How to change Google Assistant to Alice to Xiaomi: The Complete Guide

Owners of Xiaomi smartphones often face the dilemma of choosing between a pre-installed voice assistant from Google and a more understandable service from Yandex. The standard situation looks like this: you press the assistant call button, and the system offers Google Assistant, which does not always correctly understand complex queries in Russian or does not know how to manage the smart home of Yandex. Replacing one assistant with another is not so much a technically difficult task as it requires an understanding of the architecture of the Android system and the shell of MIUI or HyperOS.

The process of integrating Yandex Alice as the primary assistant does not imply the complete removal of Google Assistant, since the latter is deeply integrated into the operating system services. However, we can configure hardware buttons, widgets and application priorities so that whenever a user acts, it is the voice assistant from Yandex that is activated, this will require you to be careful when setting access parameters and permissions so that the system does not block the work of a third-party application.

It’s important to understand that Android allows you to have multiple assistants, but only one can be active at a particular time. In this article, we’ll look at all the available ways to reassign, from simple widget installation to advanced ADB customization methods for full interception of system commands.

Preparation of the system and installation of necessary components

The first step on the way to replacing the assistant is the correct installation and configuration of the main application. You will need to download the official Yandex application or a separate Yandex application with Alice from the Google Play store or GetApps. After installation, do not rush to assign it to the main one, you first need to conduct an initial setup inside the application itself to make sure that the microphone and voice module work correctly.

Go to the app settings and make sure that the Alice feature is activated. In modern versions of the MIUI shell, the system can aggressively unload background processes to save battery power, so it is critical to configure autostart and permissions. Without this, the assistant can simply not respond to a call or turn off in the background, which will reduce all efforts to zero.

Note the operating system version. On older versions of Android (below 10), the replacement mechanism may differ from current versions of Android 13/14 in HyperOS. In new systems, Google has increased the protection of its services, so standard menu methods sometimes do not work, and you have to resort to additional utilities.

⚠️ Note: Before making changes to your system settings, make sure you have a stable Internet connection.Initial activation of voice services requires sharing data with the company's servers to recognize voice and upload profiles.

It is also worth checking for updates to the Yandex app itself. Developers regularly release patches that improve compatibility with various models of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones. Using an outdated version can lead to errors when trying to intercept control of buttons.

Customize Alice through the standard Android menu

The safest and most effective way to change the main assistant is to use the built-in Android operating system.This method does not require root rights or third-party software, but its availability depends on the firmware version and the region for which the smartphone is released. Most of the global versions (Global) ROM) This path is open by default.

First, you have to go to the hidden or deep settings menu, and the path may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI, but the logic remains the same: we look for the default application section, and that's where the system stores information about which application should be opened when certain user actions are taken.

• 📱 Open the “Settings” of the smartphone and go to the “Apps” section».
• ⚙️ Find the Default Apps option (may be in the three-dot menu in the corner of the screen).
• 🎙️ Select "Help App" or "Digital Assistant».
• 🔄 In the list of available assistants, select Yandex or Yandex».

Once selected, the system can request confirmation of microphone usage and screen access, you must agree to all requests, otherwise Alice will not be able to function fully. If the list does not contain the desired application, make sure that it is installed and has all the necessary permissions in the section "Application Permissions".

In some cases, especially on Chinese firmware, the assistant selection point may be hidden or replaced by Google, in which case the standard path through the settings will not work and you will need to use third-party solutions or ADB-But for 80 percent of global users, this is a working method.

⚠️ Note: If after choosing Yandex as the main assistant with a long press of the Home button or the power button still starts Google, then the manufacturer has blocked this function at the system level.

Using the Button Mapper app to reassign buttons

When system settings block direct replacement, specialized button reassignment tools come to the rescue. One of the most reliable and time-tested programs is Button Mapper, which allows you to intercept physical and touch buttons and assign specific applications or actions to run on them.

The principle is that the app creates a layer on top of the system that listens to the presses. When you press, for example, the power button twice or press the volume button, Button Mapper intercepts this event and instead of a system action, triggers Alice, which requires special permissions through the ADB or the special features menu.

The process of setting up is as follows: first you install the app from Google Play, then give it access to "Accessibility" (Accessibility). Without this permission, the program will not be able to track clicks. After that, in the program menu, select the button you want to reassign (for example, "Double press the power button" or "Long press the volume button down").

As an action for the selected button, select the "App" and find Yandex in the list. Now, with a given action, it will run the voice assistant Yandex. This is the most versatile way, working on almost all Xiaomi models, including those where Google is hard-coded in the system.

It is worth noting that using such applications can slightly increase battery consumption, since the process constantly monitors the state of the buttons. However, modern MIUI optimization algorithms allow you to minimize this effect by adding the application to the exceptions to the energy saving.

Activation of Alice through widgets and lock screen

If you don't want to mess around with reassigning buttons, you can use visual interface elements. The MIUI and HyperOS shell allows you to flexibly configure the desktop and lock screen, placing widgets there to quickly call Alice. This does not replace the system assistant completely, but provides quick access to functionality.

To add a widget, press the empty space on your desktop and select "Widgets." From the list, find the Yandex app and select the size of the widget with a microphone you like. Place it in a convenient location, such as at the top of the screen or in the dock bar, so you can always have it on hand.

A more advanced option is to use a lock screen. Some MIUI themes allow you to add shortcuts to the lock screen. You can set a shortcut in the bottom corner that will run the Yandex app. However, for security reasons, Android may require you to unlock the device before you launch the application, which adds extra action.

You can also set up a Smart Button (if you have one on your model, such as the Redmi Note series or flagships) in the button settings section, you can assign a single or double click to start the application, a standard feature that does not require installing third-party software and works more stable than button emulators.

The use of widgets is especially relevant for those accustomed to visual interaction.The microphone button on the widget often responds faster than voice activation, which is useful in noisy places where Alice may not hear the activation command.

Advanced setup via ADB for full interception

For users who want to achieve the perfect result and have at least minimal experience with a computer, there is a method of setting up through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which allows you to change the system settings that are hidden from the average user, and force Yandex to be assigned as the main assistant even where the selection menu is blocked.

First, you need to activate the developer mode on your smartphone, and then 7 times click on the build number in the About Phone section, then in the Developer menu, turn on USB Debugging, connect the phone to your computer, install the drivers and platform-tools.

After connecting, run a command to check the connection:

adb devices

If you've got a device, you can type in commands to change the assistant settings. We need to change the value in the Android settings database that's responsible for the assistant app.

adb shell settings put secure assistant com.yandex.searchplugin

In some cases, it may also be necessary to specify the assistant component:

adb shell settings put secure assistant_component com.yandex.searchplugin/.assistant.AssistantActivity

⚠️ Attention: Working with ADB Incorrect commands can lead to unstable operation of the system. Make sure that the batch name of the Yandex application is correct for your version (usually com.yandex.searchplugin or com.yandex.alice).

This is the most effective method, because it changes the system-level settings, and after you run commands and reboot your smartphone, a long press of the home button or call for an assistant should activate Alice, but when you update the system, the settings may reset and you will have to repeat the procedure.

Comparison of functionality: Google Assistant vs. Yandex Alice

Before you finally abandon the standard solution, it is worth objectively comparing the capabilities of both assistants in the Xiaomi ecosystem. Each of them has its own strengths, and the choice depends on your personal preferences and use cases.

Google Assistant has traditionally been strong in integrating with Google’s services: Calendar, Mail, Maps, Photos. It better understands contextual queries in English and is more integrated into the Android system, ensuring that system commands (such as “turn on a flashlight” or “open settings”) are executed without additional permissions.

Yandex Alice is better at understanding Russian, including slang, complex grammatical constructions, and cultural context. It is better integrated with Russian services: Yandex.Music, Kinopoisk, Taxi, and Market.Alice has a more advanced dialogue mode (Zazulei) and better manages a smart home if you use Yandex devices.

The table shows that for the Russian user Alice is often more convenient conversational, while Google Assistant remains an indispensable tool for working with the system functions of the phone and English-language content.

Solving problems and errors in replacement

When you change assistants, users often face a number of common problems, one of the most common is application conflict, and if you have multiple apps with voice assistants installed, the system may be confused about which one to run, in which case clearing the cache of the Google app and re-setting priority in the settings helps.

Another problem is the lack of response to the voice command Alice, which is often due to the fact that the background work of the application is limited by the MIUI energy saving system. You need to go to the battery settings, find the Yandex application and set the "No restrictions" mode.

If the microphone or other microphone functions have stopped working after the replacement, check the permissions. The Yandex app may be denied access to the microphone in the background. Android 12 and above has a microphone usage indicator (green dot) that helps to track whether the application is trying to access.

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Use the “Ad Block” function in the Yandex application so that the widgets and interface work faster and do not overload the smartphone’s RAM.

In rare cases, especially after a firmware update, settings may go off. Keep in mind that major HyperOS updates can reset access and button assignment rights. Periodic settings checks will help keep the usage scenario familiar.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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Replacing Google Assistant with Alice with Xiaomi is a process of setting priorities and buttons, not deleting system files. Using Button Mapper or ADB, you can achieve Alice’s complete dominance in the interface.