Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face intrusiveness of the company’s branded services, which are preinstalled in the shell of MIUI or HyperOS. However, the Russian user is much more familiar and functional ecosystem Yandex, which includes not only the search bar, but also voice assistant, maps and a smart news feed. The standard procedure for installing applications from Google Play or AppGallery does not make Yandex services a priority for the system, which requires additional settings.
The process of integrating search engine and browser as the main tools depends on the version of the Android operating system and modification of the MIUI interface. In the latest updates to Google security policy and changes in the Xiaomi architecture, nuances have appeared that can block the automatic change of the search engine. You will need not just to download the application, but also manually reassign a number of system parameters so that when you click on links or voice query, the service you need opens.
This guide covers all stages of configuration, from the basic installation to deep integration through the engineering menu and preference reset, we will discuss how to circumvent the restrictions when the system does not allow you to choose the default browser, and how to get Alice to respond to the call power button instead of Google Assistant.
Installation and primary configuration of Yandex applications
The first and mandatory step is to install all the necessary components of the ecosystem correctly. Do not limit yourself to the browser, as different modules are responsible for search, voice input and widgets. Download Yandex (the main application), Yandex Browser and Yandex with Alice from the official Google Play store or GetApps, which is preinstalled on Xiaomi smartphones.
Once installed, run each application separately and log in to your Yandex ID account. This is critical for synchronizing passwords, history and settings. In the browser settings, look for the Search Engine section and make sure that Yandex is selected, not any third-party aggregator. Often, Bing or Google may be the default.
⚠️ Note: When you first install Yandex Browser, the Android system may issue a pop-up warning that the application requests access to data or tries to change the browser settings. This is a standard security procedure, you must confirm the action with the “Allow” or “OK” button, otherwise the integration will not end.
Desktop and lock screen widgets may require separate permission to work properly. Go to Settings → Applications → All apps, search the Yandex list and check the Permissions section. Make sure geolocation, microphone and memory access is provided in Always or When in use mode so that voice assistant and cards function smoothly.
☑️ Primary configuration of services
Change the default browser in MIUI and HyperOS
The most frequent request of users is to make sure that all links from messengers and social networks are opened in Yandex Browser, not in the standard MIUI Browser or Chrome. In modern versions of the Xiaomi shell, this parameter is hidden deep enough, and the algorithm for changing it can vary.
The standard path is through the system settings menu. You need to open Settings → Applications → Application Management. In the upper right corner of the screen, click on the three-dot button and select Default Apps. In the list that opens, find the Browser category and tap it. The system will offer a list of installed browsers where you want to select Yandex.
If the default Apps list has no browser option or is inactive, try an alternative method by searching for settings. Click on the magnifying glass at the top of the settings screen and enter the default browser request. You can also use the method of setting up → Advanced settings → Confidentiality → Special facilities → Applications are default, although HyperOS often changes this path.
In some cases, especially on global firmware with aggressive optimization, the system may ignore the choice and periodically reset it to Chrome.To avoid this, after choosing Yandex, go to the settings of the MIUI Browser itself (if any) and find the option “Clear Default Data” or “Reset Settings” to break the system’s connection with the standard browser.
Replacement of the search engine in the system search bar
Search bar on the desktop or in the menu “Recent” (swipe up) on Xiaomi smartphones by default uses the engine Google or Bing. Replace it with Yandex regular means is not always possible, as it depends on the version of the launcher System Launcher.
The first is through the widget settings. If you have a Google Search widget on your desktop, try clicking on it and holding your finger, then select "Widget Settings." In some versions of MIUI, there's a Search Engine option where you can select Yandex. If there's no such widget, this method is irrelevant for your version of the software.
The second, more reliable method is to use Yandex's own widgets. Remove the standard Google search bar from your desktop. Then click on the blank space of the screen for a long time, select "Vidgets" → "Yandex" (or "Yandex with Alice"). Drag the "Search String" or "Smart Ribbon" widget to the home screen. Now all queries will go through Yandex's servers.
⚠️ Note: Replacing Google’s system search widget with Yandex’s widget can change the look of the lock screen or the “Recent” menu if these features are rigidly tied to Google services in your firmware version. In this case, the system search will remain the same, but the widget on the desktop will work correctly.
For users who are critically important that it is the system bar (for example, swipe from the bottom) that opens Yandex, there is a radical method - installing a third-party launcher, such as Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher. They can assign any widget or default action to the search bar, completely ignoring the limitations. MIUI.
Setting up Alice Voice Assistant instead of Google Assistant
One of the key features of the ecosystem is voice control. Users often want to call Alice (with a long press) power buttons, as they do for Google Assistant. Recent updates to MIUI and Android have the ability to reassign this button, but with nuances.
Go to Settings → Additional Features → Turn on button (the path may be different: Settings → Special Features → Keyboard shortcuts). Find the option “Push and hold 0.5 seconds.” The default is “Google Assistant.” Click on it and select “Yandex” or “Yandex with Alice” in the list that appears. If the application is not on the list, it does not have the appropriate permissions or is not updated.
Alternatively, activate via the Home button (if virtual) or swipe from the corner of the screen. In the Yandex with Alice settings, enable button activation or voice activation. To work, Hi Yandex, you must provide the app with permanent access to the microphone and allow it to work in the background, turning off the energy saving for this application.
Why can't Alice hear the command with the screen off?
Remember that the simultaneous activation of two assistants can cause conflicts. If you still get Google out after setting the power button to launch Alice, try temporarily disabling Google Assistant in your Google account settings or in the Google app by removing the tick from the Google Assistant box.
Solving problems: when the system does not allow you to choose Yandex
The situation where there is no browser option in the Default Apps menu or no selection is saved is a common problem on Xiaomi, which is often because the system considers Chrome or MIUI Browser system components that cannot be replaced without root rights.
The first method is to clear preferences. Go to Settings → Apps → App Management. Find it in the Chrome list (or the current default browser). Click on it, select Open by default and click on Delete Default Settings (or Reset Preferences) and then the next time you click on the link, the system will ask again what to open the URL.
The second method is more technical and requires a connection to a computer, and with the help of the ADB (Android Debug Bridge) tool, you can “freeze” or remove the standard browser, leaving only Yandex. To do this, turn on USB debugging in the “Developers” menu, connect the phone to the PC and type in the command:
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.chromeThis command will remove Chrome for the current user without affecting the system partition. After that, Yandex Browser will automatically become the only browser available and open all links. Be careful: removing system components can lead to unstable operation of some Google services.
⚠️ Attention: Use of teams ADB To remove system applications (pm uninstall) may disrupt the synchronization of your Google account or Play Protect security services.
Optimization of Yandex services on Xiaomi
Once installed and configured successfully, it is important to ensure that services are running smoothly. MIUI is known for its aggressive energy saving policy, which can kill Yandex’s background processes, which stops notifications, widgets stop updating, and Alice doesn’t hear commands.
To prevent this, you need to configure autostart and no battery limitations. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Yandex (and Yandex with Alice) → Battery. Select No Limits mode. Also in the Autostart menu, make sure that the switch opposite the Yandex apps is activated.
Another important aspect is the widgets. If the News Feed widget is no longer updated, check the permission to access data in the background. MIUI has a separate section called Activity Control where you can prevent the system from restricting the application. Add Yandex to the Favorites list in the recent app menu (swipe up and hold) so that the system does not unload it from memory.
💡
To ensure that Yandex widget always shows the current weather and news, fix the application in memory: open the menu of running applications, click on the app icon from above and select the lock icon. This will prevent it from unloading when cleaning memory.
Comparative table of methods of setting
For the convenience of choosing the best way to integrate services, we compare the main methods of setting up, each of which has its advantages and disadvantages depending on your smartphone model and software version.
| Method of setting up | Difficulty | Efficiency | Risks. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Through the "Default Apps" menu | Low. | High (for references) | Minimum |
| Replacement of the widget on the desktop | Low. | Average (search only) | No. |
| Setting up the power button | Medium | Tall (for Alice) | Conflict with Google |
| Removing Chrome through ADB | Tall. | Maximum | High (systemic errors) |
To sum up, for most users, a combination of installing a widget and choosing a browser in the standard menu is enough. Using ADB is recommended only for experienced users who understand the consequences of removing system components. The right setup will allow you to fully transition to the Yandex ecosystem, while maintaining the stability of the Xiaomi smartphone.
💡
The key is a comprehensive approach: it is not enough to simply install the application, you also need to configure permissions for background work and auto-start, otherwise the aggressive energy saving of MIUI will reduce all efforts to zero.