Xiaomi smartphone owners often face a situation where the proprietary Mi AI becomes the main voice assistant after the first device is turned on. This decision is logical for the Chinese market, but for global firmware versions such as Global or EU, the more familiar and functional tool is Google Assistant. The problem is that the standard Android setting sometimes ignores the user's choice, leaving priority to the manufacturer's system assistant.
Changing this setting not only allows voice calls to be activated through the phrase “Ok Google,” but also integrates smart home, calendar, and navigation into a single ecosystem, and in this article, we’ll detail how to force Google Assistant to be the main assistant in the MIUI or HyperOS shell, bypassing standard system constraints.
The setup process can vary depending on the version of the Android operating system and the specific shell modification.We will look at universal methods that work on most current models, including the Redmi Note and Xiaomi's flagship series.
Why does the system offer Mi AI instead of Google?
By default, MIUI firmware prioritizes the company’s own services, which is due to licensing agreements and the manufacturer’s desire to promote its ecosystem products. When you first set up a smartphone or drop it to factory settings, the system automatically registers Mi AI as a voice command handler.
However, Mi AI functionality is often limited to basic commands or tailored to Chinese language and services, and for users using the Russian-language interface and Western services, this creates discomfort, and the system can persistently return settings to factory values after major security updates.
⚠️ Warning: Forced replacement of the system assistant on some custom firmware assemblies can lead to a conflict of processes if you do not pre-disable the Mi service AI application settings.
It’s important to understand that Google Assistant requires certain permissions to function properly, including access to microphone, location, and activity history, and without these rights, it won’t be able to perform complex queries like route planning or smart home management.
Basic configuration through the system menu
The easiest way to change the priority app is to use the standard Android settings menu, which works on most Android 10 and higher devices, so you have to open the settings and find the default app section.
Depending on the version of MIUI, the path may be slightly different, usually in the deep menu of system settings. Follow the instructions carefully so that you do not miss the desired item.
☑️ Checking before setting up
To start, go to your device's Settings. Next, find the App section and select All Apps. The top right corner of the screen often has a three-point menu where you need to select the default App option.
In the list that opens, look for the Device Assistant or Digital Assistant category, and if you click on it, you'll see a list of available systems. If Google is installed and updated, it'll be in the list. Select it.
| Parameter | Default value | Recommended value | Where to change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Voice input | Mi AI/No | Settings → Applications | |
| Processing requests | Systemic | Google App | Settings → Applications by default |
| Lock screen | Disconnected. | Permitted. | Google's Settings → Assistant |
| Language | Systemic | Russian (Russia) | Google Settings → Languages |
Once selected, the system can request confirmation of actions. Accept the changes. Now, if you press the home button or swipe from the corner of the screen, it should start Google Assistant.
Setup through the Google app
If the system menu does not change the choice or the item is blocked, you can try to configure the priority directly through the Google app, which is often more effective because the service itself forcibly registers its rights in the system.
Open the Google app on your Xiaomi smartphone. Click on the profile avatar in the upper right corner and go to Settings. Next, select the Google Assistant section.
In the assistant menu, look for Google Assent (or simply the section name at the top). There should be an option called Select Google Assent. If it is active, the system will prompt you to confirm the replacement of the current assistant.
What to do if there is no choice point?
Also in this section, it's important to check Hey Google's settings. Make sure the switch is activated. The system will guide you through the voice learning process, which will greatly improve the accuracy of command recognition in noisy environments.
Don’t forget to check the Vehicles or Vehicles section in the Assistant settings if you plan to use your smartphone in your car, where you can set up automatic start-up when you connect to Android Auto.
Using ADB for Forced Replacement
In cases where MIUI blocks standard methods, you have to use a more advanced tool – Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires connecting your smartphone to your computer and having basic knowledge about working with the command line.
To start, you need to activate the developer mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click on the MIUI version seven times. After that, a new section Additional → For Developers will appear in the settings menu.
Turn on USB debugging and connect your phone to your PC. You'll need a Platform-tools package installed. Open the terminal or command line in the ADB tool folder.
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.voiceassistThis command disables the system component of Mi AI, which often frees up the slot to assign another assistant.
⚠️ Attention: Use ADB-If you're not properly shutting down system components, you can cause the interface to work in a way that's not stable.
If disabling the system assistant didn't work, you can try resetting all the apps' preferences. In the App menu, find three dots in the corner and select Reset App Settings. This will return all default choices to factory ones, and when you first activate voice input, the system will ask you again.
Solving the problem of activating “Ok Google”
Even after a successful replacement, the voice activation function may not work, often due to Xiaomi’s power saving settings, which aggressively kill background processes to save battery life.
You go to the battery settings and find the Google app. Set Unlimited mode, which will allow the microphone to listen to the activation command all the time, even when the screen is off.
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For stable “Ok Google” on Xiaomi, be sure to enable auto-run for the Google app in the corresponding MIUI optimization menu.
Also check permissions. In the Apps menu → Google → Permissions, make sure that access to the microphone is always allowed, not just when you use it. Lack of this right is the most common reason for assistant silence.
Sometimes it helps to clean the cache and data of the Google app itself. Go to the App Store and click Clear. After that, you need to reconfigure the language and voice model.
Features of work on different versions of MIUI and HyperOS
The MIUI shell is constantly updated, and with each major update (for example, the transition from MIUI 12 to 13 or 14), the path to settings can change. With new versions of HyperOS, Xiaomi has begun to integrate its services more deeply, which makes it difficult to replace.
On older versions of Android (9 and below), the process may not have a separate “Default Apps” menu, in which cases the settings are often made through Settings → Advanced Settings → Language and input.
Owners of Global ROM devices are more fortunate: they often have a full Google service package pre-installed, and the conflict with Mi AI is minimal. Users of Chinese versions (China ROM) with manually installed Google Play often have to face bugs.
A critical step for Chinese firmware is to install not only Google services, but also to update all components of Google Play Services to the latest versions through the Play Store, otherwise replacing the assistant will not work.
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The success of replacing the voice assistant is 90% dependent on the right power saving settings and having all the updates available for the Google app.
If you upgrade to HyperOS, look for a new control center, and sometimes the assistant settings are moved to Smart Assistant or AI Services, and look for voice-based options.