Owning a modern Xiaomi or Redmi smartphone often comes with pre-installed services that the user doesn’t always need. One of these apps is the voice assistant Alice, developed by Yandex. By default, it can be activated via a power button or long pressing on the screen, which often leads to accidental launches and irritation of the device owner.
Many users prefer to use the standard Google Assistant or do not need voice control. Unfortunately, simply uninstall the system application through standard settings will not work, since it is deeply integrated into the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS. However, there are proven ways to deactivate the assistant, prevent it from auto-starting and unplug physical buttons.
In this article, we will take a look at all the available methods, from simple menu settings to more advanced ways to manage system services, and learn how to reassign the assistant call button and how to prevent the application from running in the background, which can consume battery power.
Disconnect through the settings of the application Alice
The first and most logical step is to go to the internal settings of the voice assistant itself, and the developers have made it possible to limit the functionality of the assistant, although complete removal from here is not available, and first you need to start the Yandex app or Alice widget on your desktop.
Once you open the interface, you need to find the settings section that is usually hidden in the user profile or in the menu called by a long tap, and here we are interested in the parameters that are responsible for activating by voice or button. Voice activation is a feature that causes the phone to constantly listen to the environment for a keyword, and it should be turned off primarily to save resources.
⚠️ Warning: Complete removal of the system component through the application settings is not possible. You can only limit its capabilities or disable startup triggers.
Then check the "Advanced" or "System Integrations" section. Some versions of MIUI firmware may have a switch that allows or disallows calling the assistant when you lock the screen. If you don't have one, move on to Android system settings.
- 🔍 Open the Yandex application and go to profile.
- ⚙️ Find the Settings section and select Voice Functions».
- 🚫 Turn off the option “Voice Activation” and “Box Activation».
- 📱 Check the widget settings on the desktop for extra permissions.
It is important to understand that the settings within the application can reset after the service update, so this method should be considered as the primary, but not the final measure of combating the intrusive assistant.
Setting up the power button in MIUI and HyperOS
One of the main reasons for users' irritation is to call Alice when you double-press the lock button or long-press the shutdown key. In newer versions of Xiaomi shells, this feature is built into a deep level. To change the behavior of the button, you need to go to the system settings section.
The path to the menu may vary slightly depending on the Android version and regional firmware, usually in the "Additional" or "Special" section, and this is the Power Button, which can be assigned to the voice assistant by default.
Changing this setting will reassign the action to calling Google Assistant or simply turning off the screen, the most effective way to prevent accidental launches when the phone is in your pocket.
Settings → Additional settings → Special. capabilities → Power buttonIn the menu that opens, select the Long-Tap option and change the value from Yandex or Alice to No or Google Assistant. Similar steps should be repeated to set up Double-Tap if this option is available in your version of the software.
☑️ Checking button settings
Managing Auto Start and Permits
Even if you have disabled the call buttons, the application can continue to work in the background, consuming RAM and battery power. In the Android operating system, and in particular in the MIUI shell, there is a mechanism for controlling the autorun of applications.
To limit Alice's activity, you need to find her in the installed app list, and here we're interested in the Autostart section, which will prevent the system from running the assistant immediately after the smartphone is turned on.
Also worth paying attention to is Permits. Voice assistants require access to microphone, location, and phone to work, and if you don't use the service, the smart thing to do is to revoke those permissions, which won't delete the app, but will render it inoperable when you try to run it.
| Parameter | Recommended value | Impact on the system |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-start | Off. | Prevents the start when the phone is turned on |
| Microphone | Forbidden. | Alice won't be able to hear commands |
| Geolocation | Forbidden. | Can't build routes or find places |
| Notifications | Off. | Stop popping up in the curtain. |
Once the permission settings are changed, the system may issue a warning that the application may not work properly, which is a normal reaction to confirm that the restrictions have been successfully applied.
Use of Developer Mode and ADB
For advanced users who want to get the most out of the system, there is a method of disabling system components through USB debugging, which requires connecting a smartphone to a computer and using the ADB (Android Debug Bridge) tool.
Before starting the procedure, activate the developer mode, and then seven times click on the build number in the About Phone section, then turn on the USB debugging menu in the Developer Menu.
⚠️ Be very careful when removing system packets through ADB. Disabling critical services can lead to system instability or cyclical reboot.
After connecting to your PC and installing the drivers, you need to enter a command in the command line to search for packages associated with Yandex, usually containing the words "yandex", "alice" or "voice" in the title.
adb shell pm list packages | grep yandexOnce you find the exact name of the package (e.g. com.yandex.alice or com.yandex.voice), you can use the command to disable it for the current user.This will hide the application and stop its processes, but leave it to be reset factory.
List of commands to disable
Alternative methods and third-party utilities
If standard methods seem too complex or not effective enough, you can use third-party applications to manage system services, utilities such as NoFroze or Freezer allow you to freeze applications without root rights using the same mechanisms as ADB, but through a convenient graphical interface.
Another option is to install an alternative launcher: Replacing a standard MIUI shell with a clean Launcher (like Nova Launcher or Lawnchair) often allows you to ignore the system bindings of buttons and widgets, although system services will remain active.
It’s also worth considering installing global firmware if you’re using a Chinese version of a smartphone. In global versions of HyperOS and MIUI, integration of Yandex services is often less aggressive or makes it easier to disable them via the standard menu.
- 📲 Use Freezing Apps to Block Processes.
- 🔄 Consider installing a custom launcher to bypass system constraints.
- 🌍 Global firmware may have less pre-installed software.
However, it is worth remembering that installing third-party software or flashing the device carries risks and can void the warranty. Use these methods only if you are fully confident in your actions.
💡
Using third-party launchers does not remove Alice, but allows you to ignore her widgets and some system calls.
Possible problems and solutions
When you turn off the voice assistant, you may encounter a number of difficulties, such as resetting your settings after you update the system and Alice will reappear on the lock screen, in which case you will have to repeat the power button settings.
Sometimes the app may continue to appear in the list of recent apps even if autorun is disabled, which indicates that some other system process is calling an assistant, and check if the assistant is scheduled to be called for a long press on the screen or a certain combination of gestures.
If you used the ADB method and the phone started behaving strangely (no sound, no search), an important system component may have been disabled, in which case reconnecting to the computer and commanding to turn the package back on, or completely resetting the settings to the factory will help.
⚠️ Note: If after manipulation with system packages the phone stopped booting, use Recovery mode to perform data reset (Wipe Data).