How to permanently disable the voice assistant Xiaomi: a complete guide for all models

Xiaomi’s XiaoAI voice assistant can be useful for managing a smart home or quickly searching for information, but not everyone likes its constant activity. Unexpected triggers from random phrases, background battery consumption and collecting voice command data lead many to look for a way to completely disable this service. Unlike Google Assistant or Siri, where deactivation takes a couple of clicks, in MIUI this process is often hidden in the depth of settings or requires additional manipulation.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible ways to disable, from standard menu options to hidden features for power users, focus on the nuances for different versions of MIUI (12 to 15), and explain why some methods may not work on individual models (for example, on Redmi Note 12 or POCO X5). If you’re tired of random activation of voice assistant or worry about privacy, here you will find a solution.

Why Xiaomi’s voice assistant can be a hindrance

Even if you've never used XiaoAI, it still works in the background, and here are the main reasons users want to turn it off:

• 🔋 Battery consumption: the assistant constantly “listens” to the microphone, which increases power consumption by 5-15% (test data) XDA Developers for MIUI 14).
• 🎤 False positives: Phrases like “OK, Google” or even a cough can activate the assistant, interrupting music or games.
• 📡 Data Transfer: All voice requests are sent to Xiaomi servers for processing (for more details in the privacy section).
• 🚫 Conflicts with other assistants: If you use Google Assistant or Alice, XiaoAI may interfere with their work.

On some models (such as the Xiaomi 13 Pro or Mix Fold 3), the assistant is integrated so deeply that it cannot be disabled by standard means, in which case advanced methods using ADB or third-party utilities will be required.

Method 1: Disconnect via MIUI settings (Basic Method)

The easiest way is to use the built-in system options, which is suitable for most MIUI 12-15 devices, but may not be available on some budget models (e.g. Redmi A2 or POCO C50).

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the search bar, type XiaoAI or Voice Assistant.
3. Select the Voice Assistant app (icon with microphone).
4. Click Disable (or Remove Updates if the Disable button is inactive).
5. Confirm the action by clicking Disable the application.

After that, the assistant will stop responding to voice commands, but its process can remain in memory.

1. Return to the app menu and select Battery and Performance → Battery Management.
2. Find the Voice Assistant in the list and set a limit to limit background activity.

⚠️ Note: Some devices (e.g. Xiaomi Pad 6) may lose voice dialing in the Gboard keyboard after the assistant is disabled. To return it, reinstall the keyboard from Google Play.

Method 2: Remove via ADB (for power users)

If the standard shutdown didn’t work or the button is inactive, you can remove the assistant via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which works on all devices with unlocked developer mode, but requires a connection to a computer.

Before you start, make sure that:

• 🖥️ PCs are installed. ADB-driver.
• 📱 On the smartphone included debugging on USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Press 7 times, then return to the Additional Settings → For developers).
• 🔌 Used by the original USB-cable (cheap cables may not transmit data).

Instructions:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and open the command line (Win + R → cmd).
2. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices must appear serial number of your device.
3. Execute the command to remove the assistant: adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.voiceassist For some models (for example, Xiaomi 12T) may require an additional command: adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.voiceassistant
4. Reset the device.

Once these commands are executed, the voice assistant will be completely removed for the current user (without root permissions), and to return it, you will need to reset your settings or manually install the APK.

Method 3: Disconnect via Mi Account (for smart devices)

If you use not only a smartphone, but also other Xiaomi gadgets (such as Mi Band 8, Mi Smart Speaker or Mi TV), the voice assistant can be activated through them.

1. Open the Mi Home app (or Xiaomi Home for newer versions).
2. Go to Profile → Settings → Voice Assistant.
3. Turn off the options: 🎙️ Voice control of devices 🔊 Voice-to-voice responses 📱 Synchronization with mobile assistant

Save the changes and restart all smart devices.

For Mi TV or Mi Box, the path will be different: Settings → Smart Assistant → Voice Control → Disable.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi TVs (e.g. Mi) TV Q2 2023) Disabling the voice assistant may block access to embedded services like Mi Video or PatchWall.

Method 4: Use of third-party utilities (without root)

If previous methods have failed, you can use specialized applications to manage system components.

Example of App Inspector:

1. Install the application and provide access to Special Features.
2. In the search, type voiceassist.
3. Select com.miui.voiceassist and click Disable.
4. Confirm the action and restart the device.

💡

If after disabling through a third-party utility, the assistant appears again after the MIUI update, add it to the blacklist in the application settings (Section "AutoStart").

Method 5: Manually delete system files (root only)

This method is suitable for users with an unlocked bootloader and Magisk or other root access installed, and allows you to completely remove all traces of the voice assistant, including system APKs and services.

Instructions:

1. Install a root-access file manager (such as Root Explorer or FX File Explorer).
2. Go to /system/priv-app/VoiceAssist/ or (for newer versions of MIUI): /system/app/VoiceAssist/
3. Delete or rename (add.bak) the following files: VoiceAssist.apk VoiceAssist.odex (if any) libvoiceassist.so

/data/data/com.miui.voiceassist/

Reset the device.

The assistant will then be removed at the system level, and to get it back, you'll need to flash the original firmware through Fastboot.

💡

Deleting system files can cause MIUI to work unstable or update errors. Create a backup using TWRP or Mi Flash Tool before executing.

Alternative solutions: if nothing helps

If all of the above methods have not worked, consider these options:

• 🔇 Turning off the microphone physically: On some models (e.g. Xiaomi Civi 3) you can turn off the microphone in the engineering menu (#4636## → Hardware Testing → Audio → Microphone).
• 🔄 Switching to custom firmware: Firmware like LineageOS or Pixel Experience does not contain XiaoAI. XDA Developers.
• 📵 Use of Second Space: Create a Second User Profile (Settings) → Special facilities → Second space) and work in it - there the assistant will be disabled by default.

For devices with MIUI for Russia (for example, Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G) can help to change the region to a global version of the firmware.

1. Download the official global firmware for your model.
2. Rename the file to update.zip and place it in the root folder of the phone.
3. Update the system through Settings → About Phone → System Update → Three Dots → Select a firmware file.

Privacy: What XiaoAI Knows About You

Xiaomi’s voice assistant collects the following data (according to the company’s privacy policy):

• 🎤 Audio recordings: all voice commands are saved on Xiaomi servers for up to 6 months (to improve algorithms).
• 📍 Location: If permission is enabled, the assistant captures your location for contextual clues.
• 📱 Application Log: What programs did you run in front of a voice command.
• 🔗 Communication with Mi Account: All data is linked to your Mi Account.

To minimize data collection:

1. Turn off Personalization recommendations in Settings → Privacy → Advertising.
2. Delete voice command history in Settings → Accounts → Mi Account → Data Management.
3. Use a VPN to block connections to Xiaomi servers (e.g., via NextDNS with the block mi.com rule).

💡

Even after the voice assistant is disabled, some data can be transmitted through other system services (for example, Mi Cloud). For complete anonymity, consider using alternative firmware without Xiaomi services.

FAQ: Frequent questions about shutting down XiaoAI