Why Xiaomi users want to get rid of Alice and whether it is possible to do it completely
Voice assistant Alice from Yandex is pre-installed on most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones for the Russian market. Despite the convenience of voice control, many users face automatic start of the assistant when accidentally pressing a button, increased battery consumption and data collection. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to delete Alice, from simple disconnection to deep deletion of system files.
Itβs important to understand that on some MIUI firmware, Alice is integrated at the system level, so removing it completely may require super-user rights (root) or even flashing the device. Weβll look at both secure methods for beginners and advanced solutions for power users.
Method 1: Disconnect Alice through the settings of Yandex
The easiest and safest method is to deactivate the assistant in the settings of the Yandex app, which does not physically delete Alice, but stops her work and notifications.
Instructions:
- π± Open the Yandex application (the βIβ icon on the home screen)
- βοΈ Go to Profile. β Settings β Alice.
- π Find the option "Voice Assistant" and move the slider to the off position.
- π΅ In the Notifications section, turn off all alerts from Alice.
After this action, the assistant will stop activating on a voice command or button, but will remain in the system.
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If Alice still starts after shutting down, check the settings for Special Options β Universal Access β Voice Assistant in MIUI and reset them.
Method 2: Remove updates and reset to factory version
Alice is updated frequently via Google Play, which returns her even after she's turned off, to bring the assistant back to the factory version (which may be less intrusive):
- π± Go to Settings. β Annexes β Application management
- π Find in the list Yandex (or Yandex)
- βοΈ Click on the three dots in the top corner and select "Delete Updates"
- π Reboot the phone.
This method will work if Alice was preinstalled in the base firmware.On new Xiaomi 13/14 or Redmi Note 12 models, an additional shutdown via ADB may be required.
βοΈ Preparations for Alice's removal
Method 3: Removal via ADB (without root)
For users who are ready to work with Android Debug Bridge, there is a way to disable Alice at the system level without obtaining root permissions, you will need a computer with ADB drivers installed and USB debugging on the phone enabled.
Step-by-step:
- π₯οΈ Connect your phone to your PC and open the command line in the adb folder
- π Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices (should appear serial number of your device)
- π§ Execute Alice's shutdown command: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 en.yandex.searchplugin (for some versions) MIUI You may need to use com.yandex.browser)
- π Reboot the phone.
This method removes Alice only for the current user (--user 0). When you reset your phone or update your firmware, the assistant can return.
What if the ADB canβt see the device?
Method 4: Complete removal with root rights
If you are ready to get root access (for example, through Magisk), you can delete Alice forever by deleting the assistant system files.
Instructions for experienced users:
- π οΈ Install Root Explorer or similar file manager
- π Move to the /system/priv-app/ or /system/app/
- ποΈ Find and delete folders: YandexApp or YandexAppFactory YandexSearchPlugin Alice (if any)
- π Reset the device
β οΈ Attention: Deleting system files can cause unstable phone operation. Create a full backup through the phone before the procedure TWRP Or OrangeFox.
Method 5: Reflashing to the global version of MIUI
The most radical method is to install a global MIUI firmware (e.g. MIUI Global or MIUI EU) that does not have Russian services pre-installed, a method that is suitable for models with an unlocked bootloader.
Advantages of the method:
- π Complete absence of Alice and other regional applications
- π± More frequent security updates
- π§ Option between stable and development version
Disadvantages:
- β οΈ Loss of warranty (when unlocking the bootloader)
- πΆ Possible problems with LTE/5G on some models
- π The absence of Russian in some versions MIUI EU
For flashing, use the official Mi Flash Tool or custom recovery TWRP. The detailed instructions for each model are different β look for guides on 4PDA or XDA Developers.
Alternative assistants for Xiaomi
If you have removed Alice but want to keep the voice control functionality, consider alternatives:
| Assistant | Advantages | Deficiencies | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Assistant | Deep integration with Android, support for smart home | Requires Google Services, Collects Data | assistant.google.com |
| Siri (via Shortcuts) | Good Optimization for iOS Users | Limited functionality on Android | App Store |
| Bixby (Samsung) | Smart recommendations, working with the Samsung ecosystem | Poor compatibility with Xiaomi | Samsung Bixby |
| RhVoice | Offline work, support of the Russian language | Minimal functionality, no AI | Google Play |
For Xiaomi owners, Google Assistant is the best choice, as it integrates best with MIUI and supports system function management (such as volume control or flashlight switching on).
Frequent problems and their solutions
When you delete Alice, users encounter common errors, and we'll look at the most common ones.
β οΈ Note: If after the removal of Alice through ADB phone started to brake, execute the command adb shell pm clear ru.yandex.searchplugin to clear the cache of the application without completely removing.
Issue 1: Alice is back after the MIUI update.
Solution: Turn off auto-update system applications in Settings β Apps β Auto-update or use App Quarantine (requires root).
Problem 2: The assistant call button (such as a long hold on Home) doesnβt work.
Solution: Reassign the button to Settings β Buttons and gestures β Home button to another action (for example, starting Google Assistant).
Problem 3: After the removal of Alice, the weather widgets from Yandex stopped working.
Solution: Install a separate Yandex.Weather app or use alternatives like AccuWeather.
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Before any manipulation of system files, check that your Xiaomi model is compatible with the chosen method. For example, on POCO F5 and Redmi Note 12 Pro+, there may be different paths to system folders.