Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face a dilemma: the built-in Google Assistant is convenient for managing the system, but Yandex Alice better understands the Russian language and the context of local services. The standard procedure for replacing the default voice assistant in Android requires several steps that are not always obvious. Users want to hear the familiar “Listen” when pressing the power button or swipe from the corner of the screen, rather than seeing the Google search interface.
The setup process does not require root rights or flashing the device, but it has its own nuances, depending on the version of the MIUI shell or HyperOS. It is important to understand that you can not completely remove Google Assistant, since it is deeply integrated into system services, but you can reassign its functions to a third-party application. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to make Yandex Alice the main voice assistant and what settings are hidden in the depth of the menu.
Before you start making changes, make sure that your device has the latest versions of Yandex and Google apps installed, which minimizes the risk of conflicts or errors when switching system priorities. Next, we will look at a step-by-step algorithm of actions that will allow you to forget about “Hey Google” and use only domestic voice intelligence.
Preparation of the device and installation of necessary components
The first step is to install the current version of the Yandex app, which contains the voice assistant module. Often users download outdated versions from third-party sources, which leads to incorrect widgets. It is best to download the application through the official Google Play store or GetApps to ensure compatibility with your version of Android.
Once installed, you need to log in to the app and set up a profile. Without logging in, the functionality will be limited, and Alice will not be able to manage your smart home or personalize the news, and it is also worth checking for updates for the Google system component, since this is the way queries are redirected.
☑️ Checking before setting up
It's important to give the app all the permissions it needs, especially access to the microphone and location. Without those permissions, voice input won't work, and geo-sensitive queries like "where the traffic jams are" won't work. Android has strict controls on access to those features, so you shouldn't ignore the requests.
Setting up Alice as the main assistant in the system
To respond to a call with standard methods, Alice must be assigned the default assistant. To do this, go to the smartphone settings, Apps → App settings. In the list, find the Assistant App (or Digital Assistant), which is usually hidden in the additional settings menu.
In the menu that opens, you will see a list of available assistants. Select Yandex from the list instead of Google. This action will redirect system requests to Yandex algorithms. However, on some versions of MIUI, this item may be hidden or absent, which requires an alternative approach through the settings of the application itself.
⚠️ Note: On some Xiaomi global firmware, direct selection of a third-party assistant in the system menu may be blocked. In this case, use the settings inside the Yandex application itself to activate the function "Activate by button».
If the standard path doesn’t work, open the Yandex app, go to Alice’s settings and find Activation, where you can turn on the button activation option, which will allow you to launch the assistant (with a long press) on the Home button or through a floating button if this option is supported by your version of the shell.
Using Yandex.Loncher for full integration
The most reliable way to make Alice an integral part of the interface is to install Yandex.Loncher. It is a launcher that replaces the standard Xiaomi desktop and deeply integrates Yandex services into the system. Once this launcher is installed and activated, the swipe to the right of the home screen opens the recommendation feed, and the assistant call becomes native.
Yandex.Loncher allows you to configure Alice’s swipe call from the bottom corner of the screen, mimicking the behavior of Google Assistant. To do this, you need to activate the appropriate option in the “Gests” section of the launcher in the launcher settings. This solution is ideal for those who want to integrate the Yandex ecosystem into their smartphone as deeply as possible.
However, it is worth considering that replacing the system launcher may affect the performance of some MIUI features, such as a second space or specific control gestures.
Launcher compatibility
Using a third-party launcher offers more customization, but it requires getting used to it. Weather, traffic, and news widgets will look different than they would in a standard shell, a trade-off between Alice's functionality and MIUI's familiar interface.
Adjust activation by power button
Many users are used to calling the assistant with a long press on the power button. In Xiaomi, this feature is tightly tied to Google Assistant, but it can be reassigned. To do this, go to Settings → Additional Features → On button (the path may differ depending on the version of MIUI).
Here you'll see the option "Run Voice Assistant at 0.5 sec." Google is the default option. If you've previously changed the default assistant on the system, you may have a choice. If you don't have a choice, use the Button Mapper workaround or the analogues available in the Play Market.
Mapper apps allow you to reassign the long-press action to any button to launch a particular application or execute a macro. You can configure Yandex.Alice launch or even simulate voice input. This requires special permissions through ADB or special features menu.
| Activation method | Difficulty setting up | Stability of work | Requires third-party applications |
|---|---|---|---|
| System setup | Low. | Tall. | No. |
| Yandex.Loncher | Medium | Tall. | Yes (Luncher) |
| Button Mapper | Tall. | Medium | Yeah (Utilities) |
| Widget on screen | Low. | Tall. | No. |
The choice of method depends on your skills and requirements for convenience, system setting is preferable, as it does not consume battery resources with the background processes of third-party applications, but it is not available on all devices.
Conflict resolution and typical problems
When two smart assistants are working together, there may be conflicts, such as Google opening up when you try to call Alice, and to avoid this, make sure that the Google Assistant settings turn off the phrase "Ok Google," which will prevent a competitor from accidentally activating.
Another common problem is the lack of sound or the quiet voice of Alice. Check the media and alarm settings, as the voice engine can use a separate volume channel. Also make sure that the Yandex app does not turn on the silent response mode.
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If Alice stopped responding with voice, try changing the voice input language from “Russian (Russia)” to “Russian” (without specifying the country) or vice versa to reset the recognition cache.
Sometimes, after updating MIUI, settings are reset, and Google Assistant again becomes a priority. In this case, the procedure for choosing the assistant application will have to be repeated. Android system often returns its services to default values when updating for the sake of “stability”.
⚠️ Warning: Do not install multiple button mapper applications at the same time. This is guaranteed to lead to system freeze or incorrect reaction to physical keystrokes.
Optimization of work and energy saving
Listening to the microphone for voice activation (Listen) is a huge battery drain. If battery life is critical for you, consider activating only at the push of a button or through a widget. In Yandex.Loncher's settings, you can turn off background listening.
Xiaomi also aggressively manages the background. To make Alice always ready to go, add Yandex to the power saving exception list. Go to Settings → Battery → Permissions → Autostart and allow all actions for Yandex.
Without limitations in the background, Alice can respond more quickly to commands and keep widgets up to date. Without that, the system can kill the assistant process, and when called, it will load for a few seconds, creating a sense of lag.
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Adding Yandex to auto-start and eliminating the battery is a must for the stable operation of the voice assistant on MIUI.
Cleaning the app's cache regularly also helps keep things running faster. If you notice Alice is slower to respond or asking questions more often, try clearing the app's data in the settings menu without deleting your account.