How to permanently disable Google’s voice assistant on Xiaomi phone: 5 working methods

Google Assistant on Xiaomi smartphones is often activated by accident, just clamp the Home button or say the phrase “OK, Google.” For many users, this feature becomes a source of irritation: it eats battery power, collects data about location and habits, and also interferes with conversations. Especially relevant problem for owners of Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO X3/X4/X5 and Xiaomi 12/13, where the assistant is integrated at the MIUI firmware level.

In this article, you will find 5 proven ways to completely disable Google Assistant, from standard settings to hidden developer settings, and how to remove its updates, disable auto-start and what to do if the assistant continues to start after resetting. All instructions are relevant for MIUI 12, 13 and 14 (including global and Chinese versions).

Why does Google Assistant turn on on on its own?

The reasons for the spontaneous launch of a voice assistant on Xiaomi fall into two categories: hardware and software.

🔘 Long pressing of the home button - in MIUI The default is "clamp and hold" -- even a casual touch can activate the assistant.
🎤 Voice activation for “OK Google” or “Hey Google” works even when the screen is locked if enabled in Google settings. → Settings → Voice Match.
🔄 Automatic updates via Google Play.The assistant can "resurrection" after updating Google services, even if you disabled it.
📱 Conflict with the shell MIUI. In some firmware (for example, MIUI 13 for POCO F4) The assistant is integrated into the com.miui.voiceassist system application and duplicates the functions of Google Assistant.

Fun fact: Xiaomi with Qualcomm Snapdragon processors (for example, Redmi Note 11 Pro)+) The assistant can be launched more often due to the optimization of the chipset for Google services, while on devices with MediaTek (for example, POCO M4 Pro) the problem is less frequent.

📊 How often do you accidentally activate Google Assistant?

Constantly, several times a day.

Sometimes 1-2 times a week

It used to be, but I turned it off.

Never activated.

Method 1: Disconnect via standard MIUI settings

The easiest method is to use the built-in shell options.It is suitable for most Xiaomi models, but does not guarantee a complete shutdown (the assistant can return after the update).

Open the Settings app (cog icon).
Go to the Appendix section → Application management.
In the search bar, type in Google and select the Google app (not to be confused with Google Play Services!).
Slip on Notifications and turn off all switches (especially Voice Assistant).
Go back and select Battery → Background activity. Set a limit to Limit.
Finally, go to Google → Settings → Google Assistant and turn off all options in the Assistant section.

After this action, the assistant will stop responding to voice commands and a long press of the Home button, but it will remain in the system and can be activated after the update.

☑️ Checking for Google Assistant Disconnection

Voice activation is off.Background activity is limitedNotifications disabledLong-term pressing of the Home button does not start the assistant

Done: 0 / 4

Method 2: Remove updates and roll back to factory version

If Google Assistant continues to work after the settings are turned off, the problem may be with the updated version of the Assistant, which is less intrusive, but it is often replaced by more aggressive updates via Google Play.

To bring back the factory version:

Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
Find Google and tap it.
In the upper right corner, click on three dots and select “Delete Updates”.
Confirm the action. The app will go back to the version that was used when you bought the phone.
Then go to Google Play → Profile → Settings → Auto-Update Apps and select “Do not update automatically.”

Important: Once reset to factory settings, the Google Assistant can update again. To avoid this, add the Google app to the blacklist of auto updates via Google Play.

What happens if you delete all Google updates?

When you remove updates, Google will return to the basic version that was preinstalled in MIUI. This can lead to: - the disappearance of certain functions (for example, voice search in the browser); - improved battery life (as the new version often works in the background); - the inability to use some services associated with the Google account (for example, synchronizing notes).

Method 3: Disconnect via ADB (for power users)

If previous methods didn’t work, you can block Google Assistant at the system level using Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires connecting the phone to your computer, but gives 100% result – the assistant will be disabled forever until you manually unlock it.

Instructions:

Download and install ADB Tools on your computer.
On the phone, activate the developer mode: go to Settings → About the phone and 7 times tap the MIUI version.
Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable “Debugging by USB”.
Connect your phone to your PC through USB-cable and command line (Windows) or terminal (Mac/Linux) Execute: Adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox This command removes Google Assistant for current user without root rights.

To return the assistant, use the command:

adb shell cmd package install-existing com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox

💡

Before use ADB Check if the option is included USB-Debugging (protection) in the developer settings. If it's not, update it. MIUI Up to the latest version or unlock the bootloader.

Method 4: Using third-party applications (without root)

If you don't want to mess with ADB, you can use the system application management tools, and one of the most reliable is the Package Disabler (available on Google Play), which allows you to freeze Google Assistant without removing it, which is safer for the system.

Step-by-step:

Download and install the Package Disabler.
Open the application and grant it administrator rights (if requested).
In the search bar, type in Googlequicksearchbox and select the package found.
Click Disable and confirm the action.
Reboot the phone.

The advantage of this method is that you can return the assistant at any time by simply turning it back on to the Package Disabler. However, some Google features (such as voice search in the browser) will stop working.

💡

Disabling through third-party utilities does not require root rights, but may conflict with MIUI updates. After a major system update (for example, from MIUI 13 to MIUI 14), you will have to repeat the procedure.

Method 5: Complete removal via TWRP (root only)

The most radical method is to physically delete Google Assistant files via custom recovery TWRP. It is only suitable for users with unlocked bootloader and root rights. Wrong actions can lead to a phone blink!

If you are willing to take a risk, follow the instructions:

Install TWRP for your Xiaomi model (see the XDA Developers forum for instructions).
Download. APK-Google file (version without Assistant) or use Magisk Module to delete.
Upload the phone to TWRP (clip Power + Volume up).
Go to Advanced → File Manager and delete folders: /system/priv-app/Velvet/ /system/priv-app/GoogleQuickSearchBox/
Squeeze the modified APK-file via Install in TWRP.
Run wipe cache/dalvik and restart your phone.

⚠️ Note: Removing system applications through TWRP This may disrupt Google Play Services, which may cause errors in other services (such as Gmail or YouTube). TWRP → Backup!

Comparison of methods: which one to choose?

To make it easier for you to determine, we have compiled a table with the pros and cons of each method:

Method	Difficulty	Efficiency	Need root?	Cons
Standard settings of MIUI	⭐	Medium	No.	The assistant may return after the update
Removal of updates	⭐⭐	Tall.	No.	Manual management of auto updates is required
ADB-team	⭐⭐⭐	Maximum	No.	You need skills to work with the command line
Package Disabler	⭐⭐	Tall.	No.	Paid functions in the annex
Removal via TWRP	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Maximum	Yes.	Risk of a breeze, disruption of other services

For most users, the best solution is a combination of methods 1 and 2 (disabling in the settings). + If you're ready to experiment, try it. ADB. Method TWRP leave it to the last resort.

What to do if Google Assistant is still working?

If after all the manipulations the assistant continues to activate, check the following points:

🔍 Conflict with MIUI Voice Assistant on some models (Xiaomi 13 Pro, Redmi) K50) There's a built-in assistant from Xiaomi that can duplicate the Google Assistant features. → Special facilities → Xiaomi's voice assistant.
🔄 Factory reset: Sometimes the assistant "embedded" into the system after the update. MIUI. Try resetting your phone (Settings) → The phone. → Reset settings), but pre-do backup!
📱 Gesture problems. Xiaomi with MIUI 14 Long pressing of the Home button may be tied to another action. → Display. → Full-screen gestures.
🛠️ Firmware error on some devices (e.g, POCO F3) The assistant is activated due to a bug in MIUI. The solution is to update the firmware to the latest version or reflash the phone via Fastboot.

⚠️ Note: If you use Xiaomi.eu or custom firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience), the problem may be in the modified kernel. MIUI.

FAQ: Frequent questions

Can I turn off Google Assistant without losing Google Pay?

Yes, but partially. Google Pay depends on Google Play Services, not Google Assistant. However, if you delete Google app updates or block it through ADB, some features (like voice search on Google Maps) may stop working.

The assistant turns on when you unlock your phone. How do you fix this?

This problem is typical for Xiaomi with MIUI 12.5+. The reason is the conflict between Google Assistant and facial/fingerprint recognition. Solution: Turn off Voice Unlock in Settings → Passwords and Security → Face Recognition. Delete Google app data in Settings → Apps → Reboot your phone. If it doesn’t help, use the ADB method from this article.

After the Assistant was turned off, the notifications from Gmail stopped working.

This is because Google Assistant and Gmail share the same services for push notifications. To return notifications: Go to Settings → Apps → App Management → Gmail. Select Battery → No restrictions. Enable Auto Start and Second Run. Update Gmail via Google Play. If notifications don't return, try temporarily turning on Google Assistant and disable it again.

Will “OK, Google” work after resetting your phone to factory settings?

Yes, most likely. When reset, all settings go back to factory settings, including integration with Google Assistant. To avoid this: Before reset, turn off sync with your Google account in Settings → Accounts → Google. After reset, don't sign in to your Google account immediately - first disable the assistant via Settings → Google → Settings → Google Assistant. Use the ADB method to block the system-level assistant.

Can I transfer the Google Assistant settings to another Xiaomi phone?

No, Google Assistant settings are tied to your Google account, but not to a particular device. When you log in to the same account on a new phone, the assistant will work with the same settings (such as saved routines or favorite commands), but if you disabled it on your old device via ADB or Package Disabler, it will be active by default on the new phone.