How to change Google to Alice in Xiaomi: Replacing an assistant

Owners of Xiaomi smartphones often face a dilemma: the built-in voice assistant from Google works perfectly in English, but in the Russian segment is much inferior to the domestic Yandex.Alice. The standard situation, when a long press of the power button or swipe from the corner of the screen is activated by Google Assistant, causes irritation among users accustomed to the ecosystem of Yandex. Fortunately, the Android operating system, which is based on the shell MIUI or the new HyperOS, allows you to flexibly adjust the priorities of applications.

The replacement process is not always obvious, because manufacturers sometimes hide the settings or block them in certain regions. However, there are several proven methods to reassign system calls. You don't need to have superuser rights or refashion the device to achieve the desired result. In most cases, it is enough to properly configure the phone settings and install the appropriate software.

In this article, we will take a look at all the ways you can integrate Alice as your primary assistant. We will look at the system’s regular tools, the capabilities of the MIUI shell itself, and third-party tools that help you get around the tight constraints. Since Android 12 and up, the default assistant replacement mechanisms have become stricter, so some methods require the use of ADB or special launchers.

Preparation of the device and installation of necessary components

Before you start changing system settings, you need to make sure that your device has all the required components. The basic requirement is the current version of the Yandex application or a separate Yandex application with Alice from the official Google Play store or GetApps. Without the installed assistant application, the system simply will not see an alternative to the standard service.

It is also important to check the operating system version. On older versions of Android (below 9.0), the working mechanisms may differ, but the principle remains the same. Make sure that the Yandex application has all the necessary permissions, especially access to the microphone and lock screen. Without these rights, voice input will not work, no matter what method you try to activate the assistant.

It is recommended to pre-disable or at least clear the data of the current Google Assistant to avoid conflicts when switching, this can be done through the app settings menu by searching the Google list and selecting “Default Apps”, often where the key to managing priorities lies.

Staff settings assistant in Android and MIUI

The easiest and most system-friendly way to do this is to use the built-in default application selection menu. The algorithm may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI or HyperOS, but the logic remains the same. You need to go to the settings section, find the "Applications" option, and select "Application Setup."

In the menu that opens, you should find the Default Apps section (or Application Management -> three dots in the corner -> Default Apps) and here we are interested in the Assistant or Digital Assistant category. When you click on it, you will see a list of available options. If Yandex is installed correctly, it should appear on the list on a par with Google.

Once you select Yandex, the system will alert you that the app you select will have access to some data. This is the standard Android security warning. Confirm action. Now, when you call the assistant using standard methods (for example, by searching for a widget or some gestures), the system will try to launch the selected application.

• 📱 Go to the settings of your Xiaomi smartphone.
• 🔍 Find the Application section and select Application Setup.
• ⚙️ Open the Default Apps menu (often hidden in the optional menu).
• 🤖 Select “Assistant” and select Yandex instead of Google.

⚠️ Note: On some Xiaomi global firmware, the assistant selection point can be hidden or replaced by a forced choice only by Google.In this case, the standard method will not work, and you will need to use third-party solutions described below.

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If there is no Yandex in the list of assistants, try reinstalling the application or updating it through the GetApps store, since the version from the Play Market may have restrictions for the Russian Federation region.

Using the power button to activate Alice

One of the most convenient features in the MIUI shell is the ability to call the voice assistant (long press) power button. By default, this feature is rigidly tied to Google Assistant, and simply changing the assistant in Android settings is often not enough.

To reconfigure the button, you need to go to the advanced settings. The path usually looks like: Settings -> Additional -> Buttons and gestures (or Power button). This is the "Call Voice Assistant" switch. If you have already changed the standard assistant in the system, in some versions of the firmware, the button will automatically reassign.

But most of the time, Xiaomi blocks this feature, and you'll have to use a crutch of a middleman or macro app, such as a built-in Macros app (if available in your area) or third-party utilities like Button Mapper that can intercept hardware button presses and run the desired application or action.

Application of third-party launchers and utilities

If the system constraints of HyperOS or MIUI don't allow you to achieve the desired result, third-party launchers come to the rescue. Replacing the standard desktop with Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Smart Launcher gives you much more freedom in setting up gestures. You can schedule Alice to launch double-touch the screen, swipe up or highlight the letter of the alphabet.

Another powerful tool is dedicated button reassignment apps like Button Mapper. This application requires special permissions (provided through ADB or built-in accessibility tools), but allows you to reprogram almost any button on the case. You can set up a single, double or long press of the volume or power button to start Yandex.Alice.

It's important to understand that using third-party launchers can change the visual style of the interface and the behavior of the system. Some features, such as application folders or widgets, may work differently. However, for the task of replacing the assistant, it is often the only working solution on new versions of Android.

• 🎨 Nova Launcher: Allows you to assign gestures on the desktop to run applications.
• 🔘 Button Mapper: a professional tool for reassigning physical buttons.
• 🤖 MacroDroid: Creating complex automation scenarios, including running Alice on an event.

⚠️ Note: When installing third-party launchers on Xiaomi, you may need permission to display on top of other applications and auto-start, otherwise the system will constantly “unload” the launcher from memory, returning the standard interface.

Comparison of features: Google Assistant vs. Alice

Replacing one assistant with another is not just a matter of habit, it’s also a matter of functionality. To give you an idea of what you’re buying and what you’re losing, let’s compare the capabilities of both assistants in the context of using them on Xiaomi devices.

Google Assistant has traditionally been strong in integrating with the company’s services: Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Maps. It better understands contextual queries in English and is more integrated into the Android system to perform basic tasks like setting an alarm clock or opening settings.

Alice, on the other hand, is a winner in the Russian-speaking segment, better at recognizing spoken Russian, understanding slang, and being able to maintain dialogue. For CIS users, integration with Yandex.Music, Yandex.Navigator, and Yandex’s smart home is critical, making it the preferred choice.

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The choice of assistant depends on your ecosystem: if you live in Yandex services, Alice will be more convenient, despite the lower system integration.

Problem Solving and Frequent Errors in Setup

Even if you follow all the instructions, users can run into problems. One of the most common is that the assistant simply does not start or closes immediately. This is often associated with aggressive energy savings in MIUI. The system kills the Yandex background process, considering it unnecessary. To fix this, you need to go to the battery settings, find the Yandex application and select the No Limits mode.

Another problem is that you don't respond to the voice command "Listen Alice" when the screen is off. Generally, Android doesn't allow third-party apps to listen to the microphone in sleep mode for safety and battery saving reasons, and you can only do this through special widgets that are always active on the lock screen, or using the "Always on Screen" (AOD) mode if it's supported by your device.

Also worth mentioning is the access rights conflict. If your firmware updates are disrupted, check to see if the microphone permissions are reset, and sometimes an Android or shell update resets those settings to factory values for privacy purposes.

• 🔋 Check the energy saving settings for the Yandex application.
• 🎤 Make sure that access to the microphone is allowed “Always” and not “Only when in use».
• 🔄 Restart the device after changing the main assistant in the system.

⚠️ Note: If you use Full Screen Apps or Game Acceleration, the assistant call may be blocked by the system to prevent interruption of gameplay).

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For Alice’s stable performance on Xiaomi, add the app to the autoload. Go to the Security app -> Permissions -> Autorun and turn on the Yandex slider.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)