Modern smartphones, including the flagship Xiaomi Mi9, feature a host of smart features designed to make life easier for the user, including Google Assistant, a voice assistant that can search for information, run apps and manage a smart home, but not everyone likes it when the phone responds to voice commands or random button presses.
Often, Mi9 owners are faced with a situation where the assistant activates on its own, blocking the screen and interfering with work. This can be due to the sensitivity of the microphone or the configuration of the MIUI shell. If you want to regain full control of the device and get rid of intrusive prompts, you need to perform several sequential actions in the system.
In this article, we will take a closer look at all the ways to deactivate the voice assistant, look at the standard Android settings, Xiaomi specific settings, and even touch on energy savings that are directly dependent on the background activity of Google services.
Why to turn off the voice assistant on Android
Many users don’t realize that the constantly active microphone and background processes of Google Assistant consume the resources of the device. On the Xiaomi Mi9, despite the powerful processor, the extra load can affect autonomy. Disabling the assistant is the first step to optimize the system if you do not use voice input.
There are also privacy issues: Voice assistant constantly listens to key activation phrases, which causes some users to worry about listening to private conversations, blocking this feature eliminates the possibility of accidentally activating a recording or transmitting data to the company’s servers.
- 📉 Reducing battery consumption by stopping background processes.
- 🔒 Improving personal privacy and data security.
- 🚫 Avoiding accidental launches when carried in a pocket or bag.
It is worth noting that a complete shutdown may be necessary in case of conflicts with other applications. Sometimes system services may incorrectly interact with the assistant, causing interface lags, in which case deactivation is an effective diagnostic method.
Basic settings through the Google app
The safest and most effective way to limit the functionality of the Assistant is to use the official Google app, where the main switches that control the behavior of the Google Assistant are located. To start, open the list of installed applications and find the icon with the letter "G".
Once you start the application, you need to go to the user profile, which is usually located at the top right of the screen, and in the menu that opens, you need to select Settings, and then you need to find the Google Assistant section, and that's where all the key parameters are concentrated.
☑️ Checking Google Settings
Inside the Assistant settings section, you're interested in the All Assist settings tab, or just the Assistant tab, and you're going to scroll down to Phone or Devices, and if you click on that, you'll see the Google Assistant switch, and if you turn it off, you'll stop the system from responding to voice commands.
It's important to understand that this action doesn't remove the service completely, it's just disables activation. System processes will continue to work, but they will stop responding to the word "OK, Google" or the long press of a button, which is the best option for those who want to keep the search functionality but remove voice control.
Disabling the activation of the power button on MIUI
Owners of Xiaomi Mi9 often find that the assistant starts with a long press of the power button. This is standard behavior for modern versions of Android and the MIUI shell. To change this logic, you need to go to the system settings of the smartphone.
Open Settings and search for settings by type in the word "button" or "power." You need a button or power button section. In some firmware versions, this path may look like Additional → Buttons. Here is a critical switch.
⚠️ Note: On different versions MIUI This item may be different. If you didn't find it right away, use the search bar at the top of the settings menu to type in "Google Assistant».
Find the setting Start Google Assistant (or “Long-Tap for Assistant”). By default, it is active. You need to switch it to the Off Menu mode or just turn off the function. After that, a long press of the power button will cause the reboot and turn off menus, which is much more useful in everyday use.
If you accidentally press a button in your pocket, the phone will no longer listen to your commands.This also prevents battery drain in your pocket, as the screen and microphone will not activate without your knowledge.For the Xiaomi Mi9, this is especially true given the lack of a separate physical button for the assistant.
Managing permissions and microphone access
A more radical but effective method is to restrict the app's access rights, you can prevent Google Assistant from using a microphone, and without audio input, voice control becomes technically impossible, even if the feature itself is formally enabled.
To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All Apps. Go to Google or Google Assistant. Go to App Permissions (or Permissions) and see the list of rights you have requested.
| Permission | Current status | Recommended action |
|---|---|---|
| Microphone | Permitted. | Banned |
| Location | Permitted. | Only when used |
| Contacts | Permitted. | Leave (for calls) |
| Camera. | Requested. | Banned |
By disabling the microphone, you're guaranteed voice input, but it's worth remembering that it will also disable dictation in Gboard and voice search in Chrome if they're using the same system gateway, so this is only suitable for those who have completely abandoned voice technology.
What happens when the microphone is turned off?
Impact on autonomy and productivity
One of the hidden benefits of disabling the assistant is improved energy efficiency. - Xiaomi Mi9 equipped with a battery capacity of 3300 mAh, which is for a modern smartphone with a bright AMOLED-The screen is the average. Any background activity affects the operating time.
The constant wait for the "OK, Google" command keeps the processor and DSP (Digital Signal Processor) on high alert. Although modern Snapdragon chipsets are energy efficient, combined with other factors, it has a tangible effect.
- 🔋 Increase the screen time on the 5-10% standby.
- ❄️ Reducing the heat of the processor in idle mode.
- 🚀 Freeing RAM for other applications.
Users who have tested Mi9 with Google services disabled report more stable gaming experience, because the system does not interrupt gameplay with background status updates or contextual prompts.
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For maximum energy savings, also turn off the Google Cast function in the assistant settings if you are not using it to display the image on the TV.
Alternative solutions and replacement of functionality
If you’ve disabled Google Assistant but lack some features, consider alternatives: MIUI’s shell has its own voice assistant, Mi AI (though limited in global versions), and third-party apps from the Play Market store can also be used.
You can use separate applications from device manufacturers, such as Home Assistant or apps from Yandex and Amazon, to manage your smart home, and they often work more stable and do not require constant activation of the Android system assistant.
It is enough to deactivate its functions, as described above.
⚠️ Note: Do not attempt to remove Google system apps through ADB or third-party utilities, if you are not an experienced user, which can lead to unstable system operation and account synchronization errors.
So, the right setup allows you to find a balance between convenience and control. You can leave useful search features, but disable annoying voice activation. This makes using the Xiaomi Mi9 more predictable and comfortable.
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The optimal strategy is not to remove the service, but to prohibit button activation and access to the microphone, saving text search.