How to put Yandex Alice instead of Google Assistant on Xiaomi

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco devices often face the inconvenience of using Google’s pre-installed voice assistant, especially if they are used to the Yandex ecosystem. Russian service Yandex Alice understands contextual speech much better, can include music from local libraries and is integrated into the smart home, which makes its use more familiar. However, the Android system persistently offers Google Assistant by default, ignoring installed alternatives when you press the menu button or swipe from the corner of the screen.

The process of replacing a regular module with a third-party one requires not only installing the application, but also deeply configuring system resolutions. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to redefined standard Android settings so that when you activate voice input, your smartphone calls the smart assistant from Yandex. We will also touch on the nuances of working with the MIUI shell and HyperOS, which have their own voice command management algorithms.

It is worth noting that it is impossible to completely remove the system component of Google Assistant without root rights, since it is part of Google Play services. However, the correct configuration will allow you to redirect all incoming requests to the desired application. On devices with global firmware, the configuration process may be different from the Chinese versions of firmware. Prepare for having to go through several settings menus so that the system remembers your choice.

Preparation of the device and installation of Yandex Browser

The first and mandatory step is to install the current version of the application containing the voice assistant module, most often it is Yandex Browser or a separate application "Yandex", since it is in them that Alice's most functional algorithm is built in.

Once installed, you need to log in to your Yandex ID account. Without logging in, the voice assistant will not be able to access your personal data, music playlists, and search history. This is a critical step, as personalization makes Alice comfortable.

In some cases, the system may request permission to display on top of other windows immediately after the first run, which is necessary so that the assistant interface can overlap other applications. If the pop-up does not appear, don't worry - we will manually configure this in the appropriate section.

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Use the Yandex Browser version with Alice, not just the search app – this will provide better integration with navigation and news feed.

Make sure your device has microphone access enabled. Without this permission, no voice assistant will be able to function. Check the privacy settings in your Xiaomi security section to make sure that access to the microphone is not blocked by system restrictions.

Setting up the default assistant in the Android system

The main replacement is in the operating system settings, you need to find the default app section. The path may vary slightly depending on the Android version, but the logic remains the same. Open Settings on your smartphone and go to Apps.

In the app menu, find the "Application Management" or "Default Apps" option. In some versions of MIUI, this item is hidden in the "All Apps" sub-menus. Your goal is to find the "Application Assistant" or "Digital Assistant app" line.

Click on your current choice (usually Google is there) and select Yandex or Yandex.Browser from the list that opens. If the system warns that a third-party assistant may access some data, confirm the action. Now, if you press the Home button or swipe long enough, the selected service should start from the corner.

It is important to understand that on some Xiaomi smartphones with reduced memory, the system can aggressively unload background processes. To make Alice work consistently, it is recommended to fix it in memory or add it to the battery exception list, which will prevent the service from unexpectedly shutting down.

Disable and reconfigure Google Assistant

Even after changing the default assistant, Google Assistant can continue to pop up under certain scenarios, such as when using a headset or in car mode. To minimize its impact, you need to go to the settings of Google itself. Open the Google app or find it in the list of installed programs.

Go to Google Assistant settings, where you can turn off the Hey Google feature (OK, Google) so that the assistant doesn't activate on a voice command while competing with Alice, and you should also turn off the start at the press of the power button if this option is active in your firmware version.

In the Google Assistant -> Phone section, you can try to disable access to the lock screen, which will reduce the likelihood of someone else's assistant accidentally activating when the phone is in your pocket or on your desk, but remember that you can't completely remove Google system components without root rights.

⚠️ Note: Completely remove Google Assistant via ADB-commands can lead to system instability and errors in other Google services. Use only software disabling functions.

If you use headphones with an assistant call button, check their settings in the Bluetooth menu, often with a hard link to the system assistant, which you will have to reconfigure separately or accept that the button will call Google.

Features of work in the shell of MIUI and HyperOS

Xiaomi smartphones have their own add-on over Android, which makes adjustments to the voice control. In the shells of MIUI 12, 13, 14 and the new HyperOS, there is its own voice assistant Mi AI (in global versions often replaced by Google, but the deep settings remain), it can intercept control if not configured correctly.

In the system settings, find the "Mi AI" or "Voice control" section, where you should turn off power button activation and voice activation if you do not plan to use the Chinese service, otherwise the phone will offer you three different assistants, which will create chaos.

MIUI also has a Quick Commands or Voice Control feature that lets you run applications on a voice command, so make sure that these features don't conflict with Alice's hotkeys, and sometimes it helps to completely reset the voice input settings in the Language and Input section.

HyperOS users may notice more stringent energy saving policies. If Alice stopped responding, check the Battery section and set Yandex Browser to No Limits mode, which is critical for the background work of the team listener.

Comparison of the functions of assistants

Before you finally switch to a new service, it is worth assessing the difference in capabilities. Google Assistant is strong in integration with Western services and managing a smart home through Google Home. Yandex Alice is sharpened for Russian content, navigation and local delivery services or taxis.

Below is a table showing the key differences in the context of use in the Russian Federation:

It's your habits. If you use a Yandex Plus subscription, you can switch to Alice, and you can use your voice to turn on TV shows, order food, and build traffic routes, which Google does less efficiently in our latitudes.

Alice also has a more developed conversational skills ("chattalka") in Russian, and can tell a story, maintain a dialogue, or play a game, making interaction with the phone less mechanical.

Typical Problems and Conflicts

A common problem after setting up is that the assistant is not called by a swipe from the corner. In Xiaomi, this gesture is often performed by the system function “Google Assistant” or “Mi AI”. Go to Settings -> “Additional” -> “Swipe from the corner” (or “Fast access”) and disable this feature or reassign it to start the Yandex application.

Another nuance is the microphone access conflict, and if one app is already using a microphone, the other one might not start, and make sure that there are no recorders or video calling programs in the background that block audio input.

If Alice stopped understanding commands after the system update, try clearing the cache of the Yandex Browser application. Go to Settings -> Apps -> Yandex -> Memory and click Clear Cache.

⚠️ Warning: Clearing the application's data (not cache) will log out of your account and reset all of the assistant's settings. Be careful when selecting action in the memory menu.

In rare cases, reinstallation of Yandex Browser with the pre-deletion of the old version helps, which allows you to reset all system bindings and register the application as new, re-entering the default assistant procedure.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

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Replacing Google Assistant with Alice on Xiaomi is possible with regular Android tools, but requires disabling system interceptors in the system. MIUI/HyperOS steady-work.