Modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones often come with software pre-installed that the user does not always need. One of these applications is the voice assistant Alice from Yandex. For many owners of Android devices, having a third-party assistant that is constantly hanging in the background or activated by the button becomes a source of irritation and unnecessary battery consumption.
Fortunately, the architecture of the Android operating system allows you to manage embedded services flexibly. You can not only remove the shortcut, but also completely deactivate the functionality, preventing accidental launches. In this guide, we will analyze all the available methods, from simple settings to using system commands for advanced users.
Before you start the manipulation, it is worth noting that the process may vary slightly depending on the version of the MIUI shell or HyperOS. However, the basic principles of working with applications remain unchanged on all current smartphone models.
Basic settings of the voice assistant
The easiest way to limit Alice's activity is to change her settings inside the app itself. Often, users don't know that the assistant can be put into sleep mode or turned off voice activation, which won't delete the app, but will make it invisible in everyday use.
You need to open the Yandex app or find a separate assistant icon, and the settings section should look for voice-related items, which you can usually turn off the response to the phrase "Listen, Alice" or activation with a button if it is reassigned to the system.
It's important to understand that standard settings only limit functionality, but don't remove the process from memory completely. If your goal is maximum performance, that may not be enough, but for most users, this tradeoff is the best solution.
- 🔹 Open the Yandex application and go to profile.
- 🔹 Select the Settings section and find the Alice item».
- 🔹 Turn off the “Voice Activation” and “Box Activation” options».
- 🔹 In the "Sound" section, remove voiceovers if you want silence.
⚠️ Note: After updating the Yandex application, all settings can be reset to factory values, so periodically check this section.
Disconnection through Android system settings
The Android operating system has a built-in default app selection mechanism for handling voice requests. If you reassign this feature or turn it off, the system will stop trying to start Alice with a long press of the power button or home screen.
To do this, go to your phone's settings and look for the Apps section, and you'll need to find "Default Apps" or "App Management" and you'll need to find "Voice Assistant" or "Digital Assistant" in the service list.
If you have a choice in the list, set a “No” value or select the standard Google Assistant if you are familiar with it. This action breaks the link between the system triggers and the Yandex application, making it a normal background process without interception rights.
Some versions of MIUI may have different paths, so you can search by settings by typing "assistant" and the system can tell you where the switch is hidden.
Removing updates and disabling the application
Because Alice is often embedded in the system partition as a system-level application, normal desktop removal is impossible, but Android allows you to “disable” such programs, effectively turning them into non-working plugs that take up minimal space.
The first step is to remove all updates, and this will bring the app back to the factory version, which often weighs less and has fewer background services, and then the "Disable" button in the app menu will become active.
Follow the following steps to completely disconnect:
- 📱 Go to Settings. → Annexes → All applications.
- 🔍 Find in the list “Yandex” or “Yandex with Alice».
- 🗑️ Click on three dots in the corner of the screen and select “Delete Updates».
- 🚫 After the process is completed, press the "Disable" button».
After this procedure, the application icon will disappear from the desktop, and the processes will stop running automatically, and the system will assume that the application has been deleted, although the files will physically remain in the protected partition.
☑️ Checklist for full shutdown
⚠️ Note: On some global firmware versions, the “Disable” button may not be available for system applications without root rights.
Using ADB for Advanced Removal
For users who want to completely clean the system of excess software, there is a method using the ADB (Android Debug Bridge. This method requires connecting the smartphone to the computer via USB-cable and minimum technical skills.
The idea is to send a command to delete the packet for the current user, and the app will disappear for you, but it will remain in the system section in case you reset, and it is a safe way to customize, without requiring the bootloader to unlock.
First, activate the developer mode, and then seven times click on the build number in the About Phone section, and then turn on the USB debugging in the Developer menu.
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.yandex.searchpluginThis command will remove Alice's plugin. If the application is called otherwise, the package may be called ru.yandex.searchplugin or have a similar name. Be careful when entering package names so that systemically important components are not removed.
How to return a remote application via ADB?
Using ADB gives you maximum control over the device, and you can remove not only Alice, but also other unnecessary services, speeding up the smartphone.
Blocking autoload and background work
The MIUI shell and the new HyperOS have an aggressive memory management policy, but also allow you to manually control autoboot, and even if you haven't removed the application, you can prevent it from running with the system.
In the battery settings, look for the AutoStart section, which shows a list of all the programs that start when you turn on your phone, and find Yandex or Alice in the list, and turn the switch to the off position.
Additionally, you should limit background activity. In the app menu, select Battery and set No Limits mode in - select Limit Background Activity or Save Charge, which will prevent the assistant from working when the screen is off.
| Parameter | Recommended value | Impact on the system |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-start | Off. | Faster phone turn on |
| Background activities | Limited. | Battery savings |
| Notifications | Forbidden. | No pop-up windows |
| Access to the microphone | Request. | Enhancing privacy |
⚠️ Attention: Full blocking of background processes can interfere with the work of Yandex widgets, if you use them on the desktop.
Reassignment of control buttons
Often, Alice is activated accidentally when you press the power button or a special key. In Xiaomi smartphones, you can reassign these actions so that they trigger other functions or do nothing.
Go to "Additional Features" or "Special Features" and find "Buttons" or "Button Assignment" and you can change the action for short or long presses.
If you have a Google or AI button, you can also reprogram it, and you can select "No" or you can set the application you want to launch, like a camera or voice recorder, to avoid random voice search launches.
💡
Use button reassignment apps if Xiaomi’s standard settings don’t offer the flexibility you need, such as Button Mapper.
The correct setting of the buttons increases the ergonomics of the device, you will no longer waste time closing the unnecessary assistant window.
Checking the result and cleaning the residues
After performing all the manipulations, it is recommended to check whether Alice has really stopped working.Try to pronounce the activation phrase or press the tuned key combination.The phone should be silent or respond in a standard way.
It's also worth clearing the cache to delete temporary files related to the assistant's work, which can be done through the built-in Security utility or in the storage settings. Freeing up space is always good for speed.
If you have used the method with ADB, check the list of installed applications through the command line to make sure there is no package. For the average user, a visual check of the desktop and the list of applications is enough.
💡
A comprehensive approach (disconnecting + disabling autostart + reassigning buttons) ensures that Alice will no longer be disturbed.
Now your Xiaomi or Redmi is running in a clean mode, without unnecessary interference of third-party services in the management processes.