How to permanently disable Google Assistant on Xiaomi Redmi 9: 5 proven ways

Google Assistant on Xiaomi Redmi 9 is often a cause of inconvenience: it spontaneously activates when holding the Home button, consumes battery power in the background and takes up precious space in memory. Despite the useful features (voice search, reminders, smart home management), many users prefer to turn it off — especially if you use alternative assistants like Mi AI or Alice Yandex.

The problem is that MIUI (Xiaomi firmware) does not always provide an obvious way to completely disable Google Assistant. Even after deactivation through settings, it can continue to work in the background, consuming resources. In this article, we will discuss 5 methods - from simple to advanced, including hidden settings MIUI 12/13/14 and ADB commands. You can choose the best option depending on your version of the firmware and level of technical training.

Why Google Assistant is Interfering with Redmi 9

On Redmi 9 (Redmi 9A/9C/9T models inclusive), Google Assistant is integrated at the system level and has multiple “entry points”:

• 🔘 Home button activation: Holding calls the assistant, even if you are used to another action (such as opening the app menu).
• 🔊 Voice activation: The phrase “OK, Google” is triggered by random action while talking or listening to music.
• 📱 Background processes: com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox consumes up to 150-200 MB of RAM and drains the battery by 3-5% per night.
• 🔄 Google Play Services regularly restores the assistant, even if you disabled it.

According to XDA Developers, on Redmi 9 with 2/3/4 GB of RAM, disabling Google Assistant frees up to 10-15% of RAM and increases battery life by 1-1.5 hours, especially on MIUI firmware 12.5 and older, where optimizing background processes leaves much to be desired.

⚠️ Note: On some versions MIUI Global (e.g. 12.0.8.0 for Redmi 9) disabling Google Assistant may cause Google Play Store or YouTube to malfunction. → The phone. → Version. MIUI.

Method 1: Disconnect via Google Settings (the easiest)

This method is suitable for users who want to deactivate the voice assistant but don't want to delete it completely.It works on all versions of MIUI and doesn't require root rights.

Instructions:

1. Open the Google app (the icon with the letter “G” on the home screen).
2. Slip on the profile avatar in the upper right corner → select Settings.
3. Go to the Google Assistant section → General.
4. Turn off the Google Assistant slider (at the top of the screen).
5. In the window that appears, confirm the action by clicking Off.

After that, the assistant will stop responding to voice commands and the Home button retention. However, the background processes (com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox) will continue to work, consuming resources.

There is no response to “OK, Google"|Home button does not call an assistant|Task Manager does not have a Google App process"|Notifications from the Assistant are disabled-->

To completely stop background activity, additionally:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find Google → Battery → Select Limit Background Activity.
3. In the same Google app menu, click Notifications and turn off all switches.

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If the Assistant is activated again after Google is disabled, clear the cache of the Google and Google Play Services app in the app settings.

Method 2: Remove Google App Updates (without root)

Google Assistant is part of the Google app (com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox) If you roll it back to the factory version, the assistant will stop working, but the basic search features will remain.

How to do this:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find Google → click on the three dots in the top right corner → Remove updates.
3. Confirm the action. The app will return to the version that was installed out of the box.

After that:

• 🚫 Google Assistant will stop running.
• ⚠️ Voice search in Chrome browser may not work properly.
• 🔄 Google Play Store will try to update the app.To prevent this, disable auto-update for Google in Play Store settings.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI (For example, 13.0.4.0 for Redmi 9, removing updates can cause the error "Google stopped." In this case, restart the phone or restore updates.

Method 3: Disconnect via ADB (for power users)

If previous methods failed, you can force the Google Assistant to be deactivated using ADB (Android Debug Bridge) commands. This does not require root rights, but requires connecting the phone to a computer.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 📱 Cable USB (preferably original).
• 🛠️ Utility. ADB (You can download from the official Android website).
• ⚙️ Included Debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times tap the assembly number → Go back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect Redmi 9 to your computer and allow debugging (a request will appear on your phone screen).
2. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with ADB.
3. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices must appear serial number of your device.
4. Run the command to disable Google Assistant: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox
5. Reboot the phone.

This command removes the application only for the current user (without affecting system files).

• ✅ Google Assistant will disappear from the system.
• ⚠️ Some Google features (like image search) may not work well.
• 🔄 To return the assistant, just update the Google application through the Play Store.

Method 4: Use hidden MIUI settings (for firmware 12.5+)

MIUI 12.5 and later (including MIUI 13/14 for Redmi 9) have hidden options for managing system applications, which allow you to disable Google Assistant without ADB.

How to access:

1. Open the phone app and enter the code: ##4636##
2. In the menu that appears, select Phone Information → scroll down to the MIUI Hidden Settings block.
3. Go to Manage Applications (Manage Applications).
4. Find in the Google list and turn off the switches: 🔘 Assistant (Assistant) 🔘 Background Activity (Background Activity) 🔘 Auto-start (Auto-start)

Save the changes and restart the phone.

This method doesn’t work on all versions of MIUI, but if it’s available, it’s the safest way to disable the assistant without the risk of crashes.

Method 5: Complete root-right removal (extreme method)

If you're willing to take drastic measures, you can completely remove Google Assistant with root rights.

• 🔧 I have already received root (for example, through Magisk).
• 📱 Use custom firmware (for example, LineageOS or Pixel Experience).
• 🚀 At least once unlocked bootloader on Xiaomi.

Instructions:

1. Install Titanium Backup or Root Explorer from Play Store.
2. Open the app and find it in the list of com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox.
3. Select Delete and confirm the action.
4. Reboot the phone.

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ Google Assistant will be permanently removed, even after resetting.
• ✅ Free up to 200-300 MB of memory.

Risks:

• ⚠️ Google Play Services malfunction (apps may stop updating).
• ⚠️ Loss of warranty (if the phone is warranty) it is better to use other methods).
• ⚠️ Possible disruptions GMS (Google Mobile Services).

⚠️ Attention: Redmi 9 with firmware MIUI Global Stable removing system applications through root can result in a bootloop (loop reboot). TWRP.

Through Google's settings|Removal of updates|ADB-team|Hidden settings MIUI|Root + complete removal|Don't turn it off.-->

What to do if Google Assistant is turned on again

Even after Google is disabled, Assistant may recover due to:

• 🔄 Auto Updates to Google Apps Through Play Store.
• 📱 Resetting phone settings to factory.
• 🔧 Firmware updates MIUI (Especially when switching to a new version of Android).

How to prevent:

1. Turn off auto-update for Google app: Open Play Store → click on profile avatar → Settings. Select App Auto-Update → Do not update automatically.
2. Freeze the app with App Quarantine (requires Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools).
3. Use an alternative launcher (like Nova Launcher) where you can reassign the Home button.

If the assistant shows up anyway, check:

• 📌 Availability of updates MIUI (Sometimes bugs are fixed in new versions).
• 📌 Relevance of Google Play Services (Older versions can restore Assistant).

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If Google Assistant returns after each update MIUI, The only radical way is to turn it off. ADB In other cases, the combination of removing updates will help. + shutdown.

FAQ: Frequent questions about turning off Google Assistant on Redmi 9