How to change the language on the robot vacuum cleaner Xiaomi: all ways

Xiaomi’s robot vacuum cleaners are some of the most popular smart cleaning devices, but users sometimes face the inconvenience of having a voice prompt interface or menu in Chinese, English or another foreign language. This is especially true for models bought on AliExpress or brought from abroad. In this article, we will explore all possible ways to change the language on Xiaomi, Dreame and Viomi robot vacuum cleaners, from simple in-app settings to manual reset through hardware buttons.

It is important to understand that not all models support Russian at the level of voice commands or menus. For example, the Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 series and later robots usually have a lot of language firmware, whereas older versions (Mi Robot 1S) may require Russification through third-party firmware.

If your vacuum cleaner issues commands in Chinese or refuses to switch to Russian through the application, do not rush to carry it to the service. In 80% of cases, the problem is solved independently in 5-10 minutes.

1. Determine the model and firmware version of the robot vacuum cleaner

Before trying to change the language, you need to know exactly the model of the device and the version of the installed software, which will help to avoid errors in choosing the method of Russification.

You can recognize the model:

• 📦 On the device box (look for signs like Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro or Dreame) D9).
• 🔍 In the Mi Home or Dreamehome app, in the device card.
• 🔧 On a sticker under the vacuum cleaner cover (turn the robot over and remove the garbage container).

The firmware version is checked through the application:

1. Open the Mi Home (or the analogue for your model).
2. Select your vacuum cleaner from the list of devices.
3. Go to Settings. → About the device.
4. Find the firmware version string (for example, 3.5.8_0042).

If the firmware version is older than 2021, there is a high probability that Russian is not in the standard build, in which case an update or Russification through third-party tools will be required (see section 5 for more details).

Method 1: Change the language through the official annex

The easiest and safest method is to use a proprietary app, which is suitable for most modern models (Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2/Pro, Dreame D9/D10, Viomi V3 and later).

Instructions for Mi Home:

1. Open the app and select your vacuum cleaner.
2. Go to Settings → Voice prompts (or Language).
3. In the list of available languages, select Russian (Russian).
4. Confirm the change and wait for the device to restart (may take up to 2 minutes).

For Dreamehome:

• 📱 Get in the Device. → Settings → Language of voice cues.
• 🔊 Select Russian from the list.
• 🔄 Save the changes and restart the robot (power button for 5 seconds).

⚠️ Note: If there is no Russian in the list of languages, then your firmware does not support it. Attempt to force-change language may cause device malfunction.

After changing your language, check the voice commands. If the robot continues to speak Chinese, try:

• 🔄 Reboot the vacuum cleaner (hold the power button for 10 seconds).
• 📱 Reconnect the device in the application (Settings) → Remove the device, then add again).

3. Method 2: Hard Reset (Hard Reset)

If the language is not changed through the app or menu is not available, a full reset will help. This method works for all models, but has a nuance: after reset, the vacuum cleaner will return to factory settings, including the default language (usually Chinese or English), however, in some cases, this allows you to "unlock" hidden language options.

Resetting instructions:

1. Turn off the vacuum cleaner (hold the power button for 3 seconds).
2. Press and hold the Power + Home buttons (or Power + Spot Cleaning, depending on the model) for 10-15 seconds at the same time.
3. Release the buttons when you hear a beep or flash the indicator.
4. Connect the vacuum cleaner to the application again (as in the first run).

⚠️ Warning: Reset removes all stored room maps, cleaning schedules, and customized settings. If you have a backup of the cards in the app, restore it after resetting.

After reset, try to change the language again through the application (method 1). If Russian never appeared, proceed to the following methods.

Method 3: Russification through third-party firmware (for advanced)

Older models (Mi Robot 1S, Mi Robot Vacuum 1) or devices with stripped-down firmware (e.g., in the Chinese market) may require custom firmware installation, a method that is risky—the robot can turn into a brick if it is mistaken, but it is the only way to Russify non-removable models.

Popular tools for firmware:

• 🖥️ Valetudo – open source software for robot vacuum cleaners (supported by Xiaomi, Dreame, Viomi).
• 🔧 DustBuilder - utility for creating custom firmware.
• 📡 MiHome Hack – scripts to unlock regional restrictions.

Common firmware algorithm:

1. Download firmware with support for Russian language (for example, Valetudo).
2. Connect to the robot via SSH or ADB (instructions are available on the 4PDA forums).
3. Download firmware to your device using the command: scp firmware.bin root@192.168.x.x:/tmp/
4. Install firmware through the console: fw_update /tmp/firmware.bin
5. Reboot the robot.

If you are not sure about your skills, it is better to contact a specialist or buy a manual adapter (for example, Xiaomi Mi Home Hub), which will allow you to bypass the limitations of languages.

5. Method 4: Change the region of the device in the Mi Home

Sometimes the robot language is tied to the region of the Mi Home account, if your account is registered to a Chinese or European server, Russian may not be available, and the solution is to change the region to Russia.

How to change the region:

1. Open Mi Home and go to profile (the icon in the upper right corner).
2. Click on Country/Region and select Russia.
3. Leave the account and log in again.
4. Remove the vacuum cleaner from the list of devices and add it again.

After changing the region, check for Russian in the robot settings. If it's not available, try:

• 🔄 Reboot the phone and vacuum cleaner.
• 📋 Update the device firmware through Settings → Update of the PO.

⚠️ Note: Changing the region may result in loss of cleaning history and stored maps, and some features (such as voice assistant Alice) may become unavailable if the robot is originally designed for another market.

6. Method 5: Alternative methods (if nothing worked)

If all of the above methods fail, radical or temporary solutions remain:

1. Use of the voice of the assistant

• 🎤 Connect the vacuum cleaner to Yandex Alice or Google Assistant via Mi Home. commands in Russian will be handled by the assistant, not by the robot itself.

2. Purchase of an external module

• 🛒 For Mi Robot models 1S They sell external Russification modules (e.g., AliExpress) that connect to the plug on the board and add support for the Russian language.

3. Contacting the service

• 🔧 Official service centers Xiaomi can flash the robot on the Russian version of the software (cost — from 1,500 rubles).

Sale/replacement

• 💰 If Russification is not possible, consider selling the device and buying a model with official support of Russian (for example, Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro for the Russian market).

💡

Before buying a robot vacuum cleaner Xiaomi check its regional version in the description. Models for Russia have the suffix RU or Global (for example, Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro Global).

7. Frequent errors and their solutions

When changing languages, users often face typical problems, and consider the most common and ways to eliminate them:

If after all the manipulations, the robot continues to “speak” in a foreign language, but performs the commands correctly, you can simply turn off voice prompts:

1. In the app, go to Settings → Voice prompts.
2. Choose No Sound or reduce the volume to a minimum.

💡

Before buying a robot vacuum cleaner Xiaomi check with the seller firmware version and supported languages. Models for the Russian market (RU) usually have Russian out of the box.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions