How to Put Alice as the Default Voice Assistant on Xiaomi: The Complete Guide

Voice assistants have become an integral part of modern smartphones, but not all Xiaomi users are happy with the standard Google Assistant. Russian owners of devices on MIUI are much more convenient to use Alice from Yandex - she understands the Russian language better, is integrated with local services and does not require a VPN for full operation. However, changing the assistant by default is not so easy: the manufacturer does not provide a direct option in the settings.

In this article, we will analyze all the current ways to make Alice the main voice assistant on Xiaomi, Redmi and smartphones. POCO into 2026 year, including circumvention of restrictions MIUI 14/15, work ADB-We will pay special attention to the nuances for different versions of firmware and models - from the budget Redmi Note to the flagship Xiaomi 14.

Why Alice is better than Google Assistant for Xiaomi users in Russia

Before we get to the setup, it’s worth understanding why it’s needed.The Yandex Alice has several key benefits for Russian audiences:

• 🗣️ Localization: Understands Russian perfectly, including slang and regional dialects, whereas Google Assistant often requires repetitions.
• 📍 Integration with Russian services: works with Yandex.Maps, Yandex.Music, Kinopoisk and other platforms without any VPN.
• 🔒 Privacy: Data is processed on servers in Russia, which is important for users concerned about information leaks abroad.
• 🎵 Multimedia: supports voice control of Yandex.Station, Yandex.Music and even some smart Xiaomi devices via Mi Home.

Also, Alice responds more quickly to commands on the Russian Internet — there are no delays in routing traffic through foreign servers — and she can joke, tell jokes, and maintain dialogue, making interaction more natural.

Smartphone Preparation: What to Do Before Replacing an Assistant

Before you change the default assistant, follow a few mandatory steps to avoid errors and failures:

1. Update your firmware to the latest version of MIUI. Check the relevance in Settings → About Phone → System Update.
2. Install Yandex with Alice from Google Play or AppGallery (for models without Google services).
3. Set up Alice: open the application, log in to Yandex account and allow all necessary permissions (microphone, location, etc.).
4. Disable battery optimization for Yandex, otherwise the assistant may not be launched by voice command.

If your device is running MIUI Global or MIUI China, you may need to adjust your region further.

1. Go to Settings. → Additionally. → Region.
2. Choose Russia (if you don’t have that option, use India to avoid blocking).

Update MIUI to the latest version|

Install the Yandex application with Alice |

Log in to Yandex | account

Disable battery optimization for Yandex|

Check the region in settings (Russia/India)-->

⚠️ Note: On some Xiaomi models (e.g, POCO F5 or Redmi K60) If some features (such as Mi Pay) are lost after a region change, return the old region and use alternative methods from this article.

Method 1: Replace the assistant with MIUI settings (without ADB)

The easiest method is to use built-in MIUI options. It works on most devices with MIUI 12.5 and later, but may not be available on some global firmware versions.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Applications by default.
2. Find the Voice Assistant (or Assist & Voice Input in English).
3. Select Yandex from the list (if not, go to the next method).
4. Confirm the selection and restart the device.

If this item is missing, try an alternative path:

1. Press the Home button (or swipe the screen from the bottom up and hold your finger on MIUI 14+).
2. In the menu that appears, tap on the gear icon (⚙️) top-right.
3. Select Yandex from the list of available assistants.

Method 2: Using ADB to force a change of assistant

If the standard method doesn’t work, you’ll have to use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a more complex but versatile method that works on 90% of Xiaomi devices.

What you need:

• 🖥️ A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB (You can download from the official Android website).
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on a smartphone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times tap the assembly number → return to Settings → Additionally. → For developers → set up USB).
• 🔌 USB-Type C Cable (preferably original).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC and confirm the debugging permission on the device screen.
2. Open the command prompt (cmd) in the folder with ADB and type:

adb devices

If the device appears in the list, follow the command:

adb shell pm grant ru.yandex.search android.permission.BIND_ASSISTANT_SERVICE

Then:

adb shell cmd assistant set-default-assistant ru.yandex.search/.voiceassistant.AssistantActivity

After completing the commands, restart your smartphone. Now, when you hold the Home button or voice command "OK, Yandex", Alice should start.

⚠️ Note: On some devices (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T or POCO X5 Pro after update MIUI The assistant settings may reset. To avoid this, repeat. ADB-Teams after each major update.

💡

If Alice doesn’t start after executing commands, try clearing the cache of the Yandex application and restarting the device. Also check if MIUI Optimization blocks the assistant’s background work (disables in the developer settings).

Method 3: Use of third-party launchers (for MIUI without root)

If previous methods didn't work, you can go around the way by using an alternative launcher that supports changing voice assistants, like Nova Launcher or Lawnchair.

Instructions for Nova Launcher:

1. Install Nova Launcher from Google Play.
2. Open the launcher settings (Long press on the desktop → Settings).
3. Go to Apps and Widgets → Voice Search.
4. Select Yandex from the list of available assistants.
5. Save the settings and install Nova Launcher with the default launcher.

The advantage of this method is that it does not require ADB or root rights, and it also works on most versions of MIUI.

• ❌ Incorrect operation of gestures in MIUI 14+ (For example, swipe up to return home may not work).
• ❌ Some system functions (e.g. Second Space) may not be available.

💡

Third-party launchers are a good option for users who don’t want to mess with ADB but are willing to sacrifice some MIUI features for Alice.

Solving the problems: why Alice doesn't work after setting up

Even after a successful replacement, there may be failures, and let's look at the typical problems and solutions.

If none of the methods worked, check:

• 📱 Version MIUI: On some beta versions of the firmware, voice assistants may not work properly.
• 🔧 Root rights: If the device is rooted, try using Magisk to force the assistant to be replaced.
• 🛠️ Conflict with other apps: Disable or remove other voice assistants (such as Samsung Bixby if it was installed).

Alternative methods: voice control without changing assistant

If you can't replace the default assistant, you can use Alice in parallel with the Google Assistant.

1. Install the Yandex widget on the main screen (long press → Widgets → Yandex).
2. Set up voice launch in the Yandex app (Settings → Alice → Voice Launch).
3. Activate the option “OK, Yandex” and take voice training.

Alice will now run on a voice command, even if Google Assistant remains the default assistant, a disadvantage of which is that Alice cannot be triggered with the Home button.

Another option is to use Tasker or MacroDroid to create an automatic rule:

• 🤖 Create a task that starts Yandex with a long press on the Home button.
• 🔄 Set up an exception for Google Assistant so it doesn’t conflict with Alice.

FAQ: Frequent questions about setting up Alice on Xiaomi