Talking vacuum cleaner Xiaomi: how to add voice prompts and voice commands

Xiaomi vacuum cleaners are no longer just appliances — they have become part of the smart home ecosystem. But even the most advanced models like the Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro or DreameBot D10 Plus, by default, lack one useful feature: voice notifications. Instead of human speech, they emit monotonous sound signals that are difficult to distinguish. Fortunately, owners can add a Russian-language voice assistant on their own — and you don’t need to be a programmer.

In this article, we’ll look at three working ways to make a vacuum cleaner talk: from simply connecting to Google Assistant or Alice to deep firmware with custom voice packs. You’ll learn which models support voice acting, how to avoid installation errors, and what hidden commands you can activate with your voice after a modification (for example, starting a scheduling operation with the confirmation phrase “Going to work”). Importantly, the methods vary in complexity – choose one that matches your skills.

What Xiaomi vacuum cleaners can be made to talk?

Not all models support voice prompts, but here are the key compatibility criteria:

• 🔹 Processor platform: only vacuum cleaners based on Rockchip or MTK (For example, Mi Robot Vacuum 1S, Dreame Z10 Pro. Models with STMicroelectronics (like Viomi) V3) usually unmodified.
• 🔹 Firmware version: Must support root access or have open source API For integration with voice assistants, check the version in the Settings menu. → About the device.
• 🔹 Availability of microphone: for full voice control (not only voice commands) you need a built-in microphone (there is in DreameBot) L10s Ultra or Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Ultra).

List of proven models that are successfully modified:

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop P series vacuum cleaners (2023 If you try to modify it, you may lock the device. 📊 What is the Xiaomi Vacuum? - Mi Robot Vacuum 1SDreame Z10 ProViomi V2/V3DreameBot D9/D10Another way. 1: Connecting to Google Assistant or Alice (no firmware) The easiest way is to integrate a vacuum cleaner into the existing smart home ecosystem, which won't add voice cues from the vacuum cleaner itself, but will let it control its voice via a speaker or smartphone. Open the Google Home app on your smartphone. Click Add → The device → Set up your device. Select Xiaomi Mi Home from the list of supported services. Sign in to the Mi Account account that the vacuum cleaner is attached to. After synchronization, tell the column, "OK, Google, start vacuum cleaner cleaning". For Alice (Yandex): 📱 Install the Yandex application and go to the Smart Home section. 🔗 Click Add Add the device → Xiaomi and log in. 🎤 After connecting, use commands like: Alice, turn on the vacuum cleaner in the kitchen". ⚠️ Attention: Voice commands through assistants only work when the router is active, the vacuum cleaner will not respond if the router is disconnected. V3) You may not support Russian-speaking commands in Mi Home – check the language settings in the application. 💡If the vacuum cleaner doesn't appear on the smart home device list, upgrade the firmware through Mi Home to the latest version. Often this solves the compatibility problem. Method 2: Installation of custom firmware Valetudo (for advanced) Valetudo is an open firmware for robot vacuum cleaners, which replaces the standard software from Xiaomi. It allows you to add voice packets, disable cloud dependency, and even operate a vacuum cleaner without the Internet. The downside is that the installation process requires root access and can void the warranty. Step-by-step instruction: Back up your current firmware through adb backup| Download Valetudo image for your model with GitHub| Connect the vacuum cleaner to the PC USB (need OTG-cable)| Install libusb drivers for your OS| Disable the antivirus (it can block firmware scripts)--> Get root access: Adb shell su mount -o rw,remount / If the command does not work, use the DirtyCOW exploit (see the instructions for your model in the forum). 4PDA). Install Valetudo: wget https://github.com/Hypfer/Valetudo/releases/download/v2026.02.0/valetudo-xiaomi-vacuum-v2.zip unzip valetudo-xiaomi-vacuum-v2.zip -d /opt/valetudo chmod +x /opt/valetudo/valetudo Set up autoload: Add a line /opt/valetudo/valetudo & file /etc/rc.local front-line 0. Install voice pack: Download the Russian-language package and download it through the Valetudo web interface (Settings) → When you restart, the vacuum cleaner will say things like: 🗣️ "Start cleaning the living room" (at the start) 🗣️ "Battery charge 20 I return to base (at low charge) 🗣️ "I have found an obstacle, I change the route” (in case of collision) ⚠️ Note: On models with laser sensors (LDS) After Valetudo firmware may require recalibration. To do this, enter the console: echo "calibrate" > /proc/lds/calibration Otherwise, the vacuum cleaner will build a map with errors. What if the vacuum cleaner freezes after the firmware? If after the Valetudo installation, the vacuum cleaner does not respond to the buttons, connect to it on the device. SSH (default login: root/password) and execute: systemctl stop valetudo - stop the service. journalctl -u valetudo -n 50 — If you have a "Missing map file" line in your logs, copy the backup card from /mnt/UDISK/.mi/map into /opt/valetudo/maps. If this doesn’t help, go back to the standard firmware via fastboot (the instructions for your model are on the fastboot). MIUI Forum: Method 3: Adding voice prompts via Mi Home (official method) For owners of Dreame vacuum cleaners or new Xiaomi models (2022 There is an official way to enable voice notifications – through the Mi Home app. The feature is called Voice Tips and works without firmware, but is not available in all regions. Instructions: Open Mi Home and select your vacuum cleaner. Go to Settings → Voice and sounds → Voice prompts. Activate the switch and select the language (Russian or English). Set the volume and turn on the "Voice commands" option: ❌ It only works on vacuum cleaners with firmware MIOT version 3.5.9 and above. ❌ The voice sounds robotic (using standard voice). TTS-Xiaomi engine). ❌ There is no way to add your own phrases – only standard notifications. ⚠️ Note: If you don’t have “Voice Tips” in Mi Home, try changing your account region to China (via Settings). → Region: After that, the function may appear, but the application interface will be in Chinese. 💡The official method through Mi Home is the safest, but limited. To fully customize voice phrases, you'll need Valetudo firmware. How do you record your voice for a vacuum cleaner? If you don't like standard voice packs, you can create personalized voice voice voices: 🎤 Microphone with high quality recording (e.g. Boya) BY-M1). 💻 Audio processing (Audacity or Adobe Audition). 📁 Valetudo's.zip voice package (a template can be downloaded here). Action algorithm: Write down the phrases: Use the list of standard notifications (e.g., "Charge completed," "Error: stuck"). Speak clearly, without pause. Save files in the format WAV, 16 Audio processing: At Audacity, apply the effects of Normalization (up to) -3 dB) and Noise Reduction: Make sure that each sentence does not exceed the length of time. 3 Build a package: Rename your files according to Valetudo's rules (e.g, battery_low.wav) And pack them in the zip archive. Download to the vacuum cleaner: In the Valetudo web interface (Settings) → Voice packets) select "Download custom pack" and download your archive. Example of archive structure: custom_voice_pack.zip ├── battery_low.wav ├── cleaning_started.wav ├── error_bumper_stuck.wav └── docked.wav ⚠️ Note: If after loading the custom bag vacuum cleaner is silent, check the rights to the files: chmod 644 /opt/valetudo/voice_packs/custom/* Also make sure that your package is selected in Valetudo settings, not the standard.Hidden voice commands after modification After installing Valetudo or connecting to a smart home, advanced voice commands that are not documented in official instructions become available. Here are some of them: Team Action Works with "Vacuum cleaner, find the base" Activates the search mode docking station (useful if the vacuum cleaner is lost) Valetudo, Alice "Freeze in place" Stops movement and turns off brushes (for emergency stop) Valetudo "Get away under the sofa" Starts spot cleaning in the specified area (requires map preset) Google Assistant "How much dust did you collect?" Voices the cleaning statistics (area, time, container filling level) Valetudo To activate these commands: 🔧 In Valetudo, go to Settings → Integration → Voice control and enable the option "Advanced commands". 🔊 For Google Assistant or Alice, create routines in the appropriate apps with triggers for these phrases. After modification, the vacuum cleaner can voice system events that have previously gone unnoticed, such as a drop in pressure in the brush or an overheating engine, which helps to respond to malfunctions in time. When you add voice functions, users face typical problems. Here's how to fix them: 🔇 Vacuum cleaner doesn't say after Valetudo firmware: Check if voice packet is installed in /opt/valetudo/voice_packs. Make sure that the Valetudo settings have enabled the option "Enable voice assistant." Reboot the vacuum cleaner with the reboot command via SSH. 🔊 Voice interrupted or distorted: Check the bitrate of audio files - it should be 64 kbps or higher. Turn off audio compression in Valetudo settings ("Audio compression: Off"). If you use a Bluetooth speaker, reduce the distance to the vacuum cleaner. 🚫 Teams through Alice/Google Not working: Check that the vacuum cleaner and speaker are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Update the vacuum cleaner firmware and the smart home app. Reconnect your Mi Home account in the voice assistant settings. ⚠️ If after modifications the vacuum cleaner began to behave unstable (independently turn on, lose communication with the base), reset to factory settings: Hold the Reset button (on the body) 10 So for a second, then you can run the device over Mi Home, which will delete all custom settings, but it will bring back the functionality. FAQ: Answers to popular questions: Can you make a Xiaomi vacuum cleaner without firmware? Yes, but with limitations. 1 (via Google Assistant or Alice) does not require modification of the vacuum cleaner, but the commands will not be voiced by the vacuum cleaner itself, but by the external column. Embedded voice prompts (e.g., Charging Complete) will still require Valetudo firmware or the official feature in Mi Home (not available on all models). How to turn off voice notifications if they are annoying? Depending on the installation method: Valetudo: Go to Settings → Voice Packages and select "No Voice." Mi Home: Turn off the option "Voice prompts" in the vacuum cleaner settings. Smart Home: Remove the vacuum cleaner from the list of devices in Google Home or Alice. Can you set the voice of Legoda or another character to select the voice box, for voice, for voice, for example, select the voice code for voice, to use the voice code for voice. Note that too long phrases or high bitrate can lead to delays in playback. The vacuum cleaner stopped building the map after Valetudo firmware. What to do? This is a typical problem when replacing firmware on models with a high bitrate. LDS-Solution: Connect to the vacuum cleaner SSH and perform the calibration: echo "calibrate" > /proc/lds/calibration reboot If that didn’t work, go back to the standard firmware and upgrade to the latest version via Mi Home, then re-install Valetudo.Dreame models may require manual downloading of the card from backup (/mnt/UDISK/.mi/map). How do you get a vacuum cleaner to answer questions (such as weather)? This requires a two-way voice assistant that Xiaomi vacuum cleaners don't support out of the box. However, you can get around the limitation: Connect the vacuum cleaner to Home Assistant through Valetudo integration. Set up an automation in Home Assistant that, when you have a voice command (via Google or Alice), will: Request the weather via Google or Alice. API (For example, OpenWeatherMap. TTS-A service (like Google Text-to-Speech) on a column. Link this automation to a trigger with a phrase like "Vacuum cleaner, what's the weather?" So it's not the vacuum cleaner that's responding, but the smart home system, but to the user, it's going to look like a conversation with a robot.