How to put votes on the robot vacuum cleaner Xiaomi: from Chinese to Russian

Owning Xiaomi’s smart appliances often starts with a functional euphoria that quickly gives way to a slight annoyance from the constant Chinese or English phrases the device greets you with: A robot vacuum cleaner that announces errors in an incomprehensible language or requires “replace the main brush” in a foreign language ceases to be perceived as a smart assistant. Fortunately, the software architecture of most models allows you to replace standard audio packages with desired ones, including full-fledged Russian localization.

The process of changing voice support varies depending on the specific model of your device and the version of the firmware installed. While some gadgets just need to switch the region in the application, others require more complex manipulation of system files or the use of special plugins. Voice packets are separate audio files that are downloaded to the device memory and replace system notifications.

In this guide, we will explore all the current ways to solve the problem of “Chinese speech”, from official methods for global versions to advanced techniques for models designed for the domestic market of China.

Determining the model and compatibility of voice packets

Before taking active steps to replace audio files, you need to accurately identify the model of your robot vacuum cleaner. Mijia and Roborock ecosystems are extremely heterogeneous: devices released for different markets have different identities and limitations. For example, models with the vacuum index often support multilingualism out of the box, while versions for the domestic market of China can be blocked in one language.

You can find information about the model on the sticker at the bottom of the device or in the Mi Home app. Pay attention to the model code, which usually looks like roborock.vacuum.s5 or xiaomi.vacuum.mop2. This code will be key when searching for compatible voice packets on the Internet or repositories.

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Always check the exact model of the device before downloading firmware files or voice packets. Installing an inappropriate audio file can lead to no sound or software failure.

There are three main categories of devices by language support type: the first group is the global versions, where the language changes automatically when you change the region in the application; the second group is the Chinese versions with multilingual support, which require manual loading of packages; the third group is the old or budget models, where the change of language is possible only through firmware or special hacks.

It's important to understand the difference between the language of the application interface and the language of the voice of the robot itself. Often users change the language in Mi Home, but the robot continues to speak Chinese, because these settings can be divided into different parts of the system. Device localization is a complex process that affects not only the text on the smartphone screen, but also the audio files stored in the vacuum cleaner's memory.

The official method of changing the language through the Mi Home app

The easiest and safest way to install a Russian voice is to use the regular functionality of the Mi Home app, which works for most devices released after 2019, provided they do not have a rigid regional binding.

To start, open the app and go to the home page where all your devices are displayed. Click on the three-dot icon in the top right corner of your robot vacuum cleaner card to the device settings menu. In the list that opens, look for Settings or General Settings.

• 🌐 Find the language section and select “Russian” or “Auto” if you want the language to depend on your phone settings.
• 🔊 In some models, there is a separate item “Voice Pack”, where you can choose the options available for download.
• 🔄 If the language you want is not on the list, try changing the account region in the settings of the Mi Home app to the country where the language is the main language (for example, Russia or Belarus).

Once you select a new language, the device will request confirmation to download updates. Make sure the robot vacuum cleaner is connected to Wi-Fi and is standing at the charging station, since the process of downloading the voice packet can take several minutes and require a stable connection. During the update, the indicators on the body can flash, and the robot itself can make sounds - this is a normal working situation.

⚠️ Note: If you change region in the Mi Home app, the list of available devices may be cleared. Don't panic: just add the device again, selecting the same region as the account you set when you add it.

If you don't have the option of choosing a language or a voice packet in the settings menu, it means that your model is tightly bound to the release region, in which case standard methods will not work, and you will have to resort to more complex methods, described below.

Use of third-party plugins and modified versions of Mi Home

When official methods are powerless, enthusiasts come to the rescue to create modified versions of the Mi Home app. The most famous solution is the Vevs MI Home project, which is a redesigned version of the official client with advanced functionality, which allows you to open hidden settings that are not available in the standard application.

To install the modified version, you must first remove the official Mi Home app from your smartphone. APK-Modification file from a verified source (usually a forum) 4PDA After you install and log in to your Xiaomi account, you will have additional device management options available to you.

In the modified version, the option “Additional Features” or “Extended Features” appears in the settings of each device, and you can find the option “Change Voice” or “Voice Pack” there, the system will offer a list of available languages, including Russian, even for models that do not officially support it, the boot process is similar to the official method.

While the community has been using these modifications for years without incident, you should be aware that you are transferring your account data through a third-party client. However, since authorization is done through official Xiaomi servers, the risk of data theft is minimal, but theoretically possible.

Manual installation of voice packets through the file system

For advanced users who are not afraid to work with the Android or iOS file system, there is a method of direct replacement of audio files. This method requires obtaining permissions to access the folders of the Mi Home application on a smartphone or tablet, the essence of the method is to replace the system voice file with a pre-downloaded Russified analogue.

First, you need to find and download a voice packet for your model. Files usually have the.pkg extension or are archives with a specific folder structure, search for them on specialized forums or Telegram channels dedicated to the Xiaomi ecosystem. It is critical that the version of the package matches the version of your robot’s firmware.

On Android devices, the path to files is often located at /Android/data/com.xiaomi.smarthome/files/. Inside folders whose names contain device IDs or hash codes, you can find voice packets. By replacing a file with Chinese voice with a file with Russian (pre-renamed to the original name), you can force the device to speak Russian.

Example of voice folder structure:


/Android/data/com.xiaomi.smarthome/files/




├── 123456789_device_id/




│ ├── voice_cn.pkg (Chinese)




│ └── voice_en.pkg (English)

Once the files are replaced, you need to completely close the Mi Home app and restart the robot vacuum cleaner itself. When turned on, the device will check the integrity of the files and, if the digital signatures match (or verification is bypassed), use a new audio file. This method requires accuracy: an error in the file name or folder structure will lead to the robot simply silently executing commands or returning the old language.

⚠️ Warning: Manual file replacement may violate the warranty and lead to software failure if you download a damaged or incompatible package.Always back up the original files before replacing.

Comparison of methods of localization of Xiaomi robots

The choice of method of installing a voice packet depends on your technical training, device model and willingness to take risks. Below is a comparison table that will help determine the best way for your case.

As you can see from the table, for most users, the best balance between security and outcome is using modified versions of the application. They provide access to hidden features without having to dig through system files manually. However, if your model is very old, the only option may be to completely reflash the device to the global version of firmware.

A key factor in success is the exact matching of the voice packet version to the firmware version of your robot, and version incompatibility is the most common reason why the robot stops making sounds or starts making errors when it starts.

Frequent problems and ways to fix them

In the process of localization, users often face a number of typical problems, one of the most common is that the robot speaks Russian, but the text in the application remains in English or Chinese, which is due to the fact that the voice package and the interface language are two different components of the system. To solve the problem, you need to change the language separately in the settings of the Mi Home application itself (Profile) → Settings → Language).

Another problem is interrupting the download of the voice packet, and if the Internet is lost or the robot has left the base, the file can be partially downloaded, in which case the robot can start stuttering or play back scraps of phrases, the solution is one: remove the device from the application (without resetting the robot itself) and add it again, before providing a stable Wi-Fi connection.

• 🔇 No sound: Check if the volume is turned down in the device settings. Some models have a separate volume slider.
• 🇨🇳 Back to Chinese: Once the firmware update is updated, the language settings may reset.
• 📉 Unstable work: If after installing the custom voice, the robot began to hang more often, remove the modification and return to the official version of the software.

Also worth mentioning is the server problem: sometimes Xiaomi servers are overloaded and voice packets don't start loading, so you should wait a few hours or try changing. DNS-server in the router settings to public (for example, 8.8.8.8 from Google).

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The stability of voice tracking depends on the quality of the Wi-Fi signal at the charging station, and a weak signal is the main reason for interrupting packet loading.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)