How to change the voice assistant on the phone Xiaomi: from Google to XiaoAI

Voice assistants have become an integral part of modern smartphones, but not all Xiaomi users like the standard Google Assistant. Some people prefer a proprietary XiaoAI with advanced integration into the Mi Home ecosystem, while others want to install alternative solutions like Alice from Yandex or Siri (for enthusiasts). In this article, we will analyze all possible ways to change the assistant - from official settings to hidden functions. MIUI.

It’s important to understand that the procedure differs depending on the MIUI version, the firmware region, and even the smartphone model. For example, on the global versions (Redmi Note 12 Global), the default is Google Assistant, while on the Chinese versions (Mi 13 Ultra CN) – XiaoAI with support for Chinese. We will look at universal methods, as well as nuances for specific devices.

If you want to not just change assistants, but also completely remove Google Assistant from the system without root rights, there is a separate section with workarounds in this article, and for those who have encountered errors like "Assistant is not responding" or "Microphone is not working", we have prepared a table of solutions to common problems.

Why users want to change assistants to Xiaomi

There are several reasons, and they depend on the region of use of the smartphone:

• 🌍 Localization: XiaoAI is optimized for China – supports Chinese, local services (WeChat, Alipay), but is poorly adapted for Russia or Europe. Google Assistant, on the contrary, better understands English and European languages, but can conflict with branded features MIUI.
• 🔒 Privacy: Many users don't trust Google because of data collection. XiaoAI also transfers information to Xiaomi servers, but some consider it a lesser evil.
• 🤖 Feature: XiaoAI can manage smart Mi Home devices (e.g., enable Mi Robot Vacuum voice), while Google Assistant is better at browsing the web and integrating with Google Calendar.
• ⚡ Productivity: On budget models (Redmi) 10A, Poco M5) Google Assistant can slow down due to background activity, while XiaoAI is lighter and faster.

According to a survey of Xiaomi users in 2026, 42% would prefer XiaoAI as the primary assistant, 38% remained loyal to Google Assistant, and 20% want alternatives like Alice or Bixby, while 65% of respondents did not even know that the assistant can be changed without root rights.

Official method: changing the assistant in the MIUI settings

The easiest method is to use the built-in MIUI options. It works on most devices with MIUI 12 and later, but there are nuances for global and Chinese firmware.

For global versions (Global/EU/IN):

1. Open Settings → Applications → Applications by default.
2. Tapping on Assistant and Voice (or Digital Assistant in English versions).
3. Choose from the list of XiaoAI (if available) or Google.
4. Confirm the change and restart the smartphone.

For the Chinese versions (CN):

• 📱 Go to Settings. → Additionally. → Voice assistant ().
• 🔄 Select (XiaoAI) or Google Assistant (if installed).
• ⚙️ Enable the option to start by double pressing the home button (Home).

Some models (Xiaomi 13T, Redmi K60) may have different paths, so if Assistant and voice input are not on the menu, your firmware is not officially supporting the shift, in which case you can move on to the next sections.

How to Install XiaoAI on Global Firmware

If you are using the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ Global or another model with international firmware, XiaoAI is not available by default.

1. Download. APK-XiaoAI file from the official Mi App Store website or trusted source (e.g. APKMirror) Update version as of 2026 - com.miui.voiceassist v6.5.1.
2. Install APK by allowing installation from unknown sources (Settings → Applications → Special Access → Install Unknown Applications).
3. Start XiaoAI and go through the initial setup (select language, allow access to microphone and contacts).
4. Return to Settings → Default apps and assign XiaoAI as the primary assistant.

Important: On some devices (Poco F5, Xiaomi 12 Lite) after installation XiaoAI may not appear in the list of assistants.

adb shell pm grant com.miui.voiceassist android.permission.BIND_ASSISTANT_SERVICE

This command must be executed through ADB (the instructions for setting up ADB are in the next section), and XiaoAI will be available for selection after it is applied.

Remove Google Assistant without root rights

You can't completely remove Google Assistant without rooting permissions, but you can disable it and hide it from the system.

Method 1: Disconnection through settings

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find Google in the list and tap it.
3. Select Disable (not “Delete” as it is a system application).
4. Confirm the action. This will remove all updates and return the app to the factory version.

Method 2: Resetting Google Settings

If the shutdown didn't help:

1. Open Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google.
2. Delete your Google account (the data will be saved, but the sync will be temporarily disabled).
3. Reboot the phone.
4. Add an account again, but at the stage of setting up Google Assistant, refuse to activate it.

Limitations: Even after disabling, Google Assistant can be launched via:

• 🔍 Search bar on the home screen (if you use Google Widget)
• 🎧 Pressing a button on headphones (for example, Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro)
• 🚗 The command “OK, Google” (if the microphone is on)

💡

To completely block Google Assistant from running by voice, go to Settings → Google → Settings for apps → Search, Assistant and Voice → Voice Assistant → Turn off the “OK Google” option.

Change of Assistant through ADB (for experienced users)

If standard methods don’t work, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires a computer and basic command line knowledge, but allows you to flexibly manage the assistant settings.

Step 1: Preparation

• 🖥️ Install Android SDK Platform-Tools on PC.
• 📱 Enable Developer Mode on your phone: Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (tap 7 times).
• 🔌 Connect your phone to the PC by USB and allow debugging (Settings) → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).

Step 2: Teams to change assistants

Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and type:

adb devices

(Your device should be displayed. If not, check the drivers.)

To appoint XiaoAI as the primary assistant:

adb shell cmd assistant set-default-assistant com.miui.voiceassist/.ui.MainActivity

To get back to Google Assistant:

adb shell cmd assistant set-default-assistant com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox/com.google.android.apps.gsa.staticplugins.opa.OpaActivity

Step 3: Reboot

After completing the commands, restart the phone:

adb reboot

If the teams don't work, check:

• 📋 Correctness of the packages entered (for some versions) MIUI The path to activity may be different).
• 🔒 Adb rights (some firmware requires unlocking the bootloader).

💡

Using ADB is the only way to assign a third-party application (like Alice from Yandex) as an assistant if it supports the role of an assistant in Android.

Comparison of Google Assistant and XiaoAI

Before choosing an assistant, compare their capabilities. Below is a table of key differences in the example of Xiaomi 13 Pro with MIUI 14:

The conclusion: Google Assistant is suitable for international use, information search and work with Google services. XiaoAI is indispensable for managing Mi Ecosystem devices and saving battery life. If you need both assistants, they can be used in parallel (for example, XiaoAI for home, Google Assistant for travel).

Solving common problems

When changing assistants, users often encounter errors, and here are the most common ones and how to fix them:

If the problem is not solved, try resetting the assistant settings:

1. For Google Assistant: Settings → Google → Settings for apps → Search, Assistant and Voice → Assistant settings → Delete Assistant data.
2. For XiaoAI: Settings → Applications → XiaoAI → Storage → Clear data.

💡

If after changing the assistant stopped working voice commands in the car (Android Auto), reconnect the phone to the tape recorder and select the right assistant in the settings of Android Auto.

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing assistant to Xiaomi

💡

Before any manipulation with assistants, back up your data through Settings → Additional → Backup. This will allow you to quickly restore the system when crashes.

Changing your voice assistant to Xiaomi is a process that requires attention to detail, but is possible even without deep technical knowledge. The main thing is to choose the right method (official settings, ADB or manual installation of APK) and take into account the features of your model and firmware. If after all the manipulations the assistant is still unstable, check for MIUI updates or contact Xiaomi with the device model and firmware version.

For enthusiasts willing to go further, there are options with unlocking the bootloader and installing custom firmware (such as MIUI EU with XiaoAI preinstalled), but this is already a topic for a separate article. And if you want maximum performance, consider turning off both assistants - this can extend battery life by 5-10%.