Modern Xiaomi smartphones are equipped with powerful voice controls, but sometimes standard MIUI or HyperOS settings block some of Google's features. Users often encounter a situation where the assistant works on a button but does not respond to the phrase "OK Google", which creates a feeling of inferiority of the device, although the problem lies in only a few hidden switches.
In this article, we will take a look at how to activate voice search, why it may not work even after turning it on, and what system limitations the Chinese firmware imposes. You will learn how to properly configure the microphone and background of applications so that your phone is always ready to execute a command. Voice input is not just a toy, but a convenient way to control a gadget without touching the screen.
It is worth noting that the menu interface may vary slightly depending on the version of the Android operating system and the MIUI shell. However, the configuration logic remains the same for all models, whether it is a budget Redmi or flagship Xiaomi. Follow the instructions carefully to avoid typical errors in the configuration of system services.
Check the basic settings of Google Assistant
Before you go into complex system settings, you need to make sure that the basic functionality is activated in the Google app itself. Often users forget that after resetting or updating the system, voice controls return to factory settings. The first step should always be to check the status of the assistant.
Open the Google app on your smartphone and go to profile by clicking on the avatar in the top right corner. In the menu that opens, select Settings, then look for the Google Assistant section. That's where the switch for processing voice commands is located. Make sure it's active.
Next, check your language settings. If your phone is configured in Russian, but your assistant is English or Chinese, the OK Google command may not be recognized correctly. In the Languages section, make sure that Russian is first on the list and is marked as the primary language.
- 📱 Open the Google app and click on the profile avatar.
- ⚙️ Go to Settings. → Google Assistant.
- 🗣️ Check if the item “Google Assistant” is included».
- 🌐 Make sure that the language is selected Russian.
⚠️ Note: If the settings menu does not include Google Assistant, you may have a stripped-down version of Google services installed on your device or the system has blocked them.
It's also important to check if the Google app has the necessary permissions. Without access to the microphone, no commands will work. Go to the phone's settings, search the Apps section, select Google and make sure that access to the microphone is allowed all the time, not just while in use.
Activation of the OK Google (Hotword) function
After checking the general status of the assistant, we move on to the most important part, which is to turn on the constant listening mode, which makes the phone’s microphone standby, responding only to the key phrase, which is the stage that most often raises questions from Xiaomi owners.
In the Google Assistant settings menu, look for "Hey Google" (or "OK Google" in the Russian interface) and you'll be asked to take a voice training procedure, which is a critical step because it creates a unique audio profile of the user, and without that step, the phone can ignore your commands or, conversely, respond to other voices.
The system will ask you to say the phrases "OK Google" and "OK Google, turn on the flashlight" (or similar) several times. Speak clearly, at the pace and intonation you normally use. Don't try to shout or whisper - the algorithm must remember your natural voice.
If the function doesn’t work after training, try switching the assistant’s interface language to English, retraining your voice, and then returning your Russian language, a technique that often helps shake up the speech recognition software module and fix software failures.
Configure permissions and background work in MIUI
The MIUI shell and the new HyperOS are known for their aggressive energy-saving policies, which can automatically shut down Google’s background processes as they consume battery, and as a result, the assistant stops hearing the command because the process has already been stopped by the system.
To fix this, you need to manually set up autostart and work in the background. Go to your phone settings, select Apps → All Apps. Find the Google app in the list. Click on Autostart and activate it. This will allow the service to run with the system.
Next, go to the "Battery Savings" section inside the Google app settings. Select the "No Limits" option, which will prevent the system from forcibly stopping Google's process even if the screen is off for a long time. Without this step, OK Google won't work.
☑️ Setup of Xiaomi permissions
Also worth checking is the security settings. In the Security app (a standard Xiaomi green shield app), go to Permissions → Microphone. Make sure the Google app has access. Sometimes, after system updates, those permissions are reset.
| Setup parameter | Where to find out. | Recommended value |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-start | Settings → Applications → Google | Included. |
| Saving energy | Appendices → Google → Battery | No restrictions. |
| Access to the microphone | Security → Permits | Permission. |
| Working in the background | Settings → Applications → Google | Permission. |
Voice model training and calibration
The quality of recognition is directly related to the quality of the learning sample. If you change your voice module, move to another region, or just want to improve accuracy, the learning procedure is worth repeating. The machine learning algorithms used by Google allow you to adapt to changes in the user's voice over time.
To recalibrate, delete the old voice profile. In the Google Assistant settings, find the Voice Match or Voice Match section. Click on Delete Voice Model. Then start the process of creating the new model again. It takes no more than two minutes.
Why is it important to retrain your voice?
When learning, try not to create artificial conditions. If you're usually talking to your phone with it in your pocket or at arm's length, try to reproduce these conditions while writing phrases, which will increase the likelihood of successful activation in real-world use cases.
Solving problems with the Chinese version of firmware (CN)
Owners of devices purchased in the Chinese market (CN version) often face the lack of Google services out of the box or their malfunction, and such devices may be installed on a stripped-down version of the Google App, which does not support the Hotword feature (OK Google).
First, check the version of the Google app in the Play Market, and if it says, "Your device is not compatible with this version," it means the system is blocking the upgrade to the full version. APK-Google file from a verified resource, such as APKMirror.
⚠️ Note: Installing Google system applications on Chinese firmware requires caution. Make sure you download a version for your CPU architecture (usually arm64-v8a). A false version can cause a cyclical reboot.
Also, Chinese firmware may have the Google TTS (Text-to-Speech) system component disabled, and go to the language and input settings and make sure that the default speech synthesis engine is Google Speech Synthesizer, and if it's not on the list, you also need to install it separately.
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Use the third-party Aurora Store app store to securely install and update Google services on Chinese versions of Xiaomi if the Play Market is not working properly.
Additional commands and hands-free control
With the successful activation of OK Google, you can control your smartphone without touching, and you can not only run apps, but you can also dictate messages, set alarms, and control your smart home, which is especially convenient when your hands are busy.
Try using complex composite commands, like, "OK Google, send a message to Mom that I'll be here in 15 minutes," and the system recognizes the context and suggests sending a message via the default messenger, and it also works with managing the media player: "Stop," "Pause," "Next Track."
And what you'll find useful for drivers is that you can use the navigation control function, and if you say, "OK Google, let's go home," you start the route in the navigator.
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Full operation of the voice assistant is possible only with a stable connection to the Internet and the presence of installed security updates Android.
Frequent errors and ways to fix them
Even when you set it up properly, it can crash, and one of the most common problems is conflict with other voice assistants, and if you have a third-party assistant installed (like Yandex or Alice) and it is the default, the system can block Google activation.
Check the default Apps settings under "Additional" or "Extended Settings." Make sure that Google is the one that is selected under "Assistant" or "Voice input." If there is a "No" or other application, change your choice.
Another reason is the overcrowded app cache: Go to the app settings, select Google, click Storage and select Clear Cache. Not to be confused with Clear All Data, as this will reset all your assistant settings.