How to turn off the voice assistant on the Xiaomi TV

Modern Xiaomi TVs powered by Android TV or Google TV feature a host of smart features, with voice control central to the game. Google Assistant allows you to search for content, manage your smart home and switch channels at the touch of a button on the remote, but for many users, this feature becomes intrusive, especially when random tapping causes a sudden turn on of the microphone or the appearance of a widget on the screen.

The question of how to completely disable the voice assistant is relevant not only for those who appreciate the silence of the interface, but also for users who are worried about privacy. Xiaomi Mi TV and Redmi TV often have a dedicated button for the assistant, which can not be reassigned by software without special tricks. In this article, we will discuss all available methods to limit the activity of the smart assistant.

It’s worth noting that the system integration of Google services into the TV firmware is deep, and you can’t cut the assistant completely without root rights or flashing. However, there are effective ways to minimize its presence, disable listening and remove visual elements. Complete removal of the Google Assistant system application is impossible without disrupting the operating system.

Privacy and activity settings of the assistant

The first step to limiting functionality is to disable listening and action history, which doesn't remove the button from the remote, but it makes the assistant "deaf" and stop collecting data about your queries, and you need to go to the settings of your Google account directly on your TV or through a mobile device associated with the TV.

Open the Settings menu → Apps → See all apps and find Google Assistant. It is important to turn off microphone access if this option is available in your firmware version. Deeper customization is done through the web interface or the Google Home app on your smartphone, where you can delete the entire history of voice commands.

It is also recommended to turn off the Hey Google feature (okay, Google) so that the TV stops responding to voice commands in standby mode, which will significantly reduce the likelihood of accidental activation when you are talking next to the TV.

• 🔒 Go to your Google account settings and select “Data and Personalization».
• 🎙️ Find the Voice Control section and turn off activity.
• 🗑️ Select the option “Delete voice command history” to clean up the accumulated data.
• 📵 Disable the Google app’s access to the microphone in the Android permissions section.

⚠️ Disabling voice command history may reduce the accuracy of speech recognition in the future if you decide to use search again, as algorithms will not be able to adapt to your accent.

Once you do this, the assistant will remain in the system, but will no longer be an active listener, a basic level of protection that every smart TV owner should be advised to do immediately after buying.

Disabling the Google Assistant widget on the home screen

One of the most annoying features of the Android TV shell is the persistent voice search widget that takes up space on the home screen. Depending on the firmware version (MIUI for TV or pure Android TV, the process may be different. In newer versions of Google TV, this element is often integrated into the search bar and not removed by standard means.

However, if you have an older version of the interface or a specific regional firmware, you can try to hide the recommendation line. To do this, go to Settings → Device and Preferences → Home Screen. The option to disable the display of Google Assistant cards is sometimes available here.

If standard methods fail to hide an item, you can try to reorder the lines on the home screen by lowering the search bar to the bottom, although on many models this action is blocked by the developer. The alternative is to install a third-party launcher, such as FLauncher or ATV Launcher, which completely replaces the standard interface and does not have a built-in assistant.

• 📺 Go to the main screen settings via the profile menu.
• 📉 Try disabling the display of the “Recommendations” and “Search” cards».
• 🔄 Consider installing a third-party launcher from the Google Play Store.
• ⚙️ In some models, resetting the main screen settings in the application menu helps.

Using a third-party launcher is a radical but effective way to completely change the interface, making it minimalistic and devoid of any reminders of the voice assistant.

Blocking methods via ADB (for advanced users)

For those who are not afraid of the command line, there is a more powerful way to deactivate Google Assistant components. Using ADB (Android Debug Bridge) debugging allows you to force the system packets responsible for voice control to stop or disable, which requires connecting your TV and computer to the same Wi-Fi network.

First, you need to activate the developer mode. Go to Settings. → About TV and quickly click 7 times on "Build number". After the message "You became a developer" go to the menu "For developers" and turn on "Debug on the Internet". USB». Remember. IP-TV address that is displayed on the network.

On a computer connected to the same network, open the terminal or command line and enter the connection command: adb connect IP_AREZ TELEVISOR:5555. Once the connection is successful, you can use commands to disable the packets. For example, the adb shell pm disable-user command --user 0 com.google.android.apps.chromecast.app may limit the functionality associated with the broadcast and assistant, but be careful: disabling critical system components can lead to unstable operation.

⚠️ Warning: Do not disable packages with Google Play Services or Framework in their names unless you are sure of their purpose.

To return changes, use the adb shell pm enable command. PACKAGE_NAME. This method gives the most control, but requires technical literacy and an understanding of the structure of Android.

Restriction of microphone operation at the remote level

The physical button on the remote is the main trigger for the assistant activation. On Xiaomi and Redmi remotes, it is usually located next to the power or navigation button. Unfortunately, it is not possible to programmatically reassign this button to another action (for example, starting Netflix) with regular means.

There's a physical way to solve this problem: carefully extracting the contact pad of the microphone button from the remote body, which requires disassembling the remote, which deprives you of accessory warranty, but ensures that the assistant never turns on by accident, but there are software crutches.

You can use button remappers available from the Google Play Store for Android TV, such as Button Mapper. Although they often can’t intercept the Google system button, some firmware versions manage to create a macro that, when you press the assistant button, performs a “nothing” action or switches focus.

• 🛠️ Consider carefully disassembling the remote for physical disabling of contact.
• 📲 Try installing the Button Mapper app from the app store.
• 🔍 Check if your model supports system button reassignment.
• 📱 Use your smartphone as a remote control through the Mi Remote app, where there is no microphone button.

Using a smartphone as a remote is a convenient temporary option, allowing you to completely ignore the physical voice search button on the original remote.

Comparison of models and firmware versions

The behavior of the voice assistant and the ability to disable it depend heavily on the specific TV model and regional firmware version. Global ROMs usually have deeper integration with Google services, while Chinese versions (CN ROMs) that are re-flashed on the global may behave differently.

The table below compares the limitations of the assistant on different Xiaomi device lines:

As you can see from the table, owners of devices based on Google TV (new shell) have the most difficult to get rid of voice search elements, as they are a fundamental part of the new interface.

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If you have a PatchWall TV, try switching the region to India or Singapore, where more detailed settings for disabling advertising and voice services are often available.

Frequent problems after disconnecting services

Users who take drastic measures to shut down voice services may face a number of side effects: Because Google’s ecosystem is tied to unified services, disabling one component may affect the work of others, such as voice typing on YouTube or Netflix searches.

You may also experience errors when you run apps that require you to check licenses through Google Play Services. In some cases, the TV may start to run slower, trying to constantly start the disabled service in the background. If you notice a strong performance drop, you better return the settings to their original settings.

Another problem is that you can’t use the Cast function from your phone, as it often depends on the same services as the voice assistant, so before a global shutdown, you should weigh the pros and cons by determining which features are your priority.

• 📉 Slowing down the interface due to service cycling errors.
• 🚫 Refusing applications that require Google Services Framework.
• 📡 Problems with the broadcast of the screen from the smartphone (Chromecast built-in).
• 🔄 Difficulties with system updates through OTA future.

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The optimal solution is not to completely remove services, but to limit their access rights and hide visual elements through third-party launchers.

Questions and Answers (FAQ)