Owners of modern media consoles often face intrusive built-in features that, conceived as convenient, in practice only interfere with the comfortable use of the device. Xiaomi Mi Box, running on the basis of Android TV, was no exception: the voice assistant Google Assistant is constantly active and responds to the press of a special button on the remote. For many users who prefer to control the mouse or keyboard, this becomes a serious irritant, especially if the assistant overlaps the interface or is activated accidentally.
Unfortunately, the Android TV system cannot completely remove or deactivate the Google Assistant system component, as it is deeply integrated into the firmware. However, there are proven methods to minimize its impact on your work with the device. Engineering menus, resetting remote settings and using third-party utilities are the tools that will help you regain control of the gadget.
In this article, we will discuss all available ways to solve the problem, from simple settings in the menu to advanced methods through debugging. USB. You will learn how to reassign the hot key, disable voice input in specific applications and what risks there is a complete shutdown of system services. APK-An assistant file without root rights is impossible and can lead to unstable system operation.
Why Google Assistant is in the way and can it be removed?
The main problem is that Google Assistant is reserved for a separate button on the remote control, and when accidentally pressed, the system interrupts the playback of a video or game, triggering the command listening. It's not just uncomfortable, it violates immersion and annoys with frequent use of the console by the whole family, when children can accidentally activate the function.
Users often look for a way to completely remove the app, but the Android TV architecture is built so that the assistant is part of the system process com.google.android.gms. Attempting a rough removal can lead to a cyclical reboot of the console or errors in the work of other Google services.
It is also worth noting that in different regions and on different versions of firmware (Global, China, EU), the behavior of the system may differ, and in some cases, the software update returns the default settings, so after each update, the configuration procedure may need to be repeated.
- 🔴 Accidental activation interrupts watching movies and TV series.
- 🔴 Voice input collects user data, which worries privacy advocates.
- 🔴 The assistant button takes up space that could be used for other macros.
- 🔴 Background service use up the device's RAM.
⚠️ Note: Before making any changes to system settings or using debugging USB, Make sure you understand the consequences of your actions. Incorrect modification of system files can lead to loss of warranty.
Disabling voice input through system settings
The first and safest step is to limit the assistant's functionality through the regular settings menu, and while that won't take the button off the remote, it will make the assistant "deaf" and less intrusive. You'll need access to the main Android TV interface.
To start, you need to go to the account settings section, where you can turn off your voice history, which will prevent the assistant from learning from your commands and personalizing responses, and it also reduces the likelihood that the device will react to background noise.
Next, you'll find the settings for the Google app itself. Depending on the operating system version, the path may vary slightly, but the logic remains the same: search for the Voice or Voice Input section, where you can turn off speech recognition or disable hot button activation if the firmware allows.
☑️ Checking privacy settings
It is important to understand that even after disabling all togglers in the settings, the physical button on the Xiaomi Mi Remote remote can continue to trigger the system waiting window of the command.This is a limit on the level of remote drivers, which is software difficult to circumvent, but can be mitigated by depriving the application of the rights to the microphone.
Reassignment and lock button on the remote
The most effective way to deal with an intrusive assistant is to reassign the button that calls it. On a standard Xiaomi remote, it's usually a microphone button or a color button. You can't do this with standard Android TVs, so you'll need to install a dedicated app.
One of the most popular and proven solutions is Button Mapper (or its counterparts, such as Remap Keys), which allows you to intercept the signal from the remote buttons and assign them new actions, you can make it so that when you press the microphone button, Netflix opens, the screen turns off or nothing happens at all.
The setup process requires that the application be given special permissions through the Accessibility menu, without which the program cannot intercept the clicks. Once the rights are set and granted, the algorithm of actions is as follows:
- Launch the application to reassign buttons.
- Select the button “Google Assistant” or “Microphone”.
- Set the action "No Action" or "Single Press" -> "Nothing".
- Save the profile and check the work.
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If the microphone button still calls the assistant, try assigning a "Double Press" action to it for a useful function, and a plug on "Single" is placed on it, which often helps to override the system priority.
Sometimes, Android TV can force default settings back for system buttons, so the App-Mopper settings must enable the "Start-up on boot" and "Save settings" option, which will ensure that your rules apply every time the Xiaomi Mi Box is turned on.
| Locking method | Efficiency | Difficulty | Risk of discharge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google account settings | Low. | Low. | High-pitched |
| Apps of the Mapper (Button Mapper) | Tall. | Medium | Medium. |
| Disconnection through ADB | Maximum | Tall. | Low. |
| Sticking the button | Physically | Low. | Absent. |
Using ADB for Deep Deactivation
For users who are not afraid of the command line and want to achieve a guaranteed result, there is a method to disable the package via Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which allows you to forcibly stop or “freeze” the system component responsible for voice control, making it impossible to call.
First, you need to activate the developer mode on the console. Go to Settings -> Device -> Assembly and press 7 times on the build number until you get a message that you have become a developer. Then, in the "Development for Developers" menu that appears, turn on "Debugging on USB".
You will need a computer (Windows, macOS or Linux) and an installed computer. ADB, or a special application on the console itself, allowing you to perform ADB-Local commands (e.g. Send Files to) TV paired ADB Shell if you have a keyboard or an app ADB Keyboard, connect to the console by IP-At the address, execute a command to search for packages associated with the assistant:
adb shell pm list packages | grep googleFind packages that contain the words assistant, googleassistant or voicesearch. Usually com.google.android.appsassistant. To disable it, use the command:
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.appsassistantHow do you get it back?
Once the command is executed, the button on the remote will stop responding or will give an error message, since the target application will be in a "disabled" state. This is the most radical, but also the most effective software method.
⚠️ Note: Disabling system packages through ADB This method can affect other Google services, such as TV search or Cast functions, and only use it if you are confident in your actions.
Alternative solutions and third-party remotes
If software methods seem too complex or unreliable, you can always resort to hardware solutions. Using an alternative remote control is a way to completely ignore the logic of how Xiaomi’s native controller works.
Many users are switching to universal Bluetooth or USB-dongle remotes that have programmable buttons, like the MINIX, G20, or even a regular wireless mouse and keyboard, in which case the assistant button on the native remote simply stops being used while lying in the drawer.
There are also smartphone push apps (the official Google Home or Android TV Remote Control) that you don't use a physical remote control when you're running a console from your phone, so the microphone button doesn't matter, which is handy if your phone is always on hand.
- 🟢 Purchase of a remote with a keyboard (for example, G20S Pro gives full control.
- 🟢 Using a Smartphone as a Remote via Wi-Fi.
- 🟢 Connecting normally USB-keyboard.
- 🟢 Buying an IR remote without the Google Assistant button.
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Using a third-party remote control is the only way to physically get rid of the risk of accidentally pressing an unnecessary button without interfering with the console's program code.
Possible problems and solutions
You may encounter a number of difficulties when you turn off the voice assistant, and it often happens that after the device (Xiaomi Mi Box S or older models) is reset, the assistant starts to activate again, which is the standard behavior of a system trying to restore services.
If the mapper app stops working, check if the Android TV system has updated its components. Google Play Services update may return the rights to the system assistant, in which case you will need to reconfigure or use the method with ADB, which is more resistant to reboots.
Sometimes users complain that after disabling the assistant, voice search inside YouTube or Netflix stopped working, this is due to the fact that these applications use the system gateway to enter voice. To return the search, but leave the button locked, you will have to turn on the system package again through ADB, but leave the reassignment button in force through the mapper.
In rare cases, you may need to completely reset your device to Factory Reset, only as a last resort if the system has started to work unstable after your experiments, and remember to save important data before resetting.