How to permanently disable Google voice assistant on Xiaomi Redmi 9: the full guide

Google Assistant on Xiaomi Redmi 9 can be useful for quick information retrieval or device management, but not all users actively use it. Meanwhile, the service consumes battery power, sends data to the cloud and periodically displays notifications — even if you have never activated it with voice. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to disable the assistant, from standard MIUI settings to hidden commands via ADB.

The Redmi 9 (M2003J15SC, M2003J15SS) has integrated two voice assistants simultaneously: Xiaomi’s own Xiao AI and Google Assistant, and the second one is often run randomly, such as by holding the Home button for a long time or by gesture from the side buttons, and we’ll show you how to deactivate both without disrupting the system.

Why Google’s voice assistant is getting in the way of Redmi 9

Even if you don't use voice commands, Google Assistant remains active in the background, and here are the main challenges that Redmi 9 owners face:

🔋 Increased battery consumption: the service is constantly synced with the cloud and analyzes user activity.
📱 Accidental positives: the assistant can be activated when you press buttons or even in your pocket.
📊 Data Collection: Google captures your queries, location and habits for targeted advertising.
🔔 Intrusive Notifications: Reminders of “Useful Features” or Service Updates.

According to the tests, completely disabling the Google Assistant on the Redmi 9 with MIUI 12/13 saves up to 5-7% of battery life per day with moderate smartphone use, and it reduces the load on the Helio G80 processor, which is especially noticeable in games or multitasking.

📊 How often do you use a voice assistant on your smartphone?

Every day.

Sometimes.

Only by mistake.

Never.

Method 1: Disable via Google Settings (without root)

The easiest method is to deactivate the assistant in the Google app menu.It doesn't require superuser rights and is suitable for most versions of MIUI on Redmi 9.

Open the Google app (the icon with the letter "G" on a color background).
Slip on the profile avatar in the upper right corner → select Settings.
Go to the Google Assistant section → General.
Turn off the Google Assistant slider (at the top of the screen).
In the window that appears, confirm the action by clicking Off.

This method removes voice activation ("OK, Google"), but doesn't stop background processes completely.

💡

If the Google Assistant option is not on the menu, update the Google App through the Play Market to the latest version.

Method 2: Remove updates and roll back to factory version

On Redmi 9, Google Assistant is embedded in the firmware as a system application, but its updates are installed separately. If you roll back to the factory version, some of the features will stop working.

Search in the Google list (not to be confused with Google Play Services!).

After the rollback:

🔄 Voice activation (OK, Google) will stop working.
🚫 Some functions (such as smart clues) may disappear.
⚠️ Attention: The next update through Play Market will reset all settings.To prevent this, disable auto-update for the Google app.

What happens if you remove system application updates?

A rollback to the factory version can cause some features to function in an unstable way, such as notifications or account sync, but in practice Redmi 9 can tolerate this without critical failures, unless Google Play Services are affected.

Method 3: Disconnect via ADB (for power users)

If standard methods don’t work, you can block Google Assistant at the system level using the Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which doesn’t require root rights, but requires connecting your smartphone to your computer.

Preparation:

Download and install Platform Tools for Windows/macOS/Linux.
On Redmi 9, activate Developer Mode: go to Settings → About Phone and tap the MIUI version 7 times.
Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.

Execution of commands:

Connect your smartphone to your PC and enter in the terminal: Adb devices Make sure the device is identified (it should appear its name).
Start the command to disable Google Assistant: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox
Reboot Redmi 9.

After this command, the Google app will remain on the system, but its basic functions (including the voice assistant) will be blocked for the current user.

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

Install Platform Tools on PC|Enable the developer mode on Redmi 9|Activate debugging by USB|Connect the phone to the computer|Check the visibility of the device in ADB-->

Method 4: Disabling gestures and activation buttons

Often, Google Assistant is triggered unconsciously, either by gestures or button clamping. On Redmi 9, this can be fixed in the control settings.

For the Home button:

Go to Settings → System and device → Buttons and gestures.
Select the Home button" → Long press.
Set the value of Do Nothing or Show Menu.

For side buttons:

In the same buttons and gestures section, select Side buttons.
Turn off the Google Assistant (if any) option.

These settings don’t turn off the assistant itself, but prevent it from accidentally starting, especially for users who carry a phone in their pocket or often click on the screen.

Method 5: Complete removal via TWRP (requires root)

If you are willing to take drastic measures and have an unlocked bootloader + TWRP, you can remove Google Assistant physically.This method is irreversible and can disrupt other Google services!

Instructions:

Download TWRP for Redmi 9 (version must conform to the M2003J15SC/SS model).
Download in Restore Mode (Power + Vol Up).
Go to Advanced → File Manager.
Delete files: /system/priv-app/Velvet/ /system/priv-app/PrebuiltGmsCore/ (if folders are missing, look for files with the names GoogleQuickSearchBox.apk or Velvet.apk).
Wipe your cache (Wipe → Cache) and restart.

⚠️ Note: Deleting system files may result in loss of functionality (e.g., Google Play or contact sync will stop working). TWRP!

Method of shutting down	Difficulty	Root is required.	Efficiency	Risks.
Through Google's settings	⭐	❌ No.	Partial	Low.
Repeal of updates	⭐⭐	❌ No.	Medium	Medium (possible failures)
ADB-team	⭐⭐⭐	❌ No.	Tall.	Low.
Turning off gestures	⭐	❌ No.	Partial	Absent.
Removal via TWRP	⭐⭐⭐⭐	✅ Yes.	Complete.	High (risk "brick")

What to do if the assistant is still running

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

🔍 Updates MIUI: After the firmware update, the settings may reset.
📲 Third-party launchers: Some shells (like Nova Launcher) have their own gestures to call in an assistant.
🛠️ Firmware problems: On some custom firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience), the assistant can be sewn deeper, in which case only the flashing will help.

If the problem persists, check the service’s activity through Settings → Battery → Battery Use. If Google consumes more than 3-5% of its charge per day, it’s still running in the background.

💡

The most reliable way is to combine the shutdown through Google settings + ADB-This is guaranteed to remove the assistant for the current user without risk to the system.

FAQ: Frequent questions about turning off Google Assistant on Redmi 9

Can you only turn off Xiao AI by leaving Google Assistant?

To do this, go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Xiao AI and disable it. Alternatively, you can uninstall updates or block the ADB command: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.voiceassist This does not affect Google Assistant.

Why does the assistant appear again after the shutdown?

It probably worked automatically update the Google app. To prevent this: Open Play Market → find Google. Tap three dots → uncheck Auto Update. Also check your Google account settings for sync with the assistant.

Will Google work after the shutdown?

No. All of the methods described in this article (except for disabling gestures) block voice activation, and if you want to return the feature, you'll have to re-enable Google Assistant in your settings or through ADB.

Can I turn off the assistant without losing Google functionality?

Yes, if you use partial shutdown: Turn off voice activation in Google settings (method 1). Remove trigger gestures (method 4). Do not delete system files via TWRP. Google Play, Gmail and other services will work normally.

Are there any alternatives to Google Assistant for Redmi 9?

If you want voice commands but don't want to use Google, consider Xiao AI (built into MIUI, supports Russian); Alice from Yandex (install the app from the Play Market); Bixby (requires APK installation, but it doesn't work well); all alternatives consume less battery than Google Assistant.