Owners of Xiaomi smartphones, in particular the popular model Redmi Note 8, often face the desire to replace the standard Google Assistant with a more familiar and functional Alice from Yandex. the MIUI shell has its own features that do not allow you to simply “switch the switch” in the settings, as it sometimes happens on other devices. However, technically it is a very feasible task, requiring a number of sequential actions.
The process of integrating voice assistant affects the system settings of Android and application access rights. Voice assistant must have the appropriate permissions to work with the microphone and lock screen. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to circumvent the standard system restrictions and make it so that Yandex is activated by long pressing the power button or swipe from the corner of the screen.
⚠️ Note: Making changes to system settings and using third-party applications to intercept buttons can affect the stability of the interface. All actions you perform at your own risk, so it is recommended to back up important data in advance.
Preparation of the device and installation of necessary components
The first step is to install the Yandex application itself with a built-in assistant. On the Redmi Note 8 running Android, you need to download the current version from the official Google Play store or GetApps. After installation, do not rush to open the application - the initial setting of access rights is critical for further work.
Go to Settings → Applications → All apps and find Yandex. You will need to give you the maximum set of permissions. Pay special attention to the items related to the microphone and location, because without them voice control will not work correctly. The system can warn you about security several times, but for full functionality these permissions are mandatory.
Then you need to activate Alice herself inside the application. Open Yandex, click on the microphone icon and go through the initial setting if it was not done before. Make sure that the Voice Activation feature is enabled. This will allow the smartphone to respond to the phrase “Listen, Yandex” even when the screen is off, which is a key feature for replacing the standard assistant.
- 📱 Download and install the Yandex application from the official store.
- 🎙️ Give the app access to microphone, contacts and geolocation.
- 🔊 Activate the voice activation function inside the Yandex application.
- ⚙️ Check for updates to the app in the "About Me" section».
⚠️ Note: On some versions MIUI The system can aggressively kill background processes to save battery life, so that Alice is always ready for the answer, you need to prevent the system from restricting the application.
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For stable operation, allow Yandex AutoRun in the Battery and Performance menu, otherwise, after restarting the phone, voice activation may stop working before the first manual opening of the application.
Setting up access rights and work in the background
One of the most common problems with the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 is that the MIUI system by default limits the background activity of applications. In order for Alice to intercept assistant calls, she needs to be allowed to work constantly. Go to the Battery and Performance menu, find the Yandex app and select the No Limits strategy.
The next important step is to configure the rights on top of the other windows. This resolution is necessary so that Alice's interface can be displayed on top of any programs or desktop you run. Go to Settings → Applications → Access Rights → Other Rights (or "Master on top of other applications"). In the list, find Yandex and activate the switch. Without this step, the assistant call can simply be ignored by the system.
Also worth paying attention to is the notification settings. MIUI 11 and MIUI 12, which are relevant to this model, have a separate notification manager. Make sure that Yandex has all notification categories enabled, including system notifications, which ensures that you hear assistant responses and see visual cues even when the screen is locked.
☑️ Access rights verification
Using third-party utilities to reassign buttons
Since Xiaomi’s standard settings don’t directly replace Google Assistant with another manufacturer, we’ll need third-party tools. The most effective and proven solution is to use macro applications like Button Mapper or MacroDroid. These utilities allow you to reassign the actions of physical buttons to run any applications or commands.
Install the selected application, such as Button Mapper, from Google Play. Once launched, the program will request special permissions via ADB or special features (Accessibility). Follow the instructions on the screen. You will need to find the list of buttons "Home" (if you use navigation buttons) or "Long press power button" (if the corresponding option is enabled in MIUI).
As an action for the selected button, select “Run the application” and select Yandex or specifically voice activation if the application supports it. For users of Redmi Note 8 with gesture navigation, reassigning the Home button is not possible, so the best option is to set up a long lock button press or use widgets.
- 🛠️ Install the Button Mapper app or the Play Market analogue.
- 🔑 Provide access to special features (accessibility).
- ⚡ Assign the action “Run the application” to the desired button.
- 🎯 Select in the list of applications "Yandex" or "Alice».
⚠️ Note: When using the special features (Accessibility) of third-party applications, the Android security system can issue warnings. This is standard behavior, confirming that the application receives a high level of control over the device.
What if the Button Mapper doesn’t see the power button?
Alternative activation methods through gestures and widgets
If reassigning buttons seems difficult or unstable, you can use the built-in MIUI shell to start quickly. One of the most convenient ways is to use the Quick Ball, a floating menu that can be swiped from the edge of the screen.
Configure Quick Ball in Settings → Additional Features → Ball. Add the “Run App” shortcut to the action menu and select Yandex. Now, with one touch of the floating button, you can activate Alice. This is less convenient than a voice command, but works more reliably on older versions of firmware.
Another option is to use a widget on the home screen, and if you add a Yandex Search or Microphone widget to your desktop, you can swipe right to the screen for quick access, putting the Yandex widget first on the list, and while it doesn't replace the system assistant completely, it provides instant access to search and voice input.
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Using the “Ball” or widgets is the most stable way to launch Alice on MIUI, which does not require complex settings of special features and does not conflict with system updates.
Comparison of activation methods and their features
The choice of method depends on how deeply you are ready to implement the system settings and what is more important for you: the convenience of a single button or the stability of the work. Below is a table comparing the main ways to activate the voice assistant on the Redmi Note 8.
| Activation method | Difficulty setting up | Stability of work | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Long Press of a Button Mapper | Medium | Tall. | Minimum |
| Voice activation "Listen, Yandex" | Low. | Medium (requires background work) | Elevated. |
| A widget on the desktop | Low. | Tall. | Absent. |
| The tag in the "Quick Ball" | Low. | Tall. | Minimum |
It is worth noting that the method of reassigning buttons through the Button Mapper is the closest to native experience. However, it requires a constant hanging of the mapper application in memory. Voice activation ("Listen, Yandex") is most convenient, but can drain the battery faster due to constant listening to the microphone.
Solving problems and conflicts with Google Assistant
Even after all the settings, you may have a situation where Google opens when you call the assistant, not Yandex. This is due to Android priorities. To avoid conflicts, it is recommended to disable voice activation in the Google Assistant itself. Go to Google settings, select Google Assistant, and turn off Hey Google.
Redmi Note 8 users also often complain that Alice stops hearing commands after locking the screen, which is due to optimizing power consumption. In addition to the previously mentioned battery settings, try turning off traffic savings for the Yandex application. Go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Traffic Savings and make sure that Yandex has a “No Limits” restriction.
If nothing works, try clearing the Yandex cache and restarting the device. Sometimes MIUI system services stick and don't update the permissions as soon as they change. A full reboot resets the temporary configurations and applies the new settings correctly.