Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum: how to make him swear and swear

Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum has long been an integral part of smart homes, but standard voice alerts like “Cleaning Started” or “Charging Completed” quickly become tedious. What if you turn your assistant into the most obscene device in the house? Spoiler: technically it is possible, but requires deep firmware, knowledge of Linux and willingness to lose warranty. In this article, we will discuss how to modify the vacuum cleaner’s firmware to respond to obstacles mat, comment on cleaning in strong terms or even singing a private ch with 18+ text.

It's important to understand that this isn't about standard Mi Home or Xiaomi Home features, but rather about hacking through custom firmware, which involves unlocking the bootloader, installing alternative software (like Valetudo or DustBuilder) and manually editing audio files. Are you ready to take a chance? Then let's get started — but first, get to know the risks and alternatives.

Why Xiaomi vacuum cleaner can be made to swear (and what it takes)

All Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaners (Mi Robot Vacuum 1/2/3, Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop, Mi Robot Vacuum E10, etc.) are based on a Linux system with an Allwinner or Rockchip processor.

• 📁 Audio files (.wav or.mp3) — standard voice alerts;
• 📄 Configuration Files – settings for reactions to events;
• 🔧 The core of the system - controls the iron and software.

To replace standard sounds with obscene ones, you need:

1. Get root-access to the file system of the vacuum cleaner;
2. Find and replace audio files in /usr/share/sounds/
3. Edit reaction scripts (for example, obstacle_detected.sh).

But Xiaomi blocks such changes at the bootloader level, so the first thing you need to do is unlock it, which is an informal procedure that takes away warranty.

Xiaomi models that can be modified (and that can not be modified)

Not all Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaners are amenable to such modifications.

Lifehack: If your model isn't supported, you can go around the way of plugging a Bluetooth speaker into the vacuum cleaner and playing sounds through it, synchronizing with the cleaning events, and you'll need a Home Assistant or Node-RED.

⚠️ Note: Models with a Rockchip processor RK3308 (For example, Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro have hardware protection against modifications, trying to sew them with unofficial software can lead to a complete system failure.

Step-by-step: how to sew a vacuum cleaner Xiaomi for obscene reactions

The process is 5 steps, and you do everything at your own risk.

• 💻 Computer on Linux or Windows with Python 3.x;
• 🔌 USB-TTL adapter (e.g, CP2102);
• 🔧 Solding iron and wires (to connect to the UART);
• 📦 Archive with custom firmware (for example, DustBuilder).

Step 1: Disassembling the vacuum cleaner and connecting to the UART

Remove the top cover (unscrew 4 screws under rubber legs). TX, RX, GND (They're usually signed. USB-TTL adapter:

Adapter → Vacuum Cleaner fee


TX      → RX




RX      → TX




GND     → GND

Step 2: Getting root access

Connect the adapter to your computer and open the terminal (such as PuTTY or screen). Turn on the vacuum cleaner and interrupt the load by pressing any key in the first 3 seconds.

setenv bootargs "console=ttyS0,115200n8 root=/dev/mtdblock5 rw rootfstype=squashfs init=/linuxrc"

The vacuum cleaner case is open.

Welded wires to UART

Installed drivers for USB-TTL adapter

Custom firmware downloaded (for example, DustBuilder)

Created a backup copy of the original firmware-->

Step 3: Install custom firmware

Download the DustBuilder firmware from GitHub and unpack it. Upload the files to the vacuum cleaner via scp:

scp -r dustbuilder root@192.168.x.x:/tmp/

Then perform the installation:

cd /tmp/dustbuilder


./install.sh

Step 4: Replace audio files

In a file. /usr/share/sounds/ Find files like start_cleaning.wav or error.wav. replace them with your records (format: 16-bit PCM, 16 Example of a conversion command:

ffmpeg -i input.mp3 -ar 16000 -ac 1 -c:a pcm_s16le output.wav

Step 5: Set up the triggers

Edit /etc/robot/events.conf to link events to audio files.

[obstacle]


sound = /usr/share/sounds/mat_1.wav




volume = 100

⚠️ Warning: If the vacuum cleaner stops responding to commands after firmware, check the file /etc/robot/config.json. Often errors occur due to incorrect paths to audio files or broken formats.

Where to get audio files with mat (and how to prepare them)

For realistic vacuum cleaner reactions, short audio recordings (1-3 seconds) with clear diction will be required.

• 🎤 Write it down yourself – use a noise-cancelling microphone (e.g. Blue Yeti);
• 🎬 Cut out of the movies – the scenes from “Brother 2”, “DMB” or “Island” will fit»;
• 🤖 Generate AI – services like ElevenLabs or Voicemaker (choose the voice “Gopnik” or “Brother»).

Audio requirements:

• Format:.wav (PCM 16-bit, 16 kHz)
• Volume: normalize to -3 dB (so there is no distortion);
• Length: no more than 3 seconds (otherwise the vacuum cleaner will “hang”).

Example of commands for normalizing volume:

ffmpeg-normalize input.wav -o output.wav -f -3dB

💡

To prevent the vacuum cleaner from repeating the same phrase, create multiple audio file options for each event (e.g, mat_1.wav, mat_2.wav) Use the script to play randomly.

Alternative methods (without firmware)

If you disassemble the vacuum cleaner and risk its performance do not want, there are less radical methods:

1. Bluetooth speaker + Home Assistant Connect to the vacuum cleaner Bluetooth column and set up in Home Assistant automation: when the event "vacuum cleaner collided" played audio file through the column. Plus: does not require hacking. Minus: delay 1-2 seconds.
2. Voice assistant (Alice)/Google) Create a routine in Yandex Alice or Google Assistant, which is triggered by a vacuum cleaner command (via the user). IFTTT) And he says a phrase. Minus: it only works when you're connected to the Internet.
3. Modified Mi Home app Some enthusiasts reassemble APK-Mi Home file, replacing audio files in it. Risk: Xiaomi account can be blocked for using an unofficial client.

The easiest way is to simply stick a sticker on the vacuum cleaner that says "I can swear" and turn on audio recordings manually from a smartphone when it encounters the table leg. The effect is the same, and the risks are zero.

Risks and Consequences: What Could Go Wrong

Modifying the vacuum cleaner firmware is not a game of guessing the tune.

• 💥 Brick - vacuum cleaner will cease to turn on (solved only by soldering) JTAG);
• 🔥 Overheating of the processor - if you incorrectly edit the cooling configs;
• 🚫 Blocking Xiaomi account – for using unofficial software;
• 📵 Loss of connection to servers – the vacuum cleaner will not update and may stop working with the application.

Real user stories:

• "After the firmware was done, the vacuum cleaner started to go around and shout 'I'm dead!' every 5 seconds. I had to solder JTAG." - 4PDA user
• «I changed all the sounds to mats, but forgot about the file. low_battery.wav. Now the vacuum cleaner is yelling “Bitch, the battery is dead!” at the whole apartment;
• “Xiaomi has blocked her account for ‘unauthorized software change’ and had to buy a new vacuum cleaner,” a story from Telegram chat.

⚠️ Note: If you live in an apartment building, note that loud, obscene words from a vacuum cleaner can cause conflict with neighbors, and in some countries (for example, Singapore), this can even lead to a fine for “public insult».

Is it legal? Can I get under the article?

From a legal point of view, modification of your own device is not prohibited, but there are nuances:

• 📜 Xiaomi will refuse repairs if it finds traces of hacking;
• 🎤 Copyright – if you use audio from movies/songs without permission, it is a violation of the 1259 Civil Code of the Russian Federation;
• 🏠 Public use – if the vacuum cleaner swears in the presence of outsiders (for example, in the office), this can qualify as “petty hooliganism” (Article 20.1 of the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation).

In 2023, Russia had a precedent: a user from Yekaterinburg was fined 1,000 rubles for his modified Xiaomi vacuum cleaner “expressing obscenely” in the entrance, a court found it a “violation of public order.”

The conclusion: in a private home or apartment, the risks are minimal, but in public places it is better not to experiment.

💡

Any modification of the firmware deprives you of the right to warranty service, and even if the vacuum cleaner breaks for another reason, the service center has the right to refuse repairs.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the firmware of the vacuum cleaner Xiaomi