How to change assistant to Xiaomi: full instructions

Modern Xiaomi smartphones, which are powered by MIUI and HyperOS, offer powerful voice control tools. But standard solutions like Mi AI or even the pre-installed Google Assistant don’t always suit device owners, with some preferring Siri-like services from Yandex or Google, and others simply being prevented by random activation of voice input in their pockets. The question of how to change assistant to Xiaomi is becoming especially relevant for those who want to personalize their gadget to their own habits.

The process of replacing or completely disabling voice assistant can vary depending on the version of the operating system and regional firmware. Global versions are dominated by the Google ecosystem, while in Chinese builds the Mi AI ball rules. Understanding the differences between these systems and knowing the hidden settings allows not only to remove the redundant, but also to integrate more functional counterparts. In this article, we will discuss in detail all available methods of managing voice services.

It is worth noting that a complete replacement of the system assistant often requires not just switching the switch, but installing third-party software with extended rights. Android allows you to assign applications by default, but manufacturers of technology often limit this opportunity for their services. We will consider how to circumvent these restrictions and make the use of a smartphone as comfortable as possible.

Differences between Mi AI and Google Assistant on Xiaomi

The first step to understanding how to manage voice assistants is to recognize the difference between embedded solutions. Xiaomi devices can have two main types of assistants: proprietary Mi AI and standard Android Google Assistant. The former is more common in Chinese firmware versions and is deeply integrated into system processes such as smart home and camera management. The latter is the de facto standard for the international market and offers better support for the Russian language.

Users often confuse these services by trying to turn one off while the other is active. For example, calling the power button (long press) can activate Mi AI, while swiping from the corner of the screen triggers Google. It is important to distinguish between the two, since their shutdown paths are different. In some cases, they can conflict, causing system response delays or unintentional launches.

• 🤖 Mi AI: Deep integration with Xiaomi hardware, but weak support for Russian in the base version.
• 🔍 Google Assistant: Excellent speech recognition, integration with search services, but can consume more resources in the background.
• ⚙️ System conflicts: Simultaneous operation of both assistants can lead to increased battery consumption.

For most users of global firmware versions, Google Assistant is a priority. However, if you have refurbished your device or use specific regional settings, Mi AI may be a priority. Understanding which service is active in your case is critical for further customization.

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To see which assistant is active, press the power button. If you see the Mi AI logo or Google color circle, you will see an active assistant.

Disconnecting and replacing Mi AI in Chinese firmware

Owners of Chinese firmware (CN ROM) devices often face the intrusiveness of Mi AI. This assistant can be launched when unlocking the screen or by voice command, which annoys many users. Fortunately, the system allows you to limit its functionality or reassign buttons. However, it is worth remembering that the complete removal of Xiaomi system components without root rights is impossible.

First, you need to go to the settings of the Mi AI application itself. This is usually done through a long-press icon or through the system settings menu, where you can turn off voice activation "Hey Mi AI" and prevent startup when unlocked, which will significantly reduce the frequency of random switches.

If standard methods don't work, you can take a more radical approach through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires connecting your smartphone to your computer and having basic command line knowledge, and commands can "freeze" or delete the packet responsible for Mi AI, which will free up space in memory and speed up the system.

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB-commands to remove system applications can lead to unstable shell operation. Make sure that you delete the voice assistant packet, not the system services.

Once Mi AI is disabled, you can take the vacant niche by installing an alternative, but to run it on the button, you will need additional configuration through third-party utilities, which will be discussed below, but in the meantime, it is important to make sure that the old assistant does not intercept the control of the microphone.

Setting up Google Assistant as the main one

For the global versions of MIUI and HyperOS, the standard is Google Assistant, and to make sure it works properly, you need to make sure it is chosen as the default assistant, which ensures that when you press the Home button long enough or use the appropriate gesture command, it is the service from Google that is activated.

The setup process begins with checking your Google account, requiring authorization to work with personal data, calendar and mail, without which the functionality will be limited to basic queries in the search engine, and it is worth checking the language settings: for quality work in Russian, you need to choose Russian as the main language of the assistant.

An important aspect is the “Ok Google” setting, which allows you to call the assistant with your voice even when the screen is off. On Xiaomi smartphones, this requires permission to access the microphone in the background. If this option does not work, check the energy saving: Battery mode should not restrict the operation of Google services.

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For stable Google Assistant on Xiaomi, be sure to add the Google app to the power saving mode exceptions (“No Limits”).

If you want to completely replace the assistant system call, for example, so that the power button does not call Mi AI, but Google, you can do this in the special features section. The path may differ: Settings → Additional → Buttons and gestures. Here you select the action for a long press of the power button.

Use of third-party voice assistants

The market for alternative assents for Android is rich, and Xiaomi users often choose Yandex Alice or Siri (via emulators, although this is rare).Installing a third-party app is only half the battle. The main challenge is to get the system to use it instead of built-in solutions.

The most popular choice in the CIS is Alice. The app has a widget and voice activation support. However, in order for it to work seamlessly, you need to adjust the permissions correctly. Unlike Google, Alice may not have deep integration with the phone's system settings, so some commands can be executed longer.

• 📱 Installation APK: Download the app from an official store or a verified source.
• 🎤 Microphone setup: Allow constant access to the microphone for background work.
• 🔋 Auto Start: Enable auto start in the battery settings so that the system doesn’t “kill” the process.

For advanced users, there is a method of reassigning system buttons through macro applications such as Button Mapper. This allows you to assign a call to any application, including third-party assistants, to long pressing volume buttons or even double tapping on the back of the smartphone (Back Tap function).

⚠️ Note: When using third-party launchers or button mappers, the system MIUI/HyperOS It can force the background processes to close. Be sure to lock the application in memory (lock app).

Also worth mentioning is the possibility of using Tasker in conjunction with voice-activated plugins, which allows you to create complex scenarios: for example, a voice command "I'm at home" phone will turn on Wi-Fi, brighten up and play music, a level of customization that is not available by standard means.

Problems with activation and their solution

A common problem with Xiaomi users is that the assistant is not responding to voice commands or buttons, which can be due to access rights conflicts or shell errors, the first thing to do is check if the service is disabled in the application settings, and sometimes after the system update, the settings are reset.

Another reason could be the incorrect operation of the proximity sensor or light sensor, which is used to determine whether the phone is in your pocket. If the system "thinks" that the phone is in your pocket, it can block voice input to avoid random dials. Clearing the cache of Google services and Google applications often helps solve the problem.

If the assistant is "sick" or slow, try resetting the microphone access settings. Go to Settings → Privacy → Permission Manager → Microphone and recheck the ticks for the desired applications. Sometimes it helps to temporarily disable and re-enable the assistant in the akka settings.

If nothing works, you may need to reset your Google app settings to factory settings, which won’t delete your data, but will return all of the assistant settings to their original state, which often eliminates software glitches accumulated over time.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions