How to permanently disable voice assistant on Xiaomi Mi 9: Google, Mi AI and hidden features

Xiaomi Mi 9 is the flagship of 2019, which still remains relevant thanks to powerful hardware and regular updates to MIUI. However, many users are faced with the intrusive work of voice assistants: Google Assistant is activated by random clicks, and Mi AI (built-in Xiaomi assistant) eats resources and shows unnecessary notifications. In this article, we will analyze all ways of disconnecting – from basic settings to deep interventions in the system.

It's important to understand that the Mi 9 has two assistants at once, Google (universal, attached to the Home button) and Mi AI (from Xiaomi, activated by voice or gesture), their settings are not related, so you will have to turn off separately. If you want to get rid of both, follow the instructions in order to avoid missing important steps.

We will also address the issue of spontaneously turning on assistants after MIUI updates, a common complaint of Mi 9 owners, and we know how to solve it once and for all.

1. disable Google Assistant through Android settings

The easiest way to do this is to deactivate Google Assistant in standard settings, which works on all versions of MIUI (including MIUI 12/13/14) and does not require superuser rights, but please note that once you reset or update your system, the assistant can be activated again.

To disable:

• 📱 Open the Google app (the icon with the letter “G” on a colored background).
• 🔍 In the lower right corner, tap on the profile icon → Settings → Google Assistant.
• 🛑 Scroll down to General and select Google Assistant (first item).
• 🔄 Transfer the slider to the off position. and confirm the action.

If the assistant is activated on the Home button after that, it's tied to the gesture to remove that binding.

1. Go to Settings → Special Opportunities → Special Opportunities Services.
2. Find Google in the list and tap it.
3. Turn off the option to use the service.

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If the Home button stops working after the Google Assistant is disabled, restart the phone. This is normal system behavior that is corrected by restarting.

2. Deactivation of Mi AI (Integrated Xiaomi Assistant)

Mi AI is Xiaomi's proprietary assistant, which is responsible for voice commands in Chinese/English, gesture recognition and some automation. On the Mi 9, it often runs in the background even if you're not using it. You can't completely remove it without root rights, but you can turn off all the features.

Method 1: Through the MIUI settings

• ⚙️ Open the Settings. → Memory. → Auto-start.
• 🔍 Find it on the Mi list. AI (or AI Assistant) and disable auto-start.
• 📵 Return to the main settings and go to the Apps → Application management.
• 🔍 In the search, type in Mi. AI, Open the app and select Stop. → Shut down.

Method 2: For the global version of MIUI (unless there is a Mi AI clause)

Some firmware has a helper called Quick Apps or App Vault, to turn it off:

1. Click the empty space on the home screen → Home screen settings.
2. Turn off the App Vault option (or the Minus screen in Russian firmware).
3. Reboot the phone.

3. Disable voice activation ("OK, Google" and "Xiao AI")

Even after the assistants are turned off, their voice activation can continue to work, due to background services that listen to key phrases (OK, Google or Xiao AI), and on the Mi 9, this is especially noticeable because of the sensitive microphone.

To disable voice control:

• 🎤 For Google Assistant: Open the Google App → Settings → Voice search. Select the voice assistant. → Recognition of "OK Google." Turn off all sliders in this section.
• 🎤 For Mi. AI: Go to Settings. → Xiaomi’s Voice Assistant (or AI Disable the options Voice activation and Locked Recognition.

If you don’t have Xiaomi Voice Assistant in your settings, your firmware doesn’t support this feature (or it’s hidden), in which case only disabling through ADB (see Section 5) will help.

4. Removal of assistants from the Quick Access Panel

On the Xiaomi Mi 9, assistants can be tied to gestures or buttons in the notification panel, such as swiping down the corner of the screen or holding the Home button for a long time.

How to check and disable:

1. Open Settings → System → Gestures (or Additional settings → Buttons and gestures).
2. Check the following items: 🔘 Long press of the home button" → Set up No action. 🔘 Swipe down the corner of the screen → disconnect or reassign. 🔘 Double pressing of the power button (sometimes there is a start of the assistant).

Save the changes and check if the assistant is activated by random gestures.

If the gestures don't explicitly mention the assistants, but they still start, then the binding is set at the firmware level. ADB-team (section 5).

Make sure that you're off:

- Long hold of the home button.

- Swipe down left/right corner

- Double press of the power button

- The gesture "Show assistant" in the lock screen settings

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5. Complete disabling via ADB (for advanced users)

If standard methods don't work, and assistants keep activating, you'll have to use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires you to connect your phone to your computer, but it's guaranteed to shut down all background processes.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB Tools.
• 📱 Included Debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times tap the version → Return to the Additional Settings → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).

Instructions:

1. Connect the phone to your computer and confirm the debugging permission.
2. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with ADB.
3. Enter commands in turn: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox # Disables Google Assistant pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.voiceassist # Disables Mi AI pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.voicetrigger # Disables voice activation
4. Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Warning: These commands do not remove the apps completely, but only disable them for the current user. MIUI The assistants can be activated again. To bring them back, use a command:

adb shell cmd package install-existing com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox

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ADB-commands are the most reliable way to disable, but require re-execution after each major update. MIUI.

6.Why do assistants turn on again after the update?

Many Xiaomi Mi 9 users complain that the assistants are activated again after the MIUI update, which is because the system restores the standard settings for key services.

If you don’t want to manually disable assistants every time, consider installing custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience) where these services aren’t by default, but this will require unlocking the bootloader and may deprive you of official updates.

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To keep track of MIUI updates without surprises, subscribe to the official Xiaomi Russia Telegram channel, where they publish lists of changes before the release.

7. Alternative solutions: replacement of assistants with third-party ones

If you don't like standard assistants, but you need voice commands, you can set up alternatives.

• 🤖 Alexa (via Amazon Alexa) – supports Russian language and smart devices.
• 🎵 Yandex Alice – integrates well with Yandex services (Music, Maps, Weather).
• 🔍 Siri Shortcuts (if you have an Apple device) – lets you control your phone via your iPhone.

To assign a third-party assistant to the Home button:

1. Install the Home Button Launcher app.
2. In the application settings, select the appropriate assistant (for example, Alice).
3. Set the action to hold the Home button long through Settings → Gestures.

⚠️ Note: Third-party assistants may require additional permissions (access to notifications, microphone, location).Before installing, check the app reviews in the Play Market to avoid data leaks.

Frequently asked questions