How to Put Alice Instead of “OK Google” on Xiaomi Smartphones: 3 Ways to Work

Voice assistants have long been an integral part of modern smartphones, but not all Xiaomi users are comfortable using the standard Google Assistant. This is especially true for Russian owners who are used to the domestic solution - Alice from Yandex. Unfortunately, the manufacturer does not provide for a simple switch between assistants in the MIUI settings, but there are several workarounds.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to replace “OK Google” with Alice on Xiaomi smartphones, including models with global and Chinese firmware. You will learn how to configure voice control through third-party applications, change the binding of the search button and even integrate Alice into the system through ADB. Each method has been tested on devices with MIUI 12-14 and adapted to the latest version of the Yandex app with Alice (2026).

Why is Alice better than “OK Google” for Xiaomi users?

Before we get to the setup, it’s worth understanding Alice’s advantages over Google’s standard assistant, and here are the key reasons why Russians choose a domestic solution:

• 🗣 Better understanding of Russian: Alice is optimized for dialects, slang and accents, while Google Assistant often misrecognition.
• 📍 Local services: Integration with Yandex.Maps, Taxi, Weather and other services relevant to Russia.
• 🎵 Music and podcasts: Quick access to Yandex.Music and Podcasts without additional teams.

Alice also supports offline mode for basic commands (unlike Google Assistant, which requires a constant Internet connection) and has more flexible voice settings, such as choosing a male or female voice, and adjusting the speed of speech.

There are downsides, however: Alice is unable to manage some of the MIUI features (like enabling game mode or setting up pop-up notifications), and her integration into the system is limited, but these disadvantages are offset by convenience in everyday tasks.

Method 1: Customize Alice via the Yandex application (without root)

The easiest and safest method is to use the official Yandex app with Alice, which does not require superuser rights and works on any Xiaomi smartphone, including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 and Mi 11.

1. Download and install the latest version of the Yandex application from Google Play or the official website.
2. Open the application and log in to your Yandex account (if you haven’t already done so).
3. Click on the Alice icon (microphone in the lower right corner) and follow the tips to set up the voice assistant.
4. Allow all necessary permissions: access to microphone, contacts and notifications.

Now Alice is ready to go, but she's still got to be tied to the voice search button.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Default Applications → Voice input.
2. Choose Yandex instead of Google (if you don’t have this option, skip this step).
3. Press the Home button (or swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold it) and the voice assistant should appear. If Google Assistant opens, move to Method 2.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi) 10C or POCO M4 Pro) the voice search button is tightly tied to Google Assistant at the firmware level, in which case only reconfiguration through the ADB.

Method 2: Use of a third-party launcher (Nova Launcher, Hyperion)

If standard MIUI settings do not allow you to change the voice assistant, you can bypass the restrictions with an alternative launcher.This method works on 90% of Xiaomi devices and does not require root rights. We recommend using Nova Launcher or Hyperion Launcher (optimized for Xiaomi).

Instructions for Nova Launcher:

1. Install Nova Launcher from Google Play.
2. Launch the launcher and go to its settings (Long Click on the Desktop → Settings).
3. Select gestures and controls → gesture "Swipe up".
4. In the action list, find Yandex (or Yandex Voice Search) and select it.
5. Save the settings and return to the main screen.

Now, when swiping up from the bottom edge of the screen, Alice will open instead of Google Assistant. If the gesture doesn't work, check that Nova Launcher is set as the default launcher (Settings → Home Screen).

⚠️ Attention: Some functions MIUI (For example, pop-ups or split screens may not work properly with third-party launchers. If you notice bugs, return the standard launcher in Settings settings → Home screen → MIUI Launcher.

Method 3: Change the standard assistant through ADB (for experienced)

If the first two methods fail, the most radical (but also the most reliable) method is to change system settings through ADB. It is suitable for users willing to work with the command line, and requires a computer with Xiaomi drivers installed.

Advantages of this method:

• 🔧 Google Assistant Replacement with Alice at System Level.
• 📱 It works even on smartphones with hard-stitched Google (for example, Xiaomi). 12T or Redmi K50).
• 🔄 Does not require the constant use of third-party launchers.

Instructions:

1. Turn on Developer Mode on your smartphone: go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and click on it 7 times.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and activate Debugging over USB.
3. Connect your smartphone to your computer through USB-cable and select File Transfer Mode.
4. Download and install ADB Tools on your computer.
5. Open the command line (Win + R → cmd) and type:

adb devices

(Your device name should appear. If not, check the drivers.)

adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox

(This command removes Google Assistant for the current user.)

adb shell cmd shortcut set-assistant ru.yandex.searchplugin/.activities.AssistantActivity

(Attaching the assistant button to Alice.)

After you've done the commands, restart your smartphone. Now, when you hold the Home button or swipe, Alice will open from the corner.

⚠️ Note: Remove Google Assistant via ADB This may cause some Google services to crash (e.g. Google Pay or Find My Device) and if you notice problems, return the standard settings with the command:

adb shell cmd shortcut reset-assistant

How to Get Google Assistant Back If Something Goes Wrong

If you have encountered bugs after setting up Alice or just wanted to go back to Google Assistant, you can do this in a few steps.

• 🔄 If you used Method 1 (Yandex): Go to Settings → Annexes → Default applications → Voice input and select Google instead of Yandex.
• 🏠 If you used Method 2 (third-party launcher): Return the standard launcher MIUI in the settings Settings → Home screen → MIUI Launcher.
• 💻 If you used Method 3 (ADB): Run at command line: adb shell cmd shortcut reset-assistant adb shell cmd package install-existing com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox Then restart your smartphone.

If it doesn’t work properly after returning to Google Assistant (for example, it doesn’t respond to voice commands), try:

1. Clear the app cache: Settings → Apps → Google → Storage → Clear the cache.
2. Update Google Play services to Google Play.
3. Reinstall updates for Google app (Settings) → Annexes → Google → ⋮ → Remove updates).

💡

If Alice does not respond to voice commands, check if power saving mode is turned on for the Yandex application. Go to Settings → Battery → Application Energy Saving Mode and add Yandex to the list of exceptions.

Comparison of Alice and Google Assistant on Xiaomi: which one to choose?

To finally determine which assistant is right for you, compare their key features on Xiaomi smartphones:

The choice depends on your priorities:

• 🇷🇺 If you are interested in localization, work with Russian services and privacy – choose Alice.
• 🌍 If you are actively using Google services (Gmail, Calendar, Drive) and smart devices on Android TV — Stay on Google Assistant.
• 🔧 If you want to maximize integration with MIUI (For example, voice control of camera or battery settings – you will have to put up with Google.

💡

Alice is better suited for everyday tasks in Russian, and Google Assistant is better suited for deep integration with the Android and Xiaomi ecosystem.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When replacing a voice assistant with Xiaomi, users often encounter common mistakes, and here are the most common ones and ways to fix them:

• 🔊 Alice does not respond to voice: Check if the microphone is enabled for Yandex (Settings) → Confidentiality → Permits → Also make sure that Alice's settings include voice control.
• 🔄 After pressing the button, Google Assistant opens: This means that the button binding has not changed. Repeat Method 3 (ADB) Or try another launcher.
• 📱 Smartphone stopped responding to swipes: Reset gesture settings in the launcher or return the standard MIUI Launcher.
• 🔋 Quick battery discharge after assistant replacement: Turn off background activity for unnecessary apps (Settings) → Battery → Power saving mode and check if Google Assistant is hanging in the process.

If neither of these methods worked, your Xiaomi model may have firmware limitations, and there are two options left:

1. Install custom firmware (such as LineageOS or Pixel Experience) where you can flexibly configure assistants.
2. Use Alice via widget: add Yandex widget to the main screen and run the assistant manually.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions