How to Change Your Voice Assistant to Xiaomi: The Complete Guide

Modern Xiaomi smartphones, working on the basis of shells MIUI and HyperOS, by default offer the user built-in voice assistant Mi AI. However, for many device owners from Europe and CIS countries, this service is less useful than the usual Google Assistant or localized solutions like Yandex Alice. The problem is often that the system persistently offers it native service, ignoring user preferences.

Changing the primary assistant is not just a matter of personal preference, but also a way to dramatically improve the ergonomics of your device. A properly configured assistant lets you control your smart home, set alarm clocks, search for information, and dictate messages without touching the screen. In this article, we will explore all the nuances of reconfiguring system components.

The change process can vary depending on the version of the Android operating system and the specific firmware modification. We will look at universal methods that work on most current models, including the Redmi Note series and flagship Xiaomi. Prepare for the fact that some menu items may be called slightly differently, but the logic of actions will remain the same.

Built-in Assistants: Mi AI vs Google Assistant

By default, global firmware versions often have Google Assistant activated, but Chinese versions (CN) or flashing are dominated by Mi AI. The main difference lies in language support and integration with services. Mi AI is tailored to the Chinese market and the Xiaomi Home ecosystem, while Google provides deep integration with mail, maps and calendar.

Technically, both assistants can coexist on the same device, but only one of them will handle voice commands, assigned by the default system. Trying to activate the second through the power button or voice command will lead to the launch of the priority service. Understanding this hierarchy is important for the correct configuration.

It's worth noting that localization is critical, because if your interface is entirely in Russian, but the assistant answers in English or Chinese, then the system has activated the wrong module, and switching between them requires access to hidden or secure settings of the system.

⚠️ Note: When switching from Mi AI on Google Assistant in Chinese versions of firmware, some functions of the power button may stop working correctly if the appropriate language package is not installed.

For users who value privacy, choosing a third-party assistant could be a way to limit data collection by the smartphone manufacturer.Google also collects statistics, but offers more transparent tools for managing activity history.

Preparing a smartphone for a change of assistant

Before you make changes to your system settings, you need to make sure that all the necessary components are installed and updated on the device. Without the helper app itself, you can't put it in charge. Often users forget to update the basic services of Google Play.

It's important to check if you have access rights. Even if you have an application installed, you need explicit permission to use the microphone and to run in the background, and without those permissions, activation on the button or phrase will not work.

It is also recommended to back up important settings, although changing assistants rarely causes failures. However, experimenting with system applications always carries a minimal risk of interface instability. 20-30%.

If you plan to use third-party solutions such as Yandex or Siri (through emulators, which is rare but happens), they also need to be pre-downloaded from a reliable source. + Android is enough to have a Google account.

How to change the voice assistant through Android settings

The most reliable and standard way to change a priority application is to use the settings menu of the Android operating system, which works independently of the version of MIUI, because it addresses the basic parameters of the OS. The path may differ slightly visually, but the essence remains the same.

You need to open the settings menu and find the application section, and in modern versions of HyperOS and MIUI 14, the algorithm is as follows:

• 📱 Go to Settings. → Annexes.
• 🔍 Select Application Setup or Application Management.
• ⚙️ Find the Apps menu by default (often hidden in three dots in the corner of the screen).
• 🎤 Click on Digital Assistant or Assistant.
• ✅ Select from the list of the desired assistant (e.g. Google).

Once selected, the system can request confirmation of action, press OK or Accept, and from that point on, if you press the home button long enough (if it's virtual), or swipe from the corner of the screen, the selected service will start.

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If the "Default Apps" item is not on the menu, search by settings by entering the word "assistant" or "default".

In some cases, especially on older versions of Android, the path may look different. Then look for System settings → Language and input → Voice input. Here you can also choose a speech recognition engine, which indirectly affects the assistant's work.

Setting up the activation button power or swipe

One of the most convenient features in the Xiaomi ecosystem is the ability to call the assistant with a hardware button. However, after a software change, this feature often “flys off” or starts calling Mi AI instead of Google.

Go to Settings → Additional → Buttons. Here you will find the setting Start Voice Assistant. By default, it can be "Mi AI" or "No." Select the right assistant from the drop-down list. If the desired option is not in the list, then it is not assigned to the main one in the previous section.

Special attention should be paid to the gesture settings. In MIUI, you can set the swipe assistant to start in the lower left or right corner of the screen. This function is located in the Settings → Home screen → Gestures and buttons. Make sure that the voice assistant action is selected there, not Search.

Remember that on models with a physical home button (old flagships), you can also reassign long-pressing it. In new models with Full Screen screens, the main trigger remains the lock button or a software swipe.

Installation and configuration of Yandex Alice on Xiaomi

For users in Russia and the CIS, Yandex with voice assistant Alice is an excellent alternative, it better understands contextual information about local services, traffic jams and music, and the installation requires downloading the Yandex app or a separate Yandex app with Alice.

Once installed, launch the app and log in to your account. In the app settings, find the Voice Functions section, where you need to activate Voice Activation and, critically, allow the app to run in the background, without which Alice will only wake up when the app is open.

• 📥 Download the Yandex app from Google Play or GetApps.
• 🔐 Sign in to your Yandex account ID.
• 🎙️ Turn on the option to "Listen to Alice's command»».
• 🛡️ Allow access to the microphone and display over other windows.

To make Alice the default assistant, repeat the steps in the Android settings section, but select Yandex from the assistant list. If it is not on the list, you may need to update the app or check the compatibility of the Android version.

⚠️ Note: When you install Alice as your primary assistant, OK Google will stop working to call the assistant because the microphone will be occupied by the priority app.

Power users often customize scenarios where Alice controls the smart home and Google is used for navigation, and you can switch between them by manually running the desired application, but automating this process requires complex macros.

Typical Problems and Conflicts

Often, when settings are changed, users are faced with the assistant not responding to voice commands, most often because they do not have permission to use the microphone in the background. Android system strictly controls access to audio input for battery and security.

Another common problem is version conflict: If you have a global firmware installed by Xiaomi, but your Google account is registered in a region where services are limited, the assistant may not work properly, in which case changing the region in your phone settings or using a VPN when you first set up helps.

If the assistant crashes right after you start, try clearing the cache. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Find Google (or another assistant) → Memory → Clear the cache. Don’t confuse it with Clear Data, as this will reset your personal settings.

In rare cases, the problem lies in hardware or system files being damaged after a failed update. If nothing works, you may need to completely reset your phone to factory settings, but this is an extreme measure.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

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Key Conclusion: For any voice assistant on Xiaomi to work smoothly, it is critical not only to select it in the settings, but also to provide all the permissions requested, especially microphone access and background work.