Owners smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO are often faced with the dilemma of choosing between the built-in assistant Google Assistant and the one popular in the Russian-speaking segment Yandex by Alice. While Google does a great job of system management and internet search, Alice offers deeper integration with the Yandex ecosystem, including music, navigation and smart home. However, unlike some Chinese firmware, global versions of MIUI and HyperOS do not have a pre-installed button to call this particular assistant by default.
The process of activating voice control from Yandex on devices with the MIUI shell requires several specific settings that go beyond simply installing an application from the store. System restrictions Android and Xiaomi's aggressive battery saving policy may prevent the "Alice, turn on" feature from working correctly in the background. The user will have to not only install the software, but also correctly configure access rights so that the assistant responds to voice even from the screen off.
In this material we will analyze in detail all stages of integration: from downloading the current version of the application to fine-tuning activation triggers. You will learn how to bypass standard system limitations to make using the voice assistant as comfortable and fast as possible. The nuances of working with a smart home and possible conflicts with other services will also be considered.
Application installation and initial preparation
The first and most obvious step is to download the official client Yandex with a voice assistant inside. In most cases, it is enough to install the main application Yandex or a separate application Yandex with Alice from the store Google Play. After installation, you need to log into your account to synchronize your search history, music subscriptions and smart home settings.
However, just opening the application is not enough. For voice activation to function fully, you must grant a number of system permissions. Without them, the assistant will not be able to hear the command or launch the necessary service. Pay attention to the following items in the application settings:
- 🎤 Microphone: the permission must be set to “Always Allow” or “Only When Used” mode, depending on the Android version.
- 📍 Geolocation: necessary for the correct operation of navigation and searching for nearby points of interest by voice request.
- 📞 Phone and contacts: required if you plan to use Alice to make calls or search for callers in your address book.
- 🔔 Notifications: critical for displaying tips and the assistant's work status in the notification shade.
After granting all rights, it is recommended to immediately test the operation of the microphone by clicking on the microphone icon inside the application interface. If Alice responds by voice and understands the commands, then the basic installation was successful. Next comes a more difficult task - setting up automatic launch.
⚠️ Attention: On some Xiaomi models with MediaTek processors, there may be delays in activating the microphone upon first startup after rebooting the device. This is a feature of the drivers, and not an application error.
Setting up activation by voice command
The most popular feature is the ability to call the assistant with the phrase “Alice, turn on” without having to touch the screen. In the ecosystem Xiaomi the implementation of this function has its own characteristics due to the presence of its own Xiao AI assistant (in Chinese versions) or Google Assistant. To switch priority to Yandex, you need to go to the settings of the application itself.
Open the application Yandex, go to your profile (person icon or avatar) and select section Settings. Find item Voice functions or Voice activation. Here you will be asked to enable the option Activation in a word. The system will ask you to say the activation phrase several times to train the model to recognize your voice.
It is important to understand that for this function to work, the application must have the right to run in the background. Android, and in particular the MIUI shell, tends to freeze processes that are not directly used in order to save battery power. If this is not done, Alice will only respond when the application is open on the screen.
☑️ Setting up voice activation
It is also worth considering that constantly listening to the broadcast with a microphone may slightly increase energy consumption. Modern algorithms are Yandex optimized to minimize this influence, activating full audio processing only after a keyword is detected. However, on older smartphone models this may be noticeable.
Exclusion from MIUI battery optimization
This is the most critical stage for owners Xiaomi. MIUI's aggressive task manager mercilessly kills background processes, which causes Alice to stop responding to her voice 10-15 minutes after the screen turns off. To prevent this, you must manually add the application to the exclusion list.
Go to Settings smartphone, select the section Applications and find Yandexin the list. Go to item Activity control (or Battery saving). By default, the value is “Limited”. You need to change it to No restrictions. This will give the system a signal not to kill the assistant process.
Additionally, it is recommended to pin the application in memory. Open the menu of running applications (swipe up and hold or the menu button), find the Yandex window, hold it down and click on the lock icon. Now, when clearing memory with the “Cross” button or swiping, the application will not be closed.
| Action | Path to the MIUI menu | Required value |
|---|---|---|
| Battery saving | Settings → Applications → Yandex → Activity Control | No restrictions |
| Autostart | Settings → Applications → Permissions → Autostart | Enabled (green) |
| Display on top of others | Settings → Applications → Special. capabilities → Display on top | Allowed |
| Access to notifications | Settings → Notifications and status bar → Management | All categories enabled |
⚠️ Attention: The settings interface may differ depending on the version of MIUI (12, 13, 14) or the new HyperOS. If you don't find the "Activity Control" item, look for "Battery" inside the application card.
If you have Ultra Power Saving mode enabled, Alice will not work in the background regardless of the settings. Disable this mode for the assistant to work fully.
Integration with smart home and scenarios
One of the main advantages of using Alice on Android is the ability to control smart home devices Yandex. Xiaomi smartphones often act as a hub or control panel for light bulbs, sockets and household appliances. For correct operation, you need to link accounts.
In the application Yandex go to the section Devices and click the add button. Select the manufacturer of your devices (for example, Xiaomi Mi Home, Tuya, Aqara) and log in to your manufacturer account. After synchronization, all devices will appear in the list and will become available for voice control.
You can create complex scenarios. For example, with the command “Alice, I’m gone,” the phone can send geolocation, turn off the lights in the apartment via a smart socket and turn on Do Not Disturb mode. To do this, use the section Scenarios in the Yandex application.
It is worth noting that to manage some local Xiaomi devices, it is required that the phone and devices be on the same Wi-Fi network, or that the gateway is correctly configured in the cloud. Alice acts here as an interface that transmits a command to the Yandex server, which in turn sends a signal to the device.
What to do if the devices are not found?
Make sure that the devices are displayed and working in the manufacturer's application (Mi Home). Check if Yandex's access to the local network is blocked in the privacy settings of Android 12 and higher.
Solving common problems and conflicts
Users may encounter a situation where, when making a voice call, Google Assistant works instead of Alice, or vice versa, nothing works. This is a classic conflict between two active assistants. In Android, by default, only one default assistant can be assigned to handle long presses or voice commands from the screen off.
To assign Alice as the main assistant, go to Settings phone, then to Applications → App settings (three dots in the corner) → Default application → Assistant. In the list, select Yandex or Yandex with Alice. This will reassign the system button to call the assistant (if there is one) or the handling of some voice triggers.
Another common problem is a quiet voice or lack of sound. Check the media volume settings, and also make sure that in the Yandex application itself, in the section Voice settings the “Text Only” mode is not set. Sometimes clearing the application cache through the menu Storage in the smartphone settings helps.
⚠️ Attention: After updating the Android version (for example, from 13 to 14), permission settings may be reset to factory ones. Be sure to double-check the “No restrictions” item for the battery after a major system update.
The assistant conflict is resolved only through the Android system settings in the "Default Application" section; settings within Yandex itself will not help here.
Using widgets and alternative launch methods
If voice activation for some reason does not suit you or is unstable, you can always use visual controls. The Yandex application provides convenient widgets for the home screen that allow you to call Alice with one touch.
You can add a widget by holding down an empty space on the desktop and selecting Widgets. Find it in the list Yandex and select a widget with a microphone or a search bar. Place it in a convenient place. This guarantees instant launch of the assistant without delays associated with background work.
You can also use the function Search on the screen. On many Xiaomi smartphones, when you select text in any application, a pop-up menu appears where you can select “Find in Yandex” or “Ask Alice”. This speeds up the search for information without copying and pasting text into the browser.
For advanced users, it is possible to configure macros through the app MacroDroid or built-in MIUI automation tools. You can create a script: “When headphones are connected → Launch Alice.” This makes interaction with the voice assistant even more seamless.
Secret command
Try saying “Alice, show me a trick” to check if the entertainment skill is active, or “Alice, what phone number do I have” to make sure I have access to the device’s system information.
Why can’t Alice hear me with screen off?
Most often the problem is in the MIUI power saving settings. Make sure that the Yandex application is set to "No restrictions" in the activity control section and autorun is enabled. Also check if microphone access is disabled in lock mode.
Is it possible to completely disable Google Assistant after installing Alice?
Yes, you can disable the Google Assistant feature in the Google application settings. However, system integration of some functions (for example, dictation of text into input fields) can still use the Google engine, since it is more deeply embedded in the Android core.
Does Alice consume a lot of battery in the background?
When configured correctly (standby mode), consumption is minimal. The main load occurs only at the time of voice processing. If you notice a strong discharge, check if the microphone button in the interface is stuck or if the background download of updates is not working.
Does Alice work without the Internet on Xiaomi?
Basic commands, such as setting an alarm, timer or turning on a flashlight, can work offline if the appropriate language packs are downloaded. However, searching for information, navigation and managing a smart home require an active connection to the network.
How to change Alice's voice?
In the settings of the Yandex application, go to the “Voice” section. There you can choose from several voice models (for example, Iceberg, Eva, Zakhar). Some voices may only be available with a Yandex Plus subscription.