How to replace Mi Assistant with Alice in Xiaomi devices: full instructions

Voice assistants have become an integral part of modern smartphones, but not all Xiaomi users are happy with the standard Mi Assistant. Many prefer Alice from Yandex for its more natural sound, support for the Russian language and integration with popular services.

In this article, you will find current ways to install Alice as the main voice assistant on Redmi smartphones, POCO And Mi, and Xiaomi smart speakers and TVs, and we'll go through the official and informal methods, the pros and cons, and we'll give you recommendations for correcting common errors. MIUI device models.

Why Alice is better than Mi Assistant: a comparison of opportunities

Before you get to the setup, it is worth understanding exactly what Alice wins over the standard Xiaomi assistant.

• 🗣️ Natural voice with intonation and dialect support (unlike the Mi Assistant robotic sound).
• 🔄 Learning and personalization: Alice remembers preferences and adapts to the user.

The Mi Assistant has its advantages: it is better optimized for managing Xiaomi’s smart home (like Yeelight lamps or a robot vacuum cleaner) and consumes fewer resources.

Official method: installation of Alice through Yandex.Luncher

The easiest and safest method is to use Yandex.Luncher, which replaces the standard MIUI shell and integrates Alice into the system. Suitable for most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models on Android 9.0 and higher.

Instructions:

1. Download Yandex.Luncher from Google Play.
2. Set it as the default launcher (the system will prompt you to do so when you first start).
3. Scroll to the left to the widgets and add Alice widget to the main screen.
4. Press the Home button (or swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen) and a search bar with a microphone will appear.

Method limitation: Alice will only work within the launcher. Calling from other applications or from a locked screen will require additional settings (see next section).

Download Yandex.Luncher from the official source

Make a backup of data (settings → system → backup)

Disable Mi Assistant in Settings (Applications → All Apps → Mi Assistant → Disable)

Check the Android version (settings) → phone-wise)-->

Informal methods: Replacing a system-level assistant

To completely replace the Mi Assistant with Alice, you will need root access or use ADB. These methods are suitable for power users and can lead to loss of warranty.

Method 1: Through ADB (without root):

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.voiceassist


adb shell pm install -r /sdcard/Download/YandexAlice.apk




adb shell cmd appops set ru.yandex.alice android:system_alert_window allow

Method 2: Using Magisk (root required):

1. Install the XiaomiDebloater module via Magisk.
2. In the module settings, disable com.miui.voiceassist.
3. Install. APK-Alice file with system application rights.

⚠️ Note: After replacing the assistant, Xiaomi's signature gestures (for example, calling the assistant by holding the Home button) may stop working. TWRP.

Customize Alice on Xiaomi smart devices (columns, TVs)

On Xiaomi Smart Speaker or Mi TV, it is more difficult to replace the Mi Assistant due to the closed firmware.

For smart lamps and robot vacuum cleaners Xiaomi direct integration with Alice is impossible – you will have to use Yandex.Station or Google Home as an intermediary through IFTTT or Home Assistant.

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If Alice does not recognize the commands for Xiaomi smart home, create in Yandex.Smart Home "virtual devices", and then connect them with real gadgets through Mi Home and IFTTT.

Solving typical installation problems

Even if you follow the instructions accurately, you can get errors.

• 🚫 "Alice does not respond to voice: Check the microphone permissions in Settings → Annexes → Alice. → Permits. Turn off power saving for the application (Settings) → Battery → Battery optimization. Make sure the language is in Russian.
• 🔇 "Microphone is down": Test the microphone in another app (e.g., Recorder). Clear the cache and data of Alice's app. Check if the access is blocked by antivirus or MIUI Optimization.
• 🔄 "Alice resets after reboot": This is typical of no root methods. Use Tasker to automatically start Alice when the system starts. Set Alice as the default application for handling voice commands.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI 14+ Xiaomi blocks third-party voice assistants at the core level.If after all the manipulations Alice refuses to work, try to roll back on the kernel. MIUI 13 or use custom firmware (e.g. xiaomi.eu).

Comparison of installation methods: what to choose

The only way to make Alice a full-fledged replacement for the Mi Assistant at the system level is to get root rights and modify the firmware. All other methods only provide partial functionality.

• 📱 For basic use (search, weather, timers) will be enough Yandex.Luncher.
• 🔧 It will be necessary to manage a smart home ADB magisk.
• 🎤 To work with a locked screen, you need a custom firmware.

If you’re not willing to risk the stability of the device, consider using both of these devices at the same time.

Mi Assistant for managing Xiaomi devices.

Alice for everything else (runs via a widget or voice command "OK, Yandex").

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On devices with a Snapdragon chip (such as the Xiaomi 12 Pro), ADB methods work more stable than on MediaTek (such as the Redmi Note 11), where it is often necessary to unlock the bootloader.

Security and Privacy: What You Need to Know

Replacing a system assistant entails risks:

Vulnerabilities: Unofficial firmware may contain backdoors.

Data collection: Alice transmits voice requests to Yandex servers (unlike Mi Assistant, which processes some commands locally).

Warranty Violation: Unblocking the bootloader or getting root will void the Xiaomi warranty.

Safety recommendations:

• 🔒 Use only official ones. APK Alice (from Google Play or Yandex website).
• 🛡️ Before modifying the system, create a backup copy through TWRP Mi Cloud.
• 📵 Disable Alice’s access to contacts and messages if you don’t plan to use these features.

For maximum privacy, you can set up Alice’s local mode (without sending data to the server), but this will limit her options. In the application settings, select Offline Mode and download language packs.

FAQ: Frequent questions about installing Alice on Xiaomi