How to change the voice assistant on the Xiaomi smartphone: from XiaoAI to Google Assistant

Voice assistants on Xiaomi smartphones have become an integral part of everyday interaction with the device – they help manage a smart home, search the Internet, run applications and even translate conversations in real time. However, not all users like the standard XiaoAI assistant, which is installed in firmware by default. MIUI. Someone prefers the familiar Google Assistant with its advanced integration capabilities with Google services, and someone wants to connect Alice from Yandex to work with Russian services.

In this article, we will analyze all available ways to change the voice assistant on Xiaomi smartphones, including models on the phone. MIUI 12, 13 and 14. You will learn how to completely disable XiaoAI, install the alternative assistant by default, adjust voice control to your needs and solve problems that arise when replacing. We will also compare the capabilities of different assistants and give recommendations on which one is better to choose depending on your tasks.

Why do users want to change assistants to Xiaomi?

Xiaomi’s standard voice assistant XiaoAI has a number of limitations that force users to look for alternatives:

• 🌍 Limited geography: XiaoAI is optimized for the Chinese market – many features (e.g. ordering food or calling a taxi) only work in China.
• 🔍 Weak integration with Western services: No deep sync with Google Calendar, Gmail or YouTube Music.
• 🗣️ Speech recognition quality: In Russian and English, XiaoAI is often wrong in command recognition compared to Google Assistant.
• 🔒 Privacy concerns: Some users fear XiaoAI data could be transferred to servers in China.

Alternative assistants, however, offer:

• 🤖 Google Assistant: Better speech recognition, integration with Google ecosystem, support for smart devices (Nest, Chromecast).
• 🇷🇺 Alice from Yandex: optimization for Russian-language queries, work with Yandex.Music, Maps and Weather.
• 🔄 Bixby (for some models): if you use Samsung services alongside Xiaomi.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models require bootloader unlocking or custom firmware installation to change the default assistant, which can lead to loss of warranty and potential security issues.

Preparing a smartphone before replacing an assistant

Before changing the voice assistant, you need to follow several preparatory steps to avoid errors and failures:

1. Update your firmware to the latest version of MIUI. Go to Settings → About Phone → System Update.
2. Make a backup of the data through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset.
3. Check for root rights (if you plan to set up deeply), and you can use the Root Checker app to do this.
4. Make sure your internet connection is stable – it’s best to use Wi-Fi, as downloading alternative assistants can require significant traffic.

If you are planning to use Google Assistant, first:

• 📱 Install or update Google, Google Play Services and Google Apps through Play Market.
• 🔧 Enable sync with your Google account in Settings → Accounts. → Google.

Update MIUI to the latest version|

Make a backup copy of the data |

Checking for root rights (if necessary)|

Install/update Google App and Play Services|

Enable synchronization with Google account-->

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI Global (European/Global Firmware) The process of replacing an assistant is easier than the one used by the assistant. MIUI China.Chinese firmware may require additional installation of Google Framework.

Method 1: Install Google Assistant by default

The most popular option is to make Google Assistant the primary voice assistant.

1. Activate Google Assistant: Open the Google app (the "G" icon). In the lower right corner, click on your profile icon. → Settings → Google Assistant: Follow the configuration instructions (voice, language, permissions).
2. Set the start button: Go to Settings → Annexes → Application management → XiaoAI. Select Start by Default → Clear the default settings. Go back to Settings. → Additionally. → The “Assistant” button and select Google.

Set up voice activation.

• In the Google Assistant settings, enable the Hey Google option.
• Get a voice recognition training (say the phrase “OK, Google” 3 times).

If the assistant button does not appear in the settings, try:

adb shell settings put global assistant com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox

(This command needs to be entered through ADB on a computer with debugging enabled USB.)

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If the Assistant doesn’t start from a button after setting up Google, try assigning it via the Button Mapper app (requires root or ADB).

Method 2: Installation of Alice from Yandex

For users from Russia and CIS countries, Alice can be a more convenient alternative thanks to optimization for Russian and integration with local services.

1. Install Yandex with Alice from Play Market or AppGallery.
2. Set up Alice: Open the Yandex app → Go to Alice, allow access to microphone, contacts and location, activate voice-activate by "Hello Alice".

Assign Alice with the assistant button

• Use the Tasker or MacroDroid app to link Alice’s launch to the button.
• Or install Yandex Launcher, where Alice is integrated by default.

On devices with MIUI 14 and later, Alice can be appointed as a standard assistant through ADB-team:

adb shell settings put global assistant ru.yandex.searchplugin

Alice's benefits:

• 🗣️ Best Russian speech recognition (including dialects and accents).
• 🎵 Integration with Yandex.Music, Film Search and other Russian services.
• 🚗 Support for smart home management through Yandex Station.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro with a MIUI China: Alice may not work properly without first installing Google Mobile Services (GMS).

Method 3: Completely disabling XiaoAI (for power users)

If you want to completely remove the standard XiaoAI assistant, you can do this in a number of ways, from simply disabling to deep uninstalling the system application.

Option 1: Disconnect via settings (without root)

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → XiaoAI.
2. Click Disable (the application will remain in the system, but will stop working).
3. Clear the cache and application data.

Option 2: Removal through ADB (rootless, but with debugging)

Connect your phone to your PC, turn on USB Debugging and execute the command:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.voiceassist

Option 3: Complete removal through TWRP (root)

This method is suitable for users with an unlocked bootloader and installed TWRP Recovery:

1. Download. MIUI DeBloater or Universal DeBloater.
2. In recovery mode, find and delete packages: com.miui.voiceassist (main XiaoAI application) com.miui.voiceassist.provider (service files)

Reset the device.

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Removing system applications can lead to unstable work MIUI. Before such actions always make a backup copy through TWRP!

Comparison of Assistants on Xiaomi

To choose the best assistant, compare the key features of XiaoAI, Google Assistant and Alice:

The choice of an assistant depends on your priorities:

• 🌎 Google Assistant is better for international users.
• 🇷🇺 For Russian speakers – Alice (especially if you use Yandex services).
• 🏠 To manage the smart home Xiaomi can leave XiaoAI, but additionally configure Google Assistant for other tasks.

Solving typical problems when changing assistants

When replacing voice assistants, users often encounter errors, and consider the most common ways to eliminate them:

1.The assistant button does not work after the shift

If after the appointment of a new assistant button does not respond:

• 🔄 Reset the device.
• 🔧 Check the button settings in Settings → Additionally. → The "Assistant" button".
• 📱 Install Button Mapper app for manual reassignment.

2.Voice launch fails to work

If the assistant does not respond to voice commands:

• 🎤 Check the permissions for the microphone in Settings → Annexes → Permits.
• 🔊 Retrain the voice model in the assistant settings.
• 📵 Make sure that the "Do Not Disturb" mode is not turned on".

3. Conflict between XiaoAI and Google Assistant

If both assistants are trying to start at the same time:

• ⚙️ Disable XiaoAI via Settings → Annexes.
• 🧹 Clear the cache of both applications.
• 🔄 Use it. ADB-A command to reset button settings: adb shell settings put global assistant null

4.The assistant does not understand commands in Russian

To improve recognition:

• 🌐 Set the Russian language by default in the settings of the assistant.
• 🗣️ Re-train the voice model.
• 📲 Update the Assistant App to the latest version.

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If after all the manipulations the assistant still does not work, try resetting the application settings through Settings. → Annexes → [Name of assistant] → Warehouse → Resetting settings.

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing assistant to Xiaomi