How to disable Google Assistant on Xiaomi Mi9

Xiaomi Smartphone Mi9, Released in 2019, it still remains a popular device due to its powerful processor and high-quality device. AMOLED-But Google's built-in services that are actively integrated into the shell. MIUI, They can annoy users with their intrusive behavior, especially the voice assistant, which is often activated accidentally or consumes battery power in the background.

Many owners of previous flagships face a situation where the device responds to voice commands without the owner’s knowledge or starts when you press the power button. This not only distracts, but also reduces the overall performance of the system, especially if the device’s RAM is no longer as large as when you buy. In this article, we will discuss all the available ways to deactivate the service to regain full control of your gadget.

It is worth noting that completely removing the system component of Google Assistant without root rights is impossible, since it is part of Google Play services. However, there are a number of effective settings that allow you to completely block its functionality, turn off hotkeys and hide interface elements. We will consider both standard methods through the settings menu, and more advanced options for power users.

Basic setting of voice assistant

The first and most obvious step is to disable listening and voice activation features directly in the app.This won't remove the service itself, but will make it "deaf" and unresponsive to external stimuli. You'll need access to Google account settings, which are often hidden in the depths of the menu.

You start by opening the Google app or finding the search bar widget on your desktop, and clicking on the profile avatar or three dots in the corner will get you into the settings menu, and you can select the Assistant settings, where all the key switches are concentrated, and that's where the basic configuration of the system's behavior is going.

• 📱 Find the “All Assistant Settings” section and select your Xiaomi device Mi9 list.
• 🎙️ Go to the Google Assistant menu and find the Google Assistant switch, then turn it to the off position».
• 🔒 Turn off the “Hey Google” option so your phone will stop responding to voice commands while on standby.
• 📞 Remove the tick from the item "Access from the locked screen" to protect personal data from unauthorized persons.

⚠️ Note: After disabling the core Google Assistant feature, some related services, such as quick messaging responses or a smart home, may not work properly or require manual activation each time.

It's important to understand that even after these actions, the shortcut or callability may still be in the system, but the request processing process itself will be stopped, which will positively affect the autonomy of the device. If your goal is to simply stop hearing the greeting when you connect the charge, these actions may not be enough, and you need to have a deeper adjustment.

Cancellation of the Power button

One of the most annoying features in MIUI for Xiaomi Mi9 users is the ability to call the Assistant with a long press of the power button. This setting is often turned on by default or activated after a system update. You can change the behavior of the physical button through the system menu, but the path to it is not always obvious.

You need to go to the basic settings of the smartphone and find the section responsible for additional functions. In different versions of the MIUI firmware (be it Global or China), this item may be called differently, but the logic remains the same.

Settings → Additional features → Buttons and gestures → Long-term press of the “Power” button

You'll see a few options in the menu that opens. The default is often Google Assistant. You have to choose an alternative, like Nothing or Shutdown Menu. If you choose Nothing, a long tap will simply lock the screen or do nothing, which is ideal for those who are used to the classic use of a smartphone.

• 🔘 Open the action selection menu for a long press of the power button.
• ❌ Select the “Nothing” option if you want to ignore the long-term clamping completely.
• ⚙️ Or select “Switch Off Menu” to return the standard reboot screen.

⚠️ Note: On some global versions MIUI There may be no "nothing" option, so select "Switch off menu" to at least get rid of running the voice assistant.

After the change of settings, it is recommended to check the result. Try to press the power button for 2-3 seconds. If the flight or shutdown mode menu appears, the setting is applied successfully. This action does not affect the hardware of the smartphone, so it is safe for the device at any age.

Managing Google Feed widgets and screen

Another source of interaction with the Assistant is what's called Google Feed or Google Tape, which is to the left of the main desktop. Swipe to the right often calls the panel with news and cards of the Assistant, which many users consider unnecessary. You can remove this element, but standard MIUI means do not always do this.

To get rid of the tape, you need to pinch the empty space on the desktop and go to the screen settings. Some versions of the firmware have a switch «-1 If it is put into an inactive state, the swipe to the left will open just a blank page or widgets of the Xiaomi system, bypassing Google services.

If standard removal of the Google search bar widget is not possible (the deletion button is missing or gray), it means that it is sewn into the launcher, in which case you can try to change the theme or use a third-party launcher, such as Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher, which will radically change the appearance of the interface and remove any bindings to standard Google widgets.

Limitation of background activity and permissions

Even if you have disabled voice activation, the Google Assistant process can continue to work in the background, consuming the resources of the Snapdragon 855 processor installed in the Xiaomi Mi9. To guarantee to stop any background processes, you need to limit the rights of the application through the application management system menu.

Go to settings, select Apps, and search in Google. Go to Permissions, inside the app menu, where you can revoke microphone, geolocation, and contacts, and without access to the microphone, the voice assistant will not be able to hear the command, even if it starts in some way.

Next, find Autostart and uncheck the Google app. Also, in the Battery (or Charge Savings) section, for this app, select No Limits mode (paradoxically, but in MIUI this sometimes helps control behavior) or, conversely, Austerity so that the system forcibly kills the process when folding. Experimentally, you can choose the option that works better on your version of the firmware.

• 🔋 Go to the battery settings and find the Google app.
• 🚫 Disable auto-start so that the service does not start with the system.
• 🎙️ Take away permission to use the microphone in the security section.
• 📉 Enable energy saving mode for background activity.

This approach allows you to leave Google search functionality intact, but completely neutralize its “smart” features, which is especially true for Mi9 owners who want to squeeze the maximum battery life without unnecessary background tasks.

⚠️ Warning: Disabling geolocation access may impair the performance of Google Maps and other navigation services that use location to refine queries.

Using ADB to Advance Disconnect

For users who are not afraid of the computer and the command line, the most radical method is to disable the component through the ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which does not require root rights, but requires connecting the smartphone to the PC. It allows you to freeze the package responsible for the Assistant, making it invisible to the system.

First, activate the developer mode on the Xiaomi Mi9, and quickly tap the build number in the About Phone section seven times. Then, in the Developer menu that appears, turn on USB Debugging. Connect the phone to your computer with a cable and install ADB drivers.

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.apps.googleassistant

Running this command in the terminal will completely disable the Assistant packet for the current user.The phone will no longer see this service as active.If you want to put it back, the command will look similar, but with a replacement. `disable-user` on `enable`.

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Be sure to back up your critical data before using ADB. While the command is secure, any interference with system packages carries a minimal but present risk of operating system instability.

This method is especially useful if standard MIUI settings are reset after a system update. The ADB team operates at the user level and often experiences reboots and updates to applications. However, it is worth remembering that if you completely reset the settings (Factory Reset) changes will be lost.

Possible problems and solutions

During the setup process, Xiaomi Mi9 users may encounter a number of typical problems, such as button settings that can return to factory settings after the MIUI update, a well-known feature of the shell that requires rechecking after each major system update.

Sometimes, the Assistant can “resurrect” after cleaning the Chrome browser cache or the Google app itself, in which case it is worth checking whether the “Hey Google” function is back on, and problems can arise when using third-party launchers that conflict with standard MIUI gestures.

If you notice that the phone has started to run slower after all the manipulations, try restarting the device. A full system reboot is necessary to apply all the changes in the configuration of background services. Dalvik/ART It is a recycler, but it is for advanced users.

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A comprehensive approach that includes disabling buttons, widgets and background resolutions ensures that Google Assistant doesn’t bother you on the Xiaomi Mi9.