How to change Google Assistant to Alice on Xiaomi: full instructions with nuances

Voice assistants have become an integral part of modern smartphones, but not all Xiaomi users are comfortable with the standard Google Assistant. Many prefer Alice from Yandex for better adaptation to the Russian language, integration with local services and a more natural sound of the voice. Replacement of assistants on devices with MIUI — not always obvious.

In this article, we will discuss all working methods of replacement, including official and alternative methods, as well as discuss the possible limitations and nuances for different models Xiaomi, Redmi and other models. POCO. You will learn how to fully deactivate Google Assistant, install Alice as the default assistant, and configure it for maximum convenience.

Why do users change Google Assistant to Alice?

The main reason is localization, and despite Google’s best efforts, their assistant still has a poor understanding of Russian, especially with accents or in noisy conditions, while Alice was originally designed for a Russian-speaking audience and performs best in:

• 🗣️ Understanding Speech and Slang
• 📍 Working with Russian addresses and geolocation
• 🎵 Integration with Yandex.Music, Film Search and other local services
• 📅 Schedule management taking into account Russian holidays

Alice also offers more flexible voice and intonation settings, and her skills are often better adapted to everyday tasks.

• 💰 Showing exchange rates taking into account Russian banks
• 🚗 Find the nearest gas stations with current fuel prices
• 📦 Track parcels through Yandex.Delivery and SDEC
• 🎮 Manage smart devices from Yandex (columns, lamps)

It is important to note that on some Xiaomi models (especially those with global firmware), Alice may not work as smoothly as Google Mobile Services is restricting (GMS), We'll talk about the problems that alternative assistants block at the system level.

Preparing a smartphone before replacing an assistant

Before starting a replacement, there are several important steps to follow, which will help avoid errors and ensure that Alice works correctly after installation.

Update MIUI to the latest version

Remove the cache of Google applications

Check for root rights (if you plan to set up deeply)

Download the latest version of Yandex with Alice from the official source

Make a backup copy of important data-->

First thing you need to check the version. MIUI On your device. To do this, go to Settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI. Current Firmware (starting with the MIUI 12) is better supported by third-party assistants. If your version is outdated, update it through Settings → Updating the system.

Next, clear the cache of Google apps, as they may conflict with Alice. → Annexes → Application management → Google, then click Storage → Clear the cache. Repeat the same for Google Play Services.

⚠️ Note: If you use Xiaomi with global firmware (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro Global), some of Alice's features may be limited due to Google's policy. MIUI or use the bypass methods described below.

Also make sure that your device has the latest version of Yandex with Alice installed.

• 🌐 Official website of Yandex
• 📱 Google Play Market (if available in your area)
• 🛠️ APKMirror (verified versions only)

If you plan to use Alice as the default assistant, check if your Xiaomi model supports this feature, POCO F3 Xiaomi 11T) You may need additional adjustments through ADB.

Method 1: Official replacement via settings (for supported models)

The easiest method is to use built-in settings MIUI. It is suitable for most modern Xiaomi smartphones with current versions of firmware (MIUI 12.5+).

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Default Applications → Assistant and Voice Input.
2. In the list of available assistants, select Yandex (if there is none, install the application first).
3. Confirm the choice and follow the system's prompts.
4. Restart the device to apply the changes.

After that, Alice will become the default assistant. To check her work, say "OK, Yandex" or press and hold the Home button (if she is configured to call the assistant).

⚠️ Note: Some devices (e.g. Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite) may lose the home screen weather widget after replacing the assistant, due to the widget being linked to Google services. Solution - install an alternative widget from the Play Market.

If you don't have Assistant and voice input in your settings, your model doesn't support an official replacement, so move on to the next one.

💡

If Alice does not respond to voice commands after replacement, check permissions for Yandex in Settings → Annexes → Application management → Yandex → Permits. Make sure the microphone and auto-start are on.

Method 2: Replacement by ADB (for advanced users)

If the official method does not work, you can use it. ADB (Android Debug Bridge: This method requires connecting your smartphone to your computer, but gives you more options for customization.

To start, turn on the developer mode on your Xiaomi:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Click on MIUI Version 7 times until the notification “You are a developer!” appears.
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
4. Activate Debugging on USB.

Now connect your smartphone to your computer through USB and execute the following commands in ADB:

adb shell pm list packages | grep assistant


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




adb shell pm grant ru.yandex.search android.permission.BIND_ASSISTANT_SERVICE




adb shell cmd assistant set-default-assistant ru.yandex.search/.assistant.AssistantActivity

Transcript of commands:

Once you've done the commands, restart the device. If done correctly, Alice will be the primary assistant. To get back the Google Assistant, do the following:

adb shell pm enable com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox


adb shell cmd assistant set-default-assistant com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox/.SearchActivity

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB It can cause system instability if the commands are entered incorrectly. MIUI 13+ After disabling Google Assistant ADB Google Lens functionality may disappear in the camera, in which case only resetting the camera settings through Settings will help. → Annexes → Camera. → Warehouse → Reset.

Method 3: Using third-party launchers

If previous methods didn't work, you can go around the corner and install an alternative launcher that supports changing assistants, like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher.

Instructions for Nova Launcher:

1. Install Nova Launcher from Play Market.
2. Launch the launcher and go to its settings (Long press on the desktop) → Settings).
3. Select Apps and widgets → Assistant.
4. In the list of available assistants, select Yandex.
5. Save the settings and restart the launcher.

The advantage of this method is that it does not require root rights or ADB. However, there are shortcomings:

• ❌ Not all Alice features will be available (such as voice input in some apps)
• ❌ It may conflict with corporate functions MIUI (For example, Second Space)
• ❌ Requires the constant use of a third-party launcher

If you want to bring back the standard Xiaomi launcher, but keep Alice as an assistant, try a combination of this method with the best of your experience. ADB-teams from the previous section.

Solving common problems

When replacing Google Assistant with Alice, users often encounter common mistakes, and consider the most common ones and how to fix them.

One of the biggest challenges is that Alice doesn't install as the default assistant, despite all the manipulations (GMS), Google is blocking alternative assistants at the system level, and that's where it's going to help:

• 🔄 Installation of custom firmware without GMS (for example, MIUI EU)
• 🛠️ Using Magisk Modules to Bypass Restrictions
• 📱 Buying a device with Russian firmware (for example, Xiaomi for the Russian market)

If some features (like Google Discover on the home screen) are no longer working after the assistant is replaced, it is normal behavior. These services are tied to Google Assistant, and their restoration will require the return of the standard assistant.

💡

On devices with MIUI Global can return the full functionality of Google services after replacing the assistant only through a full reset (Hard Reset).

Google Assistant and Alice on Xiaomi

To finally decide on the choice, compare both assistants on key parameters on the example of Xiaomi smartphones.

As you can see from the table, Alice wins on most of the parameters that are important for Russian users, but Google Assistant has advantages in:

• 🌍 Working with international services (Gmail, Google Calendar)
• 🔊 Quality of speech synthesis in English
• 🤖 Integration with smart devices based on Google Home

If you’re actively using the Google ecosystem (like Google Photos or Google Keep), replacing your assistant can be a inconvenience, and it makes sense to leave both assistants and switch between them depending on the task.

FAQ: Frequent questions about replacing assistant with Xiaomi