How to put the region China Xiaomi: 3 working ways + consequences

Changing the region to China in Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphones is a popular query among users who want access to exclusive features, early MIUI updates or unique services like Mi Pay and Xiaomi Cloud in the Chinese version. However, this process is far from as simple as it seems: it requires understanding the consequences, preparing the device and choosing the right method depending on the model and version of the firmware.

In this article, we will discuss three official and informal ways to change the region to China, from simply changing the settings to using ADB and resetting through Mi Account. You will also learn which Xiaomi models support this feature without risk of “brick” and which can be blocked after the procedure.

Why to change the region to China: pros and cons

Before you get to the instructions, you should weigh the pros and cons. Chinese firmware MIUI has a number of unique features, but also limitations:

• ✅ Early access to updates: Chinese users get new versions MIUI Security patches 1-3 months ahead of global security.
• ✅ Exclusive features: For example, advanced camera settings (Ultra Night Mode 2.0), Mi AI Support for Chinese services, or Game Turbo 5.0 with additional profiles.
• ✅ More themes and stickers: Theme Store in China has 2-3 times more free themes and icons.
• ✅ Better Optimization: Firmware for China is often devoid of bloat (pre-installed apps) and run smoother.

However, there are serious shortcomings:

• ❌ No Google services: Chinese firmware does not have Google Play, Gmail or YouTube, but you will have to install them manually (which is not always safe).
• ❌ Language restrictions: Even if you choose English, some of the system notifications and apps (such as Mi Video or Mi Music) will be in Chinese.
• ❌ Banking app problems: Many Russian and European banks block access from Chinese-based smartphones over suspicions of “unofficial” software.
• ❌ Lock risk: Some models (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Redmi) K60 Pro) can block the loader after changing the region.

If you do, check first if your model supports region change, for example, the global versions of the POCO F5 or Redmi Note 12 allow you to do this through settings, but the Xiaomi 12S Ultra will require ADB.

Method 1: Change region through MIUI settings (most secure)

This method works on most modern Xiaomi smartphones with global or European firmware (MIUI Global/EU).It does not require unlocking the bootloader or using a computer, but is not available on all models.

Make a backup copy of the data (photos, contacts, messages)

Battery charge of at least 50%

Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network

Make sure there are no important banking apps on your phone (they may stop working)-->

Instructions:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 7-10 times on the MIUI version until the notification “You are a developer!” appears.
3. Return to the main settings menu and select Additional settings → Region.
4. Find China on the list and confirm your choice.
5. Reset the device.

After the reboot, the system will prompt you to agree to the user agreement in Chinese.

• ✅ Press the blue button (consent).
• ❌ Do not press the red button, it is a cancellation and the procedure will be interrupted.

If Google services are lost after a region change, you can restore them by installing the Google Installer package from the official Chinese Mi App Store (search engine: ). However, note that some applications (such as Google Pay) may not work due to Xiaomi restrictions for the Chinese region.

💡

If push notifications stopped working after the region change, check the Battery → Power Saving Mode settings and turn off optimization for the desired applications.

Method 2: Use ADB (for advanced users)

If your smartphone does not have a region change option, you can use the ADB (Android Debug Bridge) command, which is suitable for models like the Xiaomi 13T, Redmi K50 Gaming or POCO X5 Pro, where the manufacturer has blocked the manual shift.

Warning: misuse of ADB can result in resetting or locking the device.If you have never worked with this utility, it is better to refer to the first method or entrust the procedure to a specialist.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and utility ADB.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 📱 Included debugging by USB smartphone.

Step-by-step:

1. Activate Developer Mode (as in the first method) and enable USB Debugging in Settings → Additional Settings → Developer Settings.
2. Connect your smartphone to your computer and confirm the debugging permission on the phone screen.
3. Open the command prompt (cmd) in the folder with ADB and type:

adb shell


settings put global region CN

1. Reboot the device with the command:

adb reboot

After the reboot, check the current region in Settings → About Phone → All specs. If the Region string changed to CN, the procedure was successful.

Method 3: Reset via Mi Account (Risk Method)

This method is suitable for devices where the region change is blocked at the software level (for example, Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 or Redmi Note 11T Pro+).It involves linking the device to a Chinese Mi Account account and resetting through service settings.

⚠️ Note: If your smartphone was purchased in Europe or Russia, binding to a Chinese Mi Account can activate theft protection (Mi Cloud Lock).In this case, unlocking the device will be possible only through the official Xiaomi service with the provision of a check of purchase.

Instructions:

1. Create a Chinese Mi Account: Go to account.xiaomi.com. Select China on the registration form. Enter a Chinese phone number (you can use virtual via services like SMS-Activate).

Settings → Accounts → Mi Account

Settings → About the phone → Resetting settings

China

English (United States)

After that, the device will be tied to the Chinese region, but note:

• 📵 Google services will have to be installed manually.
• 🔒 Some features (like Find My Device) may not work.
• 📱 When the next reset, the device will again request a link to the Chinese account.

Compatibility table: which models support the change of region

Not all Xiaomi smartphones allow you to change the region without risk, and the table below shows the data on popular models (relevant to MIUI 14/15):

If your model isn’t in the table, check out forums like XDA Developers or 4PDA, which often publish up-to-date data on new devices.

What if Google services are lost after the change?

One of the most common problems after the transition to the Chinese region is the disappearance of Google Play, Gmail and other services, which is due to the fact that in Chinese firmware Xiaomi removes the Google Mobile Services (GMS) package due to local laws.

They can be restored in two ways:

Method 1: Installation via Mi App Store

1. Open the Mi App Store (Blue Store icon).
2. In the search, enter (Google Installer).
3. Download and install the app, then launch it and follow the instructions.

Method 2: Manual installation of GMS (for power users)

If the first method didn’t work, you can manually flash the GMS through TWRP:

1. Download the archive from Open GApps (pico or nano) for your Android version.
2. Install custom recovery TWRP (requires an unlocked bootloader!).
3. Reboot to TWRP and scroll through the GApps archive.

⚠️ Attention: Installation GMS Chinese firmware can cause system instability, synchronization errors, or even a "brick" of the device. TWRP!

How can we bring the world back if something goes wrong?

If you have problems after changing your region (apps are down, mobile internet is down, your device is blocked), you can try to reclaim the global region, depending on the method you used initially.

If you changed through settings:

1. Go back to Settings → Additional settings → Region.
2. Choose your country (e.g. Russia or Europe).
3. Reset the device.

If you used ADB:

Connect to your computer and execute the command:

adb shell settings put global region RU

(Replace the RU with the country code: EU, US, etc.)

If you have a Chinese Mi Account:

• Reset the device to factory settings.
• When you first set up, select a global region.
• Sign in to your Mi Account (not Chinese!)

If the device is locked with the message “This device is locked”, you will need to officially unlock through the Xiaomi service center with the provision of proof of purchase.

💡

Before any manipulation of the region, back up your data via Mi Cloud or TWRP. In 30% of cases, changing the region leads to loss of user files!

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing the region to China