Xiaomi Voice Assistant: How to turn on and configure XiaoAI in 5 minutes

Voice assistants are no longer exotic — they have become an integral part of the Xiaomi ecosystem, making it easier to manage smartphones, smart speakers and even household appliances. XiaoAI (as the brand’s brand assistant is called) can run applications, manage a smart home, answer questions and even tell jokes. But many users face difficulties when they first turn on — especially if it comes to non-localized firmware or old models.

In this article, you will find step-by-step instructions for activating the voice assistant on different Xiaomi devices – from smartphones to smartphones. MIUI We will not only analyze the basic settings, but also the hidden features of XiaoAI that are not documented in official manuals, as well as how to solve typical problems (for example, when the assistant does not respond to voice or works only in Chinese). If you want to turn your device into a real digital assistant, read on.

What is XiaoAI and what devices support it

XiaoAI (or in its original spelling) is a voice assistant from Xiaomi designed to integrate with the brand ecosystem.It debuted in 2017 and has since evolved from simple voice search to a full-fledged AI assistant. Today, XiaoAI supports more than 200 teams in Chinese and English, and in some regions is partially localized for Russian.

The list of XiaoAI-enabled devices is more extensive than many people think, and besides smartphones, the assistant is built into:

• 📱 Smartphones Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO on MIUI 10+ (including the Mi models 11, Redmi Note 10, POCO X3 Pro and newer)
• 🔊 Smart speakers: Mi Smart Speaker, Mi AI Speaker, Xiaomi Smart Speaker Pro
• 📺 Mi TVs TV (Mi TV 4/5, Mi TV Q1/Q2)
• ⌚ Smart watches and bracelets: Mi Band 7 Pro, Xiaomi Watch S1, Redmi Watch 2
• 🏠 Smart home devices: Mi Home Hub, some models of robot vacuum cleaners (Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2)

It's important to understand that XiaoAI's functionality varies by device, for example, on smartphones, the assistant can run apps and call contacts, and on a smart speaker, control music and a smart home. TV XiaoAI is used for voice content search and channel switching.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with global firmware (MIUI Global) XiaoAI functionality is often limited, and full operation may require switching the region to China or installing alternative firmware (e.g. xiaomi.eu).

How to turn on the voice assistant on the smartphone Xiaomi

Activation of XiaoAI on the smartphone takes no more than 5 minutes, but the process slightly differs depending on the version. MIUI. Below is a general guide that is suitable for most models (from Redmi 9 to Xiaomi 13 Ultra).

Step 1. Open Settings and go to the Additional section → XiaoAI (or Additional Settings) → XiaoAI voice assistant in English firmware).

Step 2. Click on the switch Enable XiaoAI (Enable XiaoAI). The system will request permissions to access the microphone, contacts and other data - resolve all requests, otherwise the assistant will not be able to perform basic functions.

Step 3: Take a short training: the system will prompt you to say the phrase "Hey XiaoAI" (or "in Chinese") 3 times to adjust your voice recognition.

After activation, you can call the assistant:

• 🎤 Voice: Say "Hey XiaoAI" (or "")
• 🔘 Button: Hold the button home (on models without touch buttons – swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen with a delay)
• 📱 Through the widget: add the XiaoAI widget to the home screen

The voice launch (Hey XiaoAI) works.|The assistant responds to the "Home" button holding"|All permissions are included in the settings|The language of recognition corresponds to your region.-->

If XiaoAI does not respond to voice commands after activation, check:

1. The microphone is not blocked by other apps (such as WhatsApp or Google Assistant).
2. In the security settings (Settings) → Passwords & security → Privacy → Special app access → Microphone) XiaoAI has access to microphone.
3. The region of the device is set to China (for full functionality) or India (for the English version).

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If your smartphone doesn’t support XiaoAI out of the box, try installing the Mi app. AI from the Mi App Store (Chinese Mi Account is required).

Activation of XiaoAI on Xiaomi smart speakers

Xiaomi Smart speakers (such as Mi Smart Speaker or Xiaomi) AI Speaker) is built around a voice assistant — without setting it up, the device will lose most of its functions. The process of turning on is easier than on smartphones, but there are nuances with the binding to the account.

Step 1: Connect the speaker to the Wi-Fi network via the Mi Home app (the instruction is standard for all Xiaomi devices).

Step 2. Once connected, the speaker will automatically suggest setting up the voice assistant. If that doesn't happen, say "" (or "Hey XiaoAI" in English firmware).

Step 3: Follow the voice prompts: confirm your Mi Account link and set up the basic parameters (language, voice, calendar access).

Features of the work of XiaoAI on the columns:

If the column does not respond to voice commands:

⚠️ Attention: The problem may be regional restrictions, because speakers purchased in China often block XiaoAI functionality outside the country, and the solution is to change the region of the Mi Account to China (instruction below).

XiaoAI setup on Mi TVs TV

On Xiaomi TVs, the voice assistant is integrated into the remote control (button with microphone) and allows you to manage content without manual input.

Step 1 Press and hold the microphone button on the Mi remote TV within 2 seconds.

Step 2: Follow the instructions on the screen: Confirm access to the microphone and select the language (by default, Chinese or English).

Step 3: Say a test phrase, such as “Open Netflix” or “(whale. turn on the series”).

XiaoAI's capabilities on Mi TV:

• 🔍 Search for movies, TV series, YouTube videos by voice command
• 📺 Switching signals and signals ("Switch to") HDMI 1")
• 🎵 Music management (Mi Music, Spotify)
• 🏠 Smart home control (if the TV is connected to the Mi Home)

If voice search doesn’t work:

1. Check that the remote has batteries inserted (yes, that’s a common reason!).
2. Update the TV firmware: Settings → About → System update.
3. Reset the remote settings: pinch Menu + Home for 10 seconds.

Smartphone|Smart speaker|Mi TV's a TV. TV|Smart watch/bracelet|Other|No Xiaomi devices.-->

Changing the region for full-fledged XiaoAI

One of the main problems for users outside China is the limited functionality of XiaoAI on global firmware. MIUI Global Assistant can only open apps, but not run a smart home.

⚠️ Warning: This procedure may result in:

• Warranty loss (if the device is purchased in your area)
• Unstable performance of some services (e.g. Google Play)
• Need to create a Chinese Mi Account

Instructions for changing the region:

1. Go to the Settings → My device → All specs → Tap 5 times on"MIUI version" (activate the developer mode).
2. Back in the Settings → Additional settings → Developer options and include USB debugging.
3. Connect your smartphone to your PC and execute the command in ADB: adb shell settings put global region CN
4. Reboot the device. Once you turn on, go to Settings. → Additional settings → Region and select China.
5. Install the Chinese firmware through MIUI bootloader (optional, for maximum functionality).

After the change of region:

• 🔄 Reinstall the Mi Home app (now available with Chinese version with advanced features).
• 🗣️ Set up XiaoAI again – now it will support all commands, including smart home management.
• 🛒 The Mi Store will feature products that are not available in your region (but payment is only possible with a Chinese bank card).

Extended commands and hidden XiaoAI functions

Most users use XiaoAI only for basic tasks like running apps or setting an alarm clock, but the assistant does a lot more, especially on Chinese firmware. Here are some non-obvious commands:

Hidden XiaoAI chips:

• 🎭 Joke mode: Say "Tell me a joke" - assistant will tell a random joke (in Chinese).
• 📊 System diagnostics: The "Check phone status" command will show the processor temperature, free memory and battery status.
• 🔄 Fast reset: On some models, the “Restart phone” command restarts the device without confirmation.

For advanced users: XiaoAI supports custom teams through the Mi app AI. For example, you can configure the launch of a specific smart home scenario by a voice phrase like “Good night” (turn off the lights, turn on the alarm, close the curtains).

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On Chinese firmware, XiaoAI can execute commands even with the screen turned off (if the option "Voice wake-up" is enabled in the battery settings).

Solving problems with Xiaomi voice assistant

If XiaoAI doesn't work or doesn't work properly, the reasons can range from trivial (no internet connection) to technical (mic damage), and we'll look at the most common problems and ways to fix them.

Problem 1: The assistant doesn't respond to the voice

• 🔇 Check if the microphone is switched off in Settings → Apps → Manage apps → XiaoAI → Permissions.
• 📶 Make sure your device is connected to the internet (XiaoAI requires cloud-based voice command processing).
• 🔊 Re-start the Assistant Service: Settings → Apps → Manage apps → XiaoAI → Force stop → Clear cache.

Problem 2: XiaoAI speaks only Chinese

• 🌍 Change the language of the assistant in Settings → Additional settings → XiaoAI voice assistant → Language.
• 📱 If the option is not available, change the region of the device to India (for English) or Russia (for partial Russification).
• 🔄 Update the firmware to the latest version – in new builds MIUI Improved multilingual support.

Problem 3: A helper doesn't run a smart home

• 🏠 Make sure your smart home devices are tied to the same Mi Account as your smartphone/column.
• 🔄 Reconnect devices in the Mi Home app (sometimes resetting helps).
• 📋 Check that the Mi Home settings have enabled the “Voice control” option for each device.

⚠️ Warning: If after all the manipulations XiaoAI still does not work, the reason may be a hardware malfunction of the microphone. Check it out is simple: record a voice message to WhatsApp or Recorder. If the sound is not recorded, the microphone is defective (repair required).

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi's voice assistant