How to permanently disable voice assistant on Xiaomi Mi: deactivation of Google Assistant and XiaoAI

Voice assistants on Xiaomi Mi smartphones can be useful, but they often activate by accident, eat up battery power and collect data about your actions, especially for the two main assistants: Google Assistant (built into Android) and XiaoAI (branded assistant from Xiaomi). If you want to turn them off completely, this article will help you do it correctly, without losing the functionality of the phone.

It's important to understand that simply turning off the microphone or removing the shortcut from the desktop doesn't solve the problem. Voice assistants continue to run in the background, consuming resources. We'll look at all possible ways, from basic settings to deep changes in the system, including methods for different versions of MIUI (12 to 14) and Android (10 to 14), and you'll learn how to prevent assistants from accidentally turning on and what to do if they continue to activate after they're disabled.

Why the Xiaomi Mi voice assistant turns on on itself

Random voice assistants are one of the most common problems on Xiaomi smartphones, and here are the main reasons:

• 🎤 Long-term Home button retention – by default on many Mi and Redmi models, this action calls Google Assistant.
• 🔊 Voice activation – Phrases like “OK, Google” or “Little AI” (XiaoAI) can work even when listening to music or talking.
• 📱 Gestures and sensors – on some firmware, the assistant is activated when you bring the phone to your ear or double tap the screen.
• 🔄 Automatic updates – after update MIUI The assistants may be reset.

In addition, both assistants (Google Assistant and XiaoAI) can conflict with each other, especially if you use informal firmware or global versions of MIUI on Chinese devices, which leads to duplication of commands and unnecessary workload on the processor.

Method 1: Disable Google Assistant through Android Settings

This method works on all Xiaomi Mi smartphones running Android 10-14, and allows you to completely deactivate the Google Assistant, but does not affect XiaoAI.

1. Open the Google app (the icon with the letter "G" on a color background).
2. In the upper right corner, tap your profile avatar → select Settings.
3. Go to the Google Assistant section.
4. Scroll down and select General Settings.
5. Turn off the Google Assistant switch.
6. Confirm the action by clicking Disable in the window that appears.

After that, the assistant will stop responding to voice commands and holding the Home button. However, if you are using Xiaomi.eu or custom firmware, you may need to additionally disconnect via ADB (we will discuss this below).

Make sure that holding the home button for a long time doesn’t cause anything.|

Try saying "OK, Google" - the assistant doesn't have to respond |

Restart your phone and check again |

Open the Google Settings and make sure the switch is turned off.-->

Method 2: Deactivation of XiaoAI (Little AI) in MIUI

XiaoAI is Xiaomi’s signature voice assistant, which is often installed on Chinese and global versions of smartphones.It’s harder to turn off than Google Assistant, as it’s deeply integrated into MIUI.

Instructions for MIUI 12-14:

1. Open the Settings → Applications.
2. In the top row of the search, type XiaoAI (or “Little AI”).
3. Select the app from the list (the icon with the robot).
4. Click Disable (if the button is inactive, click Stop first).
5. Confirm the disconnect by clicking Disable the application.

If the Disable button is missing (as it happens on some firmware), try an alternative method:

1. Go to Settings → Sound and vibration → Voice assistant.
2. Turn off the switch next to XiaoAI.
3. In the same menu, turn off the option Voice Activation.

Method 3: Disconnect via ADB (for power users)

If standard methods don't work, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a deep-tuning tool that works for both assistants and works even on firmware where manual shutdown is blocked.

You'll need:

• 🖥️ Computer with drivers installed ADB and Fastboot.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on a smartphone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times tap the version, then go back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).

Instructions:

1. Connect the phone to your computer and confirm the debugging permission.
2. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with ADB.
3. Enter the command to disable Google Assistant: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox
4. To disable XiaoAI, use: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.voiceassist
5. Reboot the phone.

Important: these commands do not remove the applications completely, but only disable them for the current user.

💡

If, after the execution, ADB-Teams keep working, check for duplicate packages. For example, on some firmware, XiaoAI may be hidden under the name com.miui.voiceassistant (with one letter "t"). | grep -i voice to find all related packages.

Method 4: Removing Activation Taggeds and Gestures

Even after the assistants are turned off, they can be accidentally called in through gestures or labels on the desktop.

1. Removal of the shortcut from the desktop:

• 📱 Long click on the Google or XiaoAI icon → Delete.
• 🔍 If the shortcut is not removed, drag it to the basket at the top of the screen.

Disable the gestures:

• 👆 Go to Settings. → Additionally. → Gestures and buttons.
• 🔄 Turn off the option Long press home button (if any).
• 🎤 In the Voice Assistant section, disable Voice Activation.

Setting the power button:

On some Xiaomi Mi models (such as the Mi 11 or Mi 12), double-pressing the power button can call a voice assistant.

1. Go to Settings → Buttons and gestures → Power button.
2. Turn off the option of Double tap for voice assistant.
3. Choose another action (such as Camera or Flashlight).

Method 5: Using third-party applications to block

If system methods don't work, you can use third-party utilities to freeze unnecessary applications without root rights.

Best options:

When using Greenify or App Quarantine, add to the lock list:

• 🔍 Google (com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox)
• 🤖 XiaoAI (com.miui.voiceassist)
• 🎤 Google Voice Search (com.google.android.voicesearch)

💡

The app side does not remove the assistants completely, but only blocks them from running. After the system update, you may need to reconfigure.

What to do if the voice assistant is still turned on

If Google Assistant or XiaoAI continues to activate after all the manipulations, the problem may be as follows:

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI (Especially Chinese) voice assistants are protected from shutdown, in which case only flashing to the global or European version will help. MIUI (For example, Xiaomi.eu).

Possible causes and solutions:

• 🔄 Automatic App Update: Open Google Play → Settings → Auto Update Apps and select Do Not Update Automatically.
• 📱 Reset to factory settings: If assistants activated after update MIUI, Try resetting your settings through Settings → The phone. → Resetting. Important: Pre-reverse your data.
• 🛠️ Conflict with other applications: Some launchers (like Nova Launcher) or automation apps (like Tasker) may accidentally activate assistants.

If nothing works, the radical method is to obtain root rights and remove system applications through Magisk or TWRP. However, this will void the warranty and can lead to unstable phone operation.

FAQ: Frequent questions about turning off voice assistants on Xiaomi Mi