How to permanently disable Alice on Xiaomi Mi8: 5 proven methods

Voice assistant Alice from Yandex is integrated into the MIUI firmware on many Xiaomi smartphones, including the Mi8 model. While the feature can be useful for quickly searching or controlling a voice device, many users prefer to disable it. The reasons range from accidental positives to privacy concerns. This article provides a complete overview of all the ways to deactivate Alice on the Xiaomi Mi8, including hidden settings and technical methods.

Mi8

MIUI

Mi8

MIUI 10–14

If you're looking for a way to completely remove Alice (rather than just disable it), keep in mind that on stock firmware, this is impossible without superuser rights, but even without root, you can make the assistant completely inactive, as discussed in the sections below.

1. Standard shutdown via MIUI settings

The easiest way is to deactivate Alice in the settings menu, which is suitable for users who don’t want to go into technical details but want to stop random voice activations.

Open the Settings app and go to the section:

Settings → Applications → Application Management → All applications

In the list, find Alice (or Yandex, if the assistant is built into Yandex services). Click on it and follow the following steps:

• 🔕 Turn off notifications: Go to Notifications and deactivate all switches.
• 🚫 Disallow AutoRun: In the app menu, select AutoRun and turn it off.
• 🔒 Restrict rights: in the Permits section, disable access to microphone, contacts and location.
• ⚙️ Resetting settings: press Storage → Clear the data and clear the cache.

This method doesn't remove Alice completely, but it does render her inoperable. Remember, after the MIUI update, some settings may reset -- check them after the updates.

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If there is no Alice item on the app list, try looking for Yandex or Yandex Services, and some firmwares have the assistant hidden under those names.

2. Disable voice assistant via "Special features"

Alice on Xiaomi Mi8 can be activated via voice input or gesture (such as holding the Home button), and to stop this, you need to turn it off in the special features menu.

Follow the path:

Settings → Special features → Voice assistant

In this section:

1. Turn off the Voice Assistant switch (if it is active).
2. Remove the box from the item "Voice activation".
3. In the submenu of Voice Input Services, select Google or Disable instead of Yandex.

If there is no Voice Assistant, Alice is integrated into MIUI Launcher, in which case move on to the next section.

3. Eliminate Alice via ADB (no root)

For advanced users ready to connect the Mi8 to a computer, there is a way to completely deactivate the assistant via Android Debug Bridge (ADB).This does not require superuser rights, but requires installing drivers and enabling debugging over USB.

You'll need:

• 🖥️ Computer installed ADB.
• 📱 Xiaomi Mi8 plug-in USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Press 7 times, then return to Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).

After connecting the phone to the PC, perform in the command line:

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

If the command fails, try an alternative package:

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

On some MIUI 12+ firmware, Alice is integrated into the system launcher, and it can not be removed even through ADB. In this case, only disabling through settings (section 1) or installing a custom launcher will help.

USB debugging enabled

Installed drivers Xiaomi on PC

Download ADB (platform-tools)

The phone is connected in file transfer mode (MTP).

The command line is open on behalf of the administrator-->

4.Use of third-party launchers

If Alice is activated via MIUI Launcher (like swipe up from the dock panel), you can bypass it by installing an alternative launcher, which won't remove the assistant from the device, but will make it inaccessible through standard gestures.

Recommended launchers for Xiaomi Mi8:

After the launcher is installed:

1. Set it as the default launcher (the first start will be a proposal).
2. Disable MIUI Launcher through the application settings (Section 1).
3. Set up gestures in the new launcher so they don't conflict with Alice.

5. Disconnection through editing system files (root)

If your Xiaomi Mi8 has Magisk or another root-getting method installed, you can completely remove Alice from the system.This is the most radical way, but it requires caution - wrong actions can lead to a bootloop.

This will require:

• 📱 Root access (check through the Root Checker app).
• 🛠️ File Manager with root support (e.g. Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer).
• 📂 Backup of system files (required!).

Instructions:

1. Open the file manager and go to /system/priv-app/ or /system/app/.
2. Find folders with names: YandexAlisa YandexServices BrowserYandex (if Alice is built into the browser)

.bak

YandexAlisa.bak

Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Warning: Removing system applications may disrupt the work MIUI. If the phone does not turn on after the restart, restore the original folder names through the TWRP or re-flash the device.

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Before editing system files, be sure to create a backup via TWRP or other recovery.This is the only way to recover the phone if you make a mistake.

6. Alternative methods: disconnecting the microphone and network

If none of these methods worked, you could go to extreme lengths to restrict Alice's access to key functions, and it wouldn't remove the assistant, but it would render it useless.

Method 1: Turning off the microphone for Alice

1. Go to Settings → Privacy → Application Permissions → Microphone.
2. Find Alice or Yandex and turn off access.

Method 2: Network locking

Alice demands the Internet to do her job.

1. Open the Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Transfer of data.
2. Select “Background Limitation” and add Alice to the list of limited apps.
3. Alternatively, use a firewall (such as NetGuard) to block access to the network.