Owners of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro smartphone often face a situation where the device suddenly activates the voice assistant when unlocking the screen or pressing the power button. This default behavior causes significant discomfort, especially if you are used to classic control and do not use voice commands. The random launch of Google Assistant interrupts current tasks, drains the battery and sometimes even makes unwanted calls.
The problem is that Google's services are deeply integrated into the MIUI shell that's installed on your device, which is trying to anticipate user actions, but often interprets a long tap or swipe as a command to call an assistant, and fortunately, developers have left the option to completely deactivate this feature or reassign it to more useful actions.
In this article, we will discuss all available methods of disabling the assistant in detail. You will learn how to change button settings, block access from the lock screen and prevent accidental activations in your pocket. Completely disabling the Google Assistant on the Redmi Note 9 Pro does not affect the operation of other system applications, such as navigation or voice input.
Analysis of the causes of accidental activation of the assistant
Before you get to the settings, you need to understand how the function works. On Redmi Note 9 Pro, calling the assistant is most often caused by a long press of the on button or swipe from the bottom corner of the screen, these actions are “sewn” by default into the firmware for quick access to Google Assistant.
Sometimes it's not just physical impact, but also software conflict, for example, if you have a Google app that's out of date or has corrupted cache files, it can be incorrect, and it's worth checking if OK, Google is enabled, which responds to voice commands even when the screen is off.
- 🔘 Long-term pressing of the power button (standard action in the MIUI).
- 🖐 Swipe from the bottom corner of the screen (depending on the navigation selected).
- 🗣 Voice activation via microphone (OK, Google").
It’s important to consider that different versions of Android (10 or 11) may have slightly different paths to settings, but the logic remains the same: If you recently upgraded your smartphone, the old settings may have reset or changed your priorities.
Disconnection through system button settings
The most effective way to remove the annoying feature is to reassign the power button to the MIUI shell, and this is done through the special feature menu, so you need to go to the settings section where the physical buttons of the device are controlled.
Open Settings and find Additional or Advanced Settings. Next, select Buttons or Button Assignment. Here you will see the option Long-Tap On/Off. Google Assistant is the default button.
⚠️ Warning: After changing this setting, a long press on the power button will no longer cause the smartphone switch off menu. To turn off the phone, you will now have to press the button twice or use the software menu.
Change the value to "Nothing" or "Switch off power" if this option is available in your firmware version, and this action will instantly stop the system's response to a physical impact on the button in the context of calling an assistant.
☑️ Checking button settings
Blocking access from the lock screen
Even if you reassign the button, the assistant can be launched from a locked screen via a swipe or voice, which creates the risk of accidentally dialing a number or sending messages, and to protect the device, you need to restrict access to Google functions before unlocking.
Go to the settings of the Google app itself. To do this, find the app icon in the menu or follow the Settings path → Apps → All Apps → Google. From the menu that opens, select Google Assistant Settings.
In All Assistants, look for Phone, and you're interested in the Lock Screen tab or Personal Results tab, and disable options that allow you to show notifications or take actions without unlocking your device, which will increase the security of your data.
| Parameter | Recommended value | Impact on the system |
|---|---|---|
| Lockdown access | Off. | Banning launch without password |
| Personal results | Hiddenly. | Data confidentiality |
| Voice. | Included. | Protection from someone else's voice |
| Notifications | Off. | Reducing screen noise |
After making changes, the system may require you to confirm the action or restart the interface. Make sure that all switches have maintained the preset position after restarting.
Setting up voice activation "OK, Google"
The constant microphone listening feature to search for the phrase “OK, Google” is one of the main sources of battery discharge on the Redmi Note 9 Pro. If you are not using voice control, it is recommended to turn it off completely.
To do this, open the Google app, click on the profile avatar in the upper right corner and select Settings. Go to the Voice Input section. → Voice "OK, Google." You need to move the slider to the off position.
Why does the assistant turn on in your pocket?
Also, delete the saved voice sample if you no longer plan to use the feature, this is done in the same menu where you disabled activation. Click Delete voice sample and confirm the action.
- 🔋 Saving battery power by avoiding constant listening.
- 🔒 Increased privacy (microphone not active in the background).
- 🚫 Avoid false positives when talking or watching TV.
Management through Application Manager and Permissions
If standard methods don't work, you can restrict the rights of the Google app itself, a more radical method that actually freezes the assistant's functionality without deleting system files.
Go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Go to Google (not Chrome, but the app with the G logo). Select the Permissions option. You need to revoke access to the Microphone and, if available, Contacts and Calendar.
Without access to the microphone, voice commands cannot be physically processed, but this will also disable dictating text in the search bar and voice dialing through search, weigh the pros and cons before using this method.
⚠️ Warning: Revoking all permissions from Google’s system app may cause unstable search, desktop widgets, and Google Now (tape to the left of the home screen).
In the same menu, you can find the Stop or Disable button. On many Xiaomi devices, the Disable button is only active for updates, not for the system version. If the button is active, use it to fully deactivate.
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If the assistant still pops up after all the settings, try to clear the Google app data. Path: Settings -> Apps -> Google -> Memory -> Clear all the data. This will return the settings to factory settings.
Use of third-party launchers and automation
For advanced users who want to fully control the behavior of the smartphone, there are launcher applications that replace the standard shell MIUI. Installing a third-party launcher, such as Nova Launcher or Launcher 10, allows you to reassign any gestures and buttons.
You can also use automation applications like MacroDroid or Tasker to create a macro that says, "If you run Google Assistant, you can use it to create a macro." → Close the application right away. This creates a loop that instantly blocks the assistant from working whenever you try to activate it.
This approach takes time to set up, but gives you maximum flexibility: You can adjust your response to events that are not provided for by the standard Xiaomi interface, for example, only disable the assistant at a certain time of day or in a specific location.
- 🛠 Installation of a third-party launcher to replace system gestures.
- 🤖 Setup macros to automatically close applications.
- ⏱ Creating activity schedules for voice search.
It’s worth remembering that using third-party launchers can change the look and feel of the interface and require getting used to, and some MIUI features, such as themes or a second space, may not work properly.
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The complete shutdown of all activation methods (buttons, swipes, voice) ensures that Google Assistant will no longer bother you at the most inopportune time.