Xiaomi’s modern robot vacuum cleaners and the Mijia ecosystem are highly functional, but the standard voice messaging set often doesn’t satisfy advanced users. Many owners want to replace monotonous system phrases with personalized voiceovers or simply get rid of the annoying Chinese accent. The audio package replacement process requires some technical training, but the result is worth it.
Before you start the modification, you need to understand that the standard application does not provide direct download of user files. To implement this plan, you will need access to the file system of the device or the use of special localization servers. In this article, we will discuss legal and proven methods of customization of sound.
It is worth noting that interference with software code can affect warranty obligations. Although replacing a sound package by itself rarely leads to failure, any manipulation of firmware carries potential risks.
⚠️ Warning: Before starting any work, make sure that the battery of the robot is at least 60%. interruption of the data recording process due to discharge can lead to a software failure.
Preparation of tools and files
The first step is to find the right audio material. You'll need.mp3 or.wav files with high bitrate for the clarity of the sound. Standard robot vacuum cleaners speakers have a limited frequency range, so extremely high or low frequencies will play with distortion.
It will require a Windows or macOS computer, and a stable Wi-Fi connection. Knowing the exact model of your device is critical, as the folder structure of the Xiaomi Vacuum Mop Pro and, for example, the Roborock S5 may differ.
You also need to download specialized software to manage files on your device, and most often you use the Vacuum Explorer utility or similar tools that work through the miio protocol. Without this software, you can not directly interact with the android file system installed inside the vacuum cleaner.
- 🎧 Audio files: prepared voices in format MP3 (preferably mono, 22050 Hz).
- 💻 PC or laptop: to manage the file replacement process.
- 📡 Wi-Fi network: robot and computer must be on the same subnet.
- 🔑 Mi Token: A unique token of access to your device on the network.
Pay special attention to the quality of the source. If you plan to record your voice, do so in a quiet room, avoiding echoes.The optimal volume level of the source file should be normalized to -3 dB to avoid overloading the speaker during playback.
Receiving a token of the Mi Home device
Any interaction with a device outside the official app requires a Mi Token, a unique identifier that allows third-party apps to send commands to your robot, and without this security key, all access attempts will be blocked by the Xiaomi server.
There are several ways to mine a token, and the easiest way to do that is to use browser plugins or desktop utilities like Home Assistant or specialized scripts in Python, which is usually like intercepting network packets when you log in to an application.
Once you have a string of tokens, save it in a safe place. IP-If you have a robot address on your local network, that data will be your pass to make changes.
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Use an Android emulator with Mi Home installed to get a token – it’s often easier than setting up a traffic sniffer on a physical phone.
In some cases, especially on newer versions of firmware, standard methods of obtaining a token may not work, then you have to resort to more complex methods, associated with a temporary shutdown of the Internet on the router at the time of connection, to intercept the handshake packet.
Installation and configuration of Vacuum Explorer
One of the most convenient programs for managing the files of Xiaomi robots is Vacuum Explorer. This tool has a graphical interface, which greatly simplifies navigation through the internal file system of the device.
After the program is launched, you must enter the previously received token and IP-If the data is correct, you'll see the connection status and the device model. The interface allows you to view directories, upload and delete files, and backup.
It's important to find the right directory where the audio files are stored. /mnt/UDisk1/Roborock/sounds Or similar, depending on the brand of the sub-manufacturer (Roborock, Dreame, Viomi), inside you find files with names like volume_100.mp3 or start_cleaning.mp3.
☑️ Checking before replacing sounds
⚠️ Note: Do not delete system files whose purpose you do not know. Replace the audio package should be done by renaming the originals and writing new files with the same names.
The process of replacing sound files
The most important step is to replace the audio directly, so first back up the entire sounds folder on your computer, and that will allow you to get it back to the way it was if the new voice packet is not working or is played with errors.
The files you've prepared should be renamed to the originals, for example, if you want to change the phrase "I'm starting cleaning," find the corresponding file in the original package and name your file the same way. The file extension should match.
Upload new files to the same directory through the program interface. Once the transfer of files is complete, you need to restart the robot vacuum cleaner, which can be done through the program menu or physically by pressing buttons on the case.
| File name (example) | Description of the event | Recommended duration | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| charge_start.mp3 | Start of charging | 2-3 seconds | Medium. |
| clean_start.mp3 | Cleaning start | 3-4 seconds | High-pitched |
| error_1.mp3 | Primary wheel error | 5-6 seconds | critical |
| volume_max.mp3 | Maximum volume | 1-2 seconds | Low. |
If the robot continues to speak in an old voice after the reboot, check the file access rights. In some firmware versions, files must have certain executability or ownership attributes that can be changed through console commands in the same Vacuum Explorer.
What to do if the robot is silent?
Alternative methods: Local servers
There is a more advanced customization method that does not require direct file replacement in the device's memory, which is to raise the local server of voice packets, a method popular among users of the Home Assistant system and the integration of Xiaomi Mi Robot.
The idea is that the robot redirects to your local server, where it downloads the actual audio files at each event, allowing you to change voice messages on the fly without having to connect to the vacuum cleaner file system every time.
To implement, you will need to install the VAletudo addon or use miio scripts to replace DNS-It's a more complex journey, requiring networking knowledge and maybe flashing the device onto custom firmware.
- 🚀 Flexibility: the ability to change voiceover at any time without connecting to a PC.
- ⚙️ Difficulty: requires adjustment DNS and uplift the server.
- 🛡️ Risk: high probability of loss of warranty when flashing.
- 🌐 Dependence: Requires a constant operation of a local server on the network.
Using custom firmware such as DustCloud or VAletudo RE opens up access to full sound management, but is strongly discouraged for beginners.
Possible problems and solutions
In the process of modification, users often face a number of typical problems, one of the most common is that the robot ignores new files and plays back standard ones. This can be due to caching. Try to completely clear the cache of the Mi Home application or reset the network settings on the device itself.
Another common mistake is cracking or wheezing when playing, which indicates that the audio file format does not match the speaker's hardware capabilities. As mentioned earlier, use converters to bring files to MPEG-1 Layer 3, Mono, 22050 Hz, 64 kbps.
If the robot starts to behave inadequately after replacing files (it spontaneously turns on, goes into error), immediately restore the original files from the backup.
⚠️ Note: If you are using a Keenetic or Mikrotik router, set up a static router. IP-address for the robot, so that when restarting the router, the address of the device does not change, and the connection with it does not disappear.
In rare cases, updating your firmware through an official app can overwrite your changes. Always back up your sound folder before updating the software. Some users even block the robot from accessing Xiaomi update servers through the hosts file on the router to save the modifications.
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The key to success is to have a backup of the original files, and always save the factory sound settings before making any changes.