Voiceover robot vacuum cleaner Xiaomi: how to change voice and adjust alerts

Xiaomi vacuum cleaners have long since ceased to be just household appliances — they have become full-fledged assistants with their own “character.” One of the key elements of this nature is voice alerts that report the beginning of cleaning, low battery charge or a stuck wheel. Standard voiceover in Chinese or robotic voice in English can be annoying, especially if you are used to the Russian-language interface. Fortunately, Xiaomi and enthusiasts offer several ways to change the voice of the vacuum cleaner — from official settings to custom firmware.

In this article, we will discuss all available methods: how to change the voice language through the application, where to download alternative voices (including Russian-language packages from the community), how to install them manually and what to do if the vacuum cleaner is silent after the update. Particular attention will be paid to Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro, Dreame Bot Z10 Pro and other popular devices – their firmware has nuances. You will also learn how to turn off voice completely if it interferes, and whether you can record your own voice for alerts (spoiler: technically, but will need deep refinement).

Official ways to change the language of voiceover

The easiest and safest method is to use the built-in settings in the Mi Home or Xiaomi Home app, but there are limitations: not all models support Russian voice acting out of the box, and some versions of the software can only offer Chinese and English versions.

1. Open the Mi Home app and select your robot vacuum cleaner from the device list.
2. Go to Settings → Voice Alerts (or Settings → Voice Pack in English).
3. In the list of available languages, select the desired one. If Russian is not available, try updating the device's firmware through Settings → Software Update.

⚠️ Warning: On some models (e.g., Roborock S7), changing the voice language may reset other settings, such as room maps or cleaning schedules. Save backup via Settings → Backup before changing.

If the app does not have a language change option, check the region of your Xiaomi account:

• 🌍 Mainland – Chinese servers often limit the choice of languages.
• 🌎 European/Russian server (Europe or Russia) – usually offers more options, including Russian.

Castomy voiceovers: where to download and how to install

If the official languages are not suitable, you can install custom voice packets, and enthusiasts create voiceovers in different languages, including Russian, with female/male voices or even jokes (such as the voice of Darth Vader or Terminator), the main source of such packages is forums and Telegram chats dedicated to Xiaomi:

• 🔗 4PDA – Voice references are often posted on topics about specific vacuum cleaners models (see Files or Firmware).
• 🤖 Telegram channels like @XiaomiRobots or @RoborockFans share current packages and instructions.
• 💾 GitHub – Some developers put voiceovers in the open access (example: repositories tagged xiaomi-vacuum-voice).

⚠️ Warning: Custom voice installation requires manually copying files to the vacuum cleaner via ADB or replacing the system firmware files. This can lead to loss of warranty and unstable device performance. Before you start, make sure that your model supports this method (usually Roborock, Dreame and some Mi Robot based on MT7688 or RT5350).

Installation instructions (for advanced users):

1. Download the archive with a voice packet (usually a.tar or.zip file with the.pkg extension).
2. Connect to the vacuum cleaner via SSH (see the instructions for your model on the forums).
3. Go to the voiceover folder (the path may be different, but most often it is /mnt/UDISK/voice/ or /usr/local/share/voice/).
4. Replace standard files (.wav or.mp3) with new ones from the archive.
5. Reboot the vacuum cleaner with the reboot command.

Voiceover problems: why the vacuum cleaner is silent or speaks Chinese

Sometimes the robot vacuum cleaner stops making sounds or suddenly starts speaking in a language that is unfamiliar, and the reasons may be both software and hardware.

⚠️ Warning: If the vacuum cleaner started speaking Chinese after the firmware update, it could mean you're connected to the Chinese Mi Home server.

1. Go to the settings of the Xiaomi account.
2. Change the region to Russia or Europe.
3. Remove the device from the application and add it again.

If the problem is dynamics, it can be replaced yourself. For most models Xiaomi is suitable speaker with a diameter of 20-25 mm with a resistance of 8 ohms. the cost of spare parts - from 200 to 500 rubles.

Disconnecting voiceover: when silence is gold

Not everyone likes voice alerts, especially if the vacuum cleaner works at night or in the office, and you can turn them off in several ways:

• 🔇 Through the App: Settings → Voice Alerts → Turn Off.
• 📵 Physically: turn off the speaker (requires disassembly of the body).
• 🤫 Partially: Turn off only certain alerts (e.g. low charge).

Some models (such as the Roborock S6) have a Quiet Mode option that not only turns off voice, but also reduces suction power for silent operation.

Settings → Cleaning modes → Quiet mode

⚠️ Warning: Completely turning off voiceovers can be dangerous, you won't hear warnings about a wedged wheel or overheating, and we recommend leaving at least critical alerts (e.g., errors).

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If you are only disturbed by night alerts, set the cleaning schedule so that the vacuum cleaner works during “quiet hours” (from 23:00 to 7:00) – many models automatically turn down the volume at this time.

Creating your own voice package: for enthusiasts

If you don't have enough standard and custom voices, you can record your own voice for a vacuum cleaner, which is a complex process that requires knowledge of audio processing and firmware, but the result is worth the effort.

1. Recording phrases: You will need to record all alerts (e.g., “Getting started”, “Charging completed”) in a studio capacity (no noise, with the same intonation).
2. Audio processing: Files should be in WAV or MP3 format with a bitrate of 64–128 kbps and a frequency of 16–44 kHz. Use Audacity to normalize volume.
3. File Replacement: Connect to the vacuum cleaner via SSH and replace the standard audio files with your own (the ways are indicated in the section about custom voiceovers).
4. Testing: Check that all alerts are played correctly and synchronized with the vacuum cleaner’s actions.

🎤 Example of a list of phrases to write (may vary depending on the model):

• "The cleanup has begun."
• "Cleaning is complete"
• "Battery Charging"
• "Mistake: stuck"
• "Pure the brush."
• "Low charge, back to base"

⚠️ Warning: Not all Xiaomi models support replacing voice files without modifying firmware. For example, the Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop P has protection against changes to system files. In such cases, custom firmware (such as Valetudo) will be required, which will void the warranty.

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Recording your own voice is the most time-consuming, but also the most creative way to personalize a vacuum cleaner, but it is only suitable for experienced users who are willing to risk building up the device.

Firmware updates and their impact on voiceover

When the firmware updates on Xiaomi’s robot vacuum cleaner, voiceover issues often arise: it can drop to a standard one, start to glitch or disappear altogether, because new versions of the software sometimes overwrite or change their format to avoid problems:

• 🔄 Create a backup of current voice files before upgrading (via SSH or ADB).
• 📋 Read the firmware change log on the forums — there may indicate changes in voiceover.
• ⏳ Wait 1-2 weeks after the new firmware is released for other users to test it for compatibility with custom voices.

If the update is missing:

1. Try to return the previous version of the firmware (downgrade).
2. Reinstall the voice packet manually.
3. Contact Xiaomi support – sometimes they’ll put out patches to fix sound bugs.

📌 Example: There was a bug in the 3.5.9_20230412 firmware for Roborock S7 MaxV that caused the vacuum cleaner to stop playing sounds after the reboot. The fix came out in 3.5.9_20230505 version.

Comparison of Xiaomi models by voiceover capabilities

Not all Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaners are equally flexible in terms of voice tuning, and here is a comparison table of popular models for language support, custom voiceovers and other options:

If you are planning to buy a vacuum cleaner and you want to have flexibility in your voice settings, consider Roborock models, which traditionally offer more customization options. For budget options (such as Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop Essential), language and voice choices are usually limited.

FAQ: Frequent questions about voiceover of Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaner