Owning a smart home is becoming more popular, and Xiaomi’s robot vacuum cleaners are taking the lead in the market due to their reliability and functionality. However, when buying a device designed for the Chinese market, or changing the region of use, users often face the problem of language barrier. Interface, voice notifications and command names in an incomprehensible language can turn the management of a smart assistant into a real puzzle.
Fortunately, most modern Xiaomi Vacuum and Roborock models allow you to change the language of voice and, in some cases, the application interface. The process of changing the settings depends on the specific device model, the firmware version and the region to which the account is tied. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available ways to localize your device so that you can fully interact with the technology.
Before you start setting up, it's important to understand the difference between the language of the Mi Home app itself and the language of the vacuum cleaner voice packets. Often, changing the language in the app automatically pulls the language pack to the device, but in some cases, you need to manually load or even change the account region. Let's look at the basic methods for solving this problem.
Setting up the language through the Mi Home app
The easiest and most common way to change the voice language is to use the official Mi Home app, which is the central node for managing the entire smart home ecosystem, and if your device is connected to servers that match your current location, the language change usually happens automatically or requires minimal intervention.
First, make sure the app itself is in the language you want, and that's a basic setting that affects the menu display, but doesn't always change the robot voice. Go to the user profile, which is usually in the bottom right corner or side menu, and find Settings → General → Language.
After changing the app interface language, go to your robot vacuum card. Click on the three dots in the top right corner of the screen to enter the advanced device settings. Find the section related to voice control or audio notifications. Depending on the model, this item may be called Voice Package, Voice Pack or simply Language.
If you have the language you want in the voice list, just select it. The device will download the appropriate audio file and apply the settings. However, if the language you want isn't on the list, it means that the current region of the account doesn't support downloading it, and then you need to use more sophisticated methods, which will be discussed below.
Change of region in the Mi Home app
One of the most common reasons for the lack of Russian or English in voice packets is the device’s binding to the Chinese region. Global versions of robot vacuum cleaners often require a change of region in the application for full localization.
To change region, go to the Mi Home app profile and click on the current region (e.g., "China" or "China"). From the country list that opens, select your country of residence or the one that supports the desired language (often "Russia", "CIS" or "Germany" for European software).
⚠️ Note: After changing region, old devices linked to a previous account may disappear from the list or stop showing cleaning history correctly. Make sure you remember your account password, as you may need to re-authorize.
Once you change region, add a robot vacuum cleaner to the system if it's gone, or just reboot the app. Now, when you try to install a voice pack, the list of available languages should expand. Often, it's the Russia or Europe region binding that unlocks the ability to download Russian for models purchased through imports.
It is important to note that region change is not a panacea for all models; some devices with a CN Version may refuse to work with servers in other regions or require a factory reset.
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If the device does not see Wi-Fi after changing the region, try to switch the router to 2.4 GHz mode, since many models of Xiaomi vacuum cleaners do not support 5 GHz networks.
Reset to factory settings and re-binding
If changing the region in the app didn’t help, or the device was originally configured with Chinese and “remembered” these settings, a complete reset may be required.This procedure returns the robot vacuum cleaner to the state it was in immediately after leaving the assembly line, removing all user data and network settings.
To perform a reset on most Xiaomi and Roborock models, you need to simultaneously press two buttons on the device body, usually an on button and a return button to the base (or a spot clean button), hold them for 5-10 seconds until you hear a voice message about the start of the reset or see flashing indicators.
- 🔴 Press and hold the reset buttons to the beep.
- 📡 Wait until the Wi-Fi light flashes orange.
- 🔄 In the Mi Home app, remove the old device from the list (if it’s there).
- 🆕 Add the device again by selecting the correct region when you first set up.
After successfully resetting and reconnecting, make sure that the correct region is selected when you first set up, and that's when the device asks the server what language packs are available to it. If you choose China, the interface will remain Chinese. If you choose Russia, you will be able to download Russian voice.
☑️ Checklist before reset
Manual installation of voice packets
For advanced users who don’t want to change their account region or whose devices don’t support language change by standard methods, it is possible to manually install voice packets, a method that requires searching for the appropriate voice firmware file (usually the.pkg format) on dedicated forums or community repositories.
The manual installation process is as follows: the found voice packet file must be placed in the root folder of the internal memory of the robot vacuum cleaner. USB-cable (if the model supports) or use a root-righted file manager if the device is already hacked.
Once you copy the file to the root directory, rename it to suit your model. Often a specific file name, such as ru.pkg or voice_ru.pkg. Once renaming, reboot the device, and the system will detect a new file when you start and replace the system audio recordings.
| Model vacuum cleaner | Method of installation | Risks. | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roborock S5 Max | Through the annex (officially) | Low. | Low. |
| Xiaomi Vacuum 1S | Changing the region of the account | Middle (loss of history) | Medium |
| Roborock S6 | Manual installation.pkg | High (PO error) | Tall. |
| Xiaomi Mop 2 Pro | Official voice package | Low. | Low. |
Using third-party files is always risky. An inappropriate voice packet can cause the robot to stop making sounds at all or start making errors, so always check the compatibility of the firmware version and device model before manually replacing files.
Where to look for voice packets?
Use of alternative firmware (Valetudo)
For enthusiasts who want to completely (get rid of) their dependence on Chinese servers and take full control of the device, there is the Valetudo Project. It is an alternative open source firmware that allows you to control the robot vacuum cleaner locally, without the Xiaomi cloud.
Valetudo’s installation allows you to choose any interface and voice language available in the community, and provides access to advanced mapping and integration features with smart home systems like Home Assistant.
The firmware process involves flashing a new firmware image to the device's memory. This is done through a connection to debugging contacts on the robot board or through special utilities over the network if the model is vulnerable. Once installed, you get a web interface that is completely independent of the Mi Home application.
⚠️ Attention: Installing Valetudo custom firmware is a complex procedure. A flashing error can turn your robot vacuum cleaner into a brick, the restoration of which will require soldering and the use of a programmer.
After successfully installing an alternative OS, the language changes in the settings of the web interface, where you can get by entering IP-The robot's address is in the browser, where you can choose the Russian language for the menu and download any available voice packets created by the community.
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Valetudo is the way for those who want complete independence from the Xiaomi cloud, but require high technical literacy and a willingness to risk the guarantee.
Frequent problems and their solution
Even following the instructions, users may encounter difficulties. One common problem is the lack of a voice packet download button or the gray (inactive) status of the language in the list, often because the underlying firmware of the device is too old and does not support new language loading mechanisms.
In this case, you need to first update the main software of the robot. Go to the device settings in the Mi Home app and check for updates. If the update does not come automatically, try changing the region to China, update, and then return the region back.
Another problem is that the robot speaks Chinese even when the app has Russian, which means desynchronizing the interface of the app and the internal voice storage, and try to force the voice packet to download again or temporarily change the language of the app to English, download the package, and then return Russian.
- 🔊 Quiet sound: Check if the minimum volume is set in the device settings.
- 📶 Network Error: To load the language you need a stable Internet, check the connection of the router.
- 📱 App glitches: Clear the cache of the Mi Home app in your smartphone settings.
If none of these methods work, your device may be an exclusive model for the Chinese domestic market with blocked multilingualism, in which case the only option is to use an in-app translator or get used to commands or use alternative firmware.