Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often wonder if it is possible to replace the standard voice assistant Google Assistant with the popular in the Russian segment Alice. Unlike iOS, where Siri is a system assistant, in Android there is a third-party integration option that allows you to call the smart assistant Yandex on the voice command “Listen, Yandex” or “Hello, Alice” even from a locked screen. However, this process is not always obvious and requires the right sequence of actions in the settings of the MIUI shell or HyperOS.
The main difficulty is that for the full operation of the voice activator, it is required that the Yandex Browser application or a separate Yandex application with Alice have the necessary system permissions. Without granting permissions to access the microphone and work in the background, voice activation will not work. It is also important to consider that some energy-saving MIUI functions can block the work of background processes, so they need to be properly configured.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all the steps necessary to make your Xiaomi smartphone respond to the name Alice.We will consider not only the basic setting through the Yandex Browser, but also the nuances of widgets, and also answer frequent questions that arise from users when trying to replace the standard assistant.
Preparation of the device and installation of necessary components
The first step to activating voice control is to install the latest version of the software from Yandex. On Xiaomi devices, the bundle with Yandex Browser works most stably, since it has deep integrations with the Android system to intercept voice commands. Make sure that your device is connected to the Internet, since a stable connection is required for the initial configuration and loading of language packets.
Go to the Google Play or GetApps app store (if available and updated) and find the Yandex app. In newer versions of the ecosystem, the assistant functions are often built directly into the browser, so it is recommended to install Yandex Browser. After installation, do not rush to launch applications - first you need to make sure that the Android operating system is ready to redirect requests.
☑️ Preparation for setup
The operating system version is important. Older versions of Android (below 8.0) may have conflicts when trying to change the default assistant. If you have a relatively new Xiaomi smartphone released after 2020, there should be no compatibility problems. Please note that the Listen, Yandex feature on the locked screen may require additional permissions, which the system will request when it first starts.
Setting up Yandex Browser as the main assistant
The key step is to assign Yandex Browser as the primary voice command application. Google Assistant performs this function in standard state. To change this behavior, you will need to go to deep system settings. Open the Settings menu of your Xiaomi smartphone and find the section responsible for the applications.
The path to the desired option may vary slightly depending on the version of the MIUI shell or HyperOS. Usually the sequence of actions is as follows: go to Settings → Applications → Application Management. In the upper right corner of the screen, click on three dots or the gear icon to open the additional menu, and select the default App item. In the list that opens, find the category "Help" or "Voice Assistant".
⚠️ Note: On some global versions of Xiaomi firmware, the Assistant can be hidden or replaced with Google Assistant without the option of choosing, in which case direct replacement through system settings is impossible, and you will have to use widgets or workarounds through accessibility settings.
If the selection point is available, click on it and in the list of installed applications, select Yandex or Yandex Browser. After that, the system will try to launch this assistant with long presses on the Home button (if it is touch-sensitive) or when swiping from the corner of the screen. Do not forget to also open the Yandex Browser application itself, log into your account and activate the Voice Activation option in the voice assistant settings.
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For more accurate command recognition in noisy places, open Alice's settings inside the app and get voice training, which will greatly improve activation accuracy the first time around.
Activation of the function “Listen, Yandex” and access from the locked screen
The most popular feature is the ability to call the assistant without unlocking the phone. To do this, in the settings of the Yandex Browser or Yandex application (with Alice), you need to find the partition responsible for voice control. It is usually located in the user profile: click on the avatar, then select Settings → Voice functions (or simply “Alice”).
Here you need to activate the "Listen, Yandex" switch. The system will ask you to confirm permission to record sound permanently. This is necessary for the microphone to work in the background and wait for the key phrase. Without this permission, activation from the screen is not possible. It is also recommended to enable the "Unlock for Answers" option if you want to receive full answers, not just execute commands.
Xiaomi’s MIUI-enclosed smartphones have an aggressive energy-saving system that can kill Alice’s process. To avoid this, go to Settings → Battery and Performance (or simply “Battery”). Find Yandex or Yandex Browser on your application list and set the power-saving mode to No Limits. This is a critical step for stable operation.
After all the settings, try locking the screen, wait a few seconds and say, "Listen, Yandex." If done correctly, the screen will light up and activation animation will appear. If there is no reaction, check if the microphone is turned off in the global privacy settings.
Using widgets for quick access
If the system assistant replacement is difficult or unstable, the best solution is to use the Alice Dialogue widget, which does not require reconfiguring system priorities and works on top of any interface. Widgets in MIUI and HyperOS have their own placement features, but the principle is the same for all versions.
To add a widget, swipe to the right on your desktop to go to the widget screen, or press an empty space on your desktop and select Widgets. Search for "Yandex" or find a browser icon in the list. You will find different widget sizes, from a small microphone button to a large information block.
Select a widget with a microphone or Alice logo and drag it to your desktop. Now you just need one touch to activate. This is especially handy if you don't need voice activation "off the damper" but you want to quickly send a voice message or ask a question with your phone in your hand.
Why can't the widget work?
There is also the option of adding a widget to the notification curtain (if your version of MIUI supports customization of the control center).This allows you to swipe Alice from above, which is often faster than looking for an app icon. However, remember that the widget in the curtain is just a shortcut, and it does not replace full voice activation without touch.
Setting up scenarios and automation
Alice on Xiaomi becomes really useful when you start using scripts, and these are chains of actions that are executed on a single command or at a certain time, for example, the command "I'm at home" can automatically turn on Wi-Fi, lower the screen brightness and launch your favorite playlist.
To create scripts, open the Yandex app, go to Devices → Scripts. Press the add-on button for a new script. Select "Phrase" as a condition and type in text like "Movie Mode." Then add actions like "Decrease brightness," "Enable Do Not Disturb" mode, "Start YouTube."
The table below shows examples of useful scenarios for Xiaomi smartphone users:
| Title of the script | Voice command | System actions | Utility. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Navigation | "Let's go." | Turn on GPS, open Yandex.Maps, start music | Tall. |
| Son | "Good night." | Set the alarm at 7:00, turn on sleep, turn off the lights (if there is a smart home) | Medium |
| Meeting | "I'm in a meeting." | Enable silent mode, send SMS response | Tall. |
| Charging. | Automatically. | When connecting charging, voice weather and news | Medium |
Using scripts makes your smartphone a real control center, you can combine Android system commands and actions within Yandex apps, and this is especially true for Xiaomi device owners, who often use the smart home ecosystem.
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Scenarios allow you to perform complex sequences of actions with a single voice request, saving time and eliminating the need to manually adjust the phone in standard situations.
Conflict resolution and resolution
Despite the ease of setting up, users may encounter a number of problems, one of the most common being a conflict with Google Assistant, and if Alice doesn't activate after setting up and Google appears instead, the system hasn't saved the default settings. In this case, try clearing the Google app cache: Settings → Annexes → All applications → Google → Clean up → Cash.
Another problem is that the microphone can't hear the command from the locked screen, make sure that the MIUI security settings don't prohibit the microphone from using it in sleep mode, and check if there's a "Flight Mode" or "Sleep Mode" set up that can block the assistant's network requests.
⚠️ Note: If you use third-party launchers (Nova Launcher, Niagara, etc.), the system assistant replacement may not work properly. POCO Launcher or MIUI Launcher to check out.
If Alice is activated but not speaking (no voice response), check the volume settings and the specific Multimedia channel. Sometimes after a Xiaomi firmware update, audio output permissions for third-party applications are reset. Reinstallation of the Yandex Browser application often solves this problem.