global services.
• 🎮 Access to exclusive features – some features (such as Mi Video or Mi Music) are only available in certain regions.
• 📱 Bypassing regional restrictions – for example, to install applications that are not available in your country.
• 🔄 Errors in the operation of services - if the device has identified the region incorrectly (for example, instead of Russia shows Kazakhstan).

But not all of the reasons justify the risks: For example, if you just need to install an app from another region, it’s easier to use a VPN or create a second Google Play account, but to fully work with local Xiaomi services (such as Mi Home for smart home), a country change may be necessary.

Change the region through Mi Account

The safest method is to change the country directly in your Mi Account settings, which works if:

• 📱 You have a global firmware (Global) ROM, EEA ROM or RU ROM).
• 🔓 Mi Account is not tied to China (CN).
• 📡 The device is connected to the Internet (required via Wi-Fi or mobile network).

Step instructions:

1. Open the Settings. → Mi Account.
2. Slip on the profile avatar at the top of the screen.
3. Select Account Management (or Account Settings).
4. Go to Country/Region (Country/Region)
5. Click Change and select the country from the list.
6. Confirm the action via SMS or email.
7. Reset the device.

⚠️ Note: After changing region through Mi Account, some services (such as Mi Cloud or Mi Pay) may require re-authorization, and there is a risk of temporary account lock (up to 24 hours) with frequent country change.

Hidden Methods: How to Get Around the Limits of MIUI

If the official method doesn’t work (for example, on Chinese firmware or blocked accounts), alternative methods can be tried, which require more time and technical skills, but sometimes turn out to be the only way out.

1.Reset to factory settings with region selection

This method works on most global firmware (Global/EEA/RU ROM), but is not suitable for the Chinese version (CN ROM).

1. Create a backup copy of data (photos, contacts, messages).
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Select Delete all data (reset to factory).
4. After rebooting at the initial setup stage, select the desired country in the list.
5. Skip the Mi Account link (if required) or use a new account.

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g. Redmi Note 12 or POCO X5) After the reset, you may need to enter data from the previous Mi Account if Find Device was enabled.

2.Region change via ADB (for advanced users)

This method is suitable for devices with unlocked bootloader and requires skills to work with ADB. It allows you to cheat the system by changing the region directly in the settings.

Instructions:

adb shell settings put global country [country code]


adb shell settings put secure user_setup_complete 1

Where [country code] is a two-letter code (e.g. RU for Russia, US for the United States) the full list of codes can be found here.

After you execute the commands, restart the device. Please note that this method may not work on all firmware, and may also cause malfunctions in Xiaomi services.

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Before using ADB, check if the bootloader is unlocked on your device. To do this, turn off the phone, press Volume Down + Power, and look at the screen: if there is a sign saying Unlocked, the bootloader is unlocked.

3. firmware of the global version of MIUI

The most radical, but also the most reliable way is to completely flash the device from Chinese (CN) to Global/EEA.

• 🔓 Unlocked bootloader (via Mi Unlock Tool).
• 💻 Computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB/Fastboot.
• 📥 The correct firmware for your model (you can download on the official website).

Step-by-step:

1. Unlock the bootloader via the Mi Unlock Tool (requires a Mi Account link to the device and wait 7-168 hours).

⚠️ Warning: Wrong firmware can turn a phone into a brick. on some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T or Redmi K60) firmware MIUI lock-in IMEI. Before the procedure, make sure that you download the firmware specifically for your device modification (e.g., umi for Mi 10, vili for the device). POCO F3).

Table: Compatibility of methods with different firmware

What happens after the change of country: possible problems

Even if you manage to change a region, there are a number of unpleasant consequences that can come with it.

• 🔄 Reset service settings: Mi Cloud, Mi Pay, Mi Home may require re-authorization.
• 📵 Loss of communication with smart devices: If you have Xiaomi gadgets (like Mi Band or Roborock), they can untie your account.
• 🛑 Blocking some features: Google Pay is not available on some models in India.
• 🔒 Mi Account Restrictions: if you change your region frequently, you can temporarily block your account (up to 72 hours).
• 📱 Unstable firmware: If the firmware is not designed for your region, errors in the mobile network or the mobile network may occur. GPS.

One of the worst things is that you lock your device through Anti-Rollback, which is Xiaomi's protection, which works if you try to flash an older version of MIUI after you upgrade, and then the phone can completely fail, and you can only recover it at the service center.

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Before you change country, make sure to check if your model supports the new region, for example, some devices (such as the Redmi Note 11 for India) do not support 4G/5G frequencies in Europe.

How to get it back if something goes wrong

If you have a problem after the country change (e.g., your mobile network stopped working or your account was blocked), you can try to return the original settings.

1. Reset to factory settings (if the problem is in system settings): Settings → About phone → Reset settings.
2. Recovery with Mi Account: Go to Mi Account. Restore your account via email or phone. Return your original region to your account settings.
3. Flashing the original MIUI (if the failure occurred after the firmware): Download the original firmware for your model. Use the Mi Flash Tool for recovery.

Appeal for Xiaomi support

• Write to the support chat on the Xiaomi Support website.
• Specify the device model, the original and new region, and a description of the problem.

⚠️ Warning: If the phone doesn't turn on after a bad firmware (hangs on the logo or flashes a red indicator), don't try to flash it again - this can aggravate the problem. In this case, the only way out is to contact the service center with a check for the purchase (if the warranty is still valid).

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing the country to Xiaomi