Owners of modern Xiaomi smartphones often face a situation where Google Assistant launches on its own at the most inopportune moment.A random tap of the power button or activation by voice command "OK, Google" can interrupt important calls or interfere with games.Many users are looking for a way to completely deactivate this service to regain full control of their device.
In Android, which runs the MIUI and HyperOS shell, the voice assistant is deeply integrated into system processes, which means that you can’t normally remove an application without using special tools, but there are effective methods to completely “sleep” the function and prevent it from running at the click of buttons or voice.
In this article, we’ll take a look at all the available ways to turn off, from standard system settings to more advanced methods through ADB. You’ll learn how to reassign the power button, turn off voice response, and remove widgets from the home screen. Follow the instructions to optimize your Xiaomi or Redmi experience.
Why you should disable Google Assistant on your smartphone
The main reason users tend to turn off power button activation is because of annoying random launches: In a pants pocket or bag, the phone can accidentally unlock and start the assistant, using up battery power and activating the microphone, which for many is not only a matter of convenience, but also privacy.
In addition, Google Assistant consumes system resources, constantly waiting for a voice command in the background. On Xiaomi budget models with a small amount of RAM, this can lead to micro-latency in the interface. Disabling the service helps free up CPU resources for more important tasks.
⚠️ Attention: A complete shutdown of Google system services could affect the smart home and voice typing in the Gboard keyboard.
It’s also worth mentioning that in some regions, the assistant’s functionality is limited or simply not used by the owner, and if you prefer third-party solutions or do not need voice control, deactivating it is a logical step to customize Android.
Disabling activation by power button
The most common scenario is that the assistant is caused by a long-term retention of the power button, and in the latest versions of MIUI and HyperOS, this behavior is configured directly on the system, without the need to install third-party software.
You first need to go to the device settings, find the section that's responsible for additional features or special features, and that's where the switch that changes the action of the button from calling the off menu to starting the Google Assistant is hidden.
Perform the following actions consistently:
- 📱 Open the settings of your smartphone.
- 🔍 Go to Additional Features (on some versions Advanced Settings).
- 🔘 Find the Power button or Press and hold the Power button.
- ⚙️ Select the Off Menu instead of Google Assistant.
After that, a long press on the lock button will again trigger the reboot and shutdown menu, which is standard for most Redmi and POCO users.
☑️ Checking the button settings
If you don't have one on your menu, it's possible that the firmware manufacturer has hidden it or moved it, so try searching by settings by typing a button, which is a universal method for all current versions of Android 10 to 14.
Blocking Voice Activation “OK, Google”
Even if you remove the button, the assistant can continue to listen to the microphone while waiting for the key phrase, and to prevent this, you need to change the settings of the Google app itself, which will not delete the application, but deprive it of the right to listen to the environment.
Go to the settings of the Google app through the menu of your smartphone or through the interface of the assistant itself, you will need to find the section dedicated to voice input, here you can completely disable the response to voice commands.
Algorithm for disabling:
- 🎙️ Open the Google app on the home screen.
- 👤 Click on the profile avatar in the upper right corner.
- ⚙️ Select Settings → Google Assistant.
- 🚫 Go to Hey Google and Voice Match and turn off the Hey Google switch.
Now the smartphone will no longer respond to voice commands, which will greatly improve the device's autonomy.The microphone will no longer work in the background for this service.
What to do if the settings are reset?
It's worth noting that on different versions of Android, the path may be slightly different, for example, on Android 12, the path may be through "All Assistant Settings," the main thing is to find the block associated with Voice Match.
Removing the widget and disabling on the lock screen
Often, users are annoyed not only by the assistant itself, but also by its widgets that appear when swiped right on the desktop or lock screen. This is the so-called Google Discover tape, which is closely related to the voice assistant.
To remove the widget from the Xiaomi desktop, just press the empty space on the screen and go to the widget settings, where you can turn off the left ribbon, this action will break the connection between the desktop and Google Feed services.
To disable on the lock screen:
- 🔒 Go to Settings. → Lock screen.
- 📰 Find the widget tape item or Google News.
- ❌ Turn the switch to the off position.
This action will not only remove the extra information, but also prevent the assistant from accidentally launching when trying to unlock the phone.
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For maximum effect, it is also recommended to disable the Google widget in the widget menu if it is added to the home screen separately.
Some users confuse Google’s search widget and the assistant itself. Deleting the search widget won’t turn off voice functions, so be sure to follow the steps described in the previous sections.
Using ADB to completely deactivate
If standard methods fail or you want to remove the component completely, you can use the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) tool, which requires a connection to a computer, but gives root-like rights to manage system packages.
To start, you need to enable USB debugging. Go to Settings → About Phone and 7 times click on the build number. Then in Advanced Settings, turn on USB debugging.
Connect your phone to your PC and execute a command to remove the assistant package:
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.apps.googleassistantThis command will remove the assistant for the current user without affecting the system partition. If you want to return everything as it was, just reset the phone.
| Parameter | Standard shutdown | Through ADB |
|---|---|---|
| Difficulty | Low. | Medium |
| Security | Tall. | Medium |
| Efficiency | Partial | Complete. |
| Returns | Instant. | Requires a reset. |
Use ADB only if you are confident in your actions. Incorrect removal of system packages can lead to unstable MIUI operation.
Possible problems and solutions
During the shutdown process, users may find that settings are not saved or menu items are missing, often due to specific features of a particular version of Xiaomi firmware or regional restrictions.
If the power button starts calling the assistant again, check if the Google app has updated, and updates often return default settings, in which case the procedure will need to be repeated.
⚠️ Note: When using third-party launchers (Nova, Lawnchair), the power button settings can be controlled by the launcher itself, not the system.
Also, the problem can be the app cache. If the assistant is behaving incorrectly, try to clear his data through the App menu → All Apps → Google → Memory → Clear.
Conclusion and final recommendations
Disabling Google Assistant on Xiaomi is a simple process that returns user control of the interface. The combination of disabling the power button and voice activation allows you to completely get rid of intrusive functionality.
We've covered things from simple settings to ADB. For most users, the first two sections of the instructions will be enough. Remember that Android is constantly updated and the location of the items can change.
The key message is that you can only completely remove the system component through ADB, but for household use, it's just software to prevent it from running, and it's safe and reversible.
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The optimal balance between usability and functionality is to disable button and voice activation, leaving the option of calling through search if needed.
If you've done all the steps, your smartphone will be quieter, and maybe a little faster, and you can now set the device exactly as you want, without the need for corporate services.