Voice alerts from Xiaomi’s robot vacuum cleaner are not just a nice bonus, but an important element of interaction with the device. A standard assistant voice in Chinese or English can be annoying, especially if you’re used to the Russian-language interface. Fortunately, the manufacturer and enthusiasts offer several ways to change voice, from official settings in the Mi Home app to install custom firmware with alternative voiceovers.
In this article, we will discuss all the current voice change methods for Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum, Roborock S5/S6/S7/S8 and other popular lines (2018-2026 release), pay special attention to safe ways that do not violate the warranty, and also consider the risks when using informal solutions. If you want your vacuum cleaner to speak in the voice of Alice, SberSalute or even a character from the film, here you will find working instructions.
Why would you need to change your voice?
Xiaomi’s standard voice packs are often criticized for:
- 🗣️ Incorrect pronunciation in Russian (emphasis, errors in words).
- 🔊 Monotony – monotony phrases quickly get bored.
- 🇨🇳 Chinese is the default language on some models (e.g. Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Lite).
- 🎭 Lack of emotion – voice sounds too “robotic".
Users also often want to personalize their device to suit their own style, such as setting the voice of a favorite character, celebrity, or even writing down their own phrases, especially for families with children, where vacuuming becomes part of a daily ritual.
Change your voice through Mi Home
The easiest and most secure method is to use the Mi Home app (or Roborock for the respective models), which is suitable for most devices released after 2020 and does not require root rights or firmware hacking.
Instructions for Xiaomi/Roborock Russian-language:
- Open the Mi Home app and connect to the vacuum cleaner.
- Go to Device Profile → Settings → Voice Alerts.
- Choose the language available (for example, Russian, English, Chinese).
- On some models (for example, Roborock S7 MaxV) the choice of assistant voice is available - male or female.
- Save the changes and wait for the synchronization (vacuum cleaner will restart).
⚠️ Note: On older models (until 2019), the Mi Home may not have the option of changing voice, in which case alternative methods will have to be used (see the following sections).
Check out the Mi Home version of the app (update if needed)
Make sure the vacuum cleaner is connected to Wi-Fi
Battery charge of the device > 20%
Select the region "Russia" in the account settings-->
Informal methods: custom firmware and modifications
If the official options are not enough, enthusiasts offer alternative solutions:
- 🔧 Valetudo firmware is an open alternative to proprietary software that supports custom voice packets.
- 🎤 Replacement of audio files through ADB (requires root access).
- 🤖 Using third-party servers for voice (e.g., integration with Yandex Alice or Google Assistant).
The most popular way is the Valetudo firmware, which allows you to:
- Set any voice (including user-recorded phrases).
- Set up individual alerts for different events (beginning of cleaning, low charge, etc.).
- Turn off your voice if it interferes.
🔹 Step-by-step instructions for Valetudo:
- Download the firmware from the official website (select the version for your model).
- Connect to the vacuum cleaner via SSH (instructions are in the Valetudo documentation).
- Replace the audio files in /mnt/data/sound/ with your own (.wav, 16kHz, mono).
- Reboot the device with the command: sudo reboot
Risks of custom firmware
How to record your voice for a vacuum cleaner?
If you want a vacuum cleaner to speak in your voice or in the voice of a loved one, it's real!
- 🎙️ Microphone (you can use a smartphone).
- 💻 Sound processing software (e.g. Audacity).
- 📁 A set of phrases to record (welcome, warnings, notifications).
🔹 Algorithm of action:
- Download Audacity and write down phrases from the sample (examples of phrases are in the documentation of Valetudo).
- Process the recordings: Normalize the volume. Noise Reduction. Save it in WAV, 16 bits, 16 kHz, mono.
Replace the files in the firmware (see the instructions for Valetudo above).
⚠️ Note: Phrases should be short and clear (no more than 3-4 words). Long sentences vacuum cleaner can crop or reproduce with a delay.
💡
Use a text voice generator (e.g. TTSMP3) if you don't want to record your voice, select your preferred timbre and download files in WAV format.
Comparison of methods: what to choose?
To decide on the way to change voice, evaluate the pros and cons of each option:
| Method | Pluses | Cons | Suitable for models |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Home (official) | Safe, not breaking the warranty, just | Limited choice of votes | 2020–2026 (Roborock S5–S8, Xiaomi Mi Robot 2–4) |
| Valetudo (Castom Firmware) | Full freedom (any voice, phrases) | Requires technical skills, risk of loss of warranty | Any model with firmware support |
| Replacement of audio files via ADB | It doesn't require a complete reflashing. | Need root rights, difficult for beginners | Android models (such as some versions of Roborock) |
| Own voice recording | Uniqueness, personalization | It's very laborious, it requires sound processing. | Any models with support for custom firmware |
For most users, the best solution is a combination of official settings in Mi Home (if available) and additional fine-tuning through Valetudo (if you need uniqueness).
💡
Before choosing a method, check your vacuum cleaner model for firmware compatibility. A list of supported devices is available on Valetudo's website.
Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
When changing voices, users often face problems, and here are the most common ones and how to solve them:
- 🔇 Vacuum does not play new voice: Check the file format (should be.wav, 16 Make sure the files are correctly named (e.g., kHz, start_cleaning.wav). Restart the device after replacement.
- 🗿 Voice sounds robotic or jammed: Use audio cleaning software (e.g. Audacity); record voice in a quiet room; check file bitrates (128-192 kbps recommended).
- 🚫 Mi Home does not offer voice change: Update the app to the latest version. Check your account region (should be "Russia" or "Europe"). Reset your vacuum cleaner settings to factory (Settings) → Reset).
If your voice hasn't changed after all the manipulations, try resetting the vacuum cleaner to the factory and repeating the procedure again, and in rare cases, reconnecting your device to your Xiaomi account helps.