How to install Alice by default on Xiaomi 10Y: full instruction

Owners of Xiaomi smartphones often face the desire to replace standard system applications with more convenient domestic analogues. In particular, Google’s voice assistant, built into the MIUI shell, is inferior in functionality and understanding of the Russian language to the service from Yandex. Xiaomi 10Y (also known as Mi 10T) runs on Android, which provides the user with ample opportunities for customization of the system, including changing the main assistant.

The replacement process isn’t always obvious, as smartphone makers are keen to preserve their ecosystem and don’t let you just switch with a single button. However, knowing the right sequence of actions, you can get Xiaomi 10Y to activate Alice with a long press of the power button or swipe from the corner of the screen, which will greatly simplify the management of the device and access to Yandex services.

In this article, we'll go through all the steps, from installing the necessary components to fine-tuning system privileges. You don't need a superuser license, but you need to be careful when working with the settings menu. The key is to get the rights to draw over other windows and access the microphone.

Preparation of the device and installation of necessary components

Before you start setting up, you need to make sure that your Xiaomi 10Y has all the latest versions of the applications installed. The basic element is the Yandex application itself, since it contains the voice assistant module. A separate Alice application is usually not required to install as a system assistant, the basic ecosystem application is enough.

Go to the Play Store or AppGallery and check for updates. If you don't have a browser installed from Yandex, it's also a good idea to download it, as it often acts as an alternative gateway to activate voice functions, although it's not strictly mandatory. Make sure that the Android version on your device is at least 10, which is relevant for Xiaomi 10Y firmware.

• 📲 Install or update the Yandex app to the latest version.
• 🌐 Check for a stable internet connection (Wi-Fi or mobile network).
• 🔒 Make sure that your Xiaomi account (Mi Account) is logged in.
• 🔋 Charge the device to at least 40% to avoid turning off during the setup process.

⚠️ Note: If you are using a global firmware version (Global) ROM), Some system restrictions may be stricter than the Chinese version, in which case additional authorization in the Yandex application may be required.

Once installed, open the Yandex app and log in to your account, which is necessary to synchronize your request history and personalize Alice's responses, and without authorization, the functionality will be limited to basic commands.

Configure access rights and system permissions

The most important step is to give the application the necessary permissions. Android has a strict security policy, so by default no application can intercept control of buttons or work in the background without the explicit permission of the user. For Xiaomi 10Y with the MIUI shell, this process has its own peculiarities.

Go to Settings, then select the Apps section and find Yandex. Click on App Permission. You want to give away all the rights you can, especially access to microphone, geolocation and contacts. Without a microphone, voice control won't work.

Special attention should be paid to the “Other permissions” section, and find “Master on top of other apps” (or “Draw on top of other windows”) and activate it, a critical setting that allows Alice’s interface to appear on top of any open window.

Also, in the battery settings for the Yandex app, select No Limits mode. MIUI aggressively saves charge and can kill the assistant process if you don't give it priority. This is a common reason why Alice stops responding after unlocking the screen.

Activate Alice through the power button

One of the most convenient features is calling the voice assistant (long press) of the power button. On Xiaomi 10Y, this button calls Google Assistant by default. To change this behavior, we will have to use the MIUI system settings.

Open your smartphone settings and search for the settings for "assistant." Select Press and hold the power button. In the menu that opens, you'll see the "Selected Assistant" option. Click on it and select from the "Yandex" or "Alice" list.

Settings → Additional Features → Pressing and Holding the Power button → Selected Assistant

If Yandex is not listed, make sure the application is installed and has all the permissions described in the previous section. Sometimes it requires a device restart to find a new available assistant. After setting up, a long press on the side button will activate Alice.

• 🔘 Press the power button on 1-2 second-check.
• 🗣️ Say the command “Hello, Yandex” or “Switch on the flashlight».
• ⚙️ If nothing happens, check if the antivirus is blocking access.
• 🔄 If necessary, restart your smartphone to apply changes.

⚠️ Note: On some versions MIUI (Especially old bills) the direct assistant replacement in this menu may be hidden, in which case, try clearing the cache of the Google and Google Assistant app, and then try again.

Use of widgets and hot screen corners

The power button isn't the only way to interact. Xiaomi 10Y's shell allows you to use swipes from the corners of the screen to quickly start functions. However, the standard swipe from the bottom left corner is often reserved for Google Assistant or camera. We can use widgets for faster access.

Add the Yandex.String or Alice widget to the home screen. To do this, make a long tap over an empty space on your desktop, select Widgets and find Yandex list. Drag the widget onto the screen. Now one tap on the widget immediately activates voice input.

You can also set up voice command without touching the screen if this feature is supported by your version of the application. In the settings of the application itself, find the Alice section and activate the option “Activate by phrase.” This will allow the phone to constantly listen to the command “Hello, Yandex”, even when the screen is turned off (with increased battery consumption).

The use of widgets is especially important for those who do not want to change the system settings of the power button. Yandex.String widget also serves as a search bar, combining search and voice in one interface element.

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Place Alice's widget at the top of the screen for easy access with the thumb of one hand.

Typical Problems and Conflicts

Xiaomi 10Y users may face a number of difficulties in setting up the settings, and it often happens that after the MIUI update, the settings are reset and the phone again suggests using Google, which is normal system behavior that requires rechecking the settings.

One of the common problems is "mic conflict," and if you're on the phone or using a voice recorder, Alice may not activate, telling you that the microphone is busy, in which case you have to wait until the current process is over or you have to force it to end.

• 🚫 Alice can't hear: check if the bottom microphone is covered with a cover.
• 📉 Quiet answer: Increase the volume of the media, not the volume of the call.
• 🔄 Failures: Clear the cache of the Yandex application through Settings → Annexes.
• 🔋 Quick Discharge: Turn off the constant tapping of the activation phrase.

If Alice has stopped responding to the "Set the alarm" or "Set the flashlight" commands, check if the application has rights to manage system functions. In MIUI, this may require separate confirmation when the first command is run.

⚠️ Note: Do not install third-party launchers to replace the assistant unless you are sure of their safety.This can lead to unstable system operation and loss of personal data.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

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Properly configuring the battery and microphone resolutions is the key to Alice’s stable work at Xiaomi.

To conclude, the integration of Yandex services into the Android ecosystem on Xiaomi smartphones has reached a high level. Following the steps described, you will turn your Xiaomi 10Y into a more convenient and “native” gadget for the Russian-speaking user.