Redmi 8 series smartphones running MIUI shells often raise questions about pre-installed features that activate themselves. One of the most intrusive features is the constant availability of the voice assistant, which can be activated by random pressing of the power button or swipe. Device owners often face a situation where the phone responds to voice commands without the owner’s knowledge, consuming battery power and distracting from important tasks.
The process of completely disabling voice control is not always obvious, since the developers of Xiaomi and Google have hidden these settings in different parts of the system. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to deactivate both the built-in Mi AI and the standard Google Assistant to completely free the device from unnecessary interference. You will learn what settings you need to change so that the phone ceases to respond to your commands and casual touches.
It’s important to understand that completely disabling these features will not affect the stability of the Android operating system, but only eliminate unnecessary services. We will consider all possible scenarios, including disabling the reaction to prolonged button clamping and blocking the activation screens, which will allow you to configure Redmi 8 exactly as you want, without unnecessary automation.
Differences between Mi AI and Google Assistant on Redmi 8
Before you start setting up, you need to clearly understand the difference between the two main voice assistants that can be active on your device. Xiaomi smartphones often preinstalled its own Mi AI assistant, which is tailored to the Chinese market and some specific features of the MIUI shell. It is deeply integrated into the system and can offer automation scenarios that are not always clear to the user from other regions.
On the other hand, most global versions of Redmi 8 use Google Assistant as their primary voice control tool, which is closely linked to Google services such as maps, mail, and calendar. It’s important to note that disabling one assistant doesn’t guarantee disabling the other, so it often requires actions for both services to be performed to complete the result.
⚠️ Note: When you turn off Google Assistant, you may lose the ability to use voice typing in the Gboard keyboard and the “Ok Google” function to search for the device.
Users often confuse the two systems by trying to find the settings of one in the menu of the other. Mi AI is managed through the Security app or separate MIUI settings, whereas Google Assistant lives in the bowels of a Google account and the search app. Understanding this architecture will help you avoid getting confused in the many switches.
Disable Google Assistant through account settings
The most reliable way to remove the standard assistant from the search giant is to go to its own settings. To do this, open the Google app on your Redmi 8 or go to the phone settings. Find the section responsible for Google services and select the item associated with the assistant. Here are the basic levers of functionality management.
In the menu that opens, you'll need to find the Assistant tab or Google Assistant tab, and scroll down until you see the Phone or Devices section, and that's where the master switch is, which activates or deactivates all of the voice control functionality at the system level.
After turning off the main switch, the system may prompt you to confirm an action or choose a reason. Android will warn you that some features will stop working. Don't be afraid to agree if you don't need voice search. This action is reversible and you can always turn the service back on through the same path.
☑️ Checklist of Google Assistant shutdown
Setting the reaction to the power button in MIUI
One of the most annoying features for many Xiaomi Redmi 8 owners is calling the assistant when you press the power button for a long time. By default, in newer versions of MIUI, this key is often reassigned to calling Google Assistant, which prevents you from using the standard phone switch-off menu. Fortunately, this setting is easy to change.
To return the power button to its direct function, go to the basic Settings of the smartphone. Search by settings, type the word "button" or manually search for the Advanced Settings (or Additional) section, where you will find the item "Push and hold the power button".
In the menu that opens, you'll be given two options: call Google Assistant or open the shutdown menu. To return to classic Android behavior, select "Stop Menu" and then press the side button for a long time to again offer options to reboot or disable the device, rather than start voice search.
| Action. | Standard behavior | After setting up |
|---|---|---|
| Single tap | Screen switching on/off | No change. |
| Double-push | Camera start (if enabled) | No change. |
| Long pressing | Launching Google Assistant | Shutdown menu |
Changing this setting greatly improves the ergonomics of using the Redmi 8. You no longer have to wait for the voice interface to boot just to turn off the phone, which is especially convenient in stressful situations when the device needs to be urgently restarted or de-energized.
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If the assistant still calls after changing the settings, try to restart the smartphone – changes in MIUI sometimes take effect only after restarting the system.
Deactivation of Mi AI and Xiaomi system functions
In addition to Google products, MIUI can have its own voice engine, Mi AI, active in the shell, and even if you don’t use it, it can take up space in memory and work in the background, and you’ll need to find an app or section in the settings that’s often called “Mi AI” or “Voice Assistant” to turn it off.
Inside this section, look for the Voice Activation or Wake Word switch. Disabling this feature will prevent the phone from responding to voice commands without touching the screen. It is also worth checking the Security app settings, as Xiaomi often hides permissions for system services there.
If your Redmi 8 has global firmware installed, Mi AI may be inactive by default, but its components may remain in the system, in which case you can use the “Disable” function in the application management menu, which will hide the icon and stop the processes associated with this service without removing it completely from the system.
⚠️ Warning: Complete removal of Mi system components AI through ADB-The team can lead to unstable operation of the shell MIUI and errors in the work of other Xiaomi applications.
It is recommended to limit the software shutdown through settings. This is a safe method that does not violate the integrity of system files. If you notice that widgets or smart scripts stopped working after the Mi AI was turned off, just return the settings to the original position.
Hidden commands for advanced users
Control of voice input and keyboard
Even after the main assistants are disabled, voice input can remain active in text fields, thanks to the integration of Gboard or other keyboards with speech recognition services, and if the microphone on the keyboard keeps appearing or activating accidentally, this too can be fixed.
Go to the settings of any text field to call the keyboard, and click on the gear icon. In the Gboard menu, select the "Voice input" section. Here you will find a switch that completely disables the ability to dictate text. This is useful if you often type in your pocket or bag and are afraid of accidental activation.
Also, check the permissions for the Google app. Under the Apps → All Apps → Google → Permissions, make sure that access to the microphone is configured according to your preferences. You can choose to ask or disallow, if you do not plan to use your voice at all.
- 🔍 Open the keyboard settings through the gear icon.
- 🎤 Go to the "Voice" section and turn it off.
- 🔒 Check the permissions of the Google app to access the microphone.
- 📱 Make sure that other applications (such as the browser) do not auto-activate search.
This comprehensive check ensures that no application can activate the microphone without your knowledge. On Redmi 8, it will also have a positive impact on battery life, as background speech recognition processes consume CPU resources.
Resetting settings and additional methods
In the rare cases where settings don’t apply or software failures occur, a more radical approach may be needed. If the voice assistant on Xiaomi Redmi 8 is behaving inadequately, try clearing the app data. To do this, search for Google or Mi AI in the app menu, select Memory and click Clear Data and Clear Cache.
This action will return the assistant settings to factory settings, and you will have to re-go through the initial setup process, where you can immediately refuse to activate voice functions, which is an effective way to reset the erroneous configurations that may have accumulated during the use of the smartphone.
If the problem is a conflict of updates, check the version of the Google Play app and the Google app itself in the Play Market Store. Outdated versions may not work properly with new versions of MIUI. Updating to the latest available version often solves problems with spontaneous activation.
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Cleaning up the app’s data is a secure procedure that doesn’t delete your personal contacts or photos, but resets the settings of the app itself to factory ones.
Remember that regular system updates are key to stable operation. Xiaomi often releases patches that fix bugs in the work of system services, including voice control.