Xiaomi Smart Column: What it Can Do and How to Use All Its Functions

Xiaomi’s smart speakers have long since ceased to be just music playback devices, and today they are full-fledged smart home control centers, personal assistants, and even entertainment platforms. 20-30% They are capable of doing this without knowing what these compact gadgets are capable of.

In this article, we will take a look at all the features of Xiaomi’s smart speakers, from basic to hidden. You will learn how to turn a device into a central smart home node, configure voice control, integrate third-party services and even use a speaker for security. And also compare the Mi Smart Speaker, Xiaomi Smart Speaker Pro and Redmi Smart Speaker models so you can choose the best option for your tasks.

1. Voice assistant XiaoAI: what he really knows

The heart of any Xiaomi smart speaker is the XiaoAI voice assistant (often called Alice in Russia, but that’s not exactly correct), it understands Chinese and English, and for Russian-speaking users is available through integration with Yandex Alice or Google Assistant (on some models), but even without Russian, the functionality is impressive.

The main features of XiaoAI:

• 🎵 Music Management: Playing tracks with Mi Music, QQ Music, NetEase Cloud Music, and Bluetooth connectivity to your smartphone.
• 🏠 Smart home control: lights on/off, air conditioning temperature adjustment, robot vacuum cleaner control and other Mi Home devices.
• ⏰ Timers and reminders: you can set an alarm clock, remind about the meeting or create a schedule for irrigation of plants.
• 📡 Informational queries: weather forecast, exchange rates, news (in Chinese).

Important: XiaoAI does not support Russian directly, but there are workarounds, for example, you can link a column to Google Home via Mi Home App. → The device → Settings → Voice assistant and use Google Assistant for Russian-speaking teams. or configure Yandex Alice through Yandex Station (if it is in your ecosystem).

⚠️ Note: When linked to Google Assistant, some Xiaomi smart home features may not work smoothly. For example, commands for the Mi Robot Vacuum robot vacuum cleaner are sometimes ignored. → Smart home. → Compatibility.

2. Smart home management: how a column replaces a remote

Xiaomi’s smart speaker could become a central node for all devices in the Mi Home ecosystem, supporting more than 200 controls+ And there's a nuance in things like Yeelight light bulbs to gas leak sensors:

What can you control by voice:

• 💡 Lighting: turn on/off lights, change brightness or color (for RGB-Example of a command: “XiaoAI, set the living room light to warm white at 50% brightness".
• 🌡️ Climate: set the temperature on the Mi Air Conditioner or turn on the Mi Smart Heater.
• 🧹 Robot vacuum cleaners: start cleaning, return to base, or set a cleaning zone (e.g., "XiaoAI, ask the robot to clean the kitchen").
• 🚪 Security Sensors: Get Status of Motion Sensors, Door Openings, or Gas Leaks.

To set up, you need:

1. Make sure all devices are added to the Mi Home App and are on the same Wi-Fi network as the speaker.
2. In the Mi Home app go to Profile → Settings → Voice control and activate the option.
3. Check that devices are added to the same room (such as the Living Room), or voice commands may not work.

Hidden feature: you can create automation scenarios that will be triggered by voice, for example, the command "XiaoAI, good night" can simultaneously turn off the lights, close the curtains of the Mi Smart Curtain, turn on the night light and set the alarm at 7:00.

1. Open the Mi Home App → Automation → Create a script.
2. Select the trigger voice command.
3. Add the necessary actions (for example, turn off the Yeelight lamp).
4. Keep the script under a clear name (e.g. Goodnight).

Music and Sound: How to Get the Most from the Speakers

The sound quality in Xiaomi smart speakers depends on the model. For example, Xiaomi Smart Speaker Pro has two speakers of 12 watts and a passive radiator for deep bass, while Redmi Smart Speaker is limited to one speaker at 5 watts.

Music sources supported by the column:

How to improve sound:

• 🎛️ Equator: Mi Home App allows you to adjust bass and high frequencies (Device) → Sound settings → equalizer).
• 🔊 Stereopara: Two Xiaomi Smart Speaker Pro speakers can be linked to a stereo system via Settings → Sound. → stereopara.
• 📱 Mobile app: Use Mi Home or Xiaomi for fine-tuning AI Speaker App (available in Chinese).

💡

If the "Suddenly began to play quietly", check if the "Night Mode" is enabled in the Mi Home app. This mode automatically reduces the volume after 22:00.

Hidden Opportunity: On XiaoAI models, you can turn on karaoke mode. To do this, say "XiaoAI, open karaoke mode" (only works with a connected microphone via Aux or Bluetooth), the sound will be processed to remove vocals from the tracks.

4.Security and privacy: what you need to know

Smart speakers always listen to ambient sounds to hear an activation command (e.g., "Hey XiaoAI"), which is a concern for users, and let's look at how Xiaomi protects data and what can be done to make it more secure.

What the column records:

• 🎤 Voice commands: only after a trigger word (e.g., "XiaoAI"). Before that, the device analyzes the sound locally.
• 📡 Logs of use: turn on time, connected devices, errors (sent to Xiaomi servers).
• 📍 Location: Only if you have given permission in the Mi Home App.

How to protect your data:

1. Turn off voice command history in Mi Home App → Profile → Privacy settings → The history of voice commands.
2. Use guest mode (if available) to restrict access to personal data.
3. Regularly update the column firmware – new versions close vulnerabilities.

⚠️ Note: If you use a speaker to manage your smart home, avoid voice commands with sensitive information (e.g., “XiaoAI, tell me my Wi-Fi password.

Interesting fact: Xiaomi Smart Speaker Pro has a physical microphone switch on the back, and if you turn it off, the speaker completely stops listening to the surrounding sounds (but voice commands won’t work either).

5 Hidden functions: what is not written in the instructions

Beyond the obvious features, Xiaomi’s smart speakers have a few hidden chips that can be activated via the Mi Home App or voice commands.

Top.-5 undocumented possibilities:

• 📻 FM-Radio: Some models (e.g. Xiaomi Mi Smart Speaker Art) can be listened to FM-The command "XiaoAI, open" is activated. FM radio".
• 🎮 Games: built-in voice games (e.g., "guess the melody" or "quiz") Teams: "XiaoAI, let's play a game".
• 📖 Audiobooks: Integration with Chinese Ximalaya services FM qingting FM. Works through VPN.
• 🔄 Wi-Fi Repeater Mode: The column can amplify the network signal (configured in the Mi Home App) → The device → Network settings).
• 📅 Sync with Google Calendar: If you link a column to Google Assistant, it will voice reminders from the calendar.

Another useful feature is the Do Not Disturb mode, which turns off all audible notifications (alarm clocks, reminders) at a given time.

Mi Home App → Device → Settings → Do not disturb mode

You can set a schedule (for example, from 23:00 to 7:00) or manually turn on the voice command: "XiaoAI, enable do not disturb mode."

6. Model comparison: which Xiaomi column to choose

Xiaomi’s lineup features several smart speakers, varying in price, sound and functionality, and below is a comparison table of current models (2026).

Which model should I choose?

• 💰 Budget up to 3,000 ₽: Redmi Smart Speaker – suitable for voice control of a smart home, but the sound is mediocre.
• 🎶 Music and Smart Home: Xiaomi Mi Smart Speaker – Best Price/Quality Balance.
• 🎤 Karaoke and powerful sound: Xiaomi Smart Speaker Pro is perfect for parties.
• 🎨 Design and premium sound: Xiaomi Mi Smart Speaker Art – for lovers of style and audiophiles.

💡

If you need a speaker solely for managing a smart home, take a Redmi Smart Speaker – it is cheaper, and the functionality of the XiaoAI is the same as the older models.

7 Problems and Solutions: What to Do When the Column Doesn't Work

Even the most reliable devices sometimes get bugged, and here are the most common problems with Xiaomi smart speakers and how to solve them.

Top.-5 malfunctions and fixes:

If the column is not included at all:

1. Check the power supply (must be original, 5V/2A).
2. Hold the Reset button for 10 seconds to reset completely.
3. Connect to another power source (e.g. power bank).
4. If it does not help, contact the service (the warranty for Xiaomi speakers is 12 months).

⚠️ Note: When you reset, the column will lose all stored Wi-Fi networks and smart home bindings. Save screenshots of settings in the Mi Home App in advance to quickly restore configuration.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions