Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face the dilemma of choosing a voice assistant. On the one hand, Google Assistant is deeply integrated into the Android operating system and offers excellent work with the services of the search giant. On the other hand, Yandex Alice demonstrates a phenomenal understanding of the Russian language, context and cultural characteristics, making it indispensable for the Russian-speaking user.
Unfortunately, the standard MIUI firmware or the new HyperOS doesn't allow you to just turn off one assistant to be automatically replaced by Alice. Android is designed so that Google's default service is to call for a long press of the power button or voice command "OK, Google," but there are proven methods to reconfigure this mechanism.
In this guide, we’ll look at all the current ways to replace, from simple in-app settings to deeper changes to system settings, and learn how to make sure that when you press the assistant call button, it’s Yandex’s voice interface that is activated, not Google’s.
Why You Should Consider Replacing a Staff Assistant
The main reason for the transition is linguistic, as Alice has been trained on a huge array of Russian-language data, which allows her to better understand slang, complex grammatical constructs, and even the emotional coloring of speech, while Google Assistant may be wrong about cases or not understand local names of stores and services.
In addition, the Yandex ecosystem offers deeper integration with Russian services: you can order taxis, buy groceries, manage a Yandex Station smart home, and search for information in Yandex Maps by voice without switching between applications.
- 🗣️ More accurate recognition of Russian speech and dialects.
- 🏠 Full compatibility with smart home devices Yandex.
- 🎵 Integration with Yandex Music and Film Search.
- 🚗 Building routes with traffic jams in real time.
It is important to understand that a full system layer of replacement (where Google is removed from the system kernel entirely) on global firmware without root rights is not possible and can lead to unstable operation.
Basic settings of Yandex Assistant on Xiaomi
The first step is always to install and configure the app itself correctly, without which any subsequent manipulation of system calls will not make sense. Make sure you have the latest version of the Yandex app installed or a separate Yandex app with Alice from the Google Play Store.
Once installed, you need to log into your Yandex ID account. It is the account binding that gives you access to personalized scripts, search history and subscriptions. Without authorization, the assistant will work in a basic mode with limited functionality.
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Use the same Yandex account as you do on your other devices (tablets, smart speakers) to sync your history and settings.
In the app settings, find the section dedicated to the voice assistant, where you should activate the function "Voice Activation", which will allow you to call Alice with the phrase "Listen, Yandex" or "Alice", even if the screen of the smartphone is locked.
It's also recommended that you set up Voice in your profile section, so you can choose your voice timbre, your speech speed, and even turn on Whisper mode if you're in a quiet place, which makes interaction with your Xiaomi smartphone more comfortable.
Disabling Google Assistant in Android
To avoid conflict, when calling the assistant opens both applications or the wrong thing works, you should limit the activity of a competitor. Google Assistant has the property of intercepting control, especially when using headsets or car systems.
To start, open your phone's settings and go to the Apps → All Apps section. Search in the Google list. Select "Default" or "Default App" option from the app menu. Here we're interested in the Digital Assistant app option.
⚠️ Note: In some versions MIUI/HyperOS Disabling Google Assistant completely can cause the OK Google feature to stop working at all and the system won’t offer you to choose a replacement, so don’t delete Google updates, just change the settings inside the Google app itself.
If the system allows, select “No” or “None” from the assistant list, which will force the system to turn off the reaction to a long press of the power button if it is tied to Google services, but on many modern Xiaomi models this setting is hidden or blocked by the manufacturer.
An alternative way is to go directly to the Google Assistant settings. Open the Google app, click on the profile avatar, and select Settings → Google Assent. Here you can turn off the "Hey Google" option and remove the permission to access the microphone to avoid false positives.
Method of reassigning the power button through settings
The most convenient way to quickly call Alice is to use the lock button. On Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones, the voice assistant function is implemented when you hold the power button for 0.5-1 seconds, Google is the default, but we can change that.
Go to Settings → Additional Settings → Press and Hold the Power button (the path may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI or HyperOS).
Click on this. If you're lucky enough to have your firmware version that allows you to choose, Yandex will appear in the list. Select it. Now, if you press the power button long enough, Alice will start.
Unfortunately, on global firmware versions (Global ROM), this list is often limited to Google Assistant, in which case the standard system means to reassign the button will not work, and you will have to resort to third-party solutions or put up with restrictions.
If Yandex is not listed, try the following life hack: in the settings of the Yandex Assistant application itself, find the option “Call the button.” The application may suggest reconfiguring the system button automatically, obtaining special access rights through ADB or debugging mode, but this does not work on all models.
Using third-party applications for reassignment
If Xiaomi’s standard settings don’t work, specialized utilities come to the rescue. The most popular and reliable solution is the Button Mapper app (or its counterparts, such as “Assistive Touch” or “MacroDroid”), which allows you to reassign the actions of buttons at the system level.
Once you install Button Mapper, launch the application and give it the permissions you need to access Accessibility so that the application can “see” which button you press and intercept that action.
☑️ Setting up Button Mapper
In the main menu, look for the “Buttons” or “Buttons” section. Select Power Button or Home Button if you have a physical button. In Action, select Long Press or Double Press.
As an action (Custom Action), select “Launch App” and find Yandex in the list. Now, when you do the corresponding action with the button, the system will open the Yandex assistant.
⚠️ Note: Using third-party button interception software can increase battery consumption, as the app constantly monitors the status of buttons in the background (12/13/14) Access to the power button can be blocked by the security system.
Another option is to use macros in the MacroDroid app, where you can create a trigger: Long press search button (if any) or Shake device, and action: Launch Yandex application. This is a flexible tool for advanced users.
Comparative table of assistants' capabilities
To make a final decision and understand what you will lose by switching to Alice, let’s compare the functionality of the two systems: Google Assistant is strong in integration with Western services, while Yandex dominates the local segment.
| Function | Google Assistant | Yandex Alice |
|---|---|---|
| Understanding the Russian language | Good, but with an accent. | Great, native. |
| Smart home management | Google Home, Philips Hue | Yandex Station, a wide range of Russian brands |
| Search for information | Google Search (Worldwide) | Yandex Search (local + world) |
| Ordering services (Taxi, Food) | Limited in Russia | Full integration |
| Working without the Internet | Basic teams | Limited (requires networking) |
As you can see from the table, Alice provides a more relevant service for life in Russia and the CIS countries, but if you actively use Google Calendar, Gmail and English-language content, a complete rejection of Google Assistant can be uncomfortable.
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The ideal strategy is not to remove Google completely, but simply reassign the call button to Alice while remaining in the Android ecosystem.
Customize widgets and scripts for convenience
Once you've set up a call, you should optimize the interface. You can put a Yandex widget on your Xiaomi desktop. It can be a search bar or an animated Alice ball that's always on hand.
Add a widget to the home screen, (click) an empty space on your desktop, select "Widgets" and find Yandex. Choose a size that you like. This allows you to run the assistant with one touch, without using buttons.
You also need to configure scripts. In Yandex, click on the menu button (three bars) and select Scenarios. You can create automation: "When I connect to Bluetooth in the car, turn on the navigator and music." This makes the smartphone a powerful control tool.
Secret team to clean up the cache
Don't forget to update the app. Yandex developers are constantly releasing new skills and improving recognition. Regular updates to Google Play or AppGallery ensure stable work.
Possible problems and solutions
Users may encounter a number of difficulties in setting up, such as Alice not hearing the “Listen, Yandex” command from a locked screen, often due to MIUI’s aggressive energy-saving policies.
To fix this, go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Problem Finding (or just find Yandex app in the app list). Make sure Autostart is allowed and there is a "No Limits" value for background activity set. Without that, the system will "kill" the listening process to save energy.
Another problem is the hotkey conflict, and if you have a power button, a headset, and a voice, the devices can behave in an unpredictable way, and in such cases, it's recommended that you leave only one activation method, for example, only the voice one.
⚠️ Note: When using third-party button reassignment programs (Button Mapper) after the Xiaomi system update, the settings may fly.
If nothing helps and the power button is persistently calling Google, try clearing the data from the Google app itself. Go to Settings → Apps → Google → Memory → Clear the data. Sometimes this resets the "stuck" anchor settings.