How to disable voice assistant on Xiaomi: the complete guide

Xiaomi’s Android-based smartphones offer users a wide range of smart features, including voice assistants, and are more likely to encounter Google Assistant, which is integrated by default, or Xiao AI, a proprietary assistant popular in Chinese firmware, which is designed to make it easier to interact with the gadget by managing apps, searching for information and running voice timers, but not all users find them useful in everyday use.

Many owners of Redmi and Poco devices notice that the voice assistant can be activated accidentally, for example, when you remove the phone from your pocket or carelessly press the power button. This situation not only consumes battery power, but can lead to dialing numbers or sending messages without the user’s knowledge, which is why the question of how to completely deactivate or limit the operation of these functions remains extremely relevant for those who prefer classic touch screen management.

In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available ways to disable voice assistants on various versions of the MIUI and HyperOS shells. You will learn how to disable activation through the lock button, disable the recognition of the phrase “OK, Google” and remove widgets from the home screen so that your smartphone works solely on your commands.

Differences between Google Assistant and Xiao AI

Before you start setting up, you need to clearly understand what tool you are dealing with, as the methods of their management are radically different. Global versions of Xiaomi smartphones usually come with a pre-installed Google Assistant, which is deeply integrated into the search giant’s ecosystem and Android services. This assistant is able to analyze the context of your messages, suggest routes and manage a smart home, requiring a Google account to work.

On the other hand, Xiao AI (or Xiao Love Class) is a development of Xiaomi itself, focused primarily on the Chinese market. In European and Russian versions of firmware, this assistant is often absent or replaced, but in Chinese daisies it is systemic and can conflict with the usual logic of use. Xiao AI is almost useless for a Russian-speaking user without deep customization of the system and language knowledge.

Disabling each requires visiting different sections of the settings menu. If Google Assistant is managed through the account profile and the settings of the application itself, Xiaomi’s system assistant often hides in deep interface menus or special sections for artificial intelligence. Misunderstanding what service you are concerned about can lead to the fact that you will turn off the wrong functions, leaving the source of annoyance active.

• 🤖 Google Assistant: Global Assistant, dependent on Google Play services, activated by a swipe from the corner or long button.
• 🇨🇳 Xiao AI: Local Assistant for Chinese firmware, deeply embedded in the core of the system MIUI China.
• ⚙️ System integration: Different levels of microphone access and clipboard for each type of assistant.

Disabling activation by power button

One of the most annoying features for many users is to start the assistant with a long press of the lock button, which is implemented by the manufacturer for quick access, but often leads to random activations in your pocket or bag. To change, you will need to go to the system settings, where the control of the physical buttons is placed in a separate logical unit.

Find a section in the settings menu that can be called Additional Features or Advanced Settings, depending on the version of your MIUI shell. Inside this menu, look for Buttons or Button Management. This is where the switch that controls the device's response to a long press of the power key is located. By default, it often has the "Call Google" or "Call Xiao AI" setting.

Change the action to Do Nothing or Turn off the screen if you want a long press to just turn off the display. This action is immediately applied, and the next time you press the lock button, the voice assistant will no longer start. It is important to note that on some new models with the HyperOS shell, this item can be hidden if the developer mode is not activated, but in most cases it is available immediately.

⚠️ Note: After you disable the long-press function, you will not be able to quickly call Google Assistant with a physical button. If you are used to using this feature, you may want to keep it active, but adjust the sensitivity or activation method.

Setting up Google Assistant on Xiaomi

If your goal is to completely disable Google Assistant, simply switching the power button won’t be enough, as it can be activated by voice or via widgets. To deep-tuning, you need to open the Google app itself or go to account settings via the smartphone menu. The path to settings can vary, but it’s usually at: Settings → Google → Settings for Google apps → Search and Assistant → Google Assistant.

In the menu that opens, find the Phone or Devices section where the main switches are located. Here you can turn off the Google Assistant option completely, putting the main slider in an inactive state. It is also recommended to turn off the "Ok Google" or "Hey Google" function, so that the phone stops constantly listening to the surroundings for a key phrase, which will save battery power significantly.

After making the changes, the system may ask for confirmation of action, warning that some features will stop working.This is a normal security response. Make sure you also check the microphone access settings for the Google app, limiting its use only when you open the search app yourself.

• 🔇 Voice activation: Turn off Ok Google Recognition to save energy.
• 🔒 Locked screen access: Disable access to the assistant when the phone is locked.
• 🗑️ Action history: It is recommended to periodically clear the history of voice requests in the account settings.

Managing System Assistant Xiao AI

Owners of Chinese firmware or global versions with Xiaomi.eu installed may have to disable Xiao AI. This assistant often tries to replace standard controls and can be intrusive. To disable it, look in the More or Additional section of the settings, and then select Xiao AI or Voice Assistant.

Inside the menu, you'll see a switch that activates or deactivates the service. If just turning off the switch is not enough, try clearing the application data. To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find Xiao AI (or Mi AI) list, and select Clear Data and Stop. This will forcefully terminate the process and prevent it from auto-starting until the next restart or update.

Note that on some models, such as the Xiaomi Mi Mix or the early Redmi Note, this assistant can be built into firmware at a level that does not allow complete removal without root rights.

⚠️ Warning: Forced shutdown of system applications through settings can lead to unstable interface operation. AI You notice lags or errors, restart the device.

Comparison of disconnection methods

For the convenience of users, we have organized the basic methods of deactivation into a single table, which will help you quickly navigate which way will suit your particular situation and smartphone model. Different versions of Android and MIUI may have slightly different item names, but the logic remains the same.

As you can see from the table, the most effective way is to take a comprehensive approach that combines button settings and software disabling services. Simply ignoring the function will not solve the problem of random launches, so it is recommended to go through all the settings.

Restriction of access rights and permissions

If you don’t want to completely remove or disable the assistant, but want to limit its capabilities, you can use permission management. Modern versions of Android (12, 13, 14 and later) have a flexible privacy control system. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications, find the appropriate service (Google or Xiao AI) and select the Permissions option.

Here you can deny access to Microphone, Contacts, Geolocation, and Calendar. Without access to the microphone, the voice assistant will not physically be able to hear your command, and without access to contacts, it will not be able to make calls on a voice request, which creates a strong barrier, keeping the application functional for other tasks, but blocking its main feature.

Also, you should pay attention to background activity. In the Battery or Energy Saving section, find the settings for the Google app and set a background activity limit, which will prevent the listening processes from running constantly when the device screen is off.

• 🎤 Microphone: Critical resolution for voice.
• 📍 Geolocation: Necessary to answer questions about weather and routes.
• 📞 Phone: Allows you to make calls and read SMS vocally.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions