How to turn on Google Assistant on Xiaomi Redmi: full instructions with pictures and tips

Google Assistant on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones can make everyday tasks from setting an alarm clock to managing a smart home much easier. However, many users are faced with the problem of not being on the app list or not being activated by voice command on new or stitched devices, the reason lies in the features of the MIUI shell, where Google services are often disabled by default or replaced by branded counterparts (for example, XiaoAI).

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways Google Assistant can be enabled on Redmi Note 10/11/12, Redmi 9/10, and other models, from basic menu settings to ADB for advanced users, and focus on common errors (such as when Assistant doesn’t respond to “OK, Google”) and how to fix them. If your smartphone doesn’t support the official version of Assistant, find alternative solutions.

Compatibility Checker: Does your Redmi Google Assistant support?

Before you try to turn on the assistant, make sure your device meets the minimum requirements:

• 📱 Android version: 6.0 and above MIUI 12/13/14 Usually no problem, but there may be restrictions on old firmware).
• 🌍 Region: Google Assistant doesn't officially work in all countries.If your Redmi is bought in China, you may need to change your region in settings.
• 🔊 System language: Must be one of the supported (Russian, English, German, etc.) Check in Settings → Additionally. → Language and input.
• 📦 Google Services: The device must have Google Play Services and Google App installed (usually pre-installed, but may not be available on Chinese firmware).

If your Redmi doesn’t meet at least one item, go to the “Alternative Installation Ways” section. To check the Android version, go to Settings → About Phone → Android version.

Method 1: Enable via system settings (the easiest)

If Google Assistant is pre-installed but not activated, follow the following steps:

1. Open the settings on your Redmi.
2. Go to the Appendix section → Application management.
3. In the search bar, type in Google and select the Google app (not to be confused with the Google Play Store!).
4. Click Open → in the lower right corner tap the icon Assistant (mic icon).
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to adjust voice, language, and microphone access permission.

If there is no “Assistant” option, update the Google app through the Play Market or move on to the next method.

Method 2: Configure through the Google App

Sometimes the assistant is hidden in the main Google app.

1. Open the Google app (the colored "G" icon).
2. In the lower right corner, click on your profile icon.
3. Select Settings → Google Assistant.
4. Tap General Settings and turn on the Google Assistant switch.
5. Go back and select Voice to set up the “OK, Google” command.

If you don't have Google Assistant in your settings, it means that your firmware doesn't support the application, and then you can use ADB to install it.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI For example, the Redmi Note 10 Pro China ROM) Google services are removed completely, and this will require a global firmware or manual installation. GAPPS.

Method 3: Activate via voice command (if OK Google doesn't work)

If Google Assistant is installed but does not respond to voice, try the following steps:

• 🔄 Restart the Google app: Go to Settings → Annexes → Google → Forced stop, then reopen it.
• 🎤 Check the microphone: Make sure no other applications (e.g. XiaoAI) block access to the microphone.
• 📚 Voice Learning: In the assistant settings, select Voice Match and go through the process of learning the "OK, Google" command".
• 🔊 Turn off power saving: Add Google app to battery exclusion list (Settings) → Battery → Optimizing the battery).

If the assistant doesn't respond after this, check if it's off at the system level.

Settings → Special features → Hearing → Set up voice assistant

Make sure you choose Google Assistant here, not XiaoAI or another app.

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If OK, Google doesn’t work, try the alternative “Hey Google” command — it might work better on some firmware.

Method 4: Installation via ADB (for advanced users)

If Google Assistant is not available, it can be activated via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which works even on Chinese firmware, where Google services are disabled by default.

Important: This method will require a computer with ADB drivers installed and USB debugging enabled on your smartphone.

1. Turn on Developer Mode on Redmi: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (shap 7 times)
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
3. Connect your smartphone to your PC and execute in the command line: adb shell pm grant com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox android.permission.READ_PRIVILEGED_PHONE_STATE adb shell pm grant com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox android.permission.RECORD_AUDIO adb shell pm grant com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox android.permission.CAMERA
4. Reset the device.

After that, Google Assistant should appear in the list of applications. If not, install it manually through APKMirror (see the next section).

⚠️ Attention: Teams ADB They can disrupt the stability of the system if entered incorrectly. Before execution, back up your data through Settings. → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

Method 5: Manual APK installation (if no assistant is available)

On some MIUI firmware (especially in China), Google Assistant is removed completely, in which case it can be installed manually:

1. Download the latest version of Google App (with Assistant support) from APKMirror (choose for arm64 or universal).
2. Install. APK-File by allowing installation from unknown sources (Settings) → Annexes → Special access → Installation of unknown applications).
3. Once installed, open the Google app and follow the instructions in Method 2.

If the assistant does not start after installation, check:

• 📌 Google Play Services (Update via Play Market).
• 📌 Permissions for the Google App (Settings) → Annexes → Google → Permits).
• 📌 No regional restrictions (change region to US in Settings) → Additionally. → Language and region).

Method 6: Alternatives to Google Assistant on Xiaomi Redmi

If you can’t turn on Google Assistant, consider alternative assistants:

• 🤖 XiaoAI – Xiaomi’s proprietary assistant (works without Google services, but supports fewer features).
• 🌐 Alice from Yandex – integrates well with Russian-language services.
• 📱 Bixby (for Samsung) – if you have Samsung devices in the ecosystem.
• 💬 Siri (via Shortcuts) – for iPhone users, but with limited functionality on Android.

For Alice's installation:

1. Download the Yandex application with a browser from the Play Market.
2. Open it and click on the microphone icon in the search bar.
3. Follow the instructions for setting up the voice assistant.

XiaoAI is activated by holding the Home button for a long time (on some models) or via a widget on the home screen.

Typical errors and their solutions

Even after a successful Google installation, the Assistant may not work properly.

• 🔕 Assistant does not respond to voice: Check if the microphone is turned off in Settings → Confidentiality → Application authorizations → Microphone. Also make sure that the assistant settings have voice input enabled.
• 🌐 Not supported by your region: Change region to US or UK in Settings → Additionally. → Language and region. Then restart the device.
• 🔋 Assistant turns off after screen lock: Add Google app to battery optimization exceptions (Settings) → Battery → Optimizing the battery → All applications → Google → Not optimize).
• 📱 Google app is not in Play Market: This means Google services are removed on your device.Install them via Open GAPPS (You will need to unlock the loader).

If none of these methods worked, check to see if the antivirus or firewall is blocking the assistant's work, for example, MIUI has a built-in Virus Protection feature that can limit background activity on Google apps.

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Google Assistant is often absent on Chinese MIUI firmware due to Xiaomi's policy, with the only working solutions being global firmware or manual GAPPS installation.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Google Assistant on Redmi