Many owners of Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro smartphones face the intrusiveness of built-in features that are activated accidentally or consume resources in vain. The voice assistant often turns on when you unlock the screen or accidentally press the power button, which causes irritation among users who prefer classic control. In this article, we will discuss in detail all possible ways to deactivate Google Assistant and Mi AI system assistant on your device.
The need to completely shut down is dictated not only by the desire to avoid accidental launches, but also by the need to optimize the system. Background processes associated with listening to the command “OK, Google” can affect the autonomy of the device, especially on models of previous years of release, you will have full control over the interface, eliminating unnecessary elements of interaction with the Android operating system.
The setup process does not require superuser rights or third-party software installation. All the necessary tools are already built into the MIUI shell and Google's standard settings. We will look at both software disablement methods and physical ways to reassign buttons, allowing you to choose the most convenient option for daily use of your smartphone.
Why you should turn off voice functions
The main reason users are looking to remove the voice assistant is because of the false positive frequency.The Redmi Note 8 Pro smartphone has a convenient power button that is set to call the assistant by default when pressed long, in a bag or when carried in a pocket, this leads to unnecessary activation of the screen and energy consumption.
In addition, the constant background activity of the microphone to track the trigger phrase raises questions for those who care about digital privacy. Although Google claims data security, the ability to completely eliminate listening gives a sense of security.
⚠️ Warning: A complete shutdown of Google’s system services could affect other voice-dependent applications, such as dictating text in instant messengers or managing a smart home.
It’s worth noting that the standard Mi AI assistant, often pre-installed in global firmware versions for specific regions, can also be a source of annoyance: It duplicates Google’s features, but is often less accurate in Russian speech recognition. Removing or disabling both assistants allows you to create a clean environment without unnecessary visual and sound noise.
Disabling activation by power button
The most common random switching scenario is a long-term lock hold, and in modern versions of the MIUI shell, this option is placed in a separate settings menu, so to change the behavior of the button, you need to go to Settings, then select Additional and find the Power button subsection there.
In the menu that opens, you'll see the option that controls long-press action, and the default option is Google Assistant or Mi AI, and you'll need to switch that option to Nothing or Shutdown Menu if you want a long-press to trigger the standard reboot and shutdown menu, which brings back the classic logic of your smartphone.
☑️ Checking button settings
After changing the setting, you should check the result immediately. Press and hold the power button for 2-3 seconds. If the mode selection menu (No sound, Vibration, Shutdown) appears, then the setting was successful. If the search is activated again, try to restart the device so that the changes take effect permanently.
Setting up Google Assistant in the App
Even if you reconfigure the button, the assistant itself can be activated by voice or search. To deep-tube, you need to open the Google app on the home screen or in the app menu. Click on your profile avatar in the upper right corner and select Settings, and then go to the Google Assistant section.
Here we are interested in the tab All settings Assistant or simply Assistant. In the list of available options, you need to find the option Activate by voice (or "OK, Google"). The switch should be put inactive, this will prevent the smartphone from responding to voice commands when the screen is turned off or on the desktop.
- 🔹 Open the Google app and log in to your profile settings.
- 🔹 Go to the Assistant section and find activation management.
- 🔹 Turn off the “OK, Google” option and access from the locked screen.
- 🔹 In the "Phone" section, disable the use of the Assistant if such an option is available.
You can also go to the settings of the Google app itself through the Android app management menu, search the Google list, click Notifications, and disable all categories related to hints and voice input, which will prevent pop-ups asking the assistant to ask you something.
What will happen to the request history?
Management of system assistant Mi AI
Owners of the Redmi Note 8 Pro may find that when swiping to the right of the center of the screen or pressing a special button, it is not Google but Mi AI. This service is native to the Xiaomi ecosystem and has its own settings. To get rid of it, find the Advanced Settings option in the settings or search for settings by entering “Mi AI”.
The assistant menu usually has a switch that activates or deactivates the function. If there is no simple switch, you can try to clear the application data. To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All Apps, find Mi AI (or “Mi Assistant”) and select Clear → Clear all data. This will reset all settings and may temporarily turn it off.
| Function | Google Assistant | Mi AI | System search |
|---|---|---|---|
| Voice activation | Okay, Google. | Xiao Ai Tong Xue | No. |
| Interface language | Russian (full) | Chinese/English | Russian |
| Integration with MIUI | Medium | Tall. | Maximum |
| Battery consumption | Medium. | Low (if off) | Low. |
It's important to understand the difference between a search bar and a voice assistant. Disabling voice functions won't remove the search widget from your desktop unless you remove it yourself. However, if you tap on the microphone in the search bar, you should now run standard Android voice input for dictating text, not a full-fledged AI dialogue.
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If you are not using Mi AI, try removing updates to this app through the Three Dots menu in the top right corner of the app page in the settings.This often allows you to completely deactivate the service.
Disabling voice input on the lock screen
One of the most annoying features is the ability to call the assistant from a locked screen, which creates the risk of unauthorized access to some data or making calls. To protect the Redmi Note 8 Pro, you need to deny access to the assistant without unlocking.
Go to the lock screen settings. The path may vary depending on the version of MIUI: Settings → Passwords and Security → Privacy → Data on the locked screen. Here you will find a point that allows access to personal data or specific applications and disable access for Google and Mi AI. Also check the settings in the Google app itself in the section “Screen Lock”.
There is another nuance associated with widgets: On the lock screen Xiaomi often displays widgets "Stepomer" or "Yandex.Music", swipe on which can cause voice search. Disable unnecessary widgets in the lock screen settings, selecting the widgets and removing unnecessary elements.
⚠️ Warning: Once you disable access from the lock screen, you won’t be able to use voice commands to set an alarm or call without unlocking the phone first.
Using ADB to Advance Disconnect
For power users who want to securely remove the voice assistant, there is a method using debugging by USB and command line ADB. This method allows you to freeze or delete the system package that is responsible for the work of the assistant, without obtaining root permissions, USB-cable and installed drivers ADB.
First, turn on the developer mode on your smartphone. To do this, quickly click seven times on the build number in the About Phone section. Then in the Advanced Settings menu → For developers, turn on USB Debugging. Connect the phone to your PC and start the command prompt.
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.apps.googleassistantThis command will remove the Google Assistant app for the current user. The Redmi Note 8 Pro will restart or simply apply changes, after which the assistant will disappear from the system. To return everything back, the cmd package install-existing command com.google.android.apps.googleassistant is used. Be careful when entering commands, as an error can lead to unstable system operation.