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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

Voice control version chinois

Hello to all and to all .
I'm the proud owner of a mate 8 NXT al10 Chinese version so if I'm not mistaken in 128 GB.
You must excuse me I do not speak any English so I use Google.
being French and not speaking Chinese while the only thing I have a problem with what I use very often with my phone is voice control.
My question is the following "" "Is it easily possible to place a file in the phone that will allow us to use voice commands in multiple languages" ""?
I hope I well expressed and especially as Google is my friend get me well translated.
Thank you to all

what u can do is install the google app from play store and set it as your assistance and voice control app: settings/apps/advanced/default app settings/assistance & voice input
set assist app to google app, that should do it. .
Sent from my Huawei Mate 8 NXT-AL10 using Tapatalk

First of all thank you for responding so quickly.
But this solution does not solve anything at all and made some applications malfunction I would say it conflicts with the Huawei applications.
Actually what I want it is a file that can be installed on the phone to turn the Chinese into English French German Italian I think it would help a lot of people.

as far as i know the chinese hivoice control is only available in chinese, thats why i suggested switching to google app... try and disable the chinese voice control when using google app, maybe thatll help with the described conflicts. what exactly did go wrong, in what apps?
Sent from my Huawei Mate 8 NXT-AL10 using Tapatalk

If I remember correctly when I tried to install google app from play store when I had chinese firmware it said that it is incompatible with my device. Not 100% sure now having the international firm... Does it work on your AL10 @Phil28?

It's a shame to have to change nxt to l10 l29. to change the language because it seems that there is some great work on the Chinese version of the MUI .From more 128giga version is it supported by the version nxt- l29

Code menu ingénieur *#*#2846579#*#*
While this may be util

i also want to change the chinese language to english in voice control....can any one tell how to change the files???/
i am sure there must be a way as the english version is available in international roms...i am on al10 b350...am quite satisfied with it but just want to change the voice control language...

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!

Huawei watch 2. Wechat (Chinese messenger)

Hello everyone. I am currently living in China. I wanna buy Huawei Watch 2 (or TicWatch pro), but here I can get only Chinese version with Chinese language. (no GPlay, no Google assistant, no English keyboard)
Most popular messenger here is Wechat, so before buy global version it would be nice to check
DOES WECHAT WORK ON GLOBAL VERSION?
AND IF YES, IS IT CAPABLE REPLY ON MESSAGES BY WECHAT?
So, guys, I'm asking for your help. Please let me know if you have Global version and you use Wechat on the watch.
If you never used Wechat, If it's possible for you, can you download Wechat and try it? You can write to my Wechat to check. My Wechat 13162747693.
I'd really appreciate for your help.
If you have any suggestion you also can write me on email [email protected]
Thanks for your time and have a good day.

Not sure you if you can find wechat apk or from Google play store if you change your system from Chinese to English. When i bought the chinese one i was only on Chinese OS for a day or so and cant recollect what apps are there on the Chinese OS.
Same is the case with Alipay too but somehow i could find apk for it which works fine with mobile wallet.

Hemant said:
Not sure you if you can find wechat apk or from Google play store if you change your system from Chinese to English. When i bought the chinese one i was only on Chinese OS for a day or so and cant recollect what apps are there on the Chinese OS.
Same is the case with Alipay too but somehow i could find apk for it which works fine with mobile wallet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your answer. I checked a lot about this situation. I found out that you can use Wechat if you have it on your phone. After connection Watch automatically install Wechat and it works fine.
Opposite for Alipay. You can find it at app store, but it shows, that you can't install it, because it's not support in your region.
Can you tell me, please, are you staying in China?
How did you install Alipay? From Google store?