How to turn on assistant on Xiaomi: full instructions for smartphones and smart devices

Voice assistants on Xiaomi devices make it much easier to interact with the technology, from controlling a smartphone to controlling a smart home. However, many users face difficulties in the first setup — especially if it is a brand assistant XiaoAI or integrated Google Assistant. In this article, we will discuss all the ways to activate the assistant on different devices of the brand, including smartphones, smart speakers and TVs.

Despite the apparent simplicity, the process of inclusion may differ depending on the model, version MIUI For example, on the global versions, only Google Assistant is available by default, while on the Chinese versions, XiaoAI with advanced features for the local market is given priority. We’ll take a closer look at both options, and also explain how to configure voice control on devices without a display – such as the Xiaomi Smart Speaker or Mi Band.

If you’ve never used a voice assistant on Xiaomi, start with a basic setup. If the assistant suddenly stopped working after the upgrade, check the section with solutions to typical problems. And for owners of smart ecosystem devices (lamps, robot vacuum cleaners, air conditioners), we have prepared a separate unit for the integration of voice control.

1. How to enable Google Assistant on Xiaomi smartphones

Google Assistant is a universal assistant available on most Xiaomi smartphones with global firmware (MIUI Global. Its key advantage is support for Russian and integration with Google services (Mail, Calendar, Maps:

Open the Google app (the colored "G" icon). If it's not on the home screen, search the menu for all apps. In the lower right corner, tap your profile icon, then select Settings. → Google Assistant. Here, click General → Google Assistant and turn on the switch at the top of the screen.

After activation, we recommend setting up voice control:

1. Go back to the Google Assistant Settings.
2. Select Voice Control. → Voice access.
3. Turn on the “OK, Google” option and get voice recognition training (recording) 3-5 phrase).

Now the assistant will respond to the command “OK, Google” even from the locked screen (if allowed in the security settings). For a quick call, you can also hold the Home button (on devices with a physical button) or swipe diagonally from the corner of the screen (on new models).

Install the latest version of Google App

Connect to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile data)

Enable geolocation for accurate answers

Check the permissions for the microphone in the Android settings-->

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note) 10 pro POCO X3 Pro after updating to MIUI 13/14 The assistant call button may disappear. In this case, go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management → Google and reset your default settings.

2. activation of XiaoAI on Chinese firmware MIUI

XiaoAI brand assistant available on Chinese firmware devices (MIUI China and some global models (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Mix Fold 2) are distinguished by its deep integration with Xiaomi’s ecosystem, including smart home, IoT devices and branded services (e.g. Mi Pay or Mi Cloud).

To activate XiaoAI:

1. Open the Settings. → Additionally. → XiaoAI (on some models, the path may be different: Settings) → System and device → XiaoAI).
2. Switch to XiaoAI.
3. Please agree to the terms of use and allow access to the microphone.
4. For a voice call, say “(Xiao Ai Tongxue)” or click the assistant icon on your desktop.

If the menu does not include XiaoAI, your firmware does not support this assistant, in which case you can try installing it through the Mi App Store (search on demand), but work is guaranteed only on the Chinese versions. MIUI.

Features of XiaoAI:

• 🎵 Music management through Mi Music and QQ Music (in China).
• 🏠 Smart home control: turning on the lights, adjusting the air conditioner temperature, launching a robot vacuum cleaner.
• 📱 Quick commands for system functions (e.g., "Open the camera in portrait mode").
• 🚫 Limited support for Russian (only in Chinese or English).

3.Set up voice assistant on Xiaomi smart speakers

Xiaomi Smart speakers (e.g. Mi Smart Speaker, Mi) AI Speaker or Redmi Sonico) supports both XiaoAI and Google Assistant, depending on the region:

Connect the speaker to the power grid and wait for the beep to signal readiness. Install the Mi Home app on your smartphone, add the device via Add the device → Audio and follow the instructions on the screen. Once connected to Wi-Fi, the speaker will automatically update the firmware (this may take a while). 5-10 minute).

To set up the voice assistant:

• 🎤 In the Mi Home app, select your column → Settings → Voice assistant.
• 🔊 Choose the preferred assistant: XiaoAI (for the Chinese market) or Google Assistant (for global models).
• 📋 Go through the microphone setup procedure (the column will ask you to say a few phrases for calibration).
• 🔄 Restart the device after the changes are applied.

If the column does not respond to voice commands, check:

1. Internet connection (without a network, the voice assistant does not work).
2. The microphone volume level in the device settings.
3. No physical obstacles near the microphone array.

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If Xiaomi doesn't recognize commands in Russian, try switching the language in the Mi Home settings to English and then returning it back, sometimes resetting the voice cache.

4. Voice assistant on Mi TVs TV Mi Box

Xiaomi TVs (Mi series) TV A2, Mi TV Q2, Mi TV P1) and the Mi Box media consoles S/Mi Box 4 They support voice control through a remote or microphone in the case:

On the remote, press and hold the microphone icon button (or Google Assistant button, if any). After the beep, say the command. If the remote with the microphone is not, connect the external microphone through the external microphone. USB Or use the Mi Remote app on your smartphone.

To set up the assistant manually:

1. Go to Settings. → Smart functions → Voice assistant.
2. Select Google Assistant (for global models) or XiaoAI (for Chinese models).
3. Follow the on-screen instructions for linking a Google or Mi Account account.
4. Allow access to microphone and geolocation (necessary for weather, maps, etc.).

If voice search is working but the assistant is not following commands, check:

5.Manage a smart home through a voice assistant

One of the key benefits of XiaoAI and Google Assistant on Xiaomi devices is the ability to manage the smart home ecosystem, to connect devices (lamps, sockets, sensors) with the voice assistant:

Make sure all devices are added to the Mi Home app and are on the same Wi-Fi network with your smartphone or speaker. Open Mi Home, go to Profile → Settings → Voice control and activate the Synchronization option with XiaoAI/Google Assistant.

Examples of voice commands for a smart home:

• 💡 "Turn on the light in the living room" (for Yeelight or Mi lamps) LED Bulb)

If the assistant doesn’t recognize device names, check their names in Mi Home (they must be unique and without special characters). Google Assistant may need to be configured via Google Home:

1. Open the Google Home app.
2. Press + → Set up the device → Are there devices already?
3. Select Xiaomi from the list and log in via Mi Account.

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For stable voice control of a smart home, all devices must be connected to one Mi Account and be on the same local network.

6. Solving typical voice assistant problems

If the assistant on Xiaomi stopped working or is not working properly, use this diagnostic manual:

Problem 1: The assistant doesn't respond to voice commands.

• 🔊 Check if the microphone is turned off in the privacy settings (Settings) → Confidentiality → Permits → Microphone).
• 📱 Restart the device (sometimes helps when the voice module is getting stuck).
• 🔄 Update your firmware and apps (Google, Mi Home, XiaoAI) to the latest version.

Problem 2: XiaoAI responds in Chinese, despite the English settings.

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12S Ultra) XiaoAI is tied to regional servers. If the device is purchased in China, the assistant can ignore the language change!).

Problem 3: Google Assistant doesn’t work after resetting.

• 🔧 Reinstall Google Services through Settings → Annexes → Google Play Services → Remove updates.
• 📥 Download the latest version of Google App from APKMirror (if Play Market access is limited in your area).
• 🔑 Check if access to Google services is blocked in the settings MIUI (Settings → Password and security → Autostart).

Problem 4: The column or TV cannot hear commands from more than 2 meters away.

• 🎤 Clean the microphone holes of dust (use a soft brush or compressed air).
• 📶 Move your device closer to the router (weak Wi-Fi signal can affect voice requests).
• 🔊 Increase microphone sensitivity in device settings (if available).

7. Alternative ways to call an assistant

In addition to voice commands, assistants on Xiaomi can be called in other ways – it is convenient in noisy places or when there are problems with the microphone.

On smartphones:

• 🖱️ Gesture: Swipe diagonally from the bottom corner of the screen (configured in Settings) → Additionally. → Gestures).
• 🔘 Button: Double press or hold the Home/Power button (depending on the model).
• 📱 Widget: Add the Google Assistant or XiaoAI widget to the home screen.

On smart speakers and TVs:

• 🎮 Remote: Button with microphone on the remote control (on Mi) TV Stick – a separate button for Google Assistant).
• 🖱️ Mouse/keyboard: Connect USB-keyboard and use hot keys (e.g. Win) + C to call Cortana on Windows versions of Mi Box).
• 📱 Use Mi Remote or Google Home for remote management.

On devices with MIUI 14 and later appeared the function "Mode with one hand" (Settings) → Special features that allow you to swipe assistant on the back of your smartphone, which is especially convenient on large devices like Xiaomi 13 Pro or Mix Fold 3.

8.Security and privacy when using voice assistants

Voice assistants record and process your commands, so it's important to set up privacy settings. On Xiaomi devices, it's done this way:

For Google Assistant:

1. Open the Google app → Profile → Settings → Google Assistant → Your data is in the Assistant.
2. Click Activity Management and turn off saving voice recordings (or set automatic deletion via 3/18 months).
3. In the Personal Results section, disable access to calendar, mail, and other sensitive data if not required.

For XiaoAI:

1. Go to Settings. → Additionally. → XiaoAI → Confidentiality.
2. Turn off the Personalization of Recommendations option (this will reduce the collection of data about your preferences).
3. Limit geolocation access if you don’t use location-based features.

Additional security measures:

• 🔒 Check the list of devices connected to your Mi Account (Settings) regularly. → Mi Account → Device management).
• 📵 Turn off the microphone physically (if the device supports, for example, Xiaomi Smart Speaker has a button to turn off the microphone).
• 🔄 Use two-factor authentication for Mi Account and Google Account.

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Disabling voice command history does not affect the functionality of the assistant, but reduces the risk of personal data leakage.

FAQ: Frequent questions about setting up an assistant on Xiaomi