Many Xiaomi smartphone users are faced with a situation where the built-in voice assistant begins to annoy with its constant presence. This is especially true for owners of devices where the Yandex Browser is installed by default or is the main tool for finding information.
Disabling voice control requires careful attention, as settings are scattered across different menus of the app and Android system. On Xiaomi devices with a MIUI shell or a new HyperOS, the process can have its own nuances associated with aggressive battery optimization and access rights. In this article, we will discuss in detail all possible ways to deactivate the assistant.
You will learn how to completely remove voice control, disable the widget start page and prevent the browser from working in the background. These actions will help free up system resources and make smartphone use more comfortable and predictable. Follow the instructions Step-by-step for the best result.
Settings of the voice assistant inside the application
The first step to shutting down completely is to work with the browser's internal settings, and that's where the main switch for responding to voice commands is located, so you need to launch the app and go to the settings menu, which is usually hidden under three dots or stripes at the bottom of the screen.
Find the partition that handles voice functions. It can be called differently in different versions of software, but it's usually Voice Commands or Alice, and inside that menu, you'll find a switch that allows you to activate by word or button press, and put it inactive.
It is also important to check the voice activation settings. Often users forget to turn off the voice activation option, which causes the phone to continue to respond to phrases even when the screen is off or in other applications. Make sure that all sliders associated with the sound control are in the off position.
- 🔹 Open the browser settings menu through the lower toolbar.
- 🔹 Go to the “Voice Opportunities” or “Alice” section».
- 🔹 Find and disable the option “Voice Activation».
- 🔹 Remove the tick from the item "Show the microphone button».
⚠️ Note: After the app update, the settings may reset to factory values, so check this section periodically, especially after an update via Google Play or GetApps.
Control widget on the main screen
Often the source of irritation is not the assistant itself, but the visual embodiment of it on the desktop. The Alice widget or Yandex with Alice widget takes place on the screen and can be accidentally activated when touched, and removing this element is an important step in the process of cleaning the interface.
To remove the widget on Xiaomi smartphones, you need to pin your finger on the widget area on the desktop, and you will see a context menu or edit mode where you need to select the deletion option. This action will not affect the functionality of the browser itself, but will remove permanent access to the voice assistant from the main screen.
If the widget is built into the browser’s start page (scoring), it can be removed through the scoreboard settings. Go to the scoreboard settings and turn off the voice assistant display or select a different style of the start page where this element is absent by default.
Some users prefer to completely change the launcher or the start page to avoid any Yandex elements, a radical but effective method if standard settings do not give the desired result, but in most cases, simply remove the widget is enough.
Disabling background work and optimization on Xiaomi
MIUI and HyperOS are known for their strict power management policies, which require that the voice assistant stop working in the background and listen to commands, limit the rights of the application itself, and prevent Alice from running her processes when the browser is closed.
Go to your phone settings, find the Apps section, and select All Apps. Search Yandex Browser for Autostart, you need to turn it off. Also, in Energy Saving or Activity Control, select No Limits or a hard limit, so that the system kills the process itself when it folds.
You also need to check the permissions. In the app rights menu, find the Microphone section and deny access. Without access to the microphone, the voice assistant will not be able to physically hear the activation command, which is a reliable way to lock.
| Setup parameter | Recommended value | Location on the menu |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-start | Off. | Applications → Auto-Run |
| Access to the microphone | Forbidden. | Applications → Rights → Microphone |
| Working in the background | Limited. | Applications → Energy saving |
| Notifications | Off. | Annexes → Notifications |
Limiting background activity will also have a positive impact on the battery life of your Xiaomi.The browser will stop consuming processor resources to maintain communication with the servers of the voice assistant.
Reset browser settings to factory
If manually disabling all functions failed or there were errors in the menu, you can perform a full reset of the application settings, which will return the browser to state immediately after installation, removing all activated Alice functions and personalization.
To perform the reset, go to the phone’s settings, the Apps section, find Yandex Browser, and select Clear → Clear Everything (or Reset Settings). Note that this step will delete saved passwords, history, and sync settings within the app if they were not saved to your account.
☑️ Pre-reset check
After resetting the first time you start, keep a close eye on the options you're offering, and the system may suggest turning on the voice assistant again, and at this point, it's important to drop the offer right away and not check the boxes in the welcome windows.
⚠️ Attention: Resetting does not delete the application itself, it only returns its configuration to its original state».
Use of special commands and hidden menus
Some versions of the software have hidden flags or experimental features that allow for more subtle control of assistant behavior, often accessed through the address bar or special codes.
Try typing browser://flags or a similar browser specific to your version into your browser address bar. In the experimental feature menu that opens, look for items containing the words Voice, Assistant or Alice. Changing the value to Disabled can force the module to disable.
Also check your Android settings. In the Default Apps section, make sure that Yandex is not selected as the Digital Assistant App. If Yandex is there, change the setting to No, or select Google Assistant if you need it, or leave it empty.
Risks of changing system flags
This method is suitable for advanced users who understand the consequences of changing system flags. In most cases, standard settings are enough, but in difficult cases this may be the only solution.
Complete removal of the application from the device
The most radical and guaranteed way to get rid of Alice is to completely remove Yandex Browser. On Xiaomi smartphones, this is done in the standard way through the application management menu or by long-term clicking on the icon.
If the browser is system and is not deleted in the usual way, you can use the developer rights or special software to remove system applications (caution is required).However, in global versions of MIUI firmware, Yandex Browser is usually a user application and is removed without problems.
After deleting, it is recommended to restart the device, which will clear the system cache of residual files and processes that may have remained in RAM, the phone will work faster, and the risk of accidental activation will disappear completely.
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Before removing the browser, export your bookmarks to HTML-Sync the file or sync it to your Google account so you don’t lose important information.
If you need a browser but don't need Alice, consider alternatives like Chrome, Firefox or dedicated browsers with a minimalist interface.They don't impose voice assistants and work more stably on devices with limited resources.
Possible problems and solutions
Users may encounter a number of difficulties during the shutdown process, such as settings may not be saved, or the microphone button may reappear after a reboot, often due to the upgrade of Yandex service components.
If the button returns, check for updates for Yandex.Services or the browser itself in Google Play. Sometimes the problem is solved by disabling automatic updates of applications for a particular browser, which allows you to fix the working version without intrusive functions.
It’s also worth checking if the Smart Home feature or other Xiaomi system integrations that can call Alice globally are activated.
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The most reliable way is a comprehensive approach: disabling in settings, banning the microphone rights and removing the widget from the desktop.
In rare cases, data cleaning may be required for Google Play Services, as it manages many system interactions, but should only be done by experienced users, understanding the risks of resetting other services.