Xiaomi phones fabricated for the Chinese market are typically cheaper than Global models, and they often continue sale sooner. That ways users outside China can frequently discover themselves with Chinese models.

Even if the Chinese-linguistic communication interface and keyboard is not a barrier to you, nearly western users are accustomed to such things equally Google Play and Google services. These are not preinstalled on Xiaomi phones running Chinese MIUI ROMs.

If you lot notice yourself in this situation you have three possible means out:

  1. Render the telephone to sender and purchase a Global model
  2. Unlock the bootloader and install a Global ROM
  3. Install Google services and customise the Chinese ROM to suit your needs

We'll deal with the latter option here. For the following walkthrough we are using a Redmi Annotation 8 Pro running MIUI 11. The steps volition be similar for all Xiaomi/Redmi phones.

How to install Google Play on a Xiaomi phone

  • Launch the Mi App Store
  • Search for Google
  • Ringlet downward to the bottom of the list and select this choice:

Install Google Play on Xiaomi phone

  • Though the results will exist in Chinese, yous should exist able to make out the Google Installer app from its icon:

Install Google Play on Xiaomi Phone

  • Select Install, so when it has downloaded tap Open
  • Hit the large bluish circular push button to begin installing the diverse components
  • You volition be prompted to permit the telephone to install apps from unknown sources - select Settings, toggle on the slider, then proceed with the installation
  • Let any prompts for permissions that pop upward

Install Google Play on Xiaomi

  • Y'all will get-go be prompted to install the Google Services Framework. Click Install, then Washed
  • Second is the Google Business relationship Manager app. Click Install, then Done
  • Tertiary is Google Play Services. Click Install, then Washed

Install Google Play on Xiaomi

  • At this point the installation appears to hang. Hit the big blue circular button to begin installation of Google Agenda Sync. Over again, tap Install, then Done

Install Google Play on Xiaomi

  • Once more hitting the big blue button to begin installing Google Contacts Sync. Tap Install, then Done
  • Hit the big blue push button ane last time to install Google Play itself. Tap Install, and so Open
  • Follow the familiar Google setup wizard to sign into your Google account

Sign into Google

At present, at this bespeak, you have your Google account running on your device and you might call back everything is done and gear up to go. Wrong. Yous'll all the same be faced with a Chinese-language keyboard, various Chinese-language apps, and you lot'll discover none of your contacts or agenda data is available. We'll run through how to bargain with each of these things beneath.

Install Gboard - the Google Keyboard

Google Play should be operational on your device. Launch the app, search for Gboard and hit Install. When it'south finished, click Open, and permit whatever requested permissions.

Install Google Keyboard

You lot'll want to set up this as your default keyboard. Click Enable in Settings, then toggle on Gboard (and off everything else). Click Ok to the security prompt, then click Washed.

Allow Sync Permissions for Contacts and other data

Even if you lot install the official Google Contacts app, it still won't show whatsoever of your contacts. This is because yous have non given MIUI permission to sync with Google.

  • From the telephone's dwelling house screen launch Settings > Apps > Manage Apps
  • Ringlet downwardly to and select Google Contacts Sync

Allow Contacts Sync

  • Toggle on the slider next to Autostart
  • Open Permissions
  • Let the following permissions: Modify and delete contacts; Read your contacts; Access accounts on device; Showtime in background
  • Go out the Permissions carte du jour and open Battery Saver. Cull No Restrictions

Contacts Permissions

  • Next is Google Calendar Sync, which y'all should select from Settings > Apps > Manage Apps > Google Agenda Sync
  • Again, allow it to Autostart and turn off the Battery Saver, so allow the following permissions: Read Calendar Events; Kickoff in background
  • Finally, open Settings > Apps > Manage Apps > Google Account Manager
  • Toggle on Autostart and remove any Battery Saver options, then allow all permissions under the Privacy section

If there are whatsoever other apps that refuse to operate correctly on your phone, or for which yous realise you accept not received whatever notifications for a while, it is almost always a Permissions, Autostart or Battery Saver issue. For each affected app check the relevant options are enabled.

Remove the Chinese domicile screen search bar

Remove Chinese search bar

  • Open the phone'south Settings carte du jour
  • Employ the Search option to find Home screen search bar, then toggle this off

Tidy upward your home screen

Uninstall any Chinese apps that can be removed from the phone by tapping and holding their app shortcuts, so dragging to an Uninstall choice at the acme of the screen.

If there are any Chinese apps that cannot be removed simply that you will not use, create a new binder on the domicile screen and hibernate them all abroad in here. You lot can create a new folder past clicking, holding and then dragging i app shortcut on top of another.

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