Xiaomi’s robot vacuum cleaners have become an integral part of smart homes around the world, but many users are facing a problem: voice prompts are in Chinese, English or other inconvenient language, especially for models bought at international venues or brought from abroad. Fortunately, you can change the interface language and voice alerts directly through the official Mi Home app – and you do not need to be a technical expert.
In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to change the language for the robot vacuum cleaners Xiaomi, Dreame, Viomi and other brands operating under the Mi Home ecosystem. You will learn how to check the current version of the firmware, which languages are supported by your model, and what to do if the desired language is not on the list.
Why does a robot vacuum cleaner speak a language that is not clear?
The reasons why your Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum or other model communicates in Chinese or English are usually down to three factors:
- 🌍 Devices purchased in China or on AliExpress often have Chinese-language firmware by default. Even if you connected the vacuum cleaner to Europe's Mi Home server, voice packets can remain original.
- 📦 The firmware version: Older versions (especially before 2021) did not support Russian or had a limited number of voice packets.
- 🔊 Some budget models (e.g. Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop Essential) do not officially support Russian, but it can be added manually.
Interesting fact: even if the Mi Home app displays the interface in Russian, it does not guarantee that the voice prompts of the vacuum cleaner will be in the same language.
Preparation: Check the current firmware version and language
Before you change the language, make sure that your model supports localization at all.
- Open the Mi Home app and select your vacuum cleaner.
- Go to Settings. → About the device.
- See the strings of the firmware version and the language of voice prompts (if any).
If the firmware version is older 3.5.8_000XXX (For most models, it's recommended that you upgrade to the last available one (2023–2026 (d) maintain up to 10 languages, including Russian, Ukrainian and Kazakh.
| Model vacuum cleaner | Minimum firmware version for Russian language | Supported languages (except Chinese/English) |
|---|---|---|
| Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Lite | 3.5.8_002134 | Russian, German, French, Spanish |
| Dreame D9 | 4.2.1_000456 | Russian, Polish, Italian, Japanese |
| Viomi V3 | 2.1.6_000789 | Russian, Korean, Turkish |
| Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop P | 3.6.5_001234 | Russian, Czech, Hungarian |
⚠️ Note: If your model does not officially support Russian, but you see it in the list after the firmware update, it may be incomplete localization.
Method 1: Change the language through Mi Home settings (official method)
This is the easiest and safest way to do this, and it works for most modern models.
- Open Mi Home and select your vacuum cleaner.
- Go to Settings → Voice prompts (or Settings → General → Language for some models).
- In the list of available languages, select "Russian" (or other necessary).
- Confirm the change and wait for the device to restart (usually takes 1-2 minutes).
If the “Voice Tips” item is not on the menu, try:
- 🔄 Update the Mi Home app to the latest version.
- 🌐 Change the region in the Mi Home profile to “Russia” or “Europe” (see next section).
- 📱 Reconnect the vacuum cleaner to the application (remove and add again).
Update Mi Home in the App Store/Google Play
Check the version of the vacuum cleaner firmware
Connect to a stable Wi-Fi
Charge the vacuum cleaner by at least 50%
Backup of settings (if there is a function)-->
Method 2: Change region to Mi Home to unlock languages
Some languages (including Russian) may be hidden if your Mi Home account is linked to an inappropriate region, for example, if you are registered in China, only Chinese and English will be listed.
- Open Mi Home and tap on the profile avatar (top right corner).
- Select your account settings → Region.
- Change region to “Russia”, “Europe” or “Singapore” (the latter often gives access to the maximum number of languages).
- Go back to the vacuum cleaner settings and check the list of languages again.
⚠️ Warning: Changing region may cause some smart home settings (such as automation scenarios) to reset.If you have a complex configuration, export backup through Profile first → Settings → Backup.
If the Russian language never appeared after the change of region, try to remove the vacuum cleaner from the application and add it again. When you reconnect, the system may suggest downloading additional voice packets.
What if the region does not change?
Method 3: Manual firmware updates to add languages
If your model is older than 2020 and doesn’t support Russian even after a change in region, you may need to manually update your firmware, a more complex method, but often the only one for older devices.
You'll need:
- 💻 Computer with Windows or macOS.
- 🔌 USB-Type C Cable (to connect vacuum cleaner to PC).
- 📁 Firmware with support for Russian language (you can download on the forums) 4PDA Xiaomi Community).
- 🛠 Mi Home Hack or Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools.
Step-by-step:
- Download the latest firmware for your model (for example, for Mi Robot Vacuum). 1S fit 3.5.8_002134).
- Connect the vacuum cleaner to your computer via USB (usually the connector is hidden under the cover).
- Start Mi Home Hack and select Flash Firmware.
- Specify the path to the downloaded firmware file and wait for the process to be completed (about 10-15 minutes).
- After restarting the vacuum cleaner, check the presence of Russian in the settings.
⚠️ Warning: Wrong firmware can turn a vacuum cleaner into a brick. Never use firmware from other models (e.g. Dreame). D9 Before the procedure, make sure that the firmware file is specifically designed for your device.
💡
Before the firmware disable the antivirus – it can block programs like Mi Home Hack, mistaken for malicious.
Method 4: Alternative methods (if nothing works)
If none of the above methods worked, try these options:
- 📱 Using third-party apps. Some users successfully change language through DreameHome or Viomi Home (even for Xiaomi devices). Download the app, add a vacuum cleaner and check the language settings.
- 🔊 Turning off voice prompts. If you can't change the language, you can turn off voice completely in Settings. → Voice prompts → The vacuum cleaner will operate quietly, without any alerts.
- 🛒 On AliExpress, you can buy a module with Russian language. On AliExpress, you can sell voice modules for some models (for example, for Mi Robot Vacuum 1.
The last option is to go to Xiaomi’s service center, and in some cases they can reflash the device officially (especially if it’s warranty), but it will take time and may cost money.
Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
When changing a language, users often face typical problems, and here are the most common ways to solve them:
| Mistake. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Language has changed, but voice sounds timid or with artifacts | Incomplete loading of the voice packet | Restart the vacuum cleaner and wait for full synchronization with the server |
| After changing the language, the vacuum cleaner does not respond to commands | Firmware failure or language file conflict | Return the old language and update the firmware |
| There is no Russian in the list of languages, although the firmware is new. | The device is tied to a Chinese server | Change your account region to “Russia” or “Europe” |
| When you try to change the language, you get the error “failed to update”. | Weak Internet connection or locking of Xiaomi servers | Connect to another network or use a VPN |
If after changing the language, the vacuum cleaner began to behave unstable (for example, does not return to the base or does not recognize the rooms), perform a reset to the factory settings:
- In Mi Home, go to Settings → About Device → Resetting.
- Confirm the action and wait for the reboot.
- Connect the vacuum cleaner again and adjust the tongue immediately after adding.
💡
If the vacuum cleaner stopped building the map correctly after changing the tongue, it is a temporary glitch. Start a full cleaning - after 1-2 cycles everything will normalize.