Xiaomi’s voice control TV is not just a handy feature, but a complete tool for content management, movie search, and even smart home control. However, many users face problems when first setting up: the microphone does not recognize commands, the assistant answers in Chinese, does not respond to voice at all. In this article, we will discuss all the ways to activate voice control on Mi TV, Redmi Smart TV and other models, from basic settings to solving typical errors.
It's important to understand that the functionality depends on the TV model and the firmware version. TV 4S and newer support built-in microphone in the remote, and for older models will require an external USB-microphone or smartphone connection.We'll look at all options, including settings through Google Assistant, Alice and PatchWall's proprietary shell.
If you’ve tried voice control before, but it didn’t work, don’t rush to factory reset your TV. 90% of the time, it’s solved by software updates or region changes. And for those just starting out with Xiaomi TV, we’ve prepared step-by-step picture instructions (see sections below).
1. What Xiaomi TV models support voice control
Not all Xiaomi TVs have a built-in microphone or support voice commands, and here are the key compatibility criteria:
- 📺 Mi TV 4S (2018 and later – built-in microphone in remote control, support for PatchWall and Google Assistant.
- 📺 Mi TV 4X/4A (2020+) — voice control via remote or external microphone (update required) MIUI TV 3.0+).
- 📺 Redmi Smart TV X Series – Full Google Assistant and Alice support (needs a remote with a microphone button).
- 📺 Mi TV Q1/Q2 (2021–2023) — Advanced features: smart home management, context command recognition (e.g., “show movies with Tom Cruise»).
- ⚠️ Old models (until 2018) – voice control works only through external devices (smartphone, Google Home, Yandex Station).
To find out if your TV supports voice input, check:
- A button with a microphone icon on the remote control.
- Firmware version: Go to Settings → About TV → MIUI TV version. Voice control requires MIUI TV 2.5+.
- System region: If the settings indicate China (CN), the voice assistant will respond in Chinese, change to Russia (RU) or India (IN).
2. TV Preparation: Software Update and Regional Change
Before you set up voice control, make sure your TV is running the current firmware version.Outdated software may not support voice commands or give out recognition errors.
How to update firmware:
- Open Settings → About TV → Update system.
- Click Check Updates. If a new version is available, confirm the download.
- Wait until the installation is complete (the TV will restart automatically).
Critical information: If your TV is bought in China (the CN-suffixed models in the title), the default voice assistant will be in Chinese. To switch to Russian, you need to change the region to Russia or India.
Instructions for changing the region:
- Go to Settings → Accounts and Security → Region.
- Choose India (IN) or Russia (RU) (for PatchWall).
- Confirm the change and restart the TV.
☑️ Preparation for voice control settings
3. setting up voice control via remote control
If your remote is equipped with a button with a microphone icon, you can use built-in voice control, which works on most modern Xiaomi TV models (for example, Mi TV Q1, Redmi Smart TV X55).
Step-by-step:
- Make sure the TV is connected to the internet (via Wi-Fi or cable).
- Press and hold the microphone button on the remote (usually located next to the Home button).
- After the beep, say a command in Russian, such as: Turn on Netflix or Find comedies with Jim Carrey.
- If the TV doesn’t respond, check the batteries in the remote or reconnect it (press Menu + Back at the same time for 5 seconds).
By default, the TV uses PatchWall, Xiaomi’s proprietary shell with voice assistant, and if you don’t like its work, you can switch to Google Assistant:
- Open Settings → Accounts and Security → Voice Assistant
- Choose Google Assistant instead of PatchWall.
- Sign in through your Google account and follow the instructions on the screen.
What if the remote does not recognize the voice?
4. Voice control via smartphone (Google Assistant or Alice)
If your TV doesn’t support built-in voice control or a remote without a microphone, you can use your smartphone as an intermediary, a technique that works on all Xiaomi TV models, including older ones.
Method 1: Google Assistant (for Android)
- Open Google Assistant on your phone and say, Turn on your TV or Open YouTube on Xiaomi TV.
Method 2: Yandex Alice (for Android/iOS)
- Install the Yandex application with Alice on your smartphone.
- Connect the TV to your Yandex account via Settings → Accounts → Yandex.
- Activate Alice with your voice: Alice, turn on the TV or Alice, find the series “Game of Thrones” on Xiaomi TV.
⚠️ Note: to work through your smartphone, the TV must support Chromecast or Miracast. If these options are not in the settings, update your firmware or use an external Google Chromecast.
| Management method | Equipment required | Supported teams | Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remote with microphone | Xiaomi’s original remote with a microphone button | Content search, volume control, application launch | It only works on new models. |
| Google Assistant (smartphone) | Android smartphone, one Wi-Fi network | Full control: switching on, switching channels, searching | Requires Chromecast customization |
| Yandex Alice | Smartphone (Android/iOS), Yandex account | Basic commands (inclusion, search) | Not all models support integration |
| External microphone | USB-The microphone or Google Home | Extended teams (smart home, schedule) | Requires additional devices |
5. Connecting an external microphone or smart speaker
If the built-in methods are not satisfied, you can connect an external microphone or a smart speaker (for example, Google Nest Mini, Yandex Station), this will expand the capabilities of voice control and allow you to use the TV in the smart home system.
How to connect USB-microphone:
- Buy it. USB-Plug & Play microphone (e.g. Fifine) K669B).
- Connect it to the USB port on your TV.
- Go to Settings → Sound → Input audio device and select the connected microphone.
- Set up a voice assistant in Settings → Voice assistant.
How to connect a smart column:
- 🔊 For Google Home: Install the Google Home app on your smartphone. Add your TV to your device list via Add → Set up the device. Say to the speaker, OK Google, turn on Xiaomi. TV.
Yandex Stations
- Connect your TV and column to one Yandex account.
- In the Yandex app, add a TV to the Smart Home section.
- Say, Alice, show the movies on TV.
⚠️ Note: Some teams may not work if:
- The TV is connected to the Internet via a mobile access point (stable Wi-Fi is required).
- In privacy settings, access to the microphone is disabled (Settings → Privacy → Microphone).
- A VPN or proxy is used, which can block voice services.
⚠️ Warning: Reset will delete all installed apps and accounts.Pre-record the username and password from the Google/Xiaomi, If you use them for authorization.
8.Extra chips: smart home and schedule
Voice control on Xiaomi TV can be integrated with a smart home system, for example:
- 💡 Control the lights: Alice, turn off the lights in the hall and turn on the TV.
- 🌡️ Control the climate: OK Google, set the temperature of 20 degrees and turn on the series.
- 🔒 Automate routines: customize a “Cinema” script that will dim the lights, turn on the TV and run Netflix on one command.