Xiaomi Mi robot vacuum cleaners have become an integral part of smart homes, but standard voiceovers in Chinese or English can be annoying or simply confusing. Fortunately, the manufacturer and enthusiasts offer several ways to change the voice of the assistant, from the official settings in the Mi Home app to manually firmware alternative voice packets. In this article, we will analyze all current methods, including hidden features and possible risks.
It's important to understand that not all models support language change through the standard menu. For example, the Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Lite allows you to choose only Chinese and English, while the Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop P has advanced options. There are also informal firmware with Russian-speaking voices from the community, but installing them requires caution.
How to Change Voiceovers Through Mi Home
The safest method is to use the built-in settings in a proprietary app, which is suitable for most of today's Released models after 2020.
- 📱 Open the Mi Home app and select your robot vacuum cleaner from the device list.
- 🔧 Go to Settings. → Voice prompts (or Voice Pack in English version).
- 🌍 In the Language section, select the available option (usually Chinese, English, sometimes Spanish or German).
- 🔄 Press Save and wait for synchronization (the robot will emit an audible signal).
If your app does not have Voice prompts, the model does not support official language change, and you will need to use alternative methods (see the following sections).
Unofficial voice packs: where to download and how to install
For models without official Russian language support (e.g. Mi Robot Vacuum 1S or Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop Essential), enthusiasts have created custom firmware with alternative voices.
- 🔗 Forum 4PDA — Firmware themes for specific models (see your vacuum cleaner name) + "voice-pack").
- 🔗 GitHub – open-voice repositories (e.g., xiaomi-vacuum-voices).
- 🔗 Telegram chats on Xiaomi gadgets (channels like @XiaomiVacuum).
The installation process usually includes:
- Download the archive with a voice packet (.pkg or.bin format).
- Connecting the vacuum cleaner to the PC via USB-Type-C (adapter required).
- Use the MiHome Hack or Valetudo utility to download files.
Risks of informal firmware
Step-by-step instructions for models with Valetudo support
Valetudo is an open source alternative firmware that replaces standard Xiaomi software, which allows you to not only change voiceovers, but also disable cloud dependency, configure cleanup areas without the Internet.
☑️ Preparation for the installation of Valetudo
Follow the steps:
- Unpack the archive with Valetudo on MicroSD.
- Insert the card into the vacuum cleaner (the connector is usually under the cover next to the power button).
- Hold the Reset button (10-15 seconds) until the orange light light lights up.
- Connect to the robot’s Wi-Fi network (valetudo-XXXX) and complete the setup via the web interface.
After installing the Settings → Voice Pack, additional languages will appear, including Russian. Please note: Valetudo is not compatible with some new models (for example, Xiaomi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro).
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If the vacuum cleaner does not connect to Wi-Fi after installing Valetudo, try resetting the network settings via Network Reset in the web interface.
Change voiceover via ADB (for advanced users)
The method is suitable for Android-based models (e.g. Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Ultra). It requires access to ADB (Android Debug Bridge) and basic command line knowledge.
- Turn on the developer mode on the vacuum cleaner (usually 5-7 taps by the version number in the settings).
- Connect the device to the PC and check the connection with the command: adb devices
- Download the voice packet in.apk format (for example, ru_voice.apk).
- Install it with the command: adb install -r ru_voice.apk
- Reboot the vacuum cleaner: adb reboot
Critical: Incorrect ADB commands can lead to a device blink (completely inoperable). Use this method only if you are confident in your actions!
Table of compatibility of models and methods
| Model vacuum cleaner | Official change of language | Valetudo | ADB | Castomous voice packets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Robot Vacuum 1S | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes (via Valetudo) |
| Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Lite | ✅ English/Chinese | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. |
| Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop P | ✅ Multilingual | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. | ❌ Not required |
| Xiaomi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Ultra | ✅ Russian is built in. | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. | ❌ Not required |
If your model is not in the table, check the name in the technical documentation or on the sticker under the lid of the device. For new releases (2023-2026), Xiaomi often adds support for the Russian language in official updates.
Frequent problems and their solutions
Even with the right voice packet installation, there can be failures. Consider typical situations:
- 🔇 Vacuum does not make sounds after changing voice: Check volume in settings (Settings) → Sound. It's possible the package is set, but the sound level dropped to 0.
- 🔄 Voice is lost to Chinese after the update: Xiaomi sometimes resets settings when updates.The solution is to repeat the installation of the voice package or disable the automatic update in Mi Home.
- ⚠️ Invalid voice pack error: The downloaded file is corrupted or not suitable for your model.
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Before any firmware manipulation, disable the vacuum cleaner from the Xiaomi cloud in the Mi Home settings. This will prevent conflicts during synchronization.
⚠️ Warning: If the vacuum cleaner starts to turn on or ignore commands arbitrarily after the voice change, reset to the factory settings. To do this, hold the Reset button for 20 seconds before the beep. The data on the cleaning cards will be lost!
Alternative solutions: switching off voice or replacing with melodies
Not all users like voice acting -- some people prefer silence or musical cues.
- 🔕 Disabling voice completely: In Mi Home go to Settings → Voice prompts → The vacuum cleaner will only make standard sounds (e.g. when cleaning starts).
- 🎵 Replacement with melodies: Some firmware (such as Valetudo) allow you to download custom.mp3-The length of the track should not exceed 5 seconds.
For models without official support, you can use a physical modification - connecting an external speaker to the control board. However, this requires disassembly of the device and soldering skills, so it is recommended only for advanced users.