How to replace Google Assistant with Alice from Yandex on Xiaomi devices: the full guide

Voice assistants have become an integral part of smart devices, but not always standard solutions suit users. Owners of Xiaomi equipment often face the limitations of Google Assistant — from the lack of support for the Russian language on some models to problems with the integration of Russian services. In such cases, the logical solution is to replace the Yandex Alice, which is better adapted for Russian-speaking users and offers advanced features for managing a smart home.

However, the replacement process is not as obvious as it might seem, depending on the type of device (Mi). TV, Mi Box, smartphone or smart speaker algorithms differ, and some models require additional manipulation with firmware or installing third-party applications. In this guide, we will take a detailed look at all available methods – from official methods to alternative solutions for advanced users – and also look at possible problems and ways to fix them.

It's important to understand that a complete system-level voice assistant replacement is not possible on all devices, and in some cases, it's about concurrent installation with Alice as the default assistant, in others, deep flashing with the risk of loss of warranty, and we focus on secure methods, but also warn about the potential consequences for those who decide to experiment with system files.

Why do users choose Alice over Google Assistant?

Before we get to the technical side, we need to understand the specific benefits of replacing the voice assistant, and here are the key reasons Xiaomi owners are abandoning the Google Assistant:

• 🇷🇺 Full support for Russian: Alice is better at recognizing accents, dialects and spoken language, while Google Assistant often requires clear diction.
• 🏠 Integration with Russian services: Management of Yandex.Music, Kinopoisk, ordering a taxi through Yandex Go and even paying for utilities by voice.
• 🔄 More flexible smart home settings: Alice works better with Xiaomi devices in Russia, especially if they were bought in local stores.
• 🚀 Speed: Yandex servers are physically located in Russia, which reduces delays in processing requests.
• 📱 Synchronization with the Yandex ecosystem: If you use Yandex.Mail, Navigator or Maps, Alice will become a single control center.

Of course, Google Assistant has its strengths, too, such as greater international support and integration with Google Home, but for a Russian-speaking user, especially if he or she is actively using Yandex services, switching to Alice is often justified.

Compatibility of Xiaomi devices with Yandex Alice

Not all Xiaomi devices support Alice’s Yandex installation out of the box. Below is a compatibility table for popular models. Note that some devices require manual installation of the app or even flashing.

If your model is not in the table, it doesn't mean that you can't install it. 4K (MDZ-16-AB) Alice can be installed through third-party launchers like ATV Launcher, but it will require additional settings.For accurate information, check the forums 4PDA or XDA Developers – they often lay out the latest instructions for specific devices.

⚠️ Note: On devices with Google Mobile Services (GMS) A complete replacement of the assistant can lead to system process conflicts. In some cases, after installing Alice, the Google Assistant continues to work in the background, which increases battery consumption (relevant to smartphones).

The official way to install Alice on the Mi TV

If you have a Xiaomi TV in 2020 or later, chances are that Alice is already supported at the system level.

1. Open the settings on the TV (cog in the upper right corner).
2. Go to the Smart Home section → Voice assistant.
3. Select Yandex Alice (if not, update the TV firmware).
4. Follow the instructions on the screen to link your Yandex account.
5. After authorization, Alice will be accessible via the microphone button on the remote or voice (the phrase "Hello, Alice").

If the menu does not have the option Yandex Alice, try updating the TV firmware:

1. Go to Settings → About TV → System Update.
2. If there are no updates, check the region of the device: it must be installed on Russia (otherwise, Alice may not be displayed).

Update the TV firmware to the latest version|

Check the region (should be "Russia")|

Connect your TV to your Xiaomi account|

Ensure a stable Internet connection-->

On some models (e.g., Mi). TV P1) If the voice assistant is not responding, check the microphone settings in Settings → Sound. → Microphone – sometimes access to it is blocked by other applications.

Installation of Alice on Mi Box through APK

For the Mi Box S and other Android models TV There is no official support for Alice, but it can be installed manually, and it is suitable for users willing to work with the help of the user. ADB Or third-party utilities. Here are two proven ways to do this:

Method 1: Installation with Send Files to TV

The easiest method that does not require a connection to the PC:

1. Download the Send Files to smartphone app TV (available on Google Play).
2. Download. APK-Yandex Alice file for Android TV (For example, from the APKMirror website, look for a version of the TV).
3. Open Send Files to TV, Select the TV/set-top box and send it APK-file.
4. On the Mi Box, open a file manager (such as File Commander) and install it. APK.
5. After installation, launch Alice and log in through your Yandex account.

Method 2: Installation through ADB (advanced)

If the first method didn’t work, try to install Alice through the ADB:

1. Turn on the debugging. USB on Mi Box: Settings → About the prefix → Build number (click 7 times), then return to Settings → For developers → Debugging by USB.
2. Connect the console to the PC through USB-cable.
3. Download Google’s Platform Tools and open the command line in the adb.exe folder.
4. Execute the command to install APK: adb install yandex-alisa-tv.apk
5. If there is an error INSTALL_FAILED_TEST_ONLY, use the flag -t: adb install -t yandex-alisa-tv.apk

⚠️ Note: Some Mi Box firmwares have third-party installations APK This will require you to disable the application signature verification via the command: adb shell settings put global. install_non_market_apps 1 This may disrupt some system services.

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If Alice doesn't start after installing, try clearing the cache of the Google Play Services app in the Mi Box settings.This often resolves issues with voice assistant conflicts.

Setting Alice on Xiaomi smartphones

On Xiaomi, Redmi, and Poco, replacing Google Assistant with Yandex Alice is different than on TVs, and it's not about replacing the system assistant completely, but about assigning Alice as the default voice assistant. Here's how to do it:

1. Install Yandex with Alice from Google Play or Mi App Store.
2. Open your smartphone settings and go to the Apps → Default applications → Voice assistant.
3. Select Yandex from the list of available assistants.
4. Activate Alice with the voice command "Hello Alice" or assign her to a long press of the Home button (in the button and gesture settings).

But there are nuances:

• 🔊 On some firmware MIUI (especially global) the option of changing the voice assistant can be blocked, in which case the installation of Nova Launcher with the customization of the gesture for Alice will help.
• 🔋 Alice in the background consumes less battery than Google Assistant, but for its proper operation you need to allow auto-start in Settings. → Permits → Auto-start.
• 📱 On smartphones without Google services (for example, on Chinese firmware), Alice may not work stable due to the lack of Google Play Services.

Solving problems when replacing voice assistant

Even when following instructions, users often encounter errors, and consider the most common problems and ways to fix them:

If none of these things worked, try resetting your device to factory settings. On Xiaomi TVs, it's done through Settings. → On TV. → On the Mi Box, the way is this: Settings. → Device preferences → Reset.

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Before resetting, be sure to save your Xiaomi and Yandex account data, otherwise you will have to reconfigure all smart home devices.

Alternative ways to integrate Alice

If standard methods don’t work, alternative integration options may be considered, and they may be suitable for devices where official support is lacking or for users who need advanced features.

1.Using a smart speaker with Alice

If you don't. TV Or Mi Box doesn't support Alice directly, you can plug in an external smart speaker (like Yandex Station) and control the TV through her:

• 🔌 Connect your TV and speaker to the same Wi-Fi network.
• 📱 In the Yandex app on your smartphone add a TV as a smart home device (Smart home) → Add the device → Xiaomi).
• 🎤 Now you can say a command column like, "Put Mi on." TV on NTV" or "Grow the volume on the TV".

2. Flashing with Alice support (for experienced)

Forums 4PDA There are some unofficial firmware for the Mi Box and some Xiaomi TVs that Alice is already built into. ATV Custom ROM The Mi Box S includes:

• 📦 Pre-installed Alice as a Systems Assistant.
• 🔄 Optimized core for better performance.
• 🛡️ Remote Chinese services (relevant to global versions).

However, reflashing has risks:

⚠️ Warning: Unofficial firmware may contain vulnerabilities, and may also lead to loss of warranty. TWRP Make sure the firmware version is compatible with your Mi Box model.

3. Voice control via Telegram bot

For users who don't want to mess with firmware, there's a workaround -- using a Telegram bot with Alice.

1. Add the bot. @YandexAliceBot Telegram.
2. Set up integration with IFTTT Or Yandex Smart Home.
3. Send voice messages to the bot – it will transmit commands to Xiaomi devices.

The downside of this method is the delay in execution of commands (1-3 seconds), but it works on any device, including older models.

FAQ: Frequent questions about replacing Google Assistant with Alice