Modern Xiaomi smartphones running on the Android operating system are equipped by default with Google’s intelligent assistant. For many users, it is an indispensable tool to control the device with a voice, set alarm clocks or search for information without typing. However, there are situations when the functionality becomes intrusive: accidental activation in your pocket, unwanted listening to a microphone or just irritation from a constantly pop-up interface.
Users often wonder if it is possible to completely deactivate this service so that it does not consume battery resources and interfere with the operation of other applications. Fortunately, the MIUI shell and the Android system itself provide flexible tools for managing the voice assistant. In this article, we will discuss all the available methods in detail, from simply turning off the hot button to completely blocking background activity.
It is worth noting that the configuration process can vary slightly depending on the firmware version and model of your device, whether it is a budget Redmi or flagship Xiaomi Mi. We will consider universal methods that are relevant for most current versions of the interface.
Disabling activation by power button
The most common way to call an assistant on Xiaomi smartphones is to press the power button for a long time, which is built into the system settings and is often enabled by default after a purchase or upgrade, and to remove this feature, you need to go to the corresponding menu section.
Go to the main settings of your device and find the button-related section. The path can vary: Settings → Additional Features → Buttons or Settings → Advanced Settings → Buttons. Here you need to find the item “Start Google Assistant” or “Voice input”, which is usually associated with the action “Hold 0.5 seconds”.
⚠️ Warning: After disabling this feature, a long press on the power button will stop calling voice search and return to standard behavior – calling the off menu or locking the screen, if your version provides for it. MIUI.
If you can't find the right switch, search by settings, type "Assistant" or "Buttons" into the search bar, and the system will tell you the right section, which is especially true for newer versions of MIUI 13 and MIUI 14, where the menu structure often changes.
In some regions or on global firmware versions, the item may be called Google Assistant and be under the Power button press and hold subsection. Make sure you select Nothing or Power Menu to avoid accidental launches.
Blocking voice activation "OK Google"
Even if you remove the button, the assistant can activate by voice command, the feature of constantly listening to the phrase "OK Google" or "Hey Google" works in the background, which may cause questions from users concerned about privacy, and you can only turn this option off through the Google app.
Open the Google app on your smartphone. Click on the profile avatar in the top right corner and select Settings. Then go to Google Assistant and look for the tab Hey Google and Voice Match. Here is the master switch for voice response.
- 🔹 Open the Google app on your device.
- 🔹 Go to the profile settings and select the "Assistant" section».
- 🔹 Find the “Hey Google” item and turn off the slider.
- 🔹 Confirm action if the system requests a confirmation of disconnection.
Once you do this, your smartphone will stop responding to voice commands in standby mode, but remember that if you use a Bluetooth headset or connected headphones, the feature may remain active for them if you don’t turn it off separately in your device settings.
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If you use multiple languages, make sure you turn off voice activation for each of them in the Voice Match settings, otherwise the Assistant may respond to commands in English, even if the primary language of the interface is Russian.
Management through the settings of the Assistant
Deeply customizing the assistant’s behavior allows you to limit its capabilities without even turning it off completely, and in the app’s settings menu, you can deny access to history, disable personalization, and remove access to the lock screen, making the service less “smart” but also less intrusive.
In the same Google Assistant settings menu, find the All Settings or Data and Personalization section, where you can turn off Personalization Results, which will prevent Google from using your search history and location to generate answers, which will significantly reduce the assistant's usefulness, making it virtually useless, but will leave it technically working.
| Setup parameter | Where to find out. | The effect of disconnection |
|---|---|---|
| Access from locked screen | Settings of the Assistant → Phone | The assistant will not turn on until the phone is locked. |
| Personalization | Google Settings → Data and Personalization | The answers will be general, without taking into account the context. |
| History of action | My Google activity. | Recording and storage of voice commands is stopped |
It's also a good idea to check the Phone section in the Assistant's settings, and you can find "Clocked Screen Access" where if you turn it off, no one can use your voice assistant without unlocking your smartphone, which is an important security measure to prevent access to personal information.
Restriction of background work and permits
If your goal is not just to hide the interface, but to completely stop the processes associated with the service, you need to intervene in the management of application permissions. Android allows you to forcibly stop applications and limit their operation in the background, which effectively “freezes” the functionality of the Assistant.
Go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Search Google (the main app, not Chrome or Play Market) and go inside and select Permissions. You have to revoke access to the microphone. Without the microphone, the voice assistant will not be able to hear you physically.
☑️ Checklist for full lockdown
⚠️ Warning: Disabling the microphone for the main Google app could disrupt voice input in the Gboard keyboard and Google search.Be prepared for the text-dictation feature to stop working.
Additionally, in the app menu, find the Stop or Force Stop button, which will temporarily shut down the service until the next reboot or system event. For more stringent control, you can use the Energy Saving mode for that particular application if your version of MIUI allows you to manage the power consumption of individual services.
Use of work and profile modes
There are special modes in the MIUI shell, such as Game, Sleep, or Read, that can automatically change the behavior of the system. Although there is no direct Unplug Assistant switch in Do Not Disturb mode, setting up this mode can help minimize interruptions.
Set up a schedule for Do Not Disturb. In this mode, notifications are hidden, but Assistant can still be voice activated. However, by combining this mode with Hey Google, you achieve maximum silence. Also check Pocket Mode settings in the Lock and Protect section so that the phone does not respond to touch and voice in your pocket.
For advanced users, it is possible to use ADB (Android Debug Bridge) to disable system components, but this requires a PC connection and the availability of appropriate drivers.
pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.googlequicksearchboxUsing this command turns the application into a system “brick” until it is activated back, a method that is not recommended for ordinary users, as it can lead to unstable work of the Google search bar on the desktop.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I remove Google Assistant from Xiaomi phone?
Why does the assistant turn on in his pocket?
Does the Assistant’s work affect battery consumption?
What if the settings are reset after the update?
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Completely disabling the Assistant requires a comprehensive approach: setting the power button, disabling the microphone and disabling voice activation in the Google profile.