How to change voiceover on a robot vacuum cleaner Xiaomi: official and informal ways

Xiaomi’s robot vacuum cleaner has become an integral part of the smart home for thousands of users, but standard voiceovers in Chinese or English can be annoying or boring. The good news is that you can change the assistant’s voice in several ways, from the official settings in the Mi Home app to install custom audio packages through third-party utilities. In this article, we will analyze all the current methods, including nuances for different models (Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro, S7, X10+, etc.), and also explain how to avoid typical mistakes when changing voiceovers.

Many users are unaware that voices in Xiaomi vacuum cleaners are stored in separate files that can be replaced without interference with the firmware. However, not all models support this feature out of the box - some require manual editing of configuration files or even flashing. If you are willing to experiment, you can set voice in Russian, male/female or even write down your own phrases.

How to Change Voiceovers Through Mi Home

The easiest and safest method is to use the built-in settings in the Mi Home app (or Xiaomi Home for newer versions), unfortunately, not all models support this feature: for example, in the Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop P you can only choose between Chinese and English voice, while in the Xiaomi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro you can have additional language packages.

To check for the option:

1. Open the Mi Home app and select your vacuum cleaner.
2. Go to Settings → Notifications and Voice (or Settings → Voice Pack in English).
3. If the option is available, you will see a list of languages – select the desired one and confirm the download.

⚠️ Warning: After changing the language, all voice prompts (including notifications of charging, errors and finishing cleaning) will be played in the selected language. Some models require a vacuum cleaner reboot to apply the changes - just return it to the dock.

If you don't have a language change option in your model, it doesn't mean there's nothing you can do. In the next section, we'll look at alternative methods.

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Before changing the voiceover, update the vacuum cleaner firmware to the latest version – this can add support for new language packages.

Unofficial methods: Replacing sound files

For advanced users ready for experimentation, there is a way to manually replace audio files via FTP or firmware editing, which works on most Xiaomi models (including the Viomi V3, Mi Robot Vacuum 1S), but requires:

• 🔧 Access to a local network (vacuum cleaner and computer must be on the same Wi-Fi network).
• 📁 FTP- client (e.g. FileZilla or Total Commander).
• 🔄 Backup of original files (in case of errors)

Algorithm of action:

1. Find out IP- address of the vacuum cleaner in the Mi Home app (Network or About section).
2. Connect to FTP using: [IP vacuum cleaner] Port: 21 Logins: root Password: blank (or try 123456)
3. Go to /miio/voice/, where all audio files in.mp3 or.wav format are stored.
4. Download the original files to your computer (for backup) and replace them with your own, observing: 🎵 Exact file name (for example, start_cleaning.mp3). 🔊 Mono format, 16 kHz, 64 kbps (otherwise the voice may sound distorted).

Reboot the vacuum cleaner by turning off and powering on.

⚠️ Warning: Incorrectly formatted audio files may result in complete loss of voiceover or vacuum cleaner errors. Check the files on another device before replacing.

Creating custom voiceover: recording and conversion

If you want the vacuum cleaner to "talk" in your voice or use unique phrases, you can record your own audio files.

• 🎤 Microphone (even built-in smartphone will do).
• 💻 A software for audio editing (Audacity, Ocenaudio).
• 📄 List of standard vacuum cleaner phrases (can be found in the technical documentation or extracted from the original files).

Instructions for recording:

1. Write down the phrases individually in a quiet room. Examples: 🗣️ "Getting clean up" (for start_cleaning.mp3). 🗣️ "Charging completed" (for charging_complete.mp3). 🗣️ "Error: stuck" (for stuck_error.mp3).
2. Open the entry in the editor and bring to the parameters: 🔊 Format: Mono. 📊 Sampling frequency: 16000 Hz. 📉 Bitrate: 64 kbps.

/miio/voice/

For convenience, you can use a template script for batch conversion (for example, in FFmpeg):

ffmpeg -i input.wav -ac 1 -ar 16000 -b:a 64k output.mp3

File names match the original |

Format: Mono, 16 kHz, 64 kbps|

No unnecessary noise or echoes |

The duration does not exceed the original files by more than 1 second.-->

Comparison of methods of changing voiceover: what to choose?

To determine the best way, we will evaluate the pros and cons of each approach:

For most users, the best solution is to combine the official language change (if supported) and replace individual files over FTP. If you want full voice control and are risk-averse, consider installing an alternative firmware like Valetudo, which allows you to control the vacuum cleaner without the Xiaomi cloud and customize voices through the web interface.

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For Xiaomi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro and later, the official language change is available 90% of the time, and for older models (such as Mi Robot Vacuum 1), you will have to use informal methods.

Problem Solving: Why is the voiceover not changing?

If after all the manipulations the vacuum cleaner continues to "speak" in the old language or is completely silent, check the following points:

• 🔄 Reboot: After replacing files, the vacuum cleaner needs to be physically turned off and on (it’s not enough to just return to base).
• 📋 Access Rights: Make sure new files have the same rights as the original ones (usually 644 or 755).
• 🔊 File format: Even a slight deviation in bitrate or sampling rate can result in silence.
• 📡 Network settings: If the vacuum cleaner is connected to the cloud, it can automatically download standard sounds. Turn off cloud sync in Mi Home.

If the vacuum cleaner makes strange sounds or squeaks after replacing the files, the most likely problem is:

• 🎛️ Wrong sampling rate (should be exactly 16,000 Hz).
• 🔇 Too high volume in recorded files (normalize audio to -12 dB).
• 🗜️ Damaged files (resave in another format)

⚠️ Warning: On some models (Viomi V2, Mi Robot Vacuum E10) after a failed audio file replacement, the protection may go off and the vacuum cleaner will refuse to turn on before resetting, in which case only a full reset through the button on the case (hold 10 seconds).

Alternative Firmware: Valetudo and Others

For users who want to not only change voiceovers but also gain full control of the vacuum cleaner, Valetudo’s open source software replaces Xiaomi’s standard firmware and allows:

• 🗣️ Configure voices via a web interface.
• 🚫 Disable cloud dependency (vacuum cleaner works without internet).
• 📊 Receive extended telemetry (e.g. detailed cleaning maps).

Installation of Valetudo requires:

1. Unlock root access to the vacuum cleaner (via Mi Home or ADB).
2. Installation of a Docker container with firmware (instructions are on the official website).
3. Network settings (the vacuum cleaner must be in the same subnet with the control device).

⚠️ Warning: Installing custom firmware will void warranty and may lead to unstable operation. Before the procedure, create a full backup of the original firmware via ssh:

ssh root@[IP_ vacuum cleaner] "tar -czvf /tmp/backup.tar.gz /miio"

After installing Valetudo, voiceovers can be changed directly from the browser by downloading files via the Settings → Voice Packs interface. Supports.mp3 and.wav formats with flexible volume and playback delay settings.

Security and backup

Any changes in the system files of the vacuum cleaner are fraught with risks, so before experiments:

1. Back up your original audio files (copy /miio/voice/ to your computer).
2. Write down the current vacuum cleaner settings in Mi Home (screenshots or export configurations).
3. Make sure you have access to the vacuum cleaner console (via ssh or ADB) to roll back changes.

If after the replacement of the voiceover, the vacuum cleaner stopped responding to commands:

• 🔌 Turn it off for 30 seconds, then turn it on again.
• 📱 Reconnect to Mi Home (remove the device and add again).
• 🔄 Restore the original audio files via FTP.

In extreme cases, you can make a complete reset of the settings:

1. Press and hold the Reset button on the vacuum cleaner body (usually next to the power button).
2. Wait for the sound signal (or the indicator flashing).
3. Connect the vacuum cleaner to the Mi Home as a new device.

⚠️ Warning: On models with a laser rangefinder (LDS, such as the Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro), resetting can cause sensor calibration to lose. After reset, give the vacuum cleaner time to recalibrate (it will rotate slowly for 1-2 minutes).

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing voice