How to make Alice the default voice assistant on Xiaomi Poco X3: 3 working ways

The voice assistant “Alice” from Yandex has long overtaken Google Assistant in functionality for Russian-speaking users — it better understands the accent, supports more local services (from taxi order to housing and communal services) and is integrated with the ecosystem of Yandex. However, Xiaomi Poco X3 smartphones with MIUI firmware installed Google assistant by default, and replace it with standard tools of the system is impossible. In this article, we will analyze three proven methods to make Alice the main voice assistant — from simple settings to manual intervention through ADB.

It's important to understand that the Poco X3 (M2007J20CG and M2007J20CI) runs on the basis of MIUI 12/13/14 with a shell over Android 10/11, where Google Assistant is hard-stitched into the system as a system application. This means that simply disabling it through the settings will not work — you will need either workarounds or superuser rights. We will consider the options without the root (suitable for most users) and one method with root access for advanced.

Before proceeding, make sure that:

• 📱 The phone has the application Yandex with Alice (version not lower than 23.10).
• 🔄 Smartphone updated to the latest stable firmware (check in Settings) → The phone. → Update MIUI).
• 🔌 Developer mode is enabled (instruction below).

Method 1: Configure with “Default Apps” (without ADB)

The easiest method that works on MIUI 12.5+ is to reassign the assistant through system settings, which unfortunately doesn't work on all firmware versions, but it's worth a try.

Open Settings → Applications → Application Management and follow the steps:

1. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select the Default Apps.
2. Find the Voice Assistant (or Assistant) section.
3. If you have Yandex on the list, select it. If you don't, go to the following.

On some firmware, this item may be missing or blocked, in which case the system will issue a notification: “Configuration is not available due to manufacturer restrictions”, which means that intervention through ADB (mode 2) will be required.

⚠️ Note: After changing the assistant through the Google Assistant settings, the Assistant may continue to activate by holding the Home button long. To fix this, turn off the gesture in Settings → Additional settings → Home button».

Install Xiaomi drivers on PC|Download the platform ADB Tools|Put the debugging on. USB|Unlock. OEM-unlocking (if required)|Make a backup copy of the data-->

Method 2: Replace the assistant with ADB (no root)

This method requires connecting your smartphone to your computer and using Android Debug Bridge (ADB).It works on most versions of MIUI, but can reset once the system is upgraded.

First, prepare the PC:

1. Download. ADB Google Tools and Unpack to the Root of the Disk C:\ (It's got to be a way. C:\platform-tools\).
2. Turn on Poco X3 developer mode: go to Settings → About phone and 7 times tap on the item MIUI version.
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers and activate: 🔧 Debugging by USB 🔓 Unlocking OEM (if)

Now connect your phone to your PC via USB (use the original cable!) and execute commands in Command Prompt (launch on behalf of the administrator):

cd C:\platform-tools\


adb devices

If the device appears in the list, enter:

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


adb shell cmd assistant set-default-assistant com.yandex.browser

After the phone reboots, Alice should become the default assistant. Check by holding the Home button or saying "OK, Yandex."

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI 14 after this procedure, the sound in the calls may disappear. If this happens, return the settings with the command: adb shell cmd assistant set-default-assistant com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox and use method 3.

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

If the first two methods don't work, you can trick the system with an alternative launcher, which doesn't change the system assistant, but allows Alice to be launched through gestures or voice commands.

Install one of the launchers with support for customization assistant:

• 📱 Nova Launcher (paid version with gesture support)
• 🎨 Lawnchair 2 (free, open source)
• ⚡ Hyperion Launcher (optimized for Xiaomi)

The following is the case with Nova Launcher:

1. Install the launcher and make it the main one (Settings → Applications → Default → Launcher).
2. Press the free space on the main screen → Settings → Gestures and inputs.
3. Find the Swipe point up (or another gesture) and assign it the action Yandex (Alice).
4. Turn off the original Google Assistant gesture in Settings → System → Gestures → Assistant gesture.

Important: This method does not replace the system assistant, but only adds an alternative way to call Alice. Voice activation using the phrase "OK, Yandex" will work only if the appropriate switch is turned on in the settings of the Yandex application.

💡

If the application icons are missing after the launcher change, clear the launcher cache in Settings → Applications → Application Management → Nova Launcher → Clear the cache.

Comparison of methods: which one to choose?

Each of the methods has its pros and cons. Below the table will help you determine the choice:

For most Poco X3 users, the best solution is a combination of methods 1 and 3: try changing the assistant through settings first, and if you can’t, install Nova Launcher and adjust gestures. The method with ADB is suitable for those who are not afraid of the command line, but are ready to repeat the procedure after each MIUI update.

💡

If you are critically important voice activation by the phrase (OK, Yandex), use ADB-The launcher does not completely replace the method or root.

Problems and Solutions: What to Do When Nothing Works?

Even after a successful replacement, Poco X3 users may encounter bugs, and consider typical problems and solutions:

• 🔇 Alice does not respond to voice: Check if voice activation is enabled in the Yandex app settings (Profile) → Alice's settings → Voice assistant. Make sure the microphone is not occupied by other applications (e.g. Google or WhatsApp).Reinstall the Yandex app and clear its cache.
• 🔄 After updating MIUI Reset the settings: Repeat the procedure with ADB (If you use a launcher, reconfigure your gestures. Turn off automatic updates. MIUI In Settings → The phone. → Updating the system → Three-pointed → Settings → Auto-update.
• 🚫 Google Assistant keeps opening: Turn it off in Settings → Annexes → Application management → Google → Disable (multiple Google services may need to be disabled). Use the Package Disabler app (requires root) to completely disable com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox.

If neither method worked, the radical solution is rooting and manually removing Google Assistant via Magisk or TWRP. However, this voids the warranty and can lead to unstable phone performance. On the Poco X3, unlocking the bootloader also resets all data, so back up before experimenting.

Alternatives: If Alice is not suitable

Not everyone is comfortable with Alice, who prefers Google Assistant for better integration with international services, and someone needs specialized assistants like Siri (for the Apple ecosystem) or Bixby (for Samsung).

• 🌍 Google Assistant with Russian: If you are satisfied with the functionality of Google, but do not like the English interface, set the language of the system in Russian and update the Google application to the latest version. → Settings → Language) select Russian.
• 🤖 Third-party assistants: Apps like Dragon Mobile Assistant or Lyra (from Mozilla) offer alternative functionality, but without deep integration into the system.
• 📱 Voice commands via Tasker: You can configure your own voice triggers with the Tasker app to launch Alice or other actions. For example, the phrase “Run Yandex” will open the app.

If your goal is just a quick start of Alice without replacing the system assistant, just add the Yandex widget to the main screen or configure voice control through Yandex.Browser (in it Alice works even without changing the assistant by default).

FAQ: Frequent questions on Alice's Poco X3 setup