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How to get English on Xiaomi InkPalm 5 Mini

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byMichael Kozlowski
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Xiaomi DuoKan E-reader ADB commands list.

This document contents instructions to:

  1. Change language of Xiaomi MiReader to English
  2. Install third-party / sideload apps
  3. Add a navigation panel and change the timezone

Disclaimer

* Your warranty is now void (maybe, ADB doesn't always void warranty. Check with your manufacturer).
* I'm not responsible for bricked devices, thermonuclear war, or you failing the test because the ebook won't open. Please
  do some research if you have any concerns about this guide before trying it! 
* YOU are choosing to make these modifications, and any problems are your reponsibility.

Requirements:

* Windows PC ( It's possible to do the same in Mac or Linux but I have not mentioned the steps here. The commands will be similar.)
* Xiaomi Duokan E-Reader
* Stable internet
* USB cables

The following commands have been tested on the Xiaomi DuoKan E-Reader.

UPDATE 27/5/2020: @drago06 has come up with an amazing script to install Lawnchair Launcher, Aptiode app store, some other basic apps and any language on the system. You can download it here : MEGA Download. Run the “MiReader_to_tablet 2” after extracting the zip file. You could install the below mentioned applications manually, after using the script.

Step 1: Install ADB

All the commands listed below require ADB. If you don’t have ADB installed, you can install it from here: Minimal ADB and Fastboot.

It’s preferred to use default settings. It might be helpful to note the installation location.

Step 2: Turn on ADB on device

Follow the given instructions carefully. If you don’t understand Chinese, use the image translate feature from Google. I’ve marked the buttons in red, if you go through them as shown, it’ll be easy.

  1. Go to the settings page on the device. home
  2. Click on the device information page. build
  3. Keep tapping on the version number about 10 times until developer options is activated. version
  4. Go back to settings and navigate to device options. setting
  5. If developer options are activated, you’ll find a fourth menu there as shown. Select that menu. debug
  6. Scroll down and go to USB debugging. Keep the option ticked. adb

Step 3: Open ADB shell

Move back to your PC. Navigate to the installation location. Usually this directory would be C:\Program Files (x86)\Minimal ADB and Fastboot. Click on cmd-here. Once the command prompt opens, use the below command to check if the device is listed:

adb devices

If the MiReader is connected to the computer and all above steps are followed correctly, the serial number of the device will be shown. I would advice not connecting any other android device to the computer during the whole process.

DO NOT CLOSE THE ADB SHELL/COMMAND PROMPT.

Step 4: Change the language.

Skip this step if you don’t want to change the language. It won’t change 100% of the interface to English but a major section of the Xiaomi MiReader could be in changed to English.

Once the above step lists your device, and is back to normal command prompt, type the following:

adb shell am start -a android.settings.LOCALE_SETTINGS

On your device, the following screen will be shown:

  1. Select the + button. locale
  2. Choose English if that’s what you want to set as language. english

3.Select US as the option. eng-US

  1. Drag the ? icon next to English upwards, to make English the primary language.

setting

5.Once you move the selected language up, the system begins to change the language, give it few seconds. setting-2

DO NOT CLOSE THE ADB SHELL/COMMAND PROMPT.

Now reboot the device by holding the power button. Voila! You have changed the Xiaomi MiReader to English!

Note that the home screen and main settings screen is not in English. Continue reading this guide for more on that. The quick tiles and internal settings menu should have changed. Something like this!

eng

Step 4: The launcher

The reason you can’t change the language in homescreen is because the launcher itself is not in English. In this step, we’ll change the launcher. There are 3 great launchers that you can try:

For the time being, I’ll use the MiReader Launcher. Download it from the above link and copy it to the directory where Minimal ADB is installed. Install the app though adb.

adb install MiLauncher.apk

If you don’t want to copy it to the directory, in the ADB shell / command prompt opened in step 3, type the following (change the username and directory based on your download location):

adb install ‪C:\Users\YourUsername\Downloads\MiLauncher.apk

The shell will return success. Now type:

adb shell am start -W -c android.intent.category.HOME -a android.intent.action.MAIN

This will give you a choice to change the launcher. Choose MiLauncher, select always.

home

The homescreen changes to this:

home

If you now choose settings from the launcher, it’s in English!

With the file manager, you can also install any third party apps using its APK file. Download the apk, transfer it to the device, open file manager, select and install!

The original e-reader app in still there, it now appears as an app on the launcher.

Step 4: Naviation button

In this final section, I’ll mention the steps to change the timezone and add navigation buttons.

In order to install the navigation buttons, download the file mentioned here : Xiaomi One Touch Button You can follow the above steps to install using ADB. Do NOT use the file manager yet because it’ll give a problem.

Like step 4, you can copy the file to directory or install directly using location. I’ll copy it into directory of Minimal ADB and then install it.

adb install XiaomiOT.apk

Reboot the device, you’ll find the app installed.

home

Select the app and give it permissions:

home

Pull down the notification bar and select MiLauncher. You’ll be back on the main screen. Now again click on the app.

You have finally installed a navigation panel.

home

Step 5: Change the timezone

The device is set to default timezone of China but you can change the timezone with the following command:

adb shell setprop persist.sys.timezone "Continent/City"

You’ll find the exact timezone list here: Wikipedia_TZ_List

For example, I set my timezone with

adb shell setprop persist.sys.timezone "Europe/Amsterdam"

Bonus

Now you’re all set to install apps via file manager. Just select any apk you transferred from PC. First time, it’ll ask for permission, grant ok, and also grant permission to install unknown apps, open the navigation button, press back and select install. The app will be installed.

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