Why users want to disable voice assistant on Xiaomi
The voice assistants in Xiaomi smartphones are not only a handy tool, but also a potential source of irritation. Many owners of Redmi, POCO or Black Shark devices experience a situation where the assistant is activated accidentally — while talking, listening to music or even in silence. The reasons for wanting to turn it off are diverse, from banal false positives to concerns about data privacy.
Xiaomi’s lineup uses several types of assistants: built-in Xiao AI (or Mi AI in older versions), Google Assistant, and sometimes Alice from Yandex in regional firmware. Each has its own disabling features. For example, on devices with MIUI for the global market (EEA), standard disabling through settings may not work due to integration with Google services. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways, from basic to advanced, including methods for users with root access.
Method 1: Disconnecting through the basic MIUI settings
The simplest method that works on most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices with MIUI 12-14 firmware is suitable for disabling both Xiao AI and Google Assistant (if installed as the main one).
Instructions:
- 📱 Open the Settings app (cog icon).
- 🔍 Go to the Appendix section → Application management.
- 🤖 In the search bar, enter Voice Assistant or Xiao. AI (model-wise).
- ⚙️ Click on the app you found, then select Disable or Remove Updates (if the button is active).
- 🔄 For Google Assistant, repeat the steps, but look for Google in the app list → Notification settings → Turn off voice input.
Important: On some devices (such as Xiaomi 13 Pro or POCO F5), the assistant can be activated again after the reboot after the shutdown, due to MIUI Optimization policies that automatically restore system applications.
☑️ Preparing for the disabling of the voice assistant
Method 2: Deactivation through special features settings
If the standard shutdown didn’t work, try deactivating the voice assistant through the Special Features section, a technique that is particularly effective for devices with Google Assistant, which can be triggered by a long press of the Home button or gesture.
Step-by-step:
- Go to Settings → Special features → System settings.
- Find Voice Assistant or Special Opportunities Services.
- Turn off the sliders next to Google, Xiao AI or Mi AI Voice.
- Return to Special Features → Gestures and Movements and turn off Voice Launch (if any).
On some models (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro+), this path may be different. If you don't find the right items, try searching by settings (the magnifying glass icon in the upper right corner).
Method 3: Disconnect via ADB (for power users)
If the system settings do not allow you to disable the assistant, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), this method requires connecting the smartphone to the computer and enabling the developer mode, but it is guaranteed to work on all versions of MIUI.
Instructions:
- Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI Version 7 times.
- Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
- Connect your phone to your PC, install ADB Tools, and execute the commands:
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.voiceassist
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.googlequicksearchboxThe first command removes Xiao AI, the second one removes Google Assistant. If you only want deactivation (without deletion), replace uninstall with:
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.voiceassistWhat if the ADB can’t see the device?
⚠️ Note: Removing system applications through ADB This can cause the firmware to work in an unstable way.
Method 4: Use of third-party utilities (without root)
For users who don’t want to mess with ADB, there are third-party apps to manage system components, and one of the most reliable is Package Disabler (available on Google Play).
How to use:
- 📲 Install the Package Disabler.
- 🔍 In the search bar, type voiceassist or googlequicksearchbox.
- ❌ Tag the packages found and click Disable.
- 🔄 Reset the device.
The advantage of this method is that it does not require a PC connection and works on most Xiaomi devices without root rights. However, some models (such as the POCO X5 Pro) may block such applications for security reasons.
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If the assistant reappears after the shutdown, check for updates for MIUI. Sometimes system applications are restored after the firmware update.
Method 5: Complete removal with root access
For users with unlocked bootloader and root rights, the complete removal of the voice assistant is available, a method suitable for those who are willing to sacrifice the guarantee for the sake of cleanliness of the system.
Instructions:
- Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or FX File Explorer).
- Go to /system/priv-app/ or /system/app/.
- Find and delete folders: MiuiVoiceAssist (Xiao AI), GoogleQuickSearchBox (Google Assistant), Velvet (Google Additional Services)
Settings → Storage → Clean the cache
⚠️ Attention: Deleting system files can lead to bootloop.Before manipulation, create a full backup through TWRP Or OrangeFox Recovery.
| Method of disconnection | PC required | Root is required. | Reversibility | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Through MIUI settings | ❌ No. | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. | All devices. |
| Special facilities | ❌ No. | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. | MIUI 12–14 |
| ADB | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes (team enable) | All devices. |
| Package Disabler | ❌ No. | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. | MIUI without strict restrictions |
| Removal from root | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No (recovery required) | Advanced users |
Frequent problems and their solutions
Even after the voice assistant is turned off, Xiaomi users may face unpleasant surprises, and consider the most common situations and ways to fix them.
Problem 1: The assistant is activated when the headphones are connected.
Solution: Go to Settings → Connected Devices → Headphones → Sound settings and turn off Voice.
Problem 2: After the MIUI update, the assistant turned on again.
Solution: Use ADB or Package Disabler to shut down again. In extreme cases, roll back the firmware via Fastboot.
Problem 3: A hint about the voice assistant appears on the lock screen.
Solution: Turn off the prompts in Settings → Lock screen → Tips and notifications.
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On devices with MIUI China (CN-The voice assistant can be tightly integrated into the firmware, in which case only flashing to the global version will help (EEA).