Where to find Alice in the Xiaomi phone: instructions for activating and configuring the voice assistant

Voice assistant Alice from Yandex has long been an integral part of the smartphone ecosystem — he knows how to search for information, manage a smart home, run apps and even joke. POCO) It's not as easy to find Alice as it is on other brands. MIUI It does not integrate the assistant by default, and its activation depends on the firmware version, regional settings and even the smartphone model.

In this article, we’ll break down all the possible ways to find and enable Alice on Xiaomi – from standard methods through Settings to workarounds for older versions. MIUI. You will also learn why the assistant may not be on the menu, how to install it manually and what to do if Alice does not respond to commands. 2020–2026 years, including flagships (Xiaomi) 13/14) Budget and Budget Series (Redmi Note) 12, POCO X5).

1.Where should Alice be on Xiaomi's default phone?

On most Xiaomi smartphones with firmware MIUI Global or MIUI Alice is built into the system, but its location depends on the version of the shell:

📱 MIUI 12–14 (Global/Russia): The assistant is available via long-holding Home button (navigation bar) or swipe from the bottom corner of the screen.
🔍 Search bar: the home screen may display a search widget with Alice's logo.
⚙️ Settings → Voice Assistant: Some versions have a separate section to configure voice commands.

However, on Xiaomi with firmware MIUI China EU-Alice is absent due to regional restrictions, in which case it will have to be installed manually (more on this in the next section).

⚠️ Attention: On smartphones POCO shelled POCO Launcher path to Alice may be different.Try swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen or hold the button.

MIUI version	Where to find Alice?	Does installation need to be done?
MIUI 12–14 (Global/Russia)	Long-term Home Holding or Search Widget	No.
MIUI China/EU	Not available by default	Yes.
POCO Launcher	Swipe up or button Recent	No.
Older versions (MIUI 11 and below)	Through Settings. → Annexes → All applications	Sometimes.

2. How do you install Alice if she's not in the system?

If you don’t find Alice on the standard menu, you can add her in two ways:

Through Google Play: Download the official Yandex app with Alice and set it up as the default assistant.
Through APK: user-generated MIUI China or without Google Play access APK from the official Yandex website (alice.yandex.ru).

After installation:

Launch the application and log into Yandex account|

Go to Settings. → Annexes → Default applications → Voice assistant|

Choose Yandex with Alice instead of Google Assistant|

Allow access to microphone, contacts and notifications (optional)-->

If Alice does not activate after installation, check:

🔄 Updates MIUI: Some features only appear after a firmware update.
🌍 Region of the smartphone: in Settings → Additionally. → The region should be chosen by Russia.
🔊 Voice settings: C Settings → Sound and vibration → Voice assistant select Yandex.

💡

If Alice doesn’t respond to voice commands, try reinstalling the app and clearing the cache in Settings. → Annexes → Yandex → Warehouse.

There are several reasons why the assistant is not displayed in the system:

📦 Firmware MIUI China: Chinese versions of AliExpress and other Yandex services blocked.
🔄 An outdated version MIUI: into MIUI 10 and below Alice is not supported.
🛠️ Castom firmware: some custom ROM Remove pre-installed services.
🌐 Regional restrictions: if the smartphone is purchased abroad, it may be necessary to change the region.

Decisions:

🔧 For MIUI China: Install Google Installer (from Xiaomi App Store), then download Alice via Play Market.
📲 For older versions. MIUI: Update the firmware through Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
🌍 To change the region: use the settings → Additionally. → Region → Russia (reset will be required).

What if Alice is installed but not working?

If the application is installed but does not respond to voice or does not open, check: 1. Permissions: c Settings → Annexes → Yandex → Permissions must be enabled by Microphone, Autostart and Display on top of other windows. 2. Battery Optimization: in Settings → Battery → Battery optimization add Yandex to exceptions. 3. Conflict with Google Assistant: disable Google Assistant in Settings → Annexes → Google → Disable. 4. Cleaning the cache: in Settings → Annexes → Yandex → Warehouse → Clear the cache.

4. How to activate Alice with gestures or buttons?

There are several ways to quickly call an assistant on Xiaomi:

Method of calling	How to set up	Works on
Long hold home	Settings → Buttons and gestures → Home button	MIUI 12–14
Swipe from the bottom corner	Settings → Main screen screen → Alice's launch gestures	POCO, Redmi with MIUI 13+
Voice command "Hello Alice"	Enable in the settings of the Yandex application	All models.
Widget on the main screen	Add the widget Search Yandex through a long press on the screen	MIUI 11+

If the gestures don't work:

Check if the assistant is included in the settings → Default applications → Voice assistant.
Update the Yandex app to the latest version.
Restart your smartphone – sometimes gestures are reset after updates.

Long hold of the Home button|

Voice command |

Through the widget on the main screen|

Swipe from the bottom corner|

I don't use Alice.-->

5.Alice vs Google Assistant: Which is better on Xiaomi?

On Xiaomi smartphones, you can use both assistants, but each has pros and cons:

🇷🇺 Alice: ✅ Understands Russian language and local context (weather, traffic jams, services). ✅ Integration with Yandex.Maps, Music, Weather. ✅ Can manage smart devices Yandex and Xiaomi (via Mi Home). ❌ Worse works with international services (Gmail, Google Calendar).
🌍 Google Assistant: ✅ Deep integration with Android and Google services. ✅ Supports more languages and countries. ✅ Can manage Google Home and Nest. ❌ Often mistaken with Russian toponyms and services.

How to choose a default assistant:

Go to Settings → Applications → Default Applications → Voice Assistant.
Choose Yandex with Alice or Google.
To reset to the factory settings of the assistant, use Settings → System system → Resetting settings → Resetting application settings.

💡

On Xiaomi with firmware MIUI Alice is more stable than Google Assistant, due to optimization for Russian language and local services.

6. Frequent Alice issues on Xiaomi and their solutions

Xiaomi users often face the following mistakes:

Problem.	Reason.	Decision
Alice doesn't answer her voice.	No access to microphone or weak signal	Check the permissions and restart the application
The app flies off at launch	Conflict with MIUI ore-of-fashion	Clean the cache or reinstall Alice
The gesture doesn't work.	Reset gesture settings after update	Set the gesture up again in Settings → Buttons and gestures
Alice doesn't find an app	MIUI restrictions for third-party assistants	Give permission to display over other windows

If none of the solutions worked:

📱 Check if Alice is blocked by Antivirus or Battery Optimizer.
🔄 Reset the application settings in Settings → Annexes → Yandex → Warehouse → Reset.
📡 Make sure the internet is on (Alice requires a connection to work).

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi) 9A or POCO M3) Alice may be unstable due to a weak processor. In this case, try turning off animations in Settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI (5 times press) → For developers → Animation. = 0.5x.

7. Alternative ways to control Xiaomi voice

If Alice is not fit or working, you can use other tools:

🤖 Google Assistant: Preinstalled on most Xiaomi with Google Mobile Services (GMS). Activated by long-term home button retention or the “OK, Google” command».
🎤 Mi AI Assistant: Xiaomi's brand assistant (available on Chinese firmware) is able to manage Mi Home, but does not support Russian.
🔊 Bixby (for Bixby) POCO F4 GT): On some models, Samsung Exynos can be installed Bixby via APK.
🛠️ Tasker + AutoVoice: for advanced users, allows you to create your own voice commands.

Comparison of alternatives:

|--------------------|--------------|-----------------|-----------------------------|----------------|

| Mi AI Assistant | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. |

For maximum convenience, you can configure the simultaneous use of Alice (for Russian-language tasks) and Google Assistant (for international services).

FAQ: Frequent questions about Alice on Xiaomi

🔍 Why Alice doesn't show up after the update MIUI?

After major updates (e.g., with the MIUI 12 on MIUI 13) the assistant settings may reset. Try: Reinstall the Yandex application. Reset the application settings to Settings → System system → Resetting settings → Reset application settings. Check if the assistant is disabled in Settings. → Annexes → Yandex → Permits.

📱 Can you install Alice on Xiaomi with MIUI China?

Yes, but you will need: Install Google Play Services via Google Installer (available on Xiaomi App Store). Download Yandex with Alice from Play Market. Manually issue all permissions to Settings → Annexes → Yandex, on some firmware (MIUI 14 China) may need to change the region to Russia.

🎙️ How to make Alice work without the Internet?

Alice from Yandex requires a connection to the network to process requests, but some commands work offline: Music management (pause, next track). Open applications. Reminders and alarms (if you were previously set up). AI Assistant, but does not support Russian).

🔋 Alice quickly discharges the battery?

If the assistant consumes too much energy: Limit background activity in Settings → Battery → Optimizing the battery → Yandex → Limit. Turn off the constant listening of the "Hello Alice" command in the application settings. Clear the cache and application data in Settings → Annexes → Yandex → Also check if Alice is in conflict with other voice assistants (like Google Assistant).

🛠️ Can I transfer Alice’s settings to another Xiaomi?

Yes, but not all data is automatically synced. To move settings: Log in to one Yandex account on both devices. Enable sync in the Yandex app settings. Use backup in Settings to port smart devices (Mi Home) → Accounts. → Mi Account → Backup: Voice models and preferences (such as favorite radio stations) are linked to your account and transferred automatically.