Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face the dilemma of choosing the main voice assistant. On the one hand, the Google Assistant is deeply integrated in the default system, which works perfectly with the services of the corporation. On the other hand, for the Russian-speaking user Yandex Alice often turns out to be more understandable and functional in local matters.
Replacing one assistant with another is not just about installing an app, it's about reconfiguring Android system priorities in a comprehensive way, so you have to change the default settings to stop responding to a Google assistant call, and it requires care, because the MIUI or HyperOS shell has its own features to protect system functions.
In this guide, we will break down the step-by-step algorithm that will allow you to make Alice the main assistant.We will look at the nuances of the search hotline, settings (activation), and possible conflicts that can arise in the process.
Preparation of the device and installation of necessary components
Before you start manipulating system settings, you need to make sure that your device has the latest versions of the software installed. The basic requirement is the presence of the Yandex application with integrated Alice. In most cases, it is already preinstalled, but for proper operation, it is better to download the latest version from the Google Play store or GetApps.
It’s also worth checking for updates to the Google App system component. While we plan to disable its assistant feature, the search engine itself and its libraries may be required to keep some system widgets running smoothly.Outdated versions can cause errors when priorities are switched.
☑️ Preparation for the replacement of an assistant
An important step is authorization. Make sure you're logged into your Yandex ID account inside the app. Without authorization, Alice won't be able to access your data, search history, and smart home. This is critical to personalizing responses.
Setting Alice as the default assistant in Android
The most important step is to switch system priority. Android allows the user to choose which application should respond to a voice assistant call. In a clean system, this is done simply, but in the MIUI shell, the path may vary slightly depending on the version of Android.
You need to go to the system settings section. Find the default application. This is where the key to managing assistants is hidden. If you can't find this item right away, search for settings by typing "assistant" or "default apps."
The sequence of actions for changing priority is as follows:
- 📱 Open the settings of your Xiaomi smartphone.
- 🔍 Go to the Appendix section → Set-up of applications.
- ⚙️ Click on the three dots in the top corner and select the Default Apps (or find this item in the menu "Advanced Settings").
- 🎤 Select the Digital Assistant (or "Assistant").
- ✅ In the list, select Yandex instead of Google.
⚠️ Note: After selecting Yandex, the system may issue a warning that a third-party assistant may access some data.This is standard Android security procedure. Confirm the action by clicking "OK" or "Allow".
After this procedure, if you press the Home button or swipe from the corner of the screen (depending on the navigation settings), Alice should start. However, the setting does not end there, since you need to configure the activation methods inside the Yandex application itself.
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Changing the priority app in Android settings is the only legal way to get your phone to run Alice instead of Google when you system call an assistant.
Configuration: Power button and hot phrases
Many users want to call Alice with the power button, as implemented with Google Assistant on some models.In pure Android 12 and above, as well as newer versions of HyperOS, Google has tightly tied a long press of the power button to calling its assistant.
To get around this limitation, you need to go through the settings of Yandex itself. Go to Alice's profile (mic icon or avatar) and go to the settings. Find the section responsible for starting.
- 🗣️ Voice activation: "Alice" or "Listen to Yandex." Requires constant listening to the microphone, which can consume battery.
- 🖱️ Button in the widget: run through the widget on the desktop.
- 🔘 The purpose of the button: in some versions of the shell Xiaomi allows you to reassign a long press of the power button if you turn off the Google feature in special features.
To set up voice activation, go to Yandex → Settings → Voice Functions. Activate the Voice Activation option. The system asks you to say a phrase several times to train the neural network to your voice timbre.
Why does the power button still call Google?
Set up widgets and search bar on the desktop
Visually replacing Google with Alice is impossible without changing the search bar. The standard Google Search bar on the home screen leads to Google services by default. Replacing it with a Yandex widget is the best way to integrate the assistant into everyday use.
To do this, pinch the empty space on your desktop and select Widgets. In the list, find the Yandex app. You will be offered several options for widgets: a search bar, a news widget (Yandex Zen) or a widget with Alice. Choose the one that suits your preferences and drag it to your desktop.
It is recommended to remove the standard Google bar to avoid confusion. Just press it and drag it to the "Delete" or "Remove from the screen." After installing the Yandex widget, make sure that its settings (usually available with a long click on the widget itself) are selected as a search engine, and Alice as voice input.
| Parameter | Google Assistant | Yandex Alice | Commentary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Search base | Google Search | Yandex Search | Alice is better looking for Russian realities |
| Smart home. | Google Home | Yandex Smart Home | Check the compatibility of your devices |
| Music. | YouTube Music | Yandex Music | You need a subscription Plus for full access |
| Localization | Medium | Tall. | Alice better understands the slang and context of the Russian Federation |
Conflict management and typical problems
In the process of operation, you may encounter a situation where the phone “forgets” settings and starts Google again, which often happens after updating the system or the Google application itself, in which case you need to recheck the default settings of the applications, as described in the second section of the article.
Another common problem is microphone conflict. If Alice can't hear you or responds late, check permissions. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Yandex → Permissions. Make sure that access to the microphone is set to "Always Allowed" or "Allowed."
⚠️ Warning: Do not install two active voice assistants with the same method. If you have activation on the phrase "OK, Google" and "Listen, Yandex" at the same time, they can interrupt each other, causing chaotic behavior of the smartphone.
Also, consider that some system commands in Xiaomi are Google-focused, such as alarm or WhatsApp messages that can be more stable through a native assistant, in which case Alice can redirect the request to Google or report that she can not perform the action.
Optimizing Alice’s work on MIUI and HyperOS
Xiaomi shells are known for aggressive energy savings that can kill Yandex’s background processes. To be ready for dialogue, Alice needs to be added to power saving exceptions. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance (or just look for Battery settings).
Find Yandex and select a power saving strategy, No limits. This is a critical step. Without it, the system can unload the application from memory after 15-20 minutes of downtime, and voice activation will stop working until the next manual start.
Additionally, it is recommended to enable auto-run for the Yandex application. This is done in the Security app (green icon with lightning) → Permissions → Auto-run. Find Yandex and activate the slider.
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For maximum responsiveness of Alice on Xiaomi, after setting the permissions and autorun, open the Yandex application, wait 10 seconds and only then fold it. This will "warm up" the processes in memory.