Voice assistants have become an integral part of the Xiaomi ecosystem, but not all users like the standard XiaoAI, the company's corporate assistant. Some prefer the usual Google Assistant, some want Alice's features from Yandex, and some want to completely disable voice control. In this article, we will analyze all possible ways to change the assistant on smartphones, smart speakers and other Xiaomi devices, including hidden settings and circumventing the limitations of MIUI.
It is important to understand that the process depends on the device model, firmware version (MIUI 12/13/14/15) and regional settings. For example, on global versions of smartphones (Redmi Note 12 Pro+, Xiaomi 13T) Google Assistant can be installed by default, while on Chinese (Mi 11 Ultra, Mix Fold 3) only XiaoAI. We will consider universal methods, as well as nuances for specific devices.
1.What voice assistants are available on Xiaomi
Before we change assistants, we’ll see what options are available for Xiaomi devices, which can be divided into three categories:
- 🔹 Branded solutions: XiaoAI (Chinese version) and Mi Assistant (global) offer integration with the Mi Home ecosystem, but are limited in functionality outside of China.
- 🔹 Third-party assistants: Google Assistant, Yandex Alice, Siri (via Shortcuts on iPhone) Require separate installation and configuration.
- 🔹 Alternative solutions: Bixby (via Samsung Apps), Alexa (on smart speakers), as well as custom firmware with support for Rhasspy or Mycroft.
Most modern Xiaomi smartphones (Redmi K60, POCO F5, Xiaomi 14) have either XiaoAI or Google Assistant installed by default, depending on the firmware region. Smart speakers (Xiaomi Smart Speaker, Mi AI Speaker) work exclusively with XiaoAI, but it can be complemented by Alice through skills. Smart watches (Mi Watch S3, Redmi Watch 3) support only basic voice commands without the ability to change assistant.
If you want to remove XiaoAI completely and go to Google Assistant on Chinese firmware, you'll have to use workarounds, as we'll explain in detail in the Hidden Settings section, but on global versions of MIUI, changing assistants usually comes down to choosing what to do with settings.
2. How to change the voice assistant on the smartphone Xiaomi
Let's start with the most common case, changing assistants on smartphones running MIUI, which depends on the version of the firmware and the region of the device.
2.1. Global firmware (EEA/Global)
On the global versions (Redmi Note 12, Xiaomi 13 Lite) Google Assistant is installed by default, but it can be disabled or replaced with Yandex Alice:
- Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Find Google in the list and select Remove Updates (if you need to reset to the factory version).
- To install Alice, download the Yandex application from the official website or Google Play.
- Run Alice’s settings through the Yandex app and allow access to the microphone.
To make Alice the default assistant:
- Go to Settings → Applications → Default Applications → Voice Assistant.
- Select Yandex from the list (if the option is not available, update the application).
Check the firmware version (Settings → About the phone)
Install an alternative assistant (Google Play or APK)
Allow access to the microphone in the application settings
Reboot your phone after the changes-->
2.2. Chinese firmware (China ROM)
On Chinese firmware (Mi 13 Pro, Redmi K50 Ultra), XiaoAI is sewn into the system level, and you can't just remove it.
- 🔧 Disconnecting through Settings: Go to Settings → Additionally. → XiaoAI. Turn off the switches Voice assistant and show on the lock screen. In the voice control section, turn off listening "Hey, XiaoAI".
- 🔧 Installation of Google Assistant through ADB (Requires to unlock the bootloader: adb shell pm install -r --user 0 com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox After that, the Google Assistant will appear in the default settings.
- 🔇 For Yandex Alice: In the Yandex application go to Settings → Alice, turn off voice activation and show on lock screen.
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Even after the voice assistant is disabled, some MIUI features (such as search in settings) may still use the microphone.To block access completely, disable microphone permission for all system applications manually.
On some devices (Redmi 10C, POCO M5), the voice search button on the home screen disappears after the assistant is disabled. To return it back, just reboot the launcher: press the empty space on the screen → Home screen settings → Reset settings.
6. Solving problems when changing voice assistant
When replacing an assistant, users often encounter errors, and let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them.
Problem 1: Once you install Google Assistant on Chinese firmware, it is not activated by voice command.
⚠️ Note: On Chinese firmware, Xiaomi blocks voice activation of Google Assistant via the "OK, Google" command. Solution: use the button on the screen or configure activation via Settings → Annexes → Google → Voice input.
Problem 2: Yandex Alice does not recognize commands for smart Mi Home devices.
- Check that in the Mi Home app, devices are tied to the same account as in Yandex.
- Update the “Xiaomi Smart Home” skill in Alice.
- Reboot your smart speaker or smartphone.
7. Alternative ways to manage Xiaomi devices without voice assistants
If you are not satisfied with XiaoAI or Google Assistant, you can use other methods of managing the Xiaomi ecosystem:
- 📱 Gestures and shortcuts: Set up Double Touch or Gesture up for quick application launch in Settings → Additionally. → Use Mi Home widgets on the home screen to control smart devices.
- 🖥️ Voice control via PC: Install Mi PC Suite and control devices via computer. Use IFTTT Create voice commands via Google Assistant or Alice, even if they are not directly supported.
- ⚙️ Automation with Tasker: Create tasks to control Mi Home devices without voice commands. Example: automatically turn on the lights when unlocking your phone.