How to permanently disable Google’s voice assistant on Xiaomi: the full guide

Google Assistant on Xiaomi smartphones is often activated by accident — just press the Home button or say "OK, Google." For many users, this feature is useless, but it is not so easy to turn it off: Google and MIUI hide settings in different menus, and after updates they can be reset. In this article, we will discuss all ways to completely deactivate the assistant, including hidden options for advanced users.

To make matters worse, Google Assistant consumes resources in the background: it keeps the microphone, geolocation, and Internet connection active; on budget Redmi or POCO models, this can lead to accelerated battery discharge and random positives. We tested all methods on MIUI 12-14 (including global and Chinese firmware) and identified those that work stably.

Why Google Assistant is on its own

On Xiaomi smartphones, the voice assistant can be activated in 5 typical scenarios:

• 🔘 Pressing the Home button for a long time (even if you haven’t configured this feature).
• 🎤 Voice command “OK, Google” or “Hey Google” (recognizes even when the screen is locked).
• 🔄 Automatic update of Google services, which returns previously disabled settings.
• 📱 Reset to factory settings - assistant is turned on by default.
• 🔌 Connecting headphones or a headset with a voice assistant call button.

On some models (such as the Xiaomi 13 Pro or Redmi Note 12), Google Assistant is integrated at the firmware level, which means it can’t be removed as a regular app – just disable key permissions or block through ADB. In the next section, we’ll look at the easiest way, which works on 90% of devices.

Method 1: Disconnect via Google Settings (for beginners)

This method is suitable for users who do not want to dig into system files. It disables the basic functions of the assistant, but does not remove it completely - some processes will remain in the background.

1. Open the Google app (the icon with the letter "G" on a color background).
2. Slip on your profile (icon in the upper right corner) → Settings.
3. Choose Google Assistant → General.
4. Scroll down and click Google Assistant (yes, the item repeats).
5. In the Devices section, select your Xiaomi smartphone.
6. Turn off the sliders: 🔸 Google Assistant (Main Switch). 🔸 Recognition "OK Google". 🔸 Personal results (so that the assistant does not collect data).

After that, Google Assistant will stop responding to voice commands and a long press of the Home button. However, the background processes will remain - you can see them in the Settings menu → Apps → Google → Battery. To completely disable, move to the next method.

Method 2: Blocking through permissions (in-depth setting)

If the first method didn't work, then Google Assistant is running through system permissions, and to stop it, you have to deny the application access to key functions:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Google app (not to be confused with Google Play Services!).
3. Select Permissions and Disable: 🎤 Microphone (so that the assistant doesn't listen to commands). 📍 Location (Ceases Geo-Data Collection). 📱 Overlay on other apps (removes pop-up prompts). 🔄 Autostart (prevents starting when the phone is turned on).

Battery → Consumption management

Limit

Notifications

On some firmware (e.g. MIUI 14 for Xiaomi 13), Google Assistant can still appear when you connect the headphones after this action, in which case only disabling through ADB or removing Google app updates will help.

⚠️ Note: If you turn off the permission of the Microphone for the Google app, all voice functions, including search and dictation in the Gboard keyboard, will stop working. To return only the dictation, allow access to the microphone for the Gboard separately.

Method 3: Complete disabling via ADB (for advanced)

If previous methods have failed, you can disable Google Assistant system-level by using ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which does not require root rights, but requires connecting your smartphone to your computer.

First, turn on the developer mode and USB debugging:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 7 times on the MIUI version until the notification “You became a developer” appears.
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
4. Activate Debugging on USB.

Now connect your smartphone to your PC and execute commands in ADB:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox


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

These teams:

• 🗑️ Remove updates for Google Assistant (first line).
• ❌ Completely disable the application for the current user (second line).

⚠️ Note: On some firmware (for example, MIUI 13 for POCO F4) After these commands are executed, the search bar on the home screen may disappear. To return it, install the Google Search widget manually or use an alternative launcher.

How to Remove Google Updates (Alternative Method)

If Google Assistant came after the Google app update, you can return it to the factory version.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find Google and tap three dots in the top corner → Remove updates.
3. Confirm the action. The system will return the app to the version that was used when you bought the phone.

The assistant will then shut down, but the updates can be installed automatically to prevent this from happening:

• 🛑 Go to Google Play. → Profile → Settings → Auto-update of applications.
• 📵 Choose Do Not Update Automatically or add Google to the exclusion list.

💡

If you have lost your phone search after removing the updates, install an alternative launcher (like Nova Launcher) or use the MIUI search widget instead of Google.

What to do if the assistant still appears

If none of the methods worked, the problem may be:

• 🔄 Updates MIUI — some firmware (e.g, MIUI 14.0.4 for Xiaomi 12T) Return the assistant settings after rebooting.
• 📱 Branded shells of operators (for example, Redmi for MTS or Beeline), which block changes.
• 🔧 Conflict with other apps (e.g., Xiaomi Community or Mi Video can run a voice assistant).

In such cases, it will help:

1. Resetting settings (but it will delete all data!)
2. Install custom firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience) that does not have Google Assistant.
3. Use alternative launchers (such as Lawnchair) that block system pop-ups.

💡

On smartphones with MIUI for Russia (for example, Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G), Google Assistant can be replaced by Alice from Yandex. To turn it off, go to the settings of Yandex and deactivate the option "Voice Assistant".

How to get back Google Assistant if you need it

If you change your mind and want to use the voice assistant again, do the following:

1. For methods 1-2, simply turn the sliders back on in Google’s settings.
2. If you have used ADB, run the command: adb shell pm enable com.google.android.apps.googleassistant
3. Update the Google app through the Play Market.
4. Reboot the phone.

After that, the assistant will be available again. If it's not working, check:

• 🔊 Is “OK Google” Recognition Enabled in Settings.
• 🌐 Is there any internet access (assistant requires connection).
• 📱 Is Google Play Services Updated.

FAQ: Frequent questions about disabling Google Assistant