Owners of smartphones Xiaomiusing Yandex.Browser as the main tool for surfing often encounter intrusive behavior of the voice assistant Alice. The integration has become so deep that accidentally pressing a button or activating the screen leads to the launch of a dialogue, which irritates many users who prefer silence and control over the device.
The problem is aggravated by the fact that standard settings inside the application do not always allow you to completely deactivate function, especially when it comes to launching through the lock button or system gestures MIUI. In this article, we will look at all possible methods, from simple switches in the menu to radical solutions through the Android system settings.
You will learn how to prevent the assistant from running in the background, disable voice activation and return the power button to its normal mode. We will look at the nuances of the interface of different versions of the shell MIUI and the browser itself so that the instructions are as universal as possible.
Basic setup inside the Yandex.Browser application
The first and most logical step is to check the internal settings of the browser itself. Developers regularly change the location of menu items, but the main functionality for managing the assistant is usually hidden in the profile configuration section.
First, you need to open the settings menu by clicking on the three dots in the lower or upper corner of the screen (depending on the interface version). Find the section Settings and scroll the list to the block associated with the voice assistant. There is often a switch here Voice assistant, which is responsible for responding to commands.
In some versions of the software you need to go deeper into the subsection Alice. If you want to keep the search functionality, but remove voice guidance, disable the option Voice input. This will prevent the microphone from being activated by accidental touches, but will leave the possibility of text communication.
Please note that completely removing the assistant from the browser through the standard menu may not be available, since Yandex positions Alice as a key feature of its product. In this case, we move on to more detailed system settings.
⚠️ Attention: After updating the Yandex.Browser application, the settings may be reset to factory settings. Check this section periodically to make sure that Alice has not automatically activated again.
Disabling the launch of Alice with the power button on Xiaomi
One of the most common complaints from users Xiaomi is that long pressing the screen lock button does not bring up the shutdown menu, but the voice assistant. This behavior is controlled by the system shell MIUIand not by the browser itself.
To return the power button to its direct function, you need to go to the system settings of your smartphone. Follow the path Settings → Advanced settings → Buttons and gestures (in new versions of MIUI the path may differ: Settings → Advanced → Buttons).
Find item Launch the voice assistant. By default, Yandex or Google can be selected. Change the value to No or Not assigned. This action will break the connection between the physical key press and the software launch of the assistant.
If there is no option to disable it in the list, try selecting another assistant, for example, Google Assistant, and then disabling it in Google settings. Sometimes this workaround helps the system “forget” the link to Yandex.
☑️ Checking the button settings. power
It is worth noting that on global versions of firmware MIUI Global this item may be called differently or may be missing altogether. In such cases, you should look for the settings in the section Home screen or use the search for settings by entering the query "assistant".
Manage permissions and access to the microphone
Even if you have disabled launch by button, Alice can be activated when you open the browser or by the voice command "Listen, Yandex". data-i="88">. Find data-i="89">in the list and click on it. Go to the subsection
Go to your smartphone settings and select the section Applications. Find in the list Yandex.Browser and click on it. Go to subsection Application permissions. Here you will see a list of all the rights that the app has.
Find the item Microphone and change the permission to Deny or Ask. This is a critical action: without access to the microphone, voice activation becomes physically impossible, regardless of the settings within the application.
| Permission type | Recommended value | Consequences of the change |
|---|---|---|
| Microphone | Disable | Voice input does not work |
| Notifications | Allow (optional) | You see the news, but do not hear Alice |
| Autostart | Deny | The browser does not start on its own after a reboot |
| On top of other windows | Block | Assistant pop-up windows are blocked |
In addition to the microphone, it is recommended to check the resolution on Autostart. If you prevent the browser from starting automatically, the likelihood of accidentally activating Alice's background services will be significantly reduced.
If you use a navigator with voice search, completely blocking the microphone for the browser will not affect the operation of other applications, since permissions are granted individually for each app.
Disabling widgets and the desktop Yandex desktop
Often the source of problems is not the browser itself, but widgets or a separate Yandex application with a desktop, which is pre-installed on many smartphones Xiaomi. It duplicates the assistant functions directly on the main screen.
Check your desktop for widgets with the Yandex logo or search bar. A long press on such a widget will allow you to select an option Delete. This will remove the quick access interface to Alice from your screen.
If you have a separate application installed Yandex (not a browser, but an application with a news feed), go to its settings. There is often a switch Voice assistant or Alicethat can be deactivated separately from the browser.
Owners of devices with deep integration of Yandex services may encounter the fact that the assistant is built into the launcher. In this case, try changing the theme or launcher to a third-party one (for example, Nova Launcher), which will completely eliminate Yandex system widgets from working.
⚠️ Attention: Deleting widgets does not delete the application itself. If you want to completely get rid of the ecosystem, you will need to delete the APK file, which may require root access or disabling via ADB.
Radical measures: disabling via ADB and hidden menus
For advanced users who want to be sure to get rid of the intrusive service, there is a method of disabling the component via USB debugging. This method requires connecting your smartphone to your computer.
You will need to enable the mode USB Debugging in the "For Developers" menu. Then, after connecting your phone to your PC, use the ADB console utility. The command to disable the Alice component is as follows:
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.yandex.voiceThis command puts the voice assistant package into a "frozen" state for the current user. Alice will no longer start up, consume the battery, or appear in the list of applications. However, you cannot completely remove it without root access.
To return everything as it was, use the command with replacement disable-user to enable. Be careful: disabling system components may affect the operation of other Yandex services, such as search or maps, if they depend on the general voice module.
Risks of using ADB
Incorrectly entering commands can lead to unstable system operation. Always copy commands from trusted sources and do not disable Android system processes (com.android.*), only third-party applications.
Why does Alice turn on by itself and how to fix it
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the assistant is activated for no apparent reason: the phone is lying on the table, and suddenly the screen with Alice lights up. This may be due to the function Active screen or microphone sensitivity.
Check the settings in the section Lock screen. Disable options like "Raise to Wake" or "Double Tap to Wake" if they correlate with launching the Assistant. On some models Xiaomi there is a “Hey Google” function, which conflicts with a similar function of Yandex.
The headset or headphones may also be the culprit. If the sound control button is set to "Call Assistant", an accidental press will wake up Alice. Go to the Bluetooth device settings and reassign the button action to control music.
If the problem occurs only when charging is connected, check the settings Accessibility. Some automation scripts can launch applications when the power state changes.
The most common reason for unauthorized launch is a conflict between the system power button and the settings within the application. It can be solved by sequentially disabling it in both places.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to remove Alice completely without losing browser data?
Complete removal of a system component is impossible without root access. However, disabling it through permissions settings or ADB effectively stops it from working, keeping history, bookmarks and passwords safe.
Why are the settings reset after rebooting the phone?
This could be due to aggressive battery optimization in MIUI, which “kills” processes, or due to synchronization with a Yandex cloud account. Try pinning the settings in the Autorun menu and disabling synchronization of browser settings.
Does disabling Alice affect the operation of Yandex.Maps and Navigator?
No, these are different applications with independent modules. Disabling the voice assistant in the browser will not affect voice guidance in navigation applications, unless you have globally blocked access to the microphone for all Yandex applications.
How to disable Alice if it is built into the Xiaomi firmware for China?
In the Chinese versions of the firmware, the integration is deeper. It is recommended to reflash the device to the Global version or use the ADB method to freeze the package com.yandex.voice, since standard switches may be missing.