Owners of Xiaomi smartphones running the MIUI 12 shell often face the intrusiveness of Google’s standard voice assistant, especially for Russian-speaking users who are used to more flexible functionality and a better understanding of context in Yandex solutions. The standard replacement procedure is not always obvious, since the Android system and its shell rigidly integrate Google services.
In this article, we will discuss all the nuances of how to make Yandex Alice the main assistant. You will learn what permissions you need to issue, how to disable activation by button and what hidden settings may require your attention.
Many users do not even realize that voice input can be reassigned completely, eliminating unnecessary actions when calling an assistant. We will look at methods that work consistently on the version of the MIUI 12 shell, given its specifics of energy management and resolutions.
Why should you replace the standard assistant?
The main reason for the transition is language support. Google Assistant works well in English, but in Russian it often makes mistakes or offers limited functionality, while Yandex was designed with local specifics, mentality and the peculiarities of phrase construction.
In addition, integration with the Yandex ecosystem allows you to manage a smart home, call taxis and build routes with voice much more efficiently, and you get access to skills that are not available in the standard solution from the search giant.
⚠️ Warning: Disabling Google system components may cause some service-dependent applications to work in an unstable manner GMS. It is recommended not to delete system files, but only to change the default settings.
Another important aspect is customization, which allows you to change the voice, fonts and even the appearance of the interface, which makes interaction with the device more personalized, and for many users, this becomes a decisive factor in choosing the main smartphone management tool.
Preparation of the device for installation
Before you start setting up, you need to make sure that all the necessary components are installed on your device. The basic requirement is the availability of the current version of the Yandex application or a separate Yandex application with Alice from the official Google Play store or GetApps.
It’s also worth checking out the MIUI shell version. Although the instruction is geared towards version 12, the way you work on newer versions may vary slightly in the menu item names.
☑️ Preparation for replacement of assistant
It is important to free up some RAM as voice assistants require resources for background work. MIUI 12 is known for its aggressive energy saving policy, which can "kill" background processes.
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Before setting up, close all the extra applications in the background so that the system does not limit resources when initializing a new assistant.
Installation and initial configuration of Yandex Alice
The process starts with downloading the app. Once installed, launch it and log in to your account. The system will suggest you set up voice control. You'll need to say a few phrases to calibrate your voice recognition.
During the permissions setup phase, be as careful as possible, the app will request access to the microphone, geolocation, contacts and phone, and Alice must be allowed to work properly, otherwise the functionality will be cut.
- 📱 Microphone: Required for voice control.
- 📍 Geolocation: needed to answer questions about traffic jams and weather.
- 📞 Contact: Allows you to make calls by voice.
- 🔔 Notifications: to display clues and answers.
After the initial setup, take your time to switch to a replacement. First, make sure that Alice works on her own. Try calling her through a widget or an app icon. If she answers correctly, you can move on to system changes.
Appointing Alice as a default assistant
The most important step is to get the system to use a new app instead of Google. Android, which is the basis of Xiaomi, has a regular mechanism for selecting an assistant, but in MIUI 12 the path to it can be hidden.
Go to your smartphone settings. Find the App section and select Application Management. In the upper right corner of the screen, click on three dots and select Other Settings or immediately find the default App.
In the menu that opens, find the Assistant App (or "Digital Assistant App"). Click on it. You'll see a list of available assistants. Choose Yandex or Yandex with Alice.
The system can issue a warning that a third-party assistant will gain access to some data. Confirm action. Now, if you press the home button or swipe from the corner (depending on the type of navigation), Alice must start.
Configure activation with voice and buttons
The regular “Ok Google” feature often conflicts with the similar feature of Yandex. To avoid double activation and confusion, you need to disable listening in Google settings. To do this, open the Google app, go to the settings and find the Voice Input section.
Turn off the option Ok Google. Now the free activation mechanism can be transferred to Yandex. In the settings of the application, find the Voice section and activate the function "Voice Activation".
| Parameter | Google Assistant | Yandex Alice |
|---|---|---|
| Activation phrase | Ok Google | Listening / Alice |
| Working in the background | Tall. | Requires customization |
| Understanding the Context (RU) | Average. | High. |
| Integration with services | Global | Local (RF) |
If you use gesture navigation, a long tap on the corner of the screen can be reserved by the system, in which case try to reassign the power button. In MIUI 12, this is done through Advanced Settings -> Buttons.
⚠️ Note: On some global firmware versions, the power button is rigidly tied to Google Assistant and is not reassigned by standard means. ADB-team.
How to Reassign a Button through ADB
Solving background work problems in MIUI
MIUI is famous for its strict energy-saving policies. It's often the case that everything is set up correctly, but Alice stops responding to her voice if the screen is turned off or the app has been rolled up.
To avoid this, find Yandex in the installed program list. Go to the Battery and select No Limits mode. This will prevent the system from forcibly stopping the assistant.
- 🔋 Allow auto-run for Yandex application.
- 🔒 Lock the app in memory (lock in the menu of recent apps).
- 🔋 Turn off energy savings for a specific application.
Also worth checking your background permits. Some versions of MIUI 12 have a separate "Background Start" switch. Make sure it's activated for Yandex.
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Without setting up the No Limits mode in the Battery section, MIUI will permanently unload Alice from memory, making voice activation impossible.
Additional features and widgets
After a successful replacement, you can expand the functionality of the desktop. MIUI 12 allows you to add Yandex widgets that display the weather, traffic jams or simply allow you to call Alice with a single touch.
Use the Mystery widget or Fact of the Day widget to personalize. It's not only beautiful, it's also useful. It's also worth learning Alice's skills, which allow you to manage Xiaomi's smart home directly if the accounts are connected.
Remember to update the app periodically. Developers are constantly improving recognition algorithms and adding new features. The old version may not work correctly on updated versions of Android.
⚠️ Note: When you update your application, your energy saving settings may reset. Check the Battery section after every major update to Yandex Browser or Alice app.