Brand smartphones What A Legend often attract users due to the price-performance ratio, but one of the common problems when purchasing such devices is the lack of Russian language in the factory firmware. The owner receives a gadget with an interface in English or Chinese, which makes initial setup and everyday use significantly more difficult. Full Russification becomes a priority for comfortable operation of the device.
The process of translating the menu into Russian can vary from a simple change of region in the settings to a complex flashing of the device through the engineering menu. It is important to understand that the solution methods depend on the specific model What A Legend and version of the installed operating system Android. In some cases, the built-in system tools allow you to activate the desired language without third-party intervention, while other scenarios require connecting to a computer.
In this guide, we will look at all the available ways to adapt the interface to the Russian language, starting from the safest software methods and ending with advanced techniques for working with system files. You will learn how to check for hidden language packs, use USB debugging, and what risks are involved in installing custom localizations yourself.
Checking built-in language packs
Before resorting to complex manipulations, you need to make sure that the necessary language resource is already present in the memory of your device. Manufacturers of budget segments, which include What A Legendsometimes hiddenly include multilingual support, but do not activate it by default for certain sales regions.
To check, go to the settings menu of your smartphone. Navigation is done through icons, so look for the gear Settings. Next, you need to find the section responsible for language and input. Usually it is located in the category System or General Management. Look for an item with the name Language & input or simply Language.
If the list of available languages does not include Russian or Russian, try changing the device region. Sometimes being tied to a specific country blocks the display of certain localizations. Find the item Region and select any European country, for example, Germany or the UK, then check the list of languages again. It is also worth paying attention to the presence of the item Add a language - clicking on it can reveal the full list of options supported by the system.
⚠️ Attention: Changing the region may affect the operation of some pre-installed services and application stores adapted for a specific geography. After checking, return the region to its original state if the Russian language does not appear.
In rare cases, the language is hidden deep in the developer menu. To activate this mode, go to the About phone section and find the line Build number. Quickly click on it 7 times in a row until a notification appears indicating that you have become a developer. Then a new section will appear in the main settings menu Developer optionswhere you can sometimes find localization settings.
If you see the "Default" or "System" item in the list of languages, try selecting it - sometimes this switches the interface to the language of the SIM card if the operator supports Russian.
Using applications to change the language
If the system settings do not give the desired result, specialized utilities from the store come to the rescue Google Play. Locator applications can forcefully change the interface language for individual apps or the entire system if the device has the appropriate access rights.
One of the popular solutions is the utility MoreLocale 2. It allows you to install any language codes supported by the kernel Android, even if they are hidden by the manufacturer What A Legend. To operate the application in normal mode, superuser rights are required (Root), obtaining which may void the warranty.
However, there is a method of using MoreLocale 2 without root access, through a computer and USB debugging. You will need to install ADB drivers on your PC and connect your smartphone with a cable. After enabling debugging mode in the developer menu, run the command on the computer command line:
adb shell pm grant jp.co.c_lis.ccl.morelocale android.permission.CHANGE_CONFIGURATIONAfter successful completion of the command, launch the application on your phone, find it in the list Russian and click on it. The interface should switch immediately. If the system returns the language back to English after a reboot, then this method is not suitable for your firmware version, and deeper intervention will be required.
- 📱 Make sure that the item is activated in the developer settings
USB Debugging. - 💻 The correct drivers for your device must be installed on the computer What A Legend.
- 🔋 Battery charge phone must be at least 50% during the setup procedure.
Manual installation of a language pack
A more advanced method involves manually installing a localization file to the system partition of the device. This method requires a file manager with access to the root directory or using the Recoverymode. The user needs to find a file locale-ru.apk or a similar archive compatible with your version Android.
The downloaded file should be placed in the directory /system/app or /system/priv-app, depending on the structure of your firmware. To do this, you will need a file manager that supports working with system files, for example Root Explorer or MT Manager. After copying the file, be sure to change its Permissions to rw-r--r-- (644).
A critical step is to clear the cache before rebooting. If you simply restart the device, the new language pack may not be picked up by the system. Enter recovery mode (usually by holding the volume up button and the power button) and select Wipe Cache Partition. Only then select Reboot system now.
⚠️ Attention: Incorrectly changing access rights to system files or installing an incompatible package can lead to an endless reboot of the device (bootloop). Create a full backup of your data before you begin.
It is worth considering that on modern versions Android (starting from 10 and higher), the partition /system is often mounted read-only even with root access. In this case, manual installation is impossible without unlocking the bootloader and flashing the system image, which is an extremely risky operation for inexperienced users.
What to do if the phone went into bootlap?
If after installing the file the phone does not boot, you need to go to Recovery and do a full reset (Wipe Data/Factory Reset). This will delete all user data, but will bring the device back to life.
Russification through flashing the device
The most radical, but also the most effective way is to completely replace the operating system with custom firmware with global localization. For devices What A Legend there are often ports of firmware from other manufacturers or specially modified versions from enthusiasts.
The process begins with unlocking the bootloader (Bootloader). Each manufacturer has its own procedure: from sending a request to the website to using special utilities on a PC. After unlocking, a custom recovery is installed, for example TWRP, which allows you to install unsigned system images.
Find a stable firmware version marked as Global or Multi-language. Download the firmware archive and file Google Apps (if they are not built-in), place them in the internal memory of the phone. Through the TWRP menu, clean the partitions Data, Cache and Dalvik, then install the downloaded archives.
| Stage | Action | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation | Unlocking the bootloader | Resetting the warranty |
| Installation | Flash TWRP Recovery | Loss of the bootloader |
| Firmware | Install ZIP (ROM) | Scrapping |
| Settings | Wipe Data & Reboot | Data loss |
After installing a new system, the device will automatically prompt you to select a language upon first startup. Global firmware for What A Legend often contains more than 40 languages, including full Russian localization of all system applications. This method also allows you to get rid of pre-installed Chinese software, which often slows down the work smartphone.
☑️ Ready for flashing
Problems with encoding and fonts
Even after successfully activating the Russian language, users may encounter incorrect display of characters. Instead of letters, squares, question marks or hieroglyphs may appear. This indicates the absence of the necessary fonts or incorrect encoding of text files in the system.
Most often, the problem is solved by installing a package of fonts that support Cyrillic. Such packages can be found in thematic sections of forums or installed through special font manager applications, if the system allows it. Font files usually have an extension .ttf and are located in the folder /system/fonts.
If the problem occurs only in individual applications (for example, in a browser or messenger), try changing the font settings within the application itself. In some cases, clearing the cache of the problematic application through the menu Settings → Applicationshelps. Also make sure that specific layouts that conflict with the system encoding are not activated in the language and input settings.
In situations where Russian text is displayed as "crazy" in system notifications, you may need to edit the file build.prop. This is a text file in the system root containing configuration parameters. Adding the line ro.product.locale.language=ru can force the correct locale, but editing this file requires extreme caution.
⚠️ Attention: Interfaces and bootloader unlocking methods change frequently between manufacturers. Before you start flashing, be sure to check the current instructions for your specific model on specialized forums, as old guides can break the device.
Problems with fonts are often easier to solve than a complete flashing - start by installing a package of Cyrillic fonts through a file manager with Root access.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it safe to Russify a What A Legend phone yourself?
Software methods through settings or applications like MoreLocale 2 are safe and reversible. Methods that require unlocking the bootloader and flashing carry the risk of losing the warranty and potential failure of the device due to user errors.
Will the warranty expire after Russification?
Changing the language in the settings or through applications does not affect the warranty. However, obtaining root access, unlocking the bootloader and installing a custom recovery (TWRP) is almost guaranteed to result in denial of warranty service in official services.
Why does the language become English again after a reboot?
This means that the language pack was not integrated into the system partition properly or the application for changing the language does not have permanent rights to change the system configuration. Try the ADB method or installing a system language pack.
Is it possible to Russify a phone without a computer?
Yes, if there is a hidden language in the settings or if you use applications that work without ADB (require Root). A full flashing to Global ROM without a computer is possible only if the manufacturer provides an update utility directly from the phone, which is rare.
Where can I download reliable firmware for What A Legend?
The source should be the official websites of the manufacturer or reputable developer communities, such as 4PDA or XDA Developers. Avoid downloading firmware from dubious file exchangers, as they may contain malware.