Connecting the Xiaomi gateway to Alice: full instructions with step-by-step actions

Voice control of the smart home via Alice from Yandex has become the standard for owners of Xiaomi equipment. The Mi Home Gateway (or Aqara Hub in new versions) serves as a central node for connecting sensors, lamps and other devices, but without integration with the voice assistant, its capabilities are limited. This article will help connect the gateway with Alice without errors - from preparing accounts to testing voice commands.

We will look at the two official ways of connecting (via Mi Home and Aqara Home), analyze common errors (for example, the device does not respond or no access permissions), and give tips on how to optimize the system. 2020 In the year, be sure to update your firmware to the version 1.5.6_147 Or else Alice won’t be able to detect the device.

At the end of the article you will find FAQ answering questions about the compatibility of specific gateway models (e.g. Mi Gateway 3 or Aqara Hub) M2), And also a manual to reset if something goes wrong!

What Xiaomi Gateways Are Compatible With Alice in 2026

Not all Xiaomi gateway models support integration with Alice, and Yandex has officially certified the following devices:

• 🔹 Xiaomi Mi Home Gateway 3 (round, with a speaker) – the most popular model, works stably.
• 🔹 Aqara Hub M1S and M2 — Zigbee 3.0 gateways are recommended for large systems.
• 🔹 Xiaomi Mi Smart Home Gateway (first version, square) – requires firmware update.
• 🔹 Aqara Camera Hub G2H/G3 — Hybrid camera and gateway, supports Alice with 2023 year-end.

The Mi Gateway 2 gateways (rectangular, no speaker) and older versions of the Aqara Hub (until 2021) are not compatible with Alice, and if you have one, you will have to buy a new gateway or use workarounds (for example, through Home Assistant). + Yandex IoT).

Before buying a gateway, check its region: devices for China (CN) They may not work with Alice even when they update the firmware. EU or RU.

Preparation before connecting: accounts and applications

To connect the gateway to Alice, you'll need:

1. Account. Mi/Xiaomi (Mi Home app).
2. Aqara account (if you use the Aqara gateway, you are registered with Aqara Home).
3. Yandex account with the tied voice assistant Alice.
4. Application "Yandex" (version 23.0)+).

⚠️ Note: If you used the gateway through Mi Home but are now switching to Aqara Home (or vice versa), reset the gateway to factory settings.

Download the necessary applications:

• 📱 Mi Home (Android/IOS) for Mi Gateway.
• 📱 Aqara Home (Android/IOS) – for Aqara gateways.
• 📱 Yandex (Android / iOS) – to customize Alice.

If you already have a Mi Account but don't remember your password, restore it here. Use a Russian phone number to register a new account, otherwise you may have trouble linking to Alice.

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If you have two gateways (e.g. Mi Gateway 3 and Aqara Hub) M2), Connect them to Alice separately, and simultaneously linking multiple gateways can cause conflict in device management.

Method 1: Connect via the Mi Home app

This method is suitable for the Mi Gateway 3 and Mi Gateway 1 gateways (after the firmware update).

1. Open Mi Home and make sure the gateway is connected to your account and online.
2. Go to Profile → Settings → Smart Home → Yandex Alice.
3. Click Add Account and log in via Yandex.
4. Select the gateway from the list and confirm the synchronization.

If the Yandex Alice button is not in the menu, it means:

• 🔴 Your gateway does not support integration (check the model in the table above).
• 🔴 Firmware is outdated - update it to Gateway Settings → Update of the PO.
• 🔴 Mi Account Region is not Russia – change it in your profile settings.

After successful synchronization, open the Yandex application, go to Devices → Add the device → Xiaomi and select your gateway. Now you can test voice commands, like this:

Alice, turn on the light in the hallway.


Alice, show me the nursery temperature.




Alice, open the curtains in the living room.

Gateway connected to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi|Mi Account tied to Russia region|The Gateway Firmware Updated to the Latest Version|Mi Home includes the option "Yandex Alice"|Devices (lamps, sensors) added to the gateway-->

Method 2: Connect via Aqara Home (for Aqara gateways)

Aqara Hub Gateways M1S/M2 and Camera Hub G2H/G3 Configure through a separate application:

1. Open Aqara Home and make sure the gateway is added to the system.
2. Go to Profile. → Integration → Yandex.
3. Log in via Yandex and allow access to devices.
4. Return to Yandex app, find Devices section → Add the device → Aqara and select your gateway.

⚠️ Warning: If Alice does not see devices connected to the gateway (for example, motion sensors or lamps), check:

• 🔧 Aqara Home devices added to the same room as the gateway.
• 🔧 The gateway settings include the Cloud Access option (Settings) → Advanced → Cloud Service).
• 🔧 Devices are not on the Ignored List (at Aqara Home, go to Devices). → Settings → Ignore Alice).

For the Aqara Camera Hub locks G2H/G3 need to:

1. Enable the option of Voice Assistant in the camera settings.
2. Allow access to the microphone in the Yandex application (for commands via camera).

Solving common connection errors

Even with the right setup, you can have failures.

If Alice stopped seeing the gateway after updating the Mi Home or Aqara Home app, try:

1. Remove the gateway from integration in Yandex (Devices) → Settings → Delete).
2. Clear the Mi app cache Home/Aqara Home in the phone settings.
3. Re-add the gateway through Profile → Integration → Yandex.

Mi Gateway 1 gateways (older version) may require a manual firmware update via Mi Home → Gateway settings → Update manually. Download the latest version of the software from the official website (Support section) → Firmware).

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If Alice doesn’t recognize the device’s names (for example, instead of “bedroom lamp” she hears “sabre lamp”), rename them Mi Home or Aqara Home using simple words without special characters.

Optimization of work: device groups and scenarios

To manage multiple devices with one command, set up groups and scenarios:

Device groups (e.g., "All lights on the ground floor"):

1. In Mi Home/Aqara Home Go to Devices → Groups → To form a group.
2. Add the right lamps/outlets and name the group (e.g., Light in the house).
3. In the Yandex app, update the list of devices – the group will appear as a separate device.

Now we can say:

Alice, turn off the lights in the house.

Automation scenarios (e.g., Mode of the Mode of the Mode)

1. In Mi Home, go to Automation → Add → Custom script.
2. Select a trigger (such as a voice command or motion sensor).
3. Add actions: turn off the lights, close the curtains, turn on the TV.
4. Save the script and sync with Alice.

⚠️ Note: scripts created in Aqara Home don't always show correctly in Alice.If the voice command doesn't work, check:

• 🔧 Title of the script in English (without Cyrillic).
• 🔧 Scenario settings include option Available for voice assistants.

For advanced users: if you need to manage your devices on a schedule (for example, turn on the alarm), use Yandex Schedules in the Yandex application (Devices) → It's more convenient than setting up automation in Mi Home.

Security: How to protect the gateway from hacking

Xiaomi gateways are often targeted by hackers, especially if connected to public Wi-Fi.

• 🔒 Change the standard gateway password to Settings → Wi-Fi → Password (often 12345678 by default).
• 🔒 Disable Remote Access in Gateway Settings if you are not using control from outside the home.
• 🔒 Enable Two-Factor Authentication for Mi and Aqara Accounts.
• 🔒 Regularly update the lock firmware (once in a week) 2-3 Check for updates for a month).

If you notice suspicious activity (e.g., Alice turns on the lights without a command), immediately:

1. Disconnect the gateway from the network (physically or via a router).
2. Reset it to factory settings (reset button for 10 seconds).
3. Change passwords from Wi-Fi and accounts Mi/Aqara.

For additional protection, install a separate Guest Network on the router and connect the gateway there, which will limit the hacker’s access to other gadgets on your network.

FAQ: Frequent questions about connecting Xiaomi gateway to Alice