How to change the voice assistant in the phone Xiaomi: from Xiao AI to Google Assistant

Voice assistants in Xiaomi smartphones have long ceased to be just a “chip” – they have become full-fledged tools for managing the device, finding information and automating routine tasks. However, not all users like the standard assistant Xiao AI, which is installed by default on all devices with a shell MIUI. Some prefer the usual Google Assistant, someone needs alternative solutions like Alice from Yandex or Siri (for iPhone owners in the Xiaomi ecosystem).

In this article, we will explore all possible ways to change the voice assistant on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones, from official methods to workarounds for advanced users. You will learn how to completely disable Xiao AI, install Google Assistant as the main assistant, and what nuances it is important to consider when working with different versions of MIUI (12 to 14).

Why users want to change voice assistant to Xiaomi

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

• 🌍 Limited geography: Xiao AI Optimized for the Chinese market – many functions (such as smart home management) work only in China.
• 🗣️ Language support: Even in global firmware, the assistant often “forgets” commands in Russian or English, while Google Assistant supports dozens of languages.
• 🔒 Data collection: Xiao AI Actively interacts with Xiaomi servers, which causes concerns among users who care about privacy.
• 🛠️ Functionality: Google Assistant can integrate with Google services (Calendar, Mail, Maps), while Xiao can integrate with Google services AI It is built under the Mi Home ecosystem.

In addition, many Xiaomi smartphone owners are faced with the fact that Xiao AI is activated accidentally — for example, when you press the power button or during a call. This is annoying, especially if the assistant is not used. In the next sections, we will show how to solve this problem once and for all.

Preparing your phone: What to do before changing assistant

Before you start replacing the voice assistant, you need to follow several preparatory steps, which will help to avoid errors and malfunctions in the system.

⚠️ Note: On devices with Chinese firmware (e.g. Mi 11 Ultra) CN) Some settings may be blocked, in which case you will need to unlock the bootloader or install a global setting. ROM.

Here's what we need to do:

1. Update MIUI to the latest version. Go to Settings → About Phone → System Update.
2. Check the firmware region. If you have a Chinese version, some of the features of Google Assistant may not work.
3. Back up important data (contacts, SMS, photos) through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset.
4. Make sure Google Play Services are installed. Without them, Google Assistant won't work.

If you plan to use Google Assistant, download it from Google Play in advance (link: Google Assistant). Alternative assistants (like Alice) will also require pre-installing the app.

Method 1: Disabling Xiao AI and installing Google Assistant

The easiest and most official way is to disable Xiao AI and assign Google Assistant as the default assistant, a method that works on most devices with MIUI 12-14 (global versions).

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find Xiao AI (may be called Voice Assistant or Mi AI) on the list.
3. Slip it, then select Disable (if the option is active) or Remove Updates.
4. Return to Settings → Additional → Search button (or Voice Assistant depending on the version of MIUI).
5. Choose Google as your default assistant.

If the Search button is not in the settings, try an alternative path:

Settings → System → Gestures → Home button → Voice assistant

Then activate Google Assistant by saying “OK, Google” or holding the Home button (on older models).

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If Google Assistant is not activated from the Home button, try reinstalling it via Google Play or clearing the cache in the app settings.

Method 2: Using ADB to change assistant (advanced method)

On some firmware (especially Chinese), standard settings do not allow you to change the assistant, in which case ADB (Android Debug Bridge) – a tool for debugging Android devices – will help.

You will need to:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB-driver.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Tap 7 times, then go back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔌 USB-cable.

Instructions:

1. Connect the phone to your computer and confirm the debugging permission.
2. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and type:

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

1. Reboot the phone.

If you want to return Xiao AI, use the command:

adb shell settings put secure assistant com.miui.voiceassist

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB Do not change other parameters unless you are sure of their purpose.

Method 3: Alternative Assistants (Alice, Siri, Bixby)

If you don't like Xiao AI or Google Assistant, you can install third-party solutions. Let's look at the most popular options.

To use Alice or another assistant as the primary:

1. Install the application from the table above.
2. Disable Xiao AI (as described in Method 1).
3. Assign a gesture to call the assistant through Settings → Gestures (for example, double pressing the power button).

Third-party assistants will not be able to replace Xiao AI at the system level – they will only work through a separate application.

Problems and Solutions: What to Do When Your Helper Doesn't Change

Sometimes, even after all the manipulations, Xiao AI continues to activate, and Google Assistant refuses to work.

• 🔄 Assistant resets after reboot: This is typical of Chinese firmware.The solution is to set a global ROM use ADB-team after each reset.
• 🔇 Google Assistant does not respond to voice commands: Check if microphone access is enabled in Settings → Annexes → Google → Permits.
• 📱 No "Voice Assistant" option in settings: On some models (e.g, POCO F3) This section is hidden. Try to search by settings (the magnifying glass icon at the top).
• 🔒 Locked bootloader: On devices with a locked bootloader (such as the new Redmi Note 12), some changes are not possible without unlocking the bootloader.

If none of these methods worked, your Xiaomi model may have unique limitations, in which case only flashing to custom ROM (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience) will help, but this requires advanced skills and may be unwarranted.

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On Chinese firmware (CN ROM), the change of assistant is often blocked at the system level, and the only reliable way is to install a global or custom firmware.

Comparison of voice assistants for Xiaomi: which to choose

To determine the choice, compare the key features of popular assistants in the context of the Xiaomi ecosystem.

The choice depends on your priorities:

• 🏡 If you have many Mi Home devices (smart lamps, robot vacuum cleaners), Xiao AI will be more comfortable.
• 🌐 For full work with Google services (Mail, Maps, Calendar) Google Assistant is suitable.
• 🗣️ If the Russian language and local services (Yandex.Music, Navigator) are important, choose Alice.

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing voice assistant to Xiaomi