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[Q] Making Mi4 an english phone

I am thinking of importing one of these phones to Europe from China. I've read the reviews and seen the videos and I am sold. The only thing holding me back is that this is a phone created for the Chinese market and I live in Europe.
Will I be able to change the language to English and remove the Chinese language from the interface. The videos I've seen show the device using the English language but there are still a lot of UI elements in Chinese (i.e. a video showed someone writing a message using an English keyboard but even that had some Chinese buttons).
Another video showed the installation of Google Play Store (as it does not come preinstalled) and even the Google apps had Chinese text written next to the English name of the app.
I'm fine with all Chinese text in Xiaomi apps like their own app store (as I will not use those apps) but I would like the rest of the phone be entirely in English.
Thank you.

DimitrisC said:
I am thinking of importing one of these phones to Europe from China. I've read the reviews and seen the videos and I am sold. The only thing holding me back is that this is a phone created for the Chinese market and I live in Europe.
Will I be able to change the language to English and remove the Chinese language from the interface. The videos I've seen show the device using the English language but there are still a lot of UI elements in Chinese (i.e. a video showed someone writing a message using an English keyboard but even that had some Chinese buttons).
Another video showed the installation of Google Play Store (as it does not come preinstalled) and even the Google apps had Chinese text written next to the English name of the app.
I'm fine with all Chinese text in Xiaomi apps like their own app store (as I will not use those apps) but I would like the rest of the phone be entirely in English.
Thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is a Global ROM that is stripped from chinese elements. Just look it up in en.miui.com

DimitrisC said:
I am thinking of importing one of these phones to Europe from China. I've read the reviews and seen the videos and I am sold. The only thing holding me back is that this is a phone created for the Chinese market and I live in Europe.
Will I be able to change the language to English and remove the Chinese language from the interface. The videos I've seen show the device using the English language but there are still a lot of UI elements in Chinese (i.e. a video showed someone writing a message using an English keyboard but even that had some Chinese buttons).
Another video showed the installation of Google Play Store (as it does not come preinstalled) and even the Google apps had Chinese text written next to the English name of the app.
I'm fine with all Chinese text in Xiaomi apps like their own app store (as I will not use those apps) but I would like the rest of the phone be entirely in English.
Thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The OS default has English as an option. But bear in mind, the phone is designed for Mainland China market,so some software,features you will not be able to use it else where. Surely ,can flash with your own ROM. It is a great phone with competitive price.
Sent from my HTC One using XDA Free mobile app

Thanks!
I just ordered one. I will post back information for anyone else interested once I receive the device!

DimitrisC said:
Thanks!
I just ordered one. I will post back information for anyone else interested once I receive the device!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How much did you pay for it?
Is it announced a UK release date in UK?

Ste_Vege said:
How much did you pay for it?
Is it announced a UK release date in UK?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I ended up paying 385 Euro for the 64GB version. This price includes DHL shipping cost to have the phone shipped to Cyprus. I also expect to pay import charges when I receive it.
I don't think they announced any releases outside of China. From what I remember reading online there might be an international version of the phone coming out during Christmas.

The retailer price for MI4 64GB is about 320Euro then you can work out how much the shipping cost would be.
Sent from my HTC One using XDA Free mobile app

Yeah, don't worry about the language. Just use the multi language ROM from miuiandroid.com. Comes pre loaded with Google play services, Chinese apps are removed, and is pre-rooted. It is also updated weekly with the official MIUI ROM.
Sent from my MI 4W

Uninstall Chinese
1. First download the developer rom from en.miui.com/download-240.html
2. Flash the rom as per the flashing instructions provided.
3. Install the application from Play store - Unininstall
4. Provide root permission to this application
5. Uninstall chinese apps especially - Google pinyin input

Ulver said:
Yeah, don't worry about the language. Just use the multi language ROM from miuiandroid.com. Comes pre loaded with Google play services, Chinese apps are removed, and is pre-rooted. It is also updated weekly with the official MIUI ROM.
Sent from my MI 4W
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do you "use" the ROM? Can you send the link and explain how to download? Thanks

http://xiaomi.eu/community/forums/miui-weekly-rom-releases.103/
http://www.technobuzz.net/flash-miui-rom-xiaomi-redmi-1s-mi4-mi3-note-pad/
Download latest cancro zip from xiaomi.eu and follow "2. Flash MIUI ROM in Recovery" guide.

Is the ROM available at http://en.miui.com/thread-51839-1-1.html is for the 4G-LTE one?

Unofficial ROM error message
Ulver said:
Yeah, don't worry about the language. Just use the multi language ROM from miuiandroid.com. Comes pre loaded with Google play services, Chinese apps are removed, and is pre-rooted. It is also updated weekly with the official MIUI ROM.Sent from my MI 4W
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi I downloaded 8.5.5.0 and when installing with the updater app, I receive a message "Cant verify update - its not allowed to upgrade to unofficial ROM package"
Do I need to change any settings ?

What problems with the non EU version

I'm really interested in this phone but should I wait for the EU version or buy the version they are selling in china
It seems ok frequency wise - https://www.frequencycheck.com/comp...-dual-sim-td-lte-64gb-nxt-al10/united-kingdom
I've seen people pick international English on a menu and it looked all English - is that correct ? - even the non google stuff
Would I have to worry about anything else ?
Any help most appreciated as I want to replace my one plus one that is starting to feel under powered with the amount of tasker stuff I'm running on it
thanks
Martyn

Martynhsmith said:
I'm really interested in this phone but should I wait for the EU version or buy the version they are selling in china
It seems ok frequency wise - https://www.frequencycheck.com/comp...-dual-sim-td-lte-64gb-nxt-al10/united-kingdom
I've seen people pick international English on a menu and it looked all English - is that correct ? - even the non google stuff
Would I have to worry about anything else ?
Any help most appreciated as I want to replace my one plus one that is starting to feel under powered with the amount of tasker stuff I'm running on it
thanks
Martyn
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You do need to check the frequencies as you have done. The Mate 8 has allot of bands covered.
Android OS on Huawei's phones have about every language available. There is some apps on the phone that is in Chinese, but they can be removed, and are for the china market.
Google Apps will not be preloaded, but you will need to download from the Huawei App Store called HiApp. That HiApp app is in mixed Chinese and English, so not everything is translated. After that you have Google Apps, and can download from Google Play that will follow your OS language.
I have had the Honor 6, Honor 6 Plus, Honor 7 and now Mate S, all the Chinese version and they have all been working fine here in Denmark. I have had no problems with network, GPS or WiFi here or on vacation. .
..oh, the change log for OS updates are (mostly) in Chinese

EMF said:
You do need to check the frequencies as you have done. The Mate 8 has allot of bands covered.
Android OS on Huawei's phones have about every language available. There is some apps on the phone that is in Chinese, but they can be removed, and are for the china market.
Google Apps will not be preloaded, but you will need to download from the Huawei App Store called HiApp. That HiApp app is in mixed Chinese and English, so not everything is translated. After that you have Google Apps, and can download from Google Play that will follow your OS language.
I have had the Honor 6, Honor 6 Plus, Honor 7 and now Mate S, all the Chinese version and they have all been working fine here in Denmark. I have had no problems with network, GPS or WiFi here or on vacation. .
..oh, the change log for OS updates are (mostly) in Chinese
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the info. But to be clear. Do you download the google playstore using HiApp?

mscion said:
Thanks for the info. But to be clear. Do you download the google playstore using HiApp?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, you do.
It is quite simple: Open HiApp -> Search "Google" -> Click on the Google banner in the top of the search results -> All Google apps is listed, click the download button for each (downwards arrow).
Other than Google Play, you need the Contact sync and Calander sync apps from the list. The rest can be downloaded from Google Play Store afterwords.

I had no troubles with a P8max recently, most sellers out of China will pre-install Google Play for you. My Mate 8 arrives next Monday, can let you know of if it differs any from the P8Max in terms of language difficulties.

Hi,
I bought a Mate 8.
It come with google playstore installed.
I arrived to install all app I want from google playstore.
The only problem I foun, I can't import my contact list, but will be solve for sure.

Two of us have Google contacts sync working, although neither of us is entirely sure how (I was granting permissions/trusted status/open from other apps statuses etc as a batch, so not sure which of those actions allowed for contacts import sorry).

If your google contact can't not sync.
Do you install the google contact sync? you can find it from the "huawei app store".
Install the google contact sync apk, and remove your account, reboot, login your contact again.
It works fine in my mate8 with google contact.
I can use almost all of google service in mate 8 now. (no matter google play, gmail, hangout, contact or anyother)
But, the only problem is that I can't get the location during google map without GPS enable.
Google map can't use cell or wifi to detect where it is, but it work fine with GPS enable.
I have no idea that how to fix it...
After searching the solution from google, it seems I need to root and replace networklocation.apk....
Is there any other method? (I don't know how to root huawei's device...)

I've recieved my mate 8 a week ago, and have had the issues that most of you are talking about.
Assuming the issue is from the battery manager itself; click on the setting icon up left of the screen, you need to switch on (Keep mobile data on when sleeping).
Of course that is in congunction with the rest of the settings/permissions.
Good luck,
Just don't forget to update emui

claudioggs said:
Hi,
I bought a Mate 8.
It come with google playstore installed.
I arrived to install all app I want from google playstore.
The only problem I foun, I can't import my contact list, but will be solve for sure.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
is it fast and smooth? is the cpu very powerful?

Yes - not had any problems at all.
I'm coming from a one plus one with a few badly writtern tasker profiles (quiet at work, and home nights with auto voice and autovera stuff), 3 mail clients including a touchdown exchange one. It was too much for the one plus but my new mate 8 is still flying.
Problems I have/had
The sync thing - was mashmellow permissions and a restart. (You do not need to wipe and restart.
The app draw - not a problem just a concept change the mate 8 doesn't have one your home screens are your app draw. So its a case of being tidy with folders. But swiping up on the home screen gives you an app search.
Dictionary - wish I could figure out how to copy the words I had stored in my dictionary.
Chinese App store - keeps telling me I have 18 apps that need updating - they don't the are just wanting to change to the chinese version.
Battery life - the one plus would last a day and 1/2 if I forgot to charge it the 1/2 I would start not usjng it, mate 8 will nearly last 2 days (it also gives me stats in ma about what is eating the battery)
Overall its a great phone
M

I've received my mate 8 one week ago... And unfortunately I had a rare problem with my notifications (whatsapp, viber, and other apps).
I did trust those apps from the system, and followed the instructions from the huawei guide, but the problem still.
So anybody have any idea how to solve this problem.
Thanks

Hi, i want to buy a Mate 8 but I'm not sure for the sync problem for google. what type of problem you have?

it is a great phone but unfortuantely I have the same problem with the google sync as well as not getting any notifications. Please help!

didnt someone mention that putting the phone into performance mode solved this?

Tried it hasn't worked for me

Location Services are not working unless you activate GPS - AL10 model;
Any solutions?

yeah, several other users already reported that energy-saving location services somehow dont seem to work...unless u switch to high-performance mode @gps

Hey guys, I am trying to login to Huawei services and I always get the message "due to service location restrictions the system is unable to provide services to you".
Does anyone knows how to bypass that?
Sent from my HUAWEI NXT-AL10 using Tapatalk

Yeah me to it's very frustrating do we have to make a false account?
Sent from my HUAWEI NXT-AL10 using Tapatalk

[Q] AL-00 Chinese model [GMS & Latest firmware]

Ok... It might be repetitive, I come from the LG / Sammy world, so I am new to the Huawei universe...
I've been reading through a lot of threads, like a lot hahaha, I just want to get one last confirmation before I order it (still not sure if I'm gonna get the L29 or L00, although the 6gb/128 is really interesting to me) .
I know people like @duraaraa are working hard to get us something rolling! And thanks for that! I know some other devs (from other phones) are wanting to jump into this pool, so this could become and interesting devs device in the very close future.
But I have some questions, or more like confirmations to ask:
Huawei now really "unofficially" released the GMS for the Chinese / Hong-Kong version of the m9 (4gb/32, 4gb/64, 6gb/128 and 6gb/256). For the users on the AL00, can you please confirm the following :
- you have a 100% English rom or other mulingual possibility (meaning no trace of Chinese writing or other, except maybe some Chinese apps)
- Google playstore, all apps are installable (swiftkey, nova launcher, etc..) and are working 100%
- push services (Gmail, exchange, etc..) are working 100%
- auto sync services (Dropbox, Google photos, etc...) are syncing with no issues
- that you are on the latest firmware and you think now that updates will bring no issues in the future
- do you really see a big difference with the extra 2gb of Ram or is it placebo
- if you do have issues, please tell me
- last but not least :which of the 2 you think will have more development? AL 29 or AL 00

- you have a 100% English rom or other mulingual possibility (meaning no trace of Chinese writing or other, except maybe some Chinese apps)
Yes. No Chinese writing except in Chinese apps.
- Google playstore, all apps are installable (swiftkey, nova launcher, etc..) and are working 100%
I don't have nova launcher, but swiftkey works. Everything is installable.
- push services (Gmail, exchange, etc..) are working 100%
Yes.
- auto sync services (Dropbox, Google photos, etc...) are syncing with no issues
Yes.
- that you are on the latest firmware and you think now that updates will bring no issues in the future
Yes, but without unlocking the bootloader you will only be able to install updates that Huawei wants you to install. Ergo, no betas.
- do you really see a big difference with the extra 2gb of Ram or is it placebo
How would I know? I only have 6GB version. It probably only matters if you use all the RAM.
- if you do have issues, please tell me
Screen touch responsiveness is not as good as other phones. Huawei has been adjusting it a lot from build to build. Hopefully they get it right soon.
- last but not least :which of the 2 you think will have more development? AL 29 or AL 00
With an unlocked bootloader, development will be the same for both. With locked bootloader, you currently have more options with AL00, because that's what I have so that's what I'm working with, and because Huawei has several versions of firmware which can be flashed to AL00, but only one which can be flashed to L29 at the moment. I think Huawei focuses mainly on China, so support of the Chinese phone will be better.

Well, thanks for that quick reply!

Can confirm all Duraaraa said. I got mine, had B109 with working g Google services and I uninstalled all the Google stuff, did OTA to B125. Then it offered B135 OTA so did that. After reboot I stalled GMS and Play store and all good. Had to install Google contacts from APK mirror, and had to go to permission manager and allow Google app as trusted and auto start to get OK Google functionality working but all good now.
Only issue I am having is a few apps won't install. For instance, the CBS watch TV app ... click on install from store and it starts download and the before it finishes store just closes. A couple games do this as well. Working on figuring it out.
Sent from my Huawei Mate 9 using XDA Labs

@SWBgHz hi, I think to solve your issue with CBS watch TV app go to the play store app permission and make sure Storage have that permission on.
I got mine last Friday nice phone, software is really bad.
After i got everything working on mine. now play store will not work ...keep downloading. i did try everything and still not working.
I have few apps needs update , it is just downloading
I can not get notification from any app
it seems that i will have to factory reset.
I think you guys should download HI suit for back up and restore .
waiting for a better Rom.
Edit: Play store start behave normal again and its working fine.
still can not see notification from my major apps like gmail...etc

I had already tried adding additional permissions as well as setting Play store as trusted app but no joy. Just a few apps do same as CBS on, store closes during download phase.
Sent from my Huawei Mate 9 using XDA Labs

SWBgHz said:
I had already tried adding additional permissions as well as setting Play store as trusted app but no joy. Just a few apps do same as CBS on, store closes during download phase.
Sent from my Huawei Mate 9 using XDA Labs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
make sure Storage for Play store is checked, i just installed the CBS app no problem.

semsem1969 said:
make sure Storage for Play store is checked, i just installed the CBS app no problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure enough, storage wasn't allowed. Odd thing is I checked that and allowed all manually, or thought I did.
Sent from my Huawei Mate 9 using XDA Labs

SWBgHz said:
Can confirm all Duraaraa said. I got mine, had B109 with working g Google services and I uninstalled all the Google stuff, did OTA to B125. Then it offered B135 OTA so did that. After reboot I stalled GMS and Play store and all good. Had to install Google contacts from APK mirror, and had to go to permission manager and allow Google app as trusted and auto start to get OK Google functionality working but all good now.
Only issue I am having is a few apps won't install. For instance, the CBS watch TV app ... click on install from store and it starts download and the before it finishes store just closes. A couple games do this as well. Working on figuring it out.
Sent from my Huawei Mate 9 using XDA Labs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Make sure that Play Store has Storage permissions. That should fix your problem.
Edit: Oops, late reply

Abject lesson in checking things twice. I swear I did add permissions but such is life. Doh!
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 using XDA Labs

Why rebrand from AL00 to L29 if AL00 has English option?

Serious question. I understand many want to rebrand Chinese ROM to international L29 ROM. But why? My understanding is that you can change AL00 system language to English and you can install Google Play (and services). You can even uninstall all the Chinese bloatware apps via Huawei's Application Store manager app.
So what are the pros and cons? Surely there will be more updates too with the AL00 ROM considering Huawei is a Chinese manufacturer?
So why debrand? Why not just stick to AL00 and do all the above? What am I missing?

Personally I use chineese ROM in Europe from beginning, the updates on alc00 seems to be faster and chineese had more optional features like translating from chineese, or object recognitionin camera, on nougat in chineese ROM you can aalso hide nav bar, my network on 4g/lte working as fine as on Europe rom
On China ROM I suggest to flash core Google apps and make factory reset. Full version of gaaps can mess a lot and replace original Huawei package installer, gallery or calendar.

In addition to gahu777 post.
Pros of Chinese ROM:
- HiSuite and eRecovery support. In some cases it will rescue time and nerves
- Faster ROM release cycle
- Beta ROMs program
Cons:
- Some Chinese symbols in dialer. You have to install 3rd-party dialer to avoid.
- Bad Google Apps support. Chinese ROM has Google Apps, but in some cases they don't work or are not work properly. Example: geolocation history:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/mate-9/help/location-history-t3634898
There is one thing what is not bad and not good:
Behavior of memory killer. On chinese ROM it is more aggressive than on world ROMs. You have to tune apps to get instant notifications from these apps

Another inconvenience: GPS location errors (in my case several km ... :crying
Otherwise, the Chinese applications had a certain charm , with a beautiful graphics, but not speaking Mandarin, I made big stupid
Since the transformation from AL00C00 to AL29C636, everything is fine & I will not come back :good:

CouCouFR34 said:
Another inconvenience: GPS location errors (in my case several km ... :crying
Otherwise, the Chinese applications had a certain charm , with a beautiful graphics, but not speaking Mandarin, I made big stupid
Since the transformation from AL00C00 to AL29C636, everything is fine & I will not come back :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi there! Some one can help me to rebrand? I really like to change my Chinese version to a global version!
I'm coming from OnePlus and I really mess out a pure Android version!
Thanks in advance!

P40, 10.1.0.182, scared to downgrade, chinese alternative

Hi community,
I am too afraid of bricking my phone for googlefier, but I came up with a solution that works at least okayish for me: The ourplay app.
I had to not only set my phone to chinese but I also ended up buying a chinese simcard so I could change my language back to english, but it does work okay. A bit of Google translating is required, and it won't always make sense, but it works alright.
For my fellow Pokemon Go Players: No, it doesn't work for me. I think buying VIP might make it work but my Google Translate's Chinese to English translation is a bit messy. --> If anyone got Pokemon Go to work in Ourplay, please share your secret with me!
I would love to discuss the Ourplay solution with you guys on here.

Hello! Have you tried Googlefier? I'm on .182 firmware and installed it without a problem, it even upgrades google play services from the play store itself. Just skip the part that reminds you the incompatibility with software and see what happens. Otherwise try Aurora Store. Pokemon Go uses a lot the GMS framework and cores app so if you can't install completely the GMS i think it can't function correctly. Sorry for my bad english, i hope this can be useful.

I tried googlefier, but it just didnt work for me. How many tries did it take you to get it to work? Did you try it on a P40?

Yes i've an ANA-NX9 device. At the First try It installed and works perfectly from that day, in android auto works the voice match too! Is your device european? I've bought the device from eBay and It Is a brand TIM, but can't see any TIM app or custom logo in It.