Smartphones Xiaomi is famous for its functionality, but preinstalled voice assistant Google Assistant suits not all users in the Russian segment. Many owners of Redmi and Poco devices prefer to use Yandex Alice, which better understands the context, jokes and is integrated into the ecosystem of the smart home. MIUI HyperOS often prevents direct replacement of the system assistant.
In this article, we will detail how to bypass the standard Android restrictions on Xiaomi devices and assign a voice bot from Yandex to the main.The process requires care, since the shell security system can try to return settings to factory values after each update. We will look at both standard methods and more advanced ways of activating through special intermediary applications.
Before you start setting up, make sure you have the latest version of Yandex or a separate Yandex app with Alice from Google Play or GetApps. Older versions may not have the necessary permissions to work as a system assistant, and you will need a stable Internet connection to initially calibrate your voice.
Preparation of the system and installation of necessary components
The first step is to install the software correctly. Xiaomi devices often preinstalled a stripped-down Yandex widget that doesn't have full functionality. You need to download a full-fledged app that contains a voice assistant module. Without this component, the system won't see an alternative to the standard assistant.
Once you install the app, you need to give it extended access rights, and unlike normal software, the voice assistant needs to be able to run in the background, use the microphone constantly, and block other windows, and without those permissions, button or voice activation won't work.
It's also important to check if you're prioritizing any other voice control software, and sometimes users accidentally assign voice recorders or translators to help, which blocks the choice of service.
- 📲 Download the full application “Yandex” or “Yandex with Alice” from the official store.
- 🎙️ Access the microphone and location immediately after the first launch.
- ⚙️ In the battery settings, allow the application to run in the background without restrictions.
- 🔄 Update all system components of Google Play Services to the latest version.
⚠️ Note: Some global versions of the firmware MIUI An aggressive energy saving system can automatically close the Yandex application, even if you have given all permissions. You need to manually fix the application in memory (lock) through the menu of running tasks.
For users who want maximum control, there is the option of installing specialized utilities to help reassign system commands, but in most cases, there are enough regular Android tools hidden in the depths of settings.
Standard method of setting up through the system menu
The most reliable and secure way to change assistant is to use the built-in operating system menu. The path to these settings may vary slightly depending on the shell version, but the logic remains the same for all Android devices. You need to find the section responsible for the default applications.
Go to your smartphone Settings and find the App. In some versions of HyperOS, this section may be simply called “Apps” in the main settings menu. Next, select the Settings option (often in the top right corner as three dots or gears) and click the Default Apps.
In the list that opens, look for the Digital Assistant or Digital Assistant App. This is where the switch between Google Assistant and third-party solutions occurs. If you don't see Yandex on the list, then the application is installed incorrectly or does not have the necessary rights.
☑️ Checking the assistant settings
Once you select Yandex, the system will issue a warning that a third-party assistant may access some data. This is standard Android security procedure. Confirm your choice, and now, with prolonged pressing on the center button or swipe, Alice will start from the corner of the screen.
| Shell version | The path to adjustment | nuance |
|---|---|---|
| MIUI 12/13 | Settings → Applications → Settings → By default | Extended settings may be required |
| MIUI 14 | Settings → Applications → Application settings → By default | Often hidden in the submenu "Additional" |
| HyperOS | Settings → Applications → Settings → Application Management | Strict control of background activity |
| Android 13/14 (Stock) | Settings → Applications → Applications by default | Standard path unchanged |
If after selecting an assistant, the system itself returns Google Assistant after a while, this means that the MIUI protection mechanism is working. In this case, you need to turn off battery optimization for the Yandex application, as described in the previous section.
Use of specialized assistant applications
When the standard menu doesn't allow you to select the right application or the choice is not saved, special intermediary utilities come to the rescue. The most popular and proven solution is the Button Mapper application or the specialized Assistant Trigger, which creates a layer on top of the system, intercepting the assistant call command.
The way these applications work is to create a virtual profile, so you set up a trigger (like pressing the power or volume button for a long time), and the program runs Alice instead of the system assistant, which requires you to grant permissions to access Special App Access.
To set up Button Mapper, you need to go to its settings, select Single Press or Long Press for the desired button, and assign the action “Run the App” or “Voice Search” to Yandex as the target application.
⚠️ Note: Using third-party button interceptors may conflict with Xiaomi's system gestures. If volume buttons in other apps stop working after setting up, delete your profile in Button Mapper.
Another option is to use apps that emulate the home button or specific gestures, but on modern smartphones without a physical button, this method is less effective than software reassignment.
Why is the system resetting settings?
Adjust the activation with the voice “Listen, Alice”
One key feature is armless activation.To keep the phrase "Listen, Alice" working always, even when the screen is off, you need to adjust the background work correctly. On Xiaomi devices, this is the hardest part because of the tight energy saving policies.
Go to the settings of the Yandex app itself, go to Settings → Voice Functions. You need to activate the "Voice Activation" switch. The system will guide you through the learning process, where you need to say the key phrase several times to recognize the timbre.
Next, it's critical to set up autostart. Go to Phone Settings → Apps → All apps → find Yandex → Autostart. Turn on this option. Without that, voice activation won't work after you reboot your phone.
- 🗣️ Take voice training in a quiet room for better recognition.
- 🔋 Enable “Autostart” and “Background Operation” in the battery settings.
- 🔒 Allow work with a locked screen in security settings.
- 📶 Make sure the app has constant internet access.
It's also worth checking the lock settings. Some versions of MIUI have a Pocket Mode feature that can lock the microphone if the proximity sensor is closed.
💡
For stable operation of “Listen, Alice” on the locked screen, add the Yandex widget to the desktop and do not clean the phone’s memory with the “Cleanup” function completely, it is better to close the applications selectively.
Solving problems with MIUI Optimizations and access rights
If none of the above helped, it may be due to deep system debugging settings.In the Xiaomi developer menu, there is an option to Enable MIUI Optimization. Disabling it may give apps more rights, but it is a radical step that changes the permissions interface.
To get into the developer menu, you need to quickly click on the MIUI version 7 times in the About Phone section. Then, in the advanced settings, find Enable MIUI Optimization. Try turning it off, restart the phone and reassign the assistant. Disabling MIUI optimization can lead to a change in the format of displaying permissions for applications on standard Android.
When you disable optimization, you may see a standard Android permission request window that was previously blocked by the shell when you try to run Alice, which often solves the problem of the invisible assistant.
However, it is worth remembering that disabling system optimizations can affect the work of the design theme and some system gestures. If you are not an experienced user, try first just reinstall the Yandex application, saving its data.
💡
Disabling MIUI optimization is a last resort, and 90% of the time, the problem is solved by setting up autostart and running in the background correctly.