How to permanently disable Google Assistant on Xiaomi: 5 proven ways

Google Assistant on Xiaomi smartphones is often activated by accident – just press the Home button or say “OK, Google.” For many users, this feature becomes an annoying factor: it eats battery power, collects data about location and habits, and also interferes with games or watching videos. Especially relevant problem for owners of Redmi Note, POCO F-series and Xiaomi 12/13, where the assistant is integrated at the firmware level MIUI.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible ways to turn off Google Assistant on Xiaomi in 2026, including hidden settings. MIUI, work ADB-It is important to understand that some methods may differ depending on the firmware version (from the firmware version). MIUI 12 to MIUI 14) and device models. If you use custom firmware like LineageOS or Pixel Experience, some of the instructions may not work, which we'll mention.

1. Disconnection through standard MIUI settings

The easiest and safest way is to use the built-in options, which is suitable for most users and does not require root rights or technical knowledge.

1. Open the Google app (the icon with the letter "G" on a color background).
2. Slip on your profile avatar in the upper right corner.
3. Select Settings → Google Assistant.
4. Scroll down to the Assistant section and click General Settings.
5. Turn off the Google Assistant slider.

After that, the assistant will stop responding to voice commands, but can continue to work while holding the Home button to block this trigger completely:

• 📱 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔍 Find Google in the list and open its settings.
• 🚫 Select Disable (this won’t delete the app, but will stop it from running in the background).
• ⚙️ In the Permissions section, disable access to Microphone and Location.

⚠️ Warning: On some models (e.g., Xiaomi 13 Pro or POCO F5) the Assistant may turn on after rebooting after being disabled via Google settings. This is due to Google Mobile Services' policy (GMS), which automatically restore services.

2.Removing Google Updates through App Settings

Often the problem lies in the automatic updates to the Google app, which return the Assistant even after manually shutting down.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management → Google.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Remove Updates.
3. Confirm the action. The system will return the application to the factory version.
4. Go back to the Google Assistant settings (as in the first method) and turn it off again.

You need to block the automatic update:

• 🛑 Open the Google Play Store.
• 🔍 Find the Google app.
• 📛 Click on the three dots next to the Update button and uncheck the Auto Update box.

💡

If the Assistant continues to work after removing the Google updates, try clearing the cache of the Google and Google Play Services app in the app settings.

📌 Important: This method can cause other Google services such as Google Pay or Google Maps to run unstable. If you actively use these apps, consider alternatives below.

3. Disconnection via ADB (no root)

For users who are ready for more complex manipulations, there is a method using Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which allows you to disable Google Assistant at the system level without obtaining root rights.

First, prepare the computer:

1. Download and install the platform-tools (part of the Android SDK).
2. Turn on the smartphone Developer Mode: go to Settings → About phone and 7 times tap on the version of MIUI.
3. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and activate Debugging over USB.
4. Connect your phone to your PC through USB-cable and select File Transfer Mode.

Now run commands in the terminal (or Command Prompt on Windows):

adb devices

(Your device should show up. If not, check the drivers.)

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox

This command removes Google Assistant for the current user (without deleting system files).

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox

It also blocks automatic recovery of the service.

⚠️ Warning: On some firmware MIUI 14, after using ADB Google Assistant may return after resetting or major system update. To avoid this, back up your current settings through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset.

4. Use of third-party utilities (with root)

If you have root rights on your Xiaomi, you can use specialized tools to deep-disable Google services.

For the Titanium Backup:

1. Install the application from Magisk Manager or from the official website.
2. Give root access.
3. Find Google and Google Play Services in the list.
4. Select the action Freeze (do not delete!).
5. Reset the device.

💡

Use root tools requires caution, and do not remove system applications marked "[VENDOR]" or "[FRAMEWORK]" - this can cause the phone to fail.

🔧 Advice for Advanced: If You Use Custom Recovery (TWRP), You can create a backup copy of the section /system This will allow you to recover the phone in case of a failure. TWRP:

adb backup --twrp /system

5. Alternative methods: launcher replacement and gestures

If Google Assistant is activated when you hold the Home button, you can reassign that action or remove the button from the screen altogether.

Method 1: Change the action of the Home button

• 🏠 Go to Settings → Additional → Buttons and gestures → Home button.
• 🔄 Select Do Nothing or Open the Menu.
• 📱 Some models (e.g., POCO X3) have the option to Run Google Assistant – just uncheck.

Method 2: Install a third-party launcher

Launchers like Nova Launcher or Lawnchair allow you to completely redefine gestures and buttons:

1. Install Nova Launcher from the Play Store.
2. Set it as the default launcher in the application settings.
3. Go to Settings Nova → Gestures and controls.
4. Find the Home option and assign another action (such as Open Apps).

Method 3: Disable voice control

If the problem is only voice activation (OK, Google), you can turn off voice recognition.

• 🎤 Go to Settings → Google → Devices and Sharing → Voice Match.
• ❌ Turn off the access option from the lock screen.
• 🔇 In the Voice Assistant section, select No.

6 Radical Methods: Deleting Google Services

For users who are willing to sacrifice some functionality to get rid of Google Assistant, there are extreme measures that are only suitable for power users and can lead to unstable device operation.

Method 1: Removal through Magisk

If you have Magisk installed, you can use modules to deactivate Google services:

1. Download DisableGMS or Universal SafetyNet Fix.
2. Install it through Magisk Manager.
3. Reset the device.

Method 2: Switching to firmware without GMS

Some custom firmware (like LineageOS without Google or CalyxOS) are initially devoid of Google services.

• 📱 You will have to manually install alternatives to the Play Store (e.g. F-Droid or Aurora Store).
• 🔧 Not all apps will work without Google Play Services.
• ⚠️ The warranty on the device will be lost.

Method 3: Blocking through hosts file

You can block access to Google servers by editing the hosts file:

1. Install a file manager with root access (such as Root Explorer).
2. Open the file /system/etc/hosts.
3. Add the lines: 127.0.0.1 google.com 127.0.0.1 www.google.com 127.0.0.1 assistants.google.com
4. Save the changes and restart the device.

💡

Radical methods can disrupt banking applications, Google Pay, and geolocation services, and make sure you have a backup and access to alternative services before using them.

7. Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after Google is disabled, Assistant can continue to work or return after updates, and here are the most common problems and ways to solve them:

⚠️ Warning: If push notifications (such as WhatsApp or Telegram) have stopped working after manipulation with Google Assistant, check the battery settings for these applications. MIUI may have background optimization enabled by default, which blocks notifications.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select a problem app (such as Telegram).
3. Activate the Autostart option.
4. In the Battery section, select No Limits.

8. Google Assistant Alternatives to Xiaomi

If you have disabled Google Assistant but want to keep the functionality of the voice assistant, consider alternatives:

• 🤖 XiaoAI is a built-in assistant from Xiaomi. It runs on Chinese firmware, but can be installed through the Mi App Store on global versions. Supports management of smart devices Mi Home.
• 🌐 Alice from Yandex is a Russian voice assistant with integration of Yandex services (Weather, Maps, Music).
• 📱 Bixby (for Samsung users) – if you have Samsung devices, you can sync them with Xiaomi via SmartThings.
• 🔍 Assistant.ai is an open-source, custom-based assistant that is suitable for tech-savvy users.

To install XiaoAI on global firmware:

1. Download the APK- file from the official Xiaomi website (section Mi AI).
2. Install the file by allowing installation from unknown sources.
3. Set a voice command to activate in the application settings.
4. Link your Mi Account to sync with smart devices.

💡 Tip: If you use Xiaomi smart devices (lamps, robot vacuum cleaners, sockets), XiaoAI will be more useful than Google Assistant, as it has direct integration with the Mi Home ecosystem.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions