How to permanently disable Alice on Xiaomi Redmi 8A: 5 working ways

Voice assistant Alice from Yandex is integrated into the MIUI firmware on most Xiaomi smartphones, including the Redmi 8A. For some users, it is a convenient tool for managing the device, for others - a source of unnecessary notifications, battery consumption and even hidden data collection about voice commands. If you belong to the second group, this article will help to completely deactivate the assistant without losing the functionality of the phone.

It is important to understand: Redmi 8A runs on Android 9/10 with a MIUI 11/12 shell, where Alice can be built into at the system level. Standard removal of Yandex application through the Settings menu → Applications often does not solve the problem - the assistant continues to work in the background. Below we will discuss all available methods, from simple to radical, including disabling through ADB and changing system settings.

Why Alice is working on Redmi 8A even after being deleted

Many users are faced with a situation where after removing the Yandex or Alice application through the standard menu, the voice assistant continues:

• 🔊 Activate by voice (e.g., by saying “Hi Alice»)
• 📱 Appear in the list of active applications (Settings) → Battery → Battery utilization)
• 🔄 Update via Google Play or MIUI Store
• 📡 Transmit data in the background (see Settings) → Mobile network → Traffic)

The reason is that Alice is deeply integrated into MIUI firmware. On the Redmi 8A, the assistant can be:

1. System application – installed in /system/priv-app, which is protected from changes without root rights.
2. MIUI is part of the com.miui.voiceassist package, which is responsible for voice control.
3. Updated module – even after removing the main APK, some components are restored through Google Play Services.

To shut Alice down forever, it's going to take a combination of methods, starting with the simplest and safest.

Method 1: Disconnect via MIUI settings (without root)

The safest method that will work for most users is that it doesn't require superuser rights or affect warranty.

Steps for Redmi 8A:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the search bar, enter “Alice” or “Yandex”.
3. Select the Yandex app (or Alice if it is displayed separately).
4. Click Disable (if the button is active) or Remove Updates.
5. Go to Settings → System → Language and input → Voice input and disable all options associated with Yandex.

If the Disable button is inactive, the application is protected by the system.

• 🛠️ Go to Settings. → Battery and productivity → Battery management.
• 🔋 Find Yandex/Alice and select Limit Background Activity.
• 🚫 In the same menu, click AutoStart and turn it off for the assistant.

Method limitations: Alice can return after the MIUI or Google Play Services update. To avoid this, go to Google Play → Settings → Auto-Update apps and select Do Not Update Automatically for Yandex.

Method 2: Remove via ADB (without root but with PC)

If the standard shutdown didn’t work, you can remove Alice using Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This method does not require root rights, but you will need a computer and USB-cable.

Instructions:

1. Download and install ADB Tools on PC.
2. On Redmi 8A, activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Click 7 times on MIUI until the notification “You’ve become a developer” appears. Return to Settings → Additional → Developer. Enable USB Debugging.

cmd

adb devices

Wait for the serial number of the device to appear.

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.yandex.browser


adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.yandex.searchplugin




adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 ru.yandex.searchplugin

Reboot the phone.

Important: If Alice reappears after the reboot, it means that she is built into the system partition, in which case only root or firmware rollback will help.

Method 3: Blocking through MIUI Hidden Settings (for experienced ones)

MIUI has hidden settings that allow you to disable system components without root, and you will need the MIUI Hidden Settings app (available on Google Play).

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install MIUI Hidden Settings.
2. Open the application and give access to the Management of all files.
3. Go to the Manage Applications section.
4. In the search, type “Yandex” or “Alice”.
5. For each package found (com.yandex.*), click Disable.
6. Reboot the phone.

💡

If some MIUI features have stopped working after the shutdown (such as voice search in settings), return the changes via the same MIUI Hidden Settings app or reset your phone settings.

Method 4: Firmware rollback (radical method)

If Alice was pre-installed in the Redmi 8A MIUI firmware, the only way to get rid of her forever is to install custom firmware or roll back to an earlier version of MIUI where the assistant wasn’t yet available.

Warnings before firmware:

⚠️ Warning: Wrong firmware can turn a phone into a "brick" on Redmi 8A The bootloader is blocked, so you will need official permission from Xiaomi to install custom firmware (unlock via Mi Unlock Tool).

If you are prepared for risk, follow the instructions:

1. Download the official firmware for Redmi 8A (version before MIUI 11, where Alice hasn't been yet).
2. Unclose the firmware file and place the folder in the root of the phone’s internal memory.
3. Open the Update app on your phone.
4. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Select the firmware file.
5. Specify the path to the downloaded firmware and confirm the installation.

After flashing:

• 🔄 Reset your phone to factory settings (Settings) → Additionally. → Recovery and discharge).
• 🚫 Turn off auto-update immediately MIUI In Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 🛡️ Install an update blocker (e.g., Disable Service) for com.android.updater packages.

Method 5: Blocking through a firewall (for advanced)

If Alice continues to work in the background, you can block her access to the Internet with a firewall, and it won't delete the assistant, but it will stop the data transmission.

Instructions using NetGuard (a free application from Google Play):

1. Install NetGuard.
2. Open the app and give access to the VPN (click OK in the system window).
3. Find in the list of applications Yandex or Alice.
4. Turn off all switches (Wi-Fi and Mobile Data).
5. Activate the option to Lock when you start the system (in NetGuard settings).

Alternative firewalls:

• 🔥 AFWall+ (It requires root, but blocks at the core level).
• 🛡️ NoRoot Firewall (unusable).

⚠️ Note: Blocking network access for system applications may disrupt other services MIUI, For example, Mi Account or Theme Store. Before using a firewall, back up your data.

What to do if Alice is still working?

If none of the methods worked, you may have a special firmware installed on your Redmi 8A from a carrier (for example, MTS, Beeline or MegaFon), where Alice is sewn at the kernel level.

Options:

• 📞 Contact the salon with a request to reflash the phone on “clean» MIUI.
• 🔧 Use Magisk to root and remove system packages (instructions for Redmi) 8A eat XDA Developers).
• 💻 Install custom restoration (TWRP) and sew MIUI without Bloatware, for example, MIUI EU).

Before radical action, check:

1. Firmware version: Settings → About the phone → MIUI version.
2. Loader lock: Enter the ADB command: adb shell getprop ro.boot.verifiedbootstate If the answer is orange – bootloader is blocked.

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On Redmi 8A with a locked bootloader, the only safe way to permanently disable Alice is to use ADB or MIUI Hidden Settings. Flashing without official unlocking will lead to a blink!

FAQ: Frequent questions about Alice's shutdown