How to get Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaner to talk: from setup to advanced features

Xiaomi vacuum cleaners are no longer just janitors, they are full-fledged assistants with voice interaction. However, not all users know how to activate voice alerts or customize them to their needs. In this article, we will examine all the ways to “make your Mi Robot Vacuum talk”, from basic settings in the Mi Home app to firmware alternative voice packets and using informal commands.

It is important to understand that voice interaction capabilities depend on the vacuum cleaner model. For example, the Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Lite supports only standard audio signals, while the Xiaomi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro or DreameBot D9 can voice cleaning status, errors and even respond to voice commands through Alice or Google Assistant. We will look at options for all categories of devices from budget to flagship.

1. Verify support for voice functions by your model

Before you try to adjust your voice, make sure your vacuum cleaner is capable of doing so at all. The table below compares popular Xiaomi models and their voice capabilities:

If your model doesn’t support voice alerts out of the box, don’t despair: some features can be added through the firmware of alternative software (like Valetudo) or connecting to smart speakers, more on this in the following sections.

⚠️ Note: Lite-based vacuum cleaners (such as Vacuum-Mop 2 Lite) are usually devoid of a voice module.

2. Enable standard voice alerts via Mi Home

For models with voice-enabled prompts (e.g. Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro or DreameBot D9), you can enable them directly in the official app:

1. Open Mi Home and select your vacuum cleaner.
2. Go to Settings → Voice Alerts (or Settings → Voice Pack in English).
3. Activate the switch to Enable voice alerts.
4. Choose a language (usually Chinese and English are available; Russian only appears after manual firmware).

If there is no Voice Alert, your model doesn't support it, in which case you can move to the section on firmware for custom voice packets or smart speaker integration.

Make sure the vacuum cleaner is connected to Wi-Fi|Update the Mi Home app to the latest version|Check the version of the vacuum cleaner firmware (in Settings) → About the device)|Reboot the vacuum cleaner (hold the power button for 10 seconds)-->

After activation, the vacuum cleaner will voice:

• 🔊 Start/end of cleaning ("Cleaning has begun", "Cleaning is completed»)
• 🔋 Charge level ("Low charge, returning to base»)
• ⚠️ Errors ("Stuck", "Sidebrush problem»)
• 📍 Status ("Going Back to Base", "Cleanup Zone Cleared»)

⚠️ Note: On some models (Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum) 1S) Voice alerts only work when you connect to a Chinese server in Mi Home. To change region, remove the device from the application and add it again by selecting China when setting up.

3. Firmware of alternative voice packets

If you don't like standard voices (like Russian or a female voice instead of a male voice), you can install a custom voice package.

1. Install Valetudo (alternative firmware for Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaners).
2. Download a voice package (e.g. from the Xiaomi Robot Vacuum community on GitHub).
3. Upload files via SSH or Valetudo’s web interface.

Detailed instructions for Valetudo:

1. Connect to the vacuum cleaner by SSH (login: root, password: empty or your current).


2. Go to the folder with voice files:




cd /mnt/UDISK/miio/voice_pack/




3 Replace the files of the standard package with your own (e.g., russian_voice.pack).




4. Reload the vacuum cleaner with the command:




reboot

Where to download voice packets:

• 📁 Official Valetudo repository (City Voice Packs)
• 📁 Theme on. 4PDA (Russian-language packages for Xiaomi)
• 📁 Google Drive Community (voices from users)

Important: Once the custom voice is firmwareed, the vacuum cleaner may stop updating through official software. OTA-updates, delete the folder /mnt/UDISK/miio/voice_pack/ and reboot the device.

4. Voice control through smart speakers (Alice, Google, Siri)

If your vacuum cleaner doesn't support internal voice alerts, it can be made to talk indirectly through smart speaker integration.

1. Connect the vacuum cleaner to the Mi Home and make sure it shows up in the list of devices.
2. In the smart speaker app (Yandex, Google Home or Apple HomeKit), add your Mi Home account as a service.
3. Set up voice commands. Examples:

To make the column sound the status of the vacuum cleaner (for example, “Vacciner has finished cleaning”), set up automation:

• 🤖 In Mi Home, create a script: If the vacuum cleaner has completed the cleaning → column-notification.
• 📢 In the column settings, enable the sounding of notifications.

⚠️ Note: Apple HomeKit will require a hub (such as HomePod or Apple) TV), Xiaomi is not integrated directly with HomeKit, but use intermediate services like Home Assistant.

Alice.|Google Assistant|Siri|I don't use it.|Other-->

5. Solving Voice Function Problems

If voice alerts are not working, check the following points:

• 🔊 Loudness: On some models (e.g. DreameBot) D9) Voice volume control is available in Settings → Sound.
• 📶 Wi-Fi Connection: Without Internet, the vacuum cleaner doesn't sync voice packets.
• 🔄 Resetting: Try to dump the vacuum cleaner to factory settings (hold the power button for 15 seconds).
• 📱 Region in Mi Home: For some models, voice only works when choosing China as a region.

Common mistakes and their solutions:

💡

If after firmware voice vacuum cleaner began to behave unstable (for example, spontaneously turn on), return the standard firmware through Mi Home → Settings → Software update.

6.Advanced Features: Voice Commands via Valetudo

Valetudo firmware provides access to advanced voice commands that are not available in standard software, such as:

• 🎤 Castomy phrases ("Started cleaning in the living room", "Battery charged at 80%»)
• 📊 Voiceover of statistics ("50 square meters removed", "Digging time: 25 minutes»)
• 🔧 Voice error reports ("Right side roller clogged»)

Example of settings through Valetudo:

1 Connect to the Valetudo web interface (usually at http://[IP_ vacuum cleaner]).


2. Go to Settings → Voice Assistant.




3. Download JSON-file with custom phrases (example of structure):




{




"start_cleaning": "I'm starting cleaning on your command,"




"error_brush": "Oh, the trash is stuck in the main brush! Help me,"




"low_battery": "Energy left for 10 minutes, back to base"




}




4. Save and restart the vacuum cleaner.

Where to get ready JSON-file:

• 📄 Official templates
• 📄 XDA Developers (part of Xiaomi Vacuum Mods)

💡

Valetudo not only allows you to change voice alerts, but also completely disable cloud dependence from Xiaomi, speeding up the response of the vacuum cleaner to commands.

7. Alternative methods: text alerts and LED-indication

If your model doesn’t support voice functions but you’re interested in status notifications, consider alternatives:

• 📱 Push notifications: Set up alerts in Mi Home (Notifications section).The vacuum cleaner will send messages to the phone when cleaning is completed or errors are made.
• 💡 LED-Indication: On some models (for example, Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum) X10+) The color of the button changes depending on the status: 🔵 Blue is normal work. 🔴 Red is a mistake. 🟢 Green is full charge.
• 🔊 External speaker: Connect a Bluetooth column to the vacuum cleaner via Home Assistant and set up the event voicing.

To set up push notifications:

1. Open Mi Home → Select a vacuum cleaner → Settings → Notifications.
2. Turn on the options: ✅ «Cleaning complete» ✅ «Mistake» ✅ «Low battery charge»

Mi Home

FAQ: Frequent questions about voice functions of Xiaomi vacuum cleaners