Voice assistant Alice from Yandex has long ceased to be exclusive to Android TV devices or smartphones with pure Android. Owners of Xiaomi equipment — whether it is a series of Mi TVs, Redmi TV or smartphones on MIUI — can also use Alice to control the device, find content or run applications. However, the process of setting up here has its nuances, from the lack of a preinstalled application to the need for manual activation in some regions.
In this article, we’ll look at all the ways Alice can be enabled on Xiaomi, from standard installation via Google Play to bypassing restrictions on older TVs, and focus on common bugs (such as when the assistant doesn’t respond to voice commands) and alternative solutions for devices without official support. If you want to set Alice up on the Mi Box, Mi TV Stick or Redmi/Poco smartphone, here are the current instructions for the latest updates from 2026.
Does your Xiaomi device support voice assistant Alice?
Before you try to turn Alice on, check if your device is compatible with voice assistant.Yandex officially supports Alice on the following Xiaomi devices:
- 📺 TVs: Mi TV 4S/4A/4C (2018–2026), Mi TV Q1/Q2, Redmi TV X, Mi TV A Pro (from Android) TV 9.0+).
- 📱 Smartphones: All models on MIUI 12+ (including the Redmi Note 10/11/12, Poco X3/X4/X5, Mi 11/12/13).
- 🎮 TV set-top boxes: Mi Box S, Mi TV Stick (only with Android firmware) TV 10+).
On devices older than 2018 (such as Mi TV 3S or Mi Box 3), Alice may not work due to an outdated version of Android TV or lack of support for Google Assistant, which is required for integration, and in such cases you will have to use workarounds, which we will discuss in the section on alternative methods.
Also consider regional restrictions: on some models sold outside Russia, Alice may be blocked due to Yandex policy. for example, Mi TVs for the European market (Mi TV P1E) are often without support of Russian-language assistants.
Method 1: Install Alice via Google Play (for TVs and consoles)
The easiest way is to download the official Yandex Alice app from Google Play.This method is suitable for all Xiaomi TVs on Android. TV and Mi consoles. Box/Mi TV Stick with current firmware.
- Open Google Play on your TV (the icon in the app menu).
- In the search bar, enter Yandex Alice and select the official application from Yandex LLC.
- Click Install and wait for the download to be completed.
- After installation, launch the application and log in through your Yandex account.
If the app is not on Google Play, check:
- 🌍 Google account region – must be Russia (you can change the account settings on myaccount.google.com).
- 🔄 System updates - on Android TV 9.0 and below Alice may not be supported.
- 📦 Google Assistant – Alice can’t integrate into the system without it.
☑️ Preparation for Alice's installation
Important: On some Xiaomi TVs (e.g. Mi TV A Pro 2022), Alice's app may be pre-installed but hidden in the menu. To find it, go to Settings → Apps → All apps and find Yandex Alice on the list.
Method 2: Activate Alice on Xiaomi smartphones (MIUI 12 and later)
On Redmi, Poco or Mi smartphones with MIUI 12+, Alice is installed as a regular app, but full-time operation requires permissions and system integration.
- Download the app from Google Play (or AppGallery if Google services are not available).
- Launch Alice and log in through your Yandex account.
- Permit me to do so: 🎤 Microphone – for recognition of voice commands. 📱 Auto-start (in battery settings) – to have Alice work in the background. 🔍 Search by device – to execute commands like “find a photo from vacation".
Activate voice control:
Settings Alice → Voice assistant → Enable “OK, Yandex”
On smartphones without Google Mobile Services (like Chinese firmware), Alice may be unstable.
- Install Google Services Framework via APKMirror.
- Use alternative launchers (like Nova Launcher) that support Alice widgets.
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If Alice does not respond to the command “OK, Yandex”, reinstall the application and clear the cache in the Android settings (Settings → Applications → Yandex Alice → Storage → Clear the cache).
Method 3: Manually add Alice to quick settings (for TVs)
On Xiaomi TVs with Android TV 10+, you can add Alice to the Quick Settings Panel for easy access, which is especially useful if you often use voice search or commands to manage your Smart Home.
- Open the notification bar (swipe down from the top edge of the screen).
- Press on. ⚙️ Settings (cog icon in upper right corner).
- Choose to edit Quick Settings.
- Find Alice in the Yandex list and drag her to the active area.
- Save the changes.
Now you can run Alice directly from the notification bar without opening the app, which works on both the Mi Box S and Redmi TVs.
What if Alice doesn’t show up in the quick settings?
Solving problems: Alice is not working or not responding
If after installation, Alice does not respond to voice commands, does not open or gives errors, check the following points:
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Alice won't start. | An outdated version of Android TV | Update the firmware through Settings → About TV → System Update |
| Can't recognize voice. | No access to the microphone. | Check the permissions in Settings → Applications → Yandex Alice → Permissions |
| "Service unavailable" error | Google Account Region Not Russia | Change the region in your Google account settings to myaccount.google.com |
| Alice doesn't control the TV. | No integration with Google Assistant | Install Google Assistant and configure it in Settings → Device → Voice Assistant |
Critical error: if after updating the firmware Alice stopped working, and the option "Voice Assistant" disappeared in the settings, then Xiaomi has removed support for Yandex services in your model. In this case, only a rollback to the old version of the software or the use of alternative methods will help (see the next section).
⚠️ Attention: On Mi TVs TV Alice does not work fundamentally - it uses its own assistant XiaoAI. Attempts to install Yandex Alice lead to system failures.
Alternative ways to use Alice on Xiaomi
If your device does not support Alice officially, you can use the workarounds:
- 🔌 Connecting via an external device: use Google Nest Mini or Yandex Station with a connection by HDMI-CEC television-controlled.
- 📱 Remote control from your smartphone: install Alice on your phone and use her to send commands to your TV via Mi Remote or Google Home.
- 🖥️ Emulation of Android TV: On older models (Mi Box 3) you can install Custom ROM Android-enabled TV 10+ (For example, LineageOS for TV).
For smartphones without Google Services suitable web version of Alice (ya.ru/alisa), But it doesn't have voice control, and you can also use Tasker to create automatic scripts with Alice through the device. HTTP-request API yandex.
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On Xiaomi TVs without official Alice support, the only reliable way is to use external speakers with a voice assistant (Yandex Station, Google Home) and configure control via an infrared port or HDMI-CEC.
Comparing Alice to Other Voice Assistants on Xiaomi
Other voice assistants are available on Xiaomi devices, besides Alice, and here is a comparison table of their capabilities:
| Assistant | Support for Xiaomi | Voice control TV | Integration with Smart Home | Russian |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yandex Alice | Partial (Russia only) | Yes (via Google Assistant) | Yes (Yandex Smart Home) | Yes. |
| Google Assistant | Complete (all regions) | Yes. | Yes (Google Home) | Yes. |
| XiaoAI (built-in) | Complete (Chinese firmware) | Yes. | Yeah (Mi Home) | No. |
| Alexa (Amazon) | Through third-party applications | Limitedly. | Yes (Amazon Echo) | Partially. |
If your priority is a Russian-language assistant with support for smart homes, Alice will be the best choice. For global devices (Mi TV for Europe), it is better to use Google Assistant, as it is pre-installed and does not require additional settings.