How to change country to Xiaomi: 5 proven ways (2026)

Changing the region on Xiaomi devices is a task that users face when moving, buying a gadget abroad or wanting to access local services (for example, Google Play with apps for another country). The manufacturer limits some functions depending on the selected region: this applies to firmware. MIUI, Preinstalled applications, system language, and even work NFC contactless.

In this article, we will look at all the current ways to change the country, from official (via Mi Account settings) to technical (editing firmware files).It is important to understand that not all methods work on the new Xiaomi 14, Redmi Note 13 or POCO F6 models due to tightening security policies, and we will also explain the risks of the wrong change in the region and how to avoid them.

Why is Xiaomi blocking the change of country?

Xiaomi has been linking devices to the region for several reasons:

• 📱 Firmware localization: Different countries have different privacy laws (e.g., different countries, GDPR in the EU) and requirements for pre-installed applications. MIUI There are no Google services, but there are local analogues.
• 💳 Payment systems: Work NFC For example, in Russia, these services can be disabled for Google Pay or Mi Pay depending on the region.
• 📦 Warranty: If you bought a smartphone in Europe and then switched to China, the service center may refuse to repair under warranty.
• 🔒 License Restrictions: Some features (e.g. Netflix in the 4K) Only available on devices with a specific region.

Since 2022, Xiaomi has tightened control: on new devices, changing the region through standard settings is possible only once every 30 days, and trying to circumvent this restriction can lead to blocking the Mi Account account or even a “brick” of the phone (if it is a question of editing system files).

⚠️ Note: On devices with a locked bootloader (most models for China), an attempt to change the region through fastboot or custom firmware will lead to a complete loss of warranty and possible denial of service. Before any manipulations, check the status of the bootloader with the command fastboot oem device-info.

Method 1: Change the region through Mi Account

The safest method is to use the Mi Account web interface, which works for most devices except the Chinese version (China ROM), and it is important that after a region change, the phone may require a factory reset.

Instructions:

1. Open your browser on your PC or phone and go to account.xiaomi.com. Sign in with your account.
2. Go to the Device Management section.
3. Select your smartphone from the list and click Change Region.
4. In the drop-down menu, specify a new country (for example, Russia, Germany or India).
5. Confirm the action via SMS or email. Wait for notification of a successful change (may take up to 24 hours).

After that:

• 🔄 Reboot the phone.
• 📱 In settings (Settings) → The phone. → Update MIUI) Check the availability of new firmware for the selected region.
• ⚠️ If a notification about the need to reset appears, make a backup copy of the data through Settings. → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

⚠️ Note: If you use Xiaomi.eu or other custom firmware, a formal change of region through Mi Account may result in root rights being lost or a rollback to the stock version. MIUI.

Method 2: Changing the region through phone settings

On some devices (mostly global versions of the Global ROM), you can change the country in the settings menu, which does not require a reset, but does not work on all models.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the settings (Settings).
2. Go to the Supplementary → Language and Region (Additional Settings) → Language & region).
3. Click on Region and select the country from the list.
4. Confirm the change. The phone may request a reboot.

Limitations of the method:

• ❌ Doesn't work in China. ROM Some new models (such as Xiaomi) 13T or Redmi K60).
• ❌ Does not change the region in Mi Account, but only local settings (language, date format, currency).
• ❌ Does not affect pre-installed apps (e.g. Mi Video or Mi Browser will remain from the old region).

Make a backup copy of the data|Check the version. MIUI (Global/China)|Disable Two-Factor Authentication in Mi Account|Charge your phone at least to 50%-->

Method 3: Resetting a phone with a new region

If previous methods have failed, you can perform a hard reset with a country selection when you first set up, which is suitable for Global ROM devices, but requires complete data cleanup.

Instructions:

1. Back up important data (photos, contacts, messages) through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset or Mi Cloud.
2. Turn off the phone. Press the Volume Up + Power buttons until the Mi logo appears (Recovery Mode).
3. In the recovery menu, select Wipe Data (use volume buttons for navigation and power button for confirmation).
4. Once reset, the phone will restart and suggest that you configure the system as new. At the country selection stage, specify the region you want.

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ It works on most global versions. MIUI.
• ✅ Completely changes the region in the system (including Google Play and Xiaomi services).

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Deleting all data on the phone.
• ❌ On Chinese versions (China) ROM) China may return to the region after the reset.

Method 4: Edit the build.prop file (for advanced users)

This is a method that's suitable for advanced users who are willing to work with system files, and it tricks the system into thinking that the phone is for a different region, requiring root rights or an unlocked bootloader.

Instructions:

1. Install a file manager with root access (such as Root Explorer or Mixplorer).
2. Go to /system/build.prop and open the file in the text editor.
3. Find ro.miui.region and change its value to the code of the desired country (for example, ru for Russia, in for India, eu for Europe).
4. Save the file, set the rights 644 (rw-r--r---).
5. Reboot the phone.

Region codes for build.prop:

⚠️ Warning: Incorrect editing build.prop can lead to a cyclical reboot of the phone.Before changes, back up the file!If the phone stopped loading, restore the original build.prop via TWRP or fastboot.

💡

Before editing build.prop, check it for ro.product.locale. If you have one, change it with ro.miui.region for more stability.

Method 5: Install custom firmware (Global/EU ROM)

If your device is originally designed for China (China ROM), the only reliable way to change region is to install Global ROM or Xiaomi.eu.This method requires unlocking the bootloader and can void the warranty.

Step-by-step:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the official Mi Unlock Tool (requires a Mi Account link to the device and a wait of 7-15 days).
2. Download the right firmware: 🌍 Global ROM — Official version for the international market (minimum changes, maximum stability). 🇪🇺 Xiaomi.eu – unofficial firmware with advanced settings and support for all languages.

Mi Flash Tool

fastboot

TWRP

recovery

Wipe All

Benefits of Xiaomi.eu:

• ✅ No regional restrictions (you can choose any country).
• ✅ Support for all Google languages and services.
• ✅ Additional functions (e.g. unlocked) NFC payment).

Risks:

• ❌ Loss of warranty (if the bootloader was unlocked).
• ❌ Possible bugs (such as a broken Widevine) L1 for Netflix HD).
• ❌ Absence OTA-Updates (you will need to install firmware manually).

💡

Installing custom firmware is the only way to completely change the region on the Chinese versions of Xiaomi (China ROM), however, this voids the warranty and requires technical skills.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When you change region, you often have problems, and here are the most common mistakes and solutions.

If after changing the region, the phone began to work unstable (for example, updates disappeared or applications stopped opening), follow the following steps:

1. Check the MIUI version in Settings → About Phone. If it's outdated, manually update it through the MIUI Update.
2. Reset network settings (Settings) → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting network settings).
3. Remove the cache of system applications (Settings → Applications → Application Management → Three points → Show all processes → Clear the cache).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions