Xiaomi Roborock S5 Max
All official and informal methods
Many users are unaware that the S5 Max supports multiple language packs and allows custom voice packs to be installed, but not all methods are safe: some can cause system failure or loss of warranty. We tested each method and identified those that work steadily in 2026.
If you've just bought a vacuum cleaner or are planning to update your voice, this will help you avoid common mistakes, like when you change your language through Mi Home, the device can start speaking a mix of Russian and Chinese, which is treated by resetting the sound settings, and how to get your standard voice back if the experiment fails.
So let's get to the practice. Let's start with the simplest methods, and gradually move on to the advanced ones, with the risks and nuances for everyone.
1.Official method: changing the language in Mi Home
The safest and most recommended method is to change the language through the Mi Home app (now Xiaomi Home), which does not require root rights or firmware, but has limitations: only standard language packages (Russian, English, Chinese, German, etc.) are available.
Here's how to do it:
- Open the Mi Home app and select your Roborock S5 Max from the device list.
- Go to Settings → General → Robot Language.
- Choose the language you want from the list, such as Russian (Russia) or English (US).
- Confirm the change and wait for the vacuum cleaner to restart (it will take ~30 seconds).
⚠️ Important: after changing the language, all voice prompts (including charging or error notifications) will be in the selected language. If you choose Chinese, some phrases may remain untranslated - this is a feature of the firmware.
The list of available languages depends on the region of your Mi Account. For example, for accounts linked to Russia, Russian and English are available by default. To unlock additional languages (Spanish, French), you need to change the region in the application settings.
Download the latest version of Mi Home| Connect the vacuum cleaner to Wi-Fi| Check the battery (minimum 20%)|Close all background apps on the phone-->
2. Hidden Voices: How to Activate Alternative Packets
Few people know, but Roborock S5 Max firmware has hidden voice packets that don't appear on the standard menu, like female voice in Chinese or more robotic versions of English, and you'll need a device token and third-party software to activate them.
Instructions for advanced users:
- Get your vacuum cleaner token through the Mi Home app (use tools like Mi Home Token Extractor).
- Install Roborock Manager (available for Windows/Linux) or use Home Assistant with integration for Xiaomi.
- Enter a command to change voice: set_voice_pack 3 where 3 — ID package ID see below).
- Reboot the vacuum cleaner with the reboot command.
List of known voice ID packets for the S5 Max:
- 🔢 0 - Standard English (male)
- 🔢 1 – Standard Chinese (female)
- 🔢 2 - Russian (male, official)
- 🔢 3 - English (robotic, "futuristic")
- 🔢 5 – Chinese (children’s voice, rarely working)
⚠️ Attention: Not all ID If the vacuum cleaner is silent or squeaking after the command, return the standard package (set_voice_pack 0) and reboot the device.
Standard male.|Female voice|Robotic|Celebrity voice|Another option-->
3. firmware custom voice: risks and opportunities
For those who want a completely unique voice (like voice acting from an actor or a character in a movie), there is a radical method of firmware custom audio files, which requires unlocking the vacuum cleaner and replacing system files, so it is only suitable for advanced users.
What you need:
- 🛠️ Root access to the vacuum cleaner (through exploit or modified firmware).
- 💾 Backup copy of original audio files (folder) /usr/share/sounds).
- 🎤 Set of sounds in.wav format (frequency 16 kHz, mono).
- 🖥️ Firmware software (e.g. Roborock Valetudo or DustBuilder).
Step-by-step:
- Download the archive with a custom voice (for example, from the XDA Developers forum or create your set through Audacity).
- Connect to the vacuum cleaner SSH (use IP-Device address and port 22).
- Replace the files in /usr/share/sounds retaining the original names (for example, start_cleaning.wav).
- Execute the command to apply changes: chmod 755 /usr/share/sounds/*
- Reset the vacuum cleaner.
⚠️ Warning: Incorrect firmware can cause the warranty to be lost or the device to “brick” if the vacuum is not turned on after replacing the files, try to return the original sounds via Recovery Mode (hold the Reset button for 10 seconds when you turn on).
Where to download ready-made voice packets?
4. Voice reset to factory settings
If you've had a vacuum cleaner say "snippets of phrases" after the experiment, or you've got Voice packed corrupted errors, you have to return the standard settings, and there are two ways you can do that: through the app and through the hardware reset.
Method 1: Software reset (without data loss)
- Open Mi Home and go to the vacuum cleaner settings.
- Select Resetting → Resetting voice settings.
- Confirm the action and wait for the reboot.
Method 2: Complete reset (if the vacuum cleaner does not respond)
- 🔌 Turn off the vacuum cleaner by holding the power button for 5 seconds.
- 🔄 Press and hold the power buttons. + Home for 10 seconds until the orange light lights up.
- 📱 Connect to the vacuum cleaner via Mi Home as a new device.
After a complete reset, you'll have to reconfigure your room maps, cleaning schedules, and other settings. To avoid this, back up your settings in Mi Home before you experiment with voice. → Settings → Backup.
💡
If the vacuum cleaner speaks Chinese after the reset, check the region of your Mi Account. Sometimes the system automatically sets the language by geolocating Xiaomi servers.
5. Frequent errors and their solutions
When you change your voice, you're going to have a problem, and we've collected some of the most common ways to fix it.
| Mistake. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Vacuum cleaner silent after changing voice | Incompatible voice packet or firmware failure | Return the standard package with the team set_voice_pack 0 or |
| The voice is interrupted or distorted | Damaged audio files or poor recording quality | Reflash original files or use a package from a verified source |
| The language changed, but some phrases remained in Chinese. | Incomplete language package in firmware | Update the vacuum cleaner to the latest version through Mi Home |
| The app does not show the option to change the language | Older version of Mi Home or regional restrictions | Update the application or change the account region to China |
If none of the methods worked, check the firmware version of your S5 Max.
- Turn the vacuum cleaner over and find a sticker with the serial number.
- Enter the number on the Mi Home website in the "Device Check" section.
- If the version is older than 2022.05, update it through Settings → Update firmware.
💡
Before any voice manipulation, check firmware compatibility, for example, on versions older than 2023.10, some custom packs may not work due to security changes.
6. Alternative ways: voice shutdown and text notifications
If you don’t like the voice assistant at all, you can turn it off completely or replace it with text notifications in the app, which is true for those who use a vacuum cleaner at night or in the office.
How to turn off voice:
- 🔇 At Mi Home: Settings → General. → Sound notifications → Off.
- 🔇 Through the team (if there is root): set_voice_volume 0
How to set up text notifications:
- Enable the option of notifications only in the sound settings.
- Activate push notifications in Mi Home for events (start cleaning, charging, errors).
- For advanced users: Set up integration with a Telegram bot or Home Assistant to receive messages.
⚠️ Warning: If you completely shut down your voice, you won’t hear an error warning (such as a stuck brush or low charge) and we recommend keeping the minimum volume level or using vacuum lights.