How to permanently disable Google Assistant on Xiaomi Mi 9: 5 proven ways

Google Assistant on Xiaomi Mi 9 is often activated by accident, just press the Home button or say "OK, Google." For many users, this feature becomes a source of irritation: It eats up battery power, collects location and habits, and interferes with gaming or watching videos (MIUI Global, where the assistant is integrated at the system level.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can disable Google Assistant, from standard settings to hidden commands via ADB. You’ll learn how to remove the Assistant from the lock screen, from the search bar, and even how to block it from starting through gestures. Importantly, some methods require developer or unlocked bootloader rights, but we’ll show you workarounds for users without root access.

Why is Google Assistant not disabled in the standard way?

On the Xiaomi Mi 9 (models M1902F1G/M1902F1T), Google has integrated the assistant at the service level of Google Play Services, which means that even after disabling in the settings, the application can:

• 🔄 Automatically turn on after updating Google Play or resetting settings.
• 📱 Launch through gestures (for example, swipe from the corner of the screen to the MIUI 12+).
• 🔊 Activate your voice through the microphone even if you have turned off “OK, Google".
• 🔋 Working in the background, consuming up to 5-7% battery-charge.

Xiaomi does not give full control over Google’s system applications due to licensing agreements.So additional tools will be required to completely remove them. Below we’ll look at simple to complex methods – choose the right one depending on your technical skills.

Method 1: Disable via Google Settings (without root)

The safest method that works for MIUI 10-14 is that it doesn't remove the assistant completely, but it blocks most triggers:

1. Open the Google app (the icon with the letter "G" on the home screen).
2. Slip on your profile (icon in the upper right corner) → Settings.
3. Choose Google Assistant → General.
4. Turn off the sliders: 🗣️ Google (voice activation). 📱 Assistant on the lock screen. 🔍 Showing Assistant's hints.

Google Assistant

Phone.

Use the on-screen search bar

After this, the assistant will stop activating by voice and pressing the Home button, but it will still work in the background. To completely stop the process, go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Google and click Stop (you will have to repeat after each restart of the phone).

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If Google does not have an Assistant option, update the Google app via Play Market. On older versions of MIUI (up to 11.0.3), this section may not be available.

Method 2: Remove via ADB (without root but with PC)

A method for advanced users that permanently disables Google Assistant without deleting system files.You'll need a computer with Xiaomi drivers installed and the ADB tool.

Steps:

1. Turn on Developer Mode on Mi 9: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI Version. Go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers and activate Debugging over USB.

ADB

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox


adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox

These commands do not remove the app completely, but only disable it for the current user. After resetting or updating the MIUI, the assistant can return.

Install Xiaomi drivers on PC| Enable debugging over USB on your phone | Download ADB Tools (platform-tools)| Allow debugging on your phone when connected | Check communication by adb devices-->

Method 3: Disconnect via MIUI Launcher (for Chinese firmware)

On Xiaomi Mi 9 with Chinese firmware (MIUI China), Google Assistant is replaced by Xiao AI. However, if you installed Google Installer (for example, through the Mi App Store), the assistant could come back.

1. Press the free area on the home screen → Launcher settings.
2. Select Additional → Google Assistant.
3. Turn off the slider Turn on the Assistant.
4. Remove the Google app through Settings → Apps (if it’s not system-based).

⚠️ Note: In Chinese firmware, deleting Google services may lead to sync errors (e.g., Gmail or YouTube Push notifications will stop working).If you use these services, it is better to use Method 1 or Method 2.

Method 4: Blocking through App Ops (Hidden Android Settings)

Android has a hidden App Ops menu that allows you to disable permissions for system applications, which works without root, but requires activation through ADB or a third-party application (such as App Ops Launcher).

Instructions:

1. Install App Ops from the Play Market.
2. Open the app and search in the Google (or Google Quick Search Box) list.
3. Turn off permissions: 🎤 Microphone (blocks voice activation). 📍 Location (stops collecting geodata). 🔄 Background work.

After that, Google Assistant will stop responding to voice commands and will not appear in the search bar, but it can still be launched through the Home gesture - combine this method with Method 2 to completely disable it.

Method 5: Complete removal via TWRP (root only)

If you have a bootloader unlocked and custom recovery (TWRP) installed, you can physically delete Google Assistant files.This method is irreversible and only suitable for power users!

Step-by-step:

1. Download TWRP for Mi 9 and run through fastboot.
2. Download recovery (Power + Vol Up)
3. Go to Advanced → File Manager.
4. Delete the folders: /system/priv-app/Velvet (main Assist module). /system/priv-app/GoogleQuickSearchBox. /data/data/com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox (residual files).

Wipe → Dalvik/ART Cache

⚠️ Attention: Deleting system files can lead to bootloop if you get the paths wrong. TWRP! After that, all Google services (Play Market, Gmail, etc.) will stop working, so the method is only suitable for users who are ready to switch to alternative stores (for example, Aurora Store).

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Removing Google Assistant via TWRP is the only way to permanently get rid of Google Assistant, but it requires root rights and leads to the loss of functionality of other Google services.

Frequent problems and solutions

Even after Google is disabled, Assistants can show up in unexpected places, and here are the typical situations and ways to deal with them:

If none of the methods worked, check:

• 📱 Version MIUI — on MIUI 13+ Additional disconnection may be required in the settings → Button binding.
• 🛠️ Viruses - some advar apps mimic the Assistant's window. check the phone through Malwarebytes.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions