Replacement of voiceover on the robot vacuum cleaner Xiaomi: all the ways and nuances

Voice prompts from Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum Cleaner are not just a functional element, but part of the daily interaction with the device. Over time, standard voiceovers can get boring, seem too loud or not informative enough. Fortunately, the manufacturer and enthusiasts offer several ways to change it, from official firmware with alternative voices to manually replacing audio files.

In this article, we will discuss all the current methods of replacing voiceovers, including nuances for different models (Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro, Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop P, Mi Robot Vacuum Cleaner 1S, etc.), the risks of informal firmware and step-by-step instructions with illustrations. Particular attention is paid to compatibility - not all voices fit all versions of vacuum cleaners, and an error can lead to a system failure.

The official ways: what Xiaomi offers

Xiaomi periodically releases firmware updates with new voice packets, which are the safest methods, as they do not require manual interference with system files and retain a warranty. However, the choice is limited, with 2-3 voice options in Chinese and English being usually available.

To check the available official voiceovers:

• 📱 Open the Mi Home app (or Xiaomi Home for new versions).
• 🔍 Go to the control section of your vacuum cleaner.
• ⚙️ Select Settings → Voice prompts (in some versions – Sound and alerts).
• 🔄 If alternative voices are available, the option to change them will appear here.

Limitations of the official method:

• 🌍 No support for Russian in standard packages (Chinese/English only).
• 🔄 Updates are rare – the last new voice for most models came in 2022.
• 📵 Some models (e.g. Mi Robot Vacuum Cleaner) G1) Do not support the change of voice through the application.

Unofficial firmware: risks and opportunities

Enthusiasts have created alternative firmware with extended voice packets, including Russian-language versions, celebrity voices, and even joke voices (such as the voice of Darth Vader or Terminator), but this method has serious pitfalls:

⚠️ Warning: Installing unofficial firmware will void Xiaomi’s warranty and may cause the vacuum cleaner to run unstablely, with 15% of users experiencing navigation errors or complete loss of communication with the device after firmware is installed.

The advantages of custom firmware:

• 🎤 Wide choice of votes (including Russian, Ukrainian, German, etc.).
• 🔊 Ability to regulate volume and speed of speech.
• 🛠️ Additional features (e.g., voice battery status every 10 minutes of cleaning).

Cons and risks:

• 🔄 The probability of "bricking" the device (vacuum cleaner ceases to turn on).
• 📵 Loss of compatibility with official updates.
• 🛡️ Security vulnerabilities (some firmware contains backdoors).

The most popular sources of custom firmware:

• 🌐 Forum 4PDA (section “Robot vacuum cleaners").
• 📦 GitHub repository (search on request Xiaomi vacuum voice mod).
• 💬 Telegram chats dedicated to the modification of Xiaomi equipment.

Step-by-step: Replace voice through firmware

If you decide to install informal voiceover, follow this instruction. For models with an STM32 chip (for example, Mi Robot Vacuum Cleaner 1S), the process is different from devices on the MT7688 (for example, Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Lite) - check the type of processor before you start!

Tools required:

• 💻 Computer with Windows/Linux (MacOS is not supported by most utilities).
• 🔌 USB-Type C Cable (to connect vacuum cleaner to PC).
• 📂 Archive with firmware and utilities (for example, MiRobotTool or Valetudo).

Installation steps:

1. Download the firmware with a voice packet (for example, mi_vacuum_ru_voice_v2.bin) and check her hash.
2. Connect the vacuum cleaner to the computer through USB-Make sure the battery is at least 50 times charged%.
3. Run the MiRobotTool utility and select the connection port (usually COM3 or /dev/ttyUSB0).
4. Enter the command to transfer the device to firmware mode: python mirobot.py --ip 192.168.x.x --token YOUR_TOKEN --set-sound custom_voice.bin Replace. YOUR_TOKEN on API-token of your vacuum cleaner (can be obtained through the Mi Home app).
5. Wait until the process is completed (usually 3-5 minutes). The vacuum cleaner will restart automatically.

Make sure the firmware is compatible with the vacuum cleaner model | Download the original rollback firmware | Check the battery charge (at least 50%) | Save a backup of the current settings-->

⚠️ Note: If the vacuum cleaner makes sounds in an incomprehensible language or is completely silent after the firmware is installed, the voice packet is likely incompatible with your model, in which case you need to return the original firmware through recovery mode (hold the Home button for 10 seconds when you turn on).

Manual replacement of audio files (for advanced ones)

For users willing to work with vacuum system files, there is a method of manual audio replacement, which requires access to the device's file system via ADB or SSH, which is only possible on hard-wired devices with Valetudo or similar software installed.

Where audio files are stored:

Instructions for replacement:

1. Connect to the vacuum cleaner SSH (login/password usually root/1234 or admin/empty).
2. Download original audio files for backup: cp -r /mnt/default/rockrobo/sound/ /mnt/default/rockrobo/sound_backup/
3. Replace your files with your own (names should match!) For example, use a file to greet you. start_cleaning.wav.
4. Reboot the vacuum cleaner with the reboot command.

💡

To create your audio files, use the Audacity audio editor with settings: sampling frequency of 16000 Hz, bitrate of 64 kb / s, mono.Too high bitrate or stereo sound can cause playback errors.

Problems after voice replacement and their solutions

Even if you successfully install a new voice, you can have problems, and here are the most common ones and how to fix them:

Problem 1: The vacuum cleaner doesn't make sounds at all

• 🔊 Check the volume in the Mi Home app settings (sometimes reset after firmware is flashed).
• 🔧 Make sure that the audio files have the correct resolutions (chmod) 644 for all files in the folder /sound/).
• 🔄 Return the original sound files from the backup.

Problem 2: The sound is interrupted or distorted

• 🎵 Check the format of audio files – they should match the table above.
• 📶 Make sure the vacuum cleaner is not in a poor Wi-Fi coverage area (some sounds are downloaded from the cloud).
• 🔋 Restart the device – sometimes it helps to reset the cache of the sound engine.

Problem 3: The vacuum cleaner speaks a language that is not clear.

• 🌍 You probably installed a voice package for another regional version, such as the Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum (China) firmware won't work for the global version.
• 🔍 Check the model name in the settings (Settings) → About the device) and download the firmware for it.

💡

If the vacuum cleaner starts to behave unstable after changing the voiceover (for example, does not return to base or loses communication), immediately return the original firmware. 90% of the time this solves the problem.

Alternative solutions: if the firmware is not suitable

Not all users are comfortable tinkering with firmware or manual file replacements, and fortunately there are simpler ways to change the vacuum cleaner's voice:

1. Turning off the sounds completely

If the standard voiceover is annoying, you can simply turn it off:

• 📱 In the Mi Home app, go to Settings → Voice prompts.
• 🔕 Select the No Sound option or move the volume slider to zero.

2. Use of external dynamics

Some users connect an external Bluetooth speaker to the vacuum cleaner and play back their audio cues through it.

• 🎧 Connect the speaker to the vacuum cleaner through Settings → Bluetooth (not available on all models).
• 🎶 Run audio files with prompts on your phone in sync with the vacuum cleaner’s actions (for example, through the Tasker app).

3.Voice assistant via IFTTT

IFTTT allows you to create automations where your smartphone or smart speaker will voice the actions of the vacuum cleaner.

• 🤖 Create an applet with the trigger “Vacuum cleaner started” and the action “Say ‘Grooming started’ via Google Assistant".
• 📲 Install the app IFTTT Connect it to your Mi Home account.

Compatibility of voice packs with Xiaomi models

Not all voice packs are suitable for all vacuum cleaners, and the following is a table of compatibility of popular versions:

Before installing the package, be sure to check its compatibility with your model in the developer forum. For example, the firmware for Mi Robot Vacuum Cleaner 1S will not work on the Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro due to different processors.

FAQ: Frequent questions about voice replacement