How to completely disable voice assistant on Xiaomi Mi 9: Google Assistant and Xiao AI

The voice assistants on Xiaomi smartphones are both a useful tool and a source of irritation for many users. The Xiaomi Mi 9 has two assistants installed by default: Google Assistant from Google and Xiaomi’s Xiao AI itself. The first is activated by a long press on the Home button or a voice command “OK, Google”, and the second by a short press on the side button (if it is set up) or the phrase “Little A.” Both assistants can interfere: accidentally work in your pocket, consume battery power or simply be unnecessary.

Depending on the firmware version (MIUI 10/11/12/13/14) and regional build (Global/China/EEA), settings menus may differ and some options may be hidden. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to disable voice assistants on the Mi 9, including hidden settings and methods for power users.

If you want to not only disable, but completely remove assistants (including system processes), root rights or use ADB will be required. We will consider these options, but we will warn you in advance: they are suitable only for advanced users, as they carry risks to system stability.

Before you start, check the MIUI version on your device: go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version. This will help you follow the instructions more accurately.

1. disable Google Assistant through settings

The easiest way is to deactivate Google Assistant in standard Android settings, which works on all versions of MIUI, but may vary depending on the shell.

Open the Google app (the icon with the letter "G" on the home screen or in the app menu). In the lower right corner, tap on your profile icon, then select Settings → Google Assistant. Here you are interested in the Assistant section.

In the menu that opens, scroll down to the Device block and select your Xiaomi Mi 9. Turn off the Google Assistant slider. The system can request confirmation - agree.

After that, the assistant will stop working on voice commands and pressing the Home button for a long time. However, the process of com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox will remain active in the background and will consume up to 5-10 MB of RAM. To completely stop it, you will need to use ADB (about this in one of the following sections).

2. Deactivation of Xiao AI (Little Ai)

Xiao AI is Xiaomi’s proprietary assistant, which often interferes with global firmware users, and is harder to disable than Google Assistant, as the options are hidden deeper.

Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management. In the search box, type Xiao AI (or “Little Ay” for Russian localization).

In the app menu, tap on Disable (if the button is inactive, first click Stop). Confirm the action. After that, the assistant will stop running on a voice command, but its icon may remain on the desktop.

For complete removal (if you have MIUI China), you can use the command via ADB:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.voiceassist

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI Global Xiao annex AI It's integrated into system services, and it can cause the camera to malfunction or other functions to shut down.

3. Disable voice activation via buttons

On the Xiaomi Mi 9, voice assistants can fire not only on command, but also when you press physical buttons. For example, Google Assistant is activated by holding the Home button for a long time, and Xiao AI is activated by a short press on the side key (if it is configured).

To disable these bindings:

1. Go to Settings → Buttons and gestures → Home button.
2. Select Long Press and set No Action (or Last Screen if you want to return standard behavior).
3. For the side button: Settings → Buttons and gestures → Power button → turn off the option to Start Xiao AI.

If your MIUI version doesn't have a Xiao AI item, it's tied to a different gesture. Check the Quick Actions section in the same settings.

Backup of important data

Check the MIUI version in the settings

Record the current button settings

Connect your phone to Wi-Fi for stability-->

4.Using ADB for deep shutdown

If standard methods don’t work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a tool for debugging Android devices, which will disable the system components of assistants without root rights.

First, turn on the Developer Mode:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 7 times on the MIUI version until the notification “You became a developer” appears.
3. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and activate Debugging over USB.

Now connect the Mi 9 to your computer, install ADB drivers (e.g., via Mi PC Suite) and execute commands in the terminal:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox


adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.voiceassist




adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.xiaomi.ai.asst.vision

These teams will shut down:

• 🔍 Google Assistant and related services;
• 🤖 Xiao AI and his voice triggers;
• 👁️ Visual assistant (if installed).

⚠️ Attention: After disconnection through ADB Some features (like voice search on Google) will stop working. To get it back, use the adb shell pm enable command with the same packages.

5.Resetting to factory settings as a last resort

If all previous methods fail (for example, due to customized firmware or a system failure), there is a complete reset, a radical way that will remove all data from the device, but return it to a “clean” state.

Before discharge:

• 📱 Backup your contacts, photos and apps (via Settings) → Additionally. → Backup).
• 🔐 Remember the Mi Account details – after the reset, you will need confirmation.
• 🔋 Charge your phone at least 50 times%.

For discharge:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Choose to erase all data.
3. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot (it will take 5-10 minutes).

After the reset, voice assistants will be disabled by default, but they can be activated again in settings, a method recommended only in extreme cases, as it deletes all user data.

💡

If your phone is slower after you turn off your assistants, try clearing the cache of your system applications. Go to Settings → Storage → Clear the cache. This is safe and won’t delete your data.

6. Alternative methods: Magisk and custom firmware

For users with an unlocked bootloader and Magisk installed, there are more flexible methods, such as using the DisableFlags module, which disables system components without ADB.

Installation:

1. Download DisableFlags (available on XDA Developers)
2. Install it through Magisk Manager.
3. Reset the device.
4. In the module configuration file (/sdcard/DisableFlags/config), add the following lines: com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox com.miui.voiceassist
5. Save the file and restart it again.

Advantages of this method:

• 🔧 No need for root rights (Magisk is sufficient).
• 🔄 It's easy to roll back change.
• 🛡️ Less risk to the system than manual file deletion.

If you use custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), voice assistants can be removed entirely via TWRP by removing the corresponding.apk files from /system/priv-app/.

💡

Using Magisk and custom firmware gives you maximum control over the system, but requires unlocking the bootloader, which cancels the warranty and can lead to unstable operation of the device if you act carelessly.

7. Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after the shutdown, voice assistants can continue to interfere, and let's look at typical situations and ways to fix them.

Problem 1: Google Assistant is activated again after the MIUI update.

Solution: Updates often reset settings. Once you install a new firmware version, re-execute the steps in Section 1 or use ADB to permanently shut down.

Problem 2: Xiao AI continues to fire on voice commands.

Solution: Check if the app is installed com.xiaomi.ai.asst.vision (visual assistant). disable it via Settings → Apps or uninstall it via ADB.

Problem 3: After being disabled through ADB, some features (such as voice search on YouTube) stopped working.

Solution: Restore the services you need by turning them back on:

adb shell pm enable com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox

Or use alternative voice search apps (like Utter! from F-Droid).

Problem 4: A hint about the voice assistant appears on the lock screen.

Solution: Turn off the prompts in Settings → Lock screen → Lock screen hints on the lock screen.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions