Modern Xiaomi Redmi smartphones come with a lot of smart features to make it easier to interact with the device, but not everyone likes it when it constantly “listens” to commands or accidentally activates voice search when it is removed from their pocket, often resulting in battery drain and unnecessary traffic consumption, which is especially noticeable on budget models.
With Android operating systems running on top of a MIUI or HyperOS shell, multiple voice assistants can be installed at the same time, which creates confusion as users don’t always understand which service they are responding to. In this article, we’ll look at how to find and deactivate each one to completely clean the interface of unnecessary features.
It’s worth noting that removing system components completely can cause some applications to run insecurely, so we’ll look at safe disabling methods. You’ll learn how to manage the settings of Google Assistant, Mi Assistant and built-in speech recognition features, which will allow you to regain full control of your device and customize it to your personal preferences.
Differences between Google Assistant and Mi Assistant
The first step to getting smart is understanding the voice architecture. Xiaomi devices have Google pre-installed a service that is deeply integrated into the system, responsible for searching the Internet, managing the smart home, and executing voice commands through cloud servers.
In parallel, in firmware for the Chinese market, and sometimes in global versions, there is a Xiaomi AI or Mi Assistant, which is tailored to the brand ecosystem and can be activated by button combinations or gestures, and it is important to distinguish between them, since the settings are in different sections of the menu.
Users often confuse these services by trying to turn one off while the other is running. For example, you can deny access to the microphone for Google, but the power button will still call the Xiaomi interface.
⚠️ Note: Disabling voice search systems may limit the functionality of some applications that use voice input, such as navigators or instant messengers.
For a detailed comparison of functions and settings, consider the following table, which will help you navigate the interface:
| Parameter | Google Assistant | Mi Assistant / Xiaomi AI | Third-party annexes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Location of settings | Google Settings / Google App | Phone settings / Advanced settings | Settings of the application itself |
| Activation with a button | Long press of the power button (often) | Long press of the power button or swipe | Depends on the OS settings |
| Network dependency | Internet is required for teams | Some of the functions work offline | Depends on the developer. |
| Language support | Full support of the Russian language | Limited or through translation | Depends on the app. |
Disabling Google Assistant on your smartphone
The most common assistant is a product from Google, which is activated by a long press of the center button or a swipe from the corner of the screen. To stop it, you need to enter the settings of the Google application itself, which can be done by finding the corresponding icon in the application menu or through the system settings.
Once you open the app, click on your profile avatar in the top right corner and select Settings. Then go to Google Assistant and find the All Assistant Settings tab, which is where the key switches that control activation of the service are hidden.
You will need to find the option “Phone” or “Devices” and turn off the switch “Google Assistant”. It is also recommended to disable the “Hey Google” function to the smartphone will stop responding to voice commands in the background, this will significantly save battery power.
⚠️ Attention: After system update MIUI HyperOS settings may reset, so check again after each major update.
If the standard path doesn’t work, you can use a more radical method through app settings. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, search in the Google list and select Disable or Stop, however, this can affect the way search and other services work.
Setting up the power button and Xiaomi AI
Xiaomi Redmi owners often face a situation where a long press of the lock button instead of turning off the screen causes the voice assistant, which is the default behavior in new versions of the firmware.
Go to Settings → Additional Features → Buttons (or “Button Assignment”). Here you will see the option “Long-Tap Power button.” By default, there may be “Google Assistant” or “Xiaomi AI.” You need to switch this setting to “Nothing” or “Switch Off Menu” to return standard behavior.
- 📱 Open your smartphone settings and find the “Additional Features” section».
- 🔘 Select “Buttons” or “Button Assignment” depending on the version MIUI.
- ⚙️ Find the setting “Long-Tap Power Button” and change the action.
- ✅ Save the changes and check the button.
☑️ Checking the assistant's disconnection
Special attention should be paid to the Xiaomi AI feature, which can be built into the system launcher. If you use a theme that supports this feature, it can be activated by swipe, you can remove this in the theme settings or in the "Advanced settings" section of the phone menu.
Managing permissions and microphone access
Even if you disable the button, the app can have permission to access the microphone permanently, allowing it to listen to the environment while waiting for the key phrase, and for complete privacy, you need to limit these rights in your privacy settings.
Go to Settings → Security → Permissions Manager → Microphone. In the list that opens, look for Google, Google Assistant, and any system services called Xiaomi or AI. Change their status to “Disable” or “During Use Only.”
Modern versions of Android also have a microphone access indicator, so if you see a green or orange dot in the corner of the screen when you're not using a voice recorder, then some app is recording sound right now, and if you click on that indicator, you can quickly go to the settings and block access.
Why does the assistant turn on itself?
Hiding Widgets and Quick Access Panels
Often, the voice assistant doesn't come from the buttons, but from the widget on the home screen. On Xiaomi smartphones, the swipe down the desktop usually opens the widget bar or Google search, which behavior can be changed or completely disabled.
Press your finger on an empty desktop space to enter edit mode. Select screen settings or go to Settings → Desktop. Find the option responsible for swiping down (often called Search or Widget Center) and turn it off or replace it with Task Manager.
- 🖊️ Click the empty area on the desktop to enter the editing menu.
- 🔍 Find the swipe behavior settings down.
- 🚫 Select the “Nothing” option or disable the search widget.
Also check for the Google Search widget on desktops. If it's there, just drag it to the top of the screen in the cart or click "Delete." This will remove the search bar that often serves as a gateway to trigger voice commands.
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If you often use search but don’t want to see an assistant, try installing a third-party launcher, such as Nova Launcher, where you can customize the behavior of the search bar in detail.
Using ADB for Advanced Users
For those who want to securely remove or freeze system components, there is a method using USB debugging and the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) tool, which requires connecting a smartphone to a computer and basic command line knowledge.
First, activate the developer mode. To do this, go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click on the MIUI build number seven times. After that, the “For Developers” option will appear in the “Additional” menu, where you need to turn on “Debugging by USB”.
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.apps.googleassistantExecuting this command will disable Google Assistant at the user level, making it invisible to the system. However, using the pm uninstall command can lead to data loss or instability, so use only disable-user.
⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB-Commands can lead to a smartphone building or loss of warranty. Act only if you understand what you're doing.
This method is particularly effective for global firmware versions, where standard methods of removing some intrusive services are not possible, and allows you to deeply intervene in the system without obtaining superuser rights (Root).
Possible problems and solutions
During the process of disconnecting, users may face a number of difficulties, such as resetting the settings after a reboot, or the assistant may be activated again when the headphones are connected, due to the fact that some applications take precedence over system settings.
If the voice assistant is still working, try clearing the cache and data of the Google app. Go to Settings → Apps → Google → Memory and click “Clear all data.” After that, re-configure the procedure, ignoring the suggestions to turn on voice control.
In rare cases, the cause may be a third-party app that uses voice input.Check the list of recently installed programs and remove those that are suspicious. Antivirus scanners may also have their own voice control modules worth checking.
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Completely disabling the voice assistant requires a comprehensive approach: setting the power button, access rights to the microphone and disabling search widgets.
Following these instructions, you can maximally depersonalize your Xiaomi Redmi and use it only for the tasks that you need, which will improve the performance of the device and preserve your privacy.