How to change voice assistant on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8: full instructions with nuances

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 is one of the most popular mid-range smartphones, but its standard voice assistant (usually Google Assistant or XiaoAI) does not always suit users.Some people want to switch to a more functional assistant, someone does not like the interface language, and some just want to try alternatives like Alice from Yandex or Siri (through workarounds).

It is important to understand that the possibility of changing the assistant depends on the version. MIUI And regional firmware for your device, like the global version (MIUI Global is installed by default Google Assistant, and in Chinese (MIUI China) — XiaoAI. Some alternative assistants (e.g. Yandex Alice) require additional manipulation of settings or even root rights. We will look at options for all cases — from simple to advanced.

If you have never changed the Redmi Note system settings 8, We recommend you back up your data first, and that will keep you from losing important information if something goes wrong. 9/10 (Which are the most popular Redmi Notes 8) Some methods may work differently than on newer versions.

1. How to identify the current voice assistant on Redmi Note 8

Before you change the assistant, you need to know which one is active on your device. In Redmi Note 8, this can be one of three options:

• 🤖 Google Assistant is the standard assistant for global firmware (MIUI Global activated by a long press on the Home button or by a voice command, OK, Google".
• 🗣️ XiaoAI – a brand assistant from Xiaomi, preinstalled in Chinese firmware (MIUI China) Works in Chinese, but it can be switched to English.
• 🔄 Another assistant – if you have previously installed alternatives (like Alice or Bixby through third-party apps).

To check out the current assistant:

1. You can press the Home button for a long time, and if you have a microphone interface that says "Ask Anything," it's Google Assistant.
2. If nothing happens after a long press, try saying “OK, Google” or “Hey, XiaoAI” (for Chinese firmware).
3. Go to Settings. → Annexes → Manage applications and find in the list of "Assistant" or "XiaoAI".

You can also use the command to call an assistant through ADB (If you are familiar with this tool):

adb shell cmd assistant get_default_assistant

This command will return the name of the current assistant package (e.g. com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox for Google Assistant).

2. How to disable the current voice assistant

Before installing a new assistant, you need to deactivate the current one, otherwise conflicts may arise.

Disconnecting Google Assistant

• 📱 Open the Google app (the icon with the color letter "G").
• 🔧 Go to the "More" section (three bars below) → Settings → Google Assistant.
• 🔄 Slick down and select General Settings, then turn off the Google Assistant switch.
• 🗑️ For complete removal (if you do not plan to return), you can disable the application through Settings. → Annexes → Google → Shut down.

Shutting down XiaoAI

In Chinese firmware, XiaoAI is integrated deeper, so you can't just turn it off.

1. Go to Settings → Additionally. → Special facilities → XiaoAI.
2. Disable all permissions for the application (microphone, autorun, notifications).
3. If you need to completely remove, you will need root access or custom firmware installation.

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If the Home button stopped responding to a long press after disabling Google Assistant, restart the device. This will reset the system button cache.

⚠️ Note: On some versions MIUI 12+ If you disable Google Assistant, you may lose voice search in the Google App. To return it, you will have to reset the Google App settings through Settings. → Annexes → Google → Warehouse → Clear the data.

3. Installation of an alternative voice assistant

You can install several alternative assistants on the Redmi Note 8, and let's look at the most popular options:

Yandex Alice

Alice from Yandex is one of the most functional assistants for Russian-speaking users, and you can install it through the official application:

1. Download Yandex with Alice from Google Play.
2. Open the app and go through the initial setup (give access to microphone and contacts).
3. To activate Alice with your voice, say “Hi Alice” or set up a hot phrase in the app settings.

Limitation: Alice cannot become the default assistant (i.e., won’t be called by the Home button), but it can be run by voice or widget.

XiaoAI (for global firmware)

If you have global firmware but want to try XiaoAI, you can install it manually:

• 🌐 Download. APK-XiaoAI file from Xiaomi’s official website (e.g. Mi App Store).
• 📱 Allow installation from unknown sources in Settings → Security.
• 🔧 Install. APK ifollowing setting (you may need to change region to China in your Mi Account).

Other assistants (Bixby, Cortana, etc.)

Theoretically, the Redmi Note 8 can be installed and other assistants, for example:

• 🤖 Samsung Bixby – Requires installation APK Manual start-up (without integration into the system).
• 💬 Microsoft Cortana – runs through a separate app, but without voice activation.
• 🎵 VK Music with voice assistant – suitable for music management.

⚠️ Note: Other assistants (Bixby, Siri) will not work fully on Xiaomi due to Android limitations.They will not be able to replace the system assistant and will only run through a separate application.

Make sure the current assistant is disabled

Download APK or appendix from an official source

Allow installation from unknown sources (if necessary)

Check compatibility with the Android version (9/10)

Make a backup copy of the data (in case of failure)-->

4. Default assistant setting (for advanced users)

If you want an alternate assistant (like Alice) to run at a long press on the Home button, you need to change the system settings.

Method 1: Through ADB (without root rights)

This method works for most Android devices. 9/10 It does not require the rights of a superuser:

1. Install ADB Tools on your computer.
2. Connect the Redmi Note 8 to USB And turn on the debugging. USB In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Press 7 times to unlock the developer mode).
3. Open the command line and enter:

adb shell pm list packages | grep assistant


adb shell cmd assistant set_default_assistant ru.yandex.alice

Replace ru.yandex.alice with the right assistant package (e.g. com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox for Google Assistant).

Method 2: Magisk module (requires root)

If you have root access, you can use the Assistant Enabler module:

1. Install Magisk Module with Magisk Manager.
2. Reset the device.
3. In the module settings, select the right assistant (for example, Alice).

⚠️ Note: Change the default assistant through ADB It can cause the Home button to crash if an incompatible application is selected:

adb shell cmd assistant set_default_assistant com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox

5. Solving problems when changing voice assistant

When replacing the assistant, Redmi Note 8 users often encounter typical errors.

If after changing the assistant, the device began to brake or overheat, check:

• 🔋 Are there multiple assistants running at the same time (e.g. Google Assistant and Alice).
• 🗃️ Is there enough free memory (assistants can take up to 500 MB of RAM).
• 🔄 Does the new assistant have a conflict with the shell? MIUI (particularly relevant MIUI 12.5+).

6.Comparison of voice assistants for Redmi Note 8

To choose the best assistant, compare their capabilities on the Redmi Note 8:

For most Redmi Note 8 users, the best choice is:

• 🌍 Google Assistant – if you need a universal assistant with support for smart home.
• 🗣️ Yandex Alice – if the Russian language and integration with Yandex services are important.
• 🏠 XiaoAI – only if you have Chinese firmware and Xiaomi ecosystem devices.

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On the Redmi Note 8 with global firmware XiaoAI will work in a limited way - without voice activation and some functions. MIUI China.

7.How to get back a standard assistant

If the experiment with an alternative assistant fails, you can return the standard assistant in the following ways:

For Google Assistant

1. Go to Settings. → Annexes → Google → Warehouse → Clear the data.
2. Open the Google app and turn on Google Assistant in the settings.
3. If the Home button doesn’t work, follow the command:

adb shell cmd assistant set_default_assistant com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox

For XiaoAI

If you have disabled XiaoAI through settings:

1. Return all permissions to Settings → Additionally. → Special facilities → XiaoAI.
2. Reset the device.
3. If XiaoAI has been removed, install it again through the Mi App Store.

⚠️ Note: After returning the Google Assistant, you may need to re-set the voice match (learning to recognize your voice.

8. Alternative ways to control the phone voice

If none of the assistants suit you, consider alternative voice control options:

• 🎤 Voice search on Google — works without a full assistant. Activated by the microphone button in the Google search bar.
• 📱 Gestures and voice commands in MIUI — In Settings → Special facilities → Voice control can be configured to set basic commands (e.g., Open Camera").
• 🤖 Tasker + AutoVoice is for advanced users, allowing you to create your own voice commands for any action (requires customization).
• 💬 Telegram chatbots – some bots (e.g., chatbots, @ManyBot) Support voice commands to control the phone.

For users who want maximum automation, we recommend a combination of:

• Yandex Alice for voice queries.
• Tasker to create custom teams.
• IFTTT integration with smart devices.

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If you only need voice notes or reminders, you can use Google OK (the lightweight version of Google Assistant) or Evernote with voice input instead of a full assistant.

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing voice assistant