Owning a Xiaomi smartphone is often accompanied by a collision with pre-installed software that is not always in demand by the user. Yandex’s voice assistant Alice is a vivid example of such software, which by default can be activated as the main assistant system. Many device owners prefer to use the standard Google Assistant or do without voice control, which makes the presence of a third-party application redundant.
The process of deactivating or completely removing the embedded application depends on the version of the MIUI or HyperOS firmware, as well as the region for which the device was released. In some cases, the system insists on appointing Alice as the default assistant on the first run, and an inexperienced user may agree to this by accident. It is quite possible to return everything as it was or clear the system of excess code if you follow a clear algorithm of actions.
In this article, we will take a look at all the available methods, from simple switching off through settings to using special tools for advanced users. You will learn how to prevent the assistant from being re-activated and what system processes can be associated with its work. Properly configuring your smartphone will allow you to free up RAM and remove unnecessary interface elements.
Why Alice is built into Xiaomi and can it be removed?
The integration of Yandex services into Xiaomi firmware for the Russian market is the result of a strategic partnership between the companies. System integration means that the application often has close to system rights, which makes it difficult to remove it through the standard menu.
Technically, Alice on Xiaomi can exist in two forms: as a separate installable application or as part of the MIUI system package. In the first case, its removal is trivial, in the second case, it requires a deeper approach. It is important to understand that the complete removal of the system component can affect the stability of some functions, if they are tied to the Yandex libraries.
⚠️ Note: Complete removal of system applications through ADB Or root rights can cause a smartphone to malfunction or a loss of warranty.
Before you start taking drastic measures, it’s worth assessing how deeply the assistant is embedded in your version of the operating system, and sometimes it’s enough to simply turn off its activation by button or voice to stop bumping into it in everyday use.
Disabling voice activation and hot button
The easiest way to save yourself from random launches of the assistant is to turn off all activation triggers. Most often, users are faced with the fact that Alice starts when you press the power button long or when you say a key phrase. To change this behavior, you need to consult the system settings.
On modern firmware versions, the path to settings can be as follows: go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Language Input. This is where the voice assistant is controlled. If you have a HyperOS shell installed, the menu can be located in Settings → Additional Features → Voice Assistant.
In the menu that opens, you need to find the option for choosing the main assistant. The system will offer a list of available options where you need to choose Google or “No.” It is also worth checking the settings of the power button itself. To do this, go to Settings → Additional settings → Keyboard combinations and change the action for a long press of the power button.
After making changes, the system may require a confirmation or reboot of the interface. Make sure that Voice Control is also disabled in the settings of the Yandex application itself, if installed separately, this will prevent the assistant from activating through the microphone, even if you did not press any buttons.
Removal through standard application settings
If the application is not a critical system component, it can be removed or disabled by standard Android tools. This method is secure and does not require a connection to a computer. Go to the Settings menu → Applications → All applications and find in the list “Yandex” or “Alice”.
In the app information menu that opens, you'll see two main buttons: Delete and Disable. If the Delete button is available, just click it and confirm the action. In this case, all the app data will be erased and the label will disappear from the desktop. If the delete button is not available (gray), use the "Disable" option.
- 📱 Disabling hides the application from the list and stops all its background processes.
- 🗑️ Delete completely erases program files from the device’s internal memory.
- 🔄 When you update the system, the disabled application can be reactivated automatically.
- ⚙️ System versions of Alice often don't allow complete removal without superuser rights.
It is also important to clear the cache and data before shutting down to free up space. Click on Memory in the app menu and select Clear. This action will delete the accumulated temporary files, request history and saved voice profile settings.
⚠️ Note: When you disable the system application, it ceases to update and consume resources, but takes place in the system files section.
Using ADB for deep cleaning of the system
For users who want to completely remove the built-in Alice, leaving the system clean, the perfect tool is Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This method allows you to manage system packages from a computer, removing even those components that are hidden from the average user, USB-cable and on-line debugging USB smartphone.
First, activate Developer Mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click on MIUI build number seven times. Then the Developer Mode will appear in the Advanced Settings menu. Turn on the USB Debugging option there.
☑️ Preparation for removal through ADB
Connect your phone to your computer and open the command line in the ADB folder. Enter the adb device command and confirm the connection request on your smartphone screen. Next, you need to know the exact name of the package, usually com.yandex.alice or en.yandex.searchplugin.
To remove, use the command:
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.yandex.aliceThis command will remove the application for the current user, effectively removing it from the system without having to obtain root permissions. If you want to return it back, the adb shell cmd package install-existing com.yandex.alice command will help. Be careful when entering packet names so that you do not remove the system components necessary for the phone to work.
What if the ADB can’t see the phone?
Comparison of Assistant Deactivation Methods
The choice of method depends on your technical skills and the desired result: simple shutdown is safe, but does not free up memory completely. Deletion through ADB is effective, but requires caution. Below is a table that helps determine the approach.
| Method | Difficulty | Freeing Memory | Risk to the system |
|---|---|---|---|
| Change of settings | Low. | No. | Absent. |
| Disconnection on the menu | Low. | Partial | Minimum |
| Removal via ADB | Tall. | Complete. | Medium. |
| Getting Root Rights | Extremely extreme. | Complete. | High-pitched |
As you can see from the table, for most users, a combination of changing settings and standard shutdown is the best option. Using root rights is not recommended, as it violates the integrity of Android security and can block banking applications.
💡
Using ADB is the middle ground between security and complete system cleansing of excess software.
Possible problems and ways to solve them
You may encounter a number of difficulties when you delete or disable it, such as resetting your settings after updating your firmware and Alice becomes the default assistant again, in which case you will have to repeat the settings → Applications.
Sometimes the system may give you errors when you try to disable the application, saying that this may affect the operation of other functions.If you do not use Yandex widgets and search in the global line, ignore this warning. However, if you have a weather or news widget from Yandex, it will stop updating.
- 🔇 Assistant turns on itself again: Check for Yandex app updates and disable auto-update in Google Play.
- 📲 Error "Application not installed": Try to execute the command ADB Again, by checking the name of the package.
- 🔋 Increased battery consumption: Perhaps the removal process has got stuck in the background.Reboot the device.
Another common problem is the appearance of advertisements or offers to return Alice in system notifications. To get rid of this, go to the notification settings of the Yandex application and ban all types of alerts.
⚠️ Note: If after removal through ADB phone started to restart in the cycle (bootloop), you need to reset to factory settings (Wipe Data) through the Recovery menu.