Google Assistant on Xiaomi: How to enable, configure and use

Why Google Assistant doesn’t work out of the box on Xiaomi?

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face the fact that Google’s voice assistant is either missing or malfunctioning, the reason lies in the company’s policy: by default, devices come with a MIUI-branded shell, where priority is given to its own assistant Xiao AI (in China), or Google’s services are disabled on some models for Asian markets. Even if Google Assistant is installed, it can be hidden in settings or blocked due to regional restrictions.

The second common problem is the Mi Voice Assistant, which automatically intercepts voice commands. For example, holding the Home button or saying "OK, Google" may trigger the wrong assistant. The solution requires not only turning on the Google Assistant, but also setting the system priorities correctly. In this article, we will discuss all the activation methods, from basic to advanced, taking into account the features of different versions of MIUI (including MIUI 14 and HyperOS).

It is important to understand: the process may differ depending on:

• 📱 Smartphone models (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Pro vs Redmi Note 12)
• 🌍 Firmware regions (global, Chinese, European)
• 🔄 Versions MIUI/HyperOS (starting MIUI 12.5 The logic of the settings has changed)
• 🔓 Root rights (some methods require unlocking the bootloader)

Compatibility Checker: Does your Xiaomi support Google Assistant?

Before you start setting up, make sure your device is theoretically capable of working with Google Assistant.

If your device doesn’t meet one point, the next steps may not work, for example, on Chinese firmware (China ROM), Google services are often absent initially, and you will have to install them manually via APK or reflash your phone.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi models for the Indian market (e.g. Redmi 9 Prime), Google Assistant may be disabled due to local agreements with other voice assistants, in which case only a change in the firmware region will help.

Method 1: Enable Google Assistant through MIUI settings

The easiest method is to activate the assistant via the standard menu, which is suitable for most global firmware MIUI 12.5-HyperOS.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the search bar, type in Google and select the Google app (not Google Play Services!).
3. Tap Open by default → Assistant and voice input.
4. Turn on the Google Assistant switch and follow the on-screen prompts (you will need to configure the voice model).

After activation, check the work:

• 🎤 Say “OK Google” (if voice control is enabled).
• 🖱️ Hold the Home button (on some models – swipe from the bottom corner).

Update Google App to Play Market|Check your internet connection|Make sure the microphone is not blocked for Google app|Reboot your phone after the changes-->

If the Assistant and voice input are not in the settings, it means:

• 🔄 Your firmware doesn’t support Google Assistant out of the box (you need method 2 or 3).
• 🔧 Google App Installs incorrectly (Reinstall it via Play Market).

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If the Assistant doesn’t respond to voice commands after turning on Google, go to Google Settings → Voice Search → Voice Match and retrain the model to your voice.

Method 2: Install Google Assistant via ADB (for power users)

If the standard method doesn’t work, you can force the assistant to activate via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a method that is suitable for firmware where Google Assistant is locked at the system level but physically present in files.

You'll need:

• 🖥️ Computer with drivers installed ADB and Fastboot.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on a smartphone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times tap the version, then go back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔌 USB-TypeC Cable (preferably original).

Steps:

1. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.
2. Open the command line (cmd) and enter:

adb shell


pm grant com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox android.permission.READ_PRIVILEGED_PHONE_STATE




pm grant com.google.android.apps.googleassistant android.permission.READ_PRIVILEGED_PHONE_STATE




settings put secure assistant com.google.android.apps.googleassistant/.velvet.VelvetActivity




settings put secure voice_interaction_service com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox/com.google.android.apps.gsa.staticplugins.opa.OpaActivity

After you execute the commands, restart the device. Google Assistant should appear in the default settings.

⚠️ Note: On some models (POCO F4 GT, Xiaomi 12T) after ADB-Commands may require manual installation APK-Google Assistant Go (available on sites like APKMirror) Use only verified sources!

Method 3: Flashing to the global version of MIUI (extreme case)

If previous methods have failed, and Google Assistant is critical, consider changing firmware to Global ROM, which is true for Chinese ROM devices where Google services are not available initially.

Warnings before firmware:

• 🔓 You will need to unlock the bootloader, which will reset all data.
• 🛠️ Risk of “bricking” the device in case of errors (especially on the POCO X3 Pro and the like).
• ⚖️ Loss of warranty if the device is new.

Step-by-step:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the official Mi Unlock Tool (requires a binding Mi Account and wait 7-15 days).
2. Download global firmware for your model from en.miui.com (select Fastboot ROM).
3. Use the Mi Flash Tool to install firmware in clean all mode.

On models with a MediaTek chipset (such as the Redmi Note 11), IMEI manual recovery through tools like Maui META may be required after firmware is installed.

Setting up Google Assistant after turning on

Once you've successfully activated the assistant, you need to optimize it for your needs.

To improve recognition:

• 🎙️ Repeat voice training in a quiet room.
• 📶 Connect to Wi-Fi (Recognition works better on a stable Internet).
• 🔊 Turn off power saving for Google app (Settings) → Battery → Energy consumption of applications).

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On HyperOS models (such as Xiaomi 14), Google Assistant may conflict with Xiaomi AI. To avoid this, disable Xiao AI in the application settings.

Solving common problems

Even after successful setup, users are faced with typical errors, and here's how to fix them:

Problem 1: Google Assistant doesn’t respond to “OK, Google.”

• 🔇 Check if the microphone is switched off in Settings → Confidentiality → Application authorizations → Microphone.
• 📱 Reinstall updates for Google app in Play Market.
• 🔄 Reset the Assistant Settings: Google Settings → Assistant → General. → Reset the settings.

Problem 2: Xiao AI is running instead of Google Assistant.

• 🚫 Shut down Xiao. AI In Settings → Annexes → Application management → Xiao AI (button).
• 🔧 Assign Google Assistant as the default application for voice commands (see Method 1).

Problem 3: Google Assistant is not supported on your device.

• 🌐 Make sure the region in your smartphone settings is not China (Settings) → Additionally. → Language and region).
• 📦 Delete the cache and data of the Google application (Settings) → Annexes → Google → Warehouse).

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If after all the manipulations Google Assistant still does not work, try to create a new user in the settings Android (Settings → System → Multiplayer mode) and set up the assistant below it.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Google Assistant on Xiaomi