Alice instead of Google Assistant: how to make Yandex assistant the main one on Xiaomi

Voice assistants have long become an integral part of smartphones, but not all Xiaomi users like the standard Google Assistant. Russian owners of devices on MIUI are much more convenient to use Alice from Yandex - she better understands Russian speech, 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 such an option in the settings.

In this article, you will find 3 proven ways to make Alice the primary voice assistant on Xiaomi, including methods through ADB, MIUI settings and third-party utilities. We will also break down common bugs, talk about the limitations of different firmware versions, and give recommendations for optimizing the assistant. If you are tired of Google’s English-language tips or want to fully use the Yandex ecosystem, this guide is for you.

Important: the procedure requires minimal technical skills. If you have never worked with ADB or changed system settings, start with the simplest method (through the MIUI settings). For advanced users, we have prepared a detailed guide to manually replacing the assistant through the command line, including solutions for devices with a locked bootloader.

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

The main reason for the transition is localization, and Google Assistant, despite its support for Russian, is optimized for Western markets, while Alice was originally designed for Russian-speaking audiences, which gives it several key advantages:

• 🗣️ Understanding speech: Alice is better at recognizing accents, dialects and spoken language, whereas Google often asks for a repeat command.
• 📍 Local services: integration with Yandex.Maps, Taxi, Music, Weather and other services that are popular in Russia.
• 🔒 Privacy: data is processed on Yandex servers in Russia, which may be important for users concerned about the transfer of information abroad.
• 🎵 Media content: Alice can include music from Yandex.Music, Podcasts, and even radio stations without additional settings.

In addition, Alice supports the management of a smart home through Yandex.Station – this is relevant for owners of Xiaomi devices who use them in the ecosystem of the smart home. For example, you can voice Yeelight light bulb or run a robot vacuum cleaner Mi Robot Vacuum without having to open the application.

Another plus is offline: Alice is able to execute simple commands (calls, alarm clocks, notes) without an Internet connection, while Google Assistant is almost useless offline.

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

This is the easiest method, but it doesn't work on all devices. In the latest versions of MIUI 14+ (especially on global firmware), the option may be hidden. Check this first - if it doesn't work, move on to the next ones.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select the Default Apps.
3. Scroll down to the Voice Assistant (or Assist & Voice Input in English).
4. In the list, select Yandex (if Alice’s application is installed).

If there is no Voice Assistant, your version of MIUI does not support changing the Assistant via the GUI, in which case you will need to use ADB (method 2) or third-party utilities (method 3).

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Before changing the default settings, make sure Alice is updated to the latest version on Google Play.Older versions of the app may not appear in the list of available assistants.

Method 2: Manual replacement via ADB (for power users)

This method works on all Xiaomi devices, but requires a computer connection and basic command line knowledge.

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux
• 📱 USB-cable (preferably original)
• 🔧 Included debugging by USB smartphone
• 📦 Installed drivers ADB and Fastboot

Step-by-step:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI Version 7 times.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
3. Connect the phone to your computer and confirm the debugging permission.
4. Open the command prompt (or Terminal on macOS/Linux) and type: Adb devices Make sure your device appears in the list.
5. Follow the command to appoint Alice as the default assistant: adb shell pm grant ru.yandex.searchplugin android.permission.BIND_ASSISTANT_SERVICE adb shell cmd assistant set-default-assistant ru.yandex.searchplugin/.assistant.AssistantActivity
6. Reboot your smartphone.

If Alice is not activated by voice or button after the reboot, check if the settings have reset. Some MIUI firmware (especially Chinese ones) may require an additional command:

adb shell settings put global assistant ru.yandex.searchplugin/.assistant.AssistantActivity

Install drivers ADB PC-only|Enable the developer mode on Xiaomi|Connect your phone to the original cable|Allow debugging by USB device-wise|Checking communications through `adb devices`-->

Method 3: Using third-party utilities (without root)

If the first two methods didn't work or seemed too complicated, you can use specialized applications.

• 🛠️ Assistant Enabler (requires) ADB, Automating the process – suitable for MIUI 12-14.
• 🔄 SetEdit (changes system settings without root) – works on most devices, but may require manual settings input.
• 🤖 Tasker + AutoInput (for advanced users) – allows you to reassign the assistant call button to Alice.

Example of settings via SetEdit:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Open the System section and find the assistant parameter.
3. Change the value to ru.yandex.searchplugin/.assistant.AssistantActivity.
4. Save the changes and restart the device.

Please note: some utilities may require ADB-access to apply changes, also after update MIUI Settings can be reset – they will have to configuring again.

Typical errors and their solutions

When replacing voice assistants, users often face typical problems, and we've collected the most common ways to eliminate them:

If none of the solutions worked, check the firmware version. Some devices (such as the Xiaomi 12T or Redmi Note 11 with MIUI EU) may require unlocking the bootloader or installing a custom recavator.

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On devices with a locked bootloader (most official firmware), ADB commands may not work, in which case only unlocking or using Magisk modules will help.

Optimizing Alice’s work on Xiaomi

After a successful replacement, we recommend that you take several steps to improve your assistant’s performance:

• 🔊 Voice setting: in the Yandex application go to Settings → Voice assistant and select your preferred voice (Alyona, Yermolaj or neural network).
• 📱 Autostart: Add Alice to Autoboot via Settings → Annexes → Application management → Auto-start.
• 🔋 Battery savings: disable battery optimization for Yandex application in Settings → Battery → Optimizing the battery.
• 🌐 Network settings: for stable operation, allow the application to use data in the background.

To speed up the response to voice commands, you can turn off Mi AI (if installed):

1. Go to Settings → Applications.
2. Find Mi AI and click Disable.
3. Confirm the action (the application will be hidden, but not removed).

If you are using Xiaomi with MIUI China, you may need to install Google Services Framework to properly work Alice. download the latest version of GSF from APKMirror and install manually.

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For owners of devices with Amoled screens (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro or Redmi K60), we recommend turning off "Always On Display" for Alice. This will reduce battery consumption, as the assistant will wake up only by voice or button.

Comparison of methods of replacement of assistant

To choose the best way, we will evaluate the pros and cons of each of them:

For most users, the best solution is a combination. ADB-It's a method that's then configured through SetEdit, and it gives you a stable result without having to get root rights. Owners of devices with unlocked bootloader can consider the option with the Magisk module AssistantChanger, which automates the process and prevents resetting after updates.

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On devices with MIUI Global Stable (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro or POCO X3 Pro) is most likely to work ADB-For Chinese firmware (MIUI China may need to install Google Services.

FAQ: Frequent questions about replacing voice assistant

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