Why do users want to change their voice in Xiaomi’s robot vacuum cleaners?
Xiaomi’s robot vacuum cleaners are some of the most popular smart home devices, but their standard female voice doesn’t always suit owners: Some prefer the male timbre as a stricter and more formal one, some just get tired of monotonous speech, and some want to personalize the device for themselves. In this article, we will analyze all the working ways of changing voice to male for different models, from Mi Robot Vacuum to Dreame Bot to Viomi V3.
It's important to understand that not all models support official voice change through the app, and in some cases, you'll need to manually edit system files or install custom firmware, and we'll look at both simple methods for beginners and advanced solutions for power users.
What Xiaomi models support voice change?
Not all Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaners allow you to change your voice, and here is a list of models where it is possible:
- 🔹 Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro (including LiDAR versions)
- 🔹 Dreame Bot D9/D10/Z10 Pro (with Mi Home support)
- 🔹 Viomi V2/V3/V6 (only on the last firmware)
- 🔹 Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop P (requires manual intervention)
The Mi Robot Vacuum 1S and Mi Robot Vacuum E10 models don’t officially support voice change, but there are workarounds for them through third-party firmware. Before starting the procedure, be sure to check the firmware version of your device in the Mi Home or Dreamehome app.
Method 1: Officially change voice through the Mi Home app
The easiest method is to use the built-in settings in the Mi Home app, which only works for a limited number of models, but does not require technical skills.
- Open the Mi Home app and select your robot vacuum cleaner.
- Go to Settings → Voice prompts.
- In the Voice Type section, select Male (if available).
- Confirm the changes and wait for the device to restart.
If you don't have Voice Type, your model doesn't support this feature at the firmware level, so move on to the following.
Check the Mi Home version (should be at least 6.5.0)
Update the firmware of the robot vacuum cleaner to the latest version
Connect the device to a stable Wi-Fi
Charge the robot vacuum cleaner at least 50%-->>
Method 2: Manual editing of system files (for experienced)
If the official method is not available, you can replace voice files manually, which requires access to the robot's file system via ADB or SSH.
You'll need:
- 🖥️ Computer with Windows/Linux
- 🔌 Cable USB (Sometimes you need a special OTG-adapter)
- 📁 Archive with men's voice packs (can be found on forums) 4PDA)
- 🛠️ Programme ADB Tools or PuTTY for SSH
Step-by-step:
- Enable the developer mode on the robot vacuum cleaner (usually a 5-fold tap on the firmware version in the settings).
- Connect the device to the PC and check the connection with the command: adb devices
- Download the archive with a male voice and unpack it in the /system/media/audio/tts folder on the robot.
- Reboot the device with the command: adb reboot
Where to download voice packets?
⚠️ Warning: Incorrect editing of system files can lead to loss of warranty and device inoperability.We recommend backing up the original voice files before replacing them.
Method 3: Install custom firmware with a male voice
For models where the voice change is not provided by the manufacturer, the only option is to install alternative firmware.
- 🔧 Valetudo (open firmware for robot vacuum cleaners)
- 🔧 DustBuilder (modified firmware for the Xiaomi/Dreame)
- 🔧 OpenViomi (for Viomi devices)
Installation process:
- Unlock the robot bootloader (instructions are available on the GitHub project Valetudo).
- Download the firmware with the desired voice package.
- Swipe the device through fastboot or a special script.
After installing custom firmware, you will get not only a male voice, but also advanced management functions, no cloud binding to Xiaomi, as well as the possibility of further customization.
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Before you run your firmware, check version compatibility! Some custom firmware only works with certain hardware revisions. For example, Valetudo doesn't support robots with MT7688 processors.
Comparison of voice change methods
To choose the best way, compare them by key parameters:
| Method | Difficulty | Skills required | Compatibility | Risk of loss of guarantee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Official (Mi Home) | ⭐ | No. | Limited. | No. |
| Manual file replacement | ⭐⭐⭐ | Knowledge of ADB/SSH | Wide. | Yes. |
| Custom firmware | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Firmware experience | Depends on the firmware. | Yes. |
For most users, the best solution is to combine the official method (if supported) with manual file swaps. Custom firmware should only be considered if you are ready for possible bugs and loss of official support.
Frequent problems and their solutions
When changing voice, users often face the following difficulties:
- 🔇 Voice unchanged after reboot → Check file rights (should be 644) and the path to the audio folder.
- 🔊 Distorted sound or artifacts → Download the voice packet with the correct bitrate (16 kHz, 16 bits recommended).
- 🚫 Access error when copying files → Use Adb Remount before copying.
- 🔄 After the firmware update, the voice dropped → Repeat the procedure or roll back to the previous version of the software.
If the robot vacuum cleaner stopped turning on after manipulating system files, try resetting it to factory settings via the Reset button (usually located under the lid).
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Before any changes to system files, back up the original data to quickly restore the device to work in case of an error.