How to completely disable Google Now on Xiaomi: 5 proven ways

Why Google Now is Hindering Xiaomi Users and How to Delete It Forever

Google Now (now part of Google Assistant) was originally marketed as a smart assistant, but for many Xiaomi owners, it has become a source of irritation. The reasons are standard: constant weather notifications, schedule reminders that no one asked for, and background activity that eats up to 15% of battery life per day (according to tests on the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ with MIUI 14).

The problem is compounded by Xiaomi integrating Google services at the firmware level. Even after manually shutting down through the settings, the assistant can “resurrect” after updating MIUI or resetting to factory settings. This article highlights the current ways to completely remove Google Now (including hidden system processes) tested on the Poco F5, Xiaomi 13 Ultra and other devices from 2022-2026.

Method 1: Disable via Google Settings (without root)

The safest method, but it doesn’t work on all versions of MIUI, is suitable for users who have Google Now activated via a swipe gesture up from the bottom bar or the Home button.

Instructions:

• 📱 Open the Google app (the icon with the letter "G" on a colored background).
• 👤 Slip on the profile avatar in the upper right corner → Settings.
• 🔍 Choose Google Assistant → General.
• ⚙️ Go to Google Assistant (Once again) → Turn off the slider opposite Google Assistant.
• 🔄 Reboot the device is a must-do step, otherwise the gestures may continue to fire.

If Google Now still starts after the reboot, check the gesture settings in MIUI:

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Special features → Gestures and movements.
2. Search for Google Assistant and turn it off.

Is the slider disabled in the Google Assistant settings | Removed overlay rights for Google (Settings → Apps → Permissions → Special Access) | Rebooted device | Checked gesture settings in MIUI-->

⚠️ Note: On some firmware (for example, MIUI 13 Global for Redmi Note 10 Pro) after disabling Assistant, voice search in Chrome may disappear. To return it, install an alternative browser, such as Firefox or Edge.

Method 2: Remove updates and roll back to factory version

Google Now often wakes up after automatically updating Google Play services, the solution being to return the app to the factory version and block the updates.

Step-by-step:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find Google (app, not services!) and tap it.
3. In the upper right corner, click on three dots → Remove updates.
4. Confirm action. The system will warn you that it could affect other services -- ignore it.
5. Go back to the main Settings menu → Apps, find the Google Play Store.
6. Open the application page, tap on three points → Disable auto-update.

Now you need to block updates for a specific application:

• 🛡️ Install App Blockade or Disable Service from the Play Store (requires Android 8.0)+).
• 🔧 In the utility settings, find Google and tick Block Updates.

Disabled through Google | Delete updates | Used ADB | Haven't tried anything |Another method-->

Method 3: Disconnect via ADB (for power users)

If previous methods didn’t work, you’ll need to use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which removes Google Now at the system level but requires a PC connection.

What you need:

• 💻 Computer with Windows/Linux/macOS.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 📦 Installed Xiaomi and ADB-tools drivers.
• ⚙️ Included Debugging by USB on a smartphone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times tap to unlock the developer mode, then enable debugging in Additional → For developers).

The following are the commands for entering ADB Shell:

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


adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.apps.googleassistant

After the commands are executed:

1. Reset the device.
2. Check if the Google Now icon has disappeared from the home screen.
3. If the swipe up gesture still works, follow the additional command: adb shell cmd overlay disable com.google.android.as.overlay

⚠️ Note: Some models (Xiaomi 13 Lite, Poco) F4 GT) after ADB-Google Pay may stop working, and you'll have to reset your settings through Settings to get back to functionality. → Memory. → Resetting settings (without deleting data).

Method 4: Magisk (for rooted devices)

If you have Magisk installed, you can completely delete Google Now without any system consequences, which is suitable for MIUI EU, xiaomi.eu or custom ROM firmware.

Instructions:

1. Install Universal GMS Doze or DisableFlags from Magisk Manager.
2. Reset the device to Recovery Mode (TWRP).
3. Select the module via Install → Select ZIP.
4. After the reboot, open the terminal (e.g., Termux) and execute: su pm uninstall --user 0 com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox

Advantages of the method:

• 🔄 Google Now will not be rebuilt after the update MIUI.
• 📵 Does not affect the operation of other Google services (for example, Play Store or Gmail).
• 🛡️ You can roll back changes by removing the module through Magisk.

💡

Before installing Magisk, back up the boot partition via TWRP. This will help restore the device if something goes wrong. Instructions: Backup → Select boot → Swipe to confirm

Method 5: Alternative launchers (bypass)

If you only need to remove the swipe gesture up, but do not want to climb into the system settings, install a third-party launcher.

• 🏆 Nova Launcher – Allows you to disable all gestures, including calling Google Now. → Gestures & Inputs → Swipe Up → Choose None.
• 🎨 Lawnchair – a light launcher with support for gestures Android 10+. Disconnection: Settings → Gestures → Home screen.
• ⚡ Hyperion Launcher – optimized for Xiaomi, has a built-in lock Google services.

How to determine:

1. Download the launcher from Play Store or APKMirror.
2. When you first start, select it as the default launcher.
3. Set up gestures in the launcher menu (usually available through a long tap on the desktop).

The downside of the method: some system functions (e.g., Device Search in MIUI) may not work properly. Also, Xiaomi with MIUI 14 sometimes resets the wallpaper on the home screen when using third-party launchers.

💡

The launcher side is the only way to disable Google Now without losing MIUI functionality (such as a dark theme or navigation gestures).

What to do if Google Now is still available

If Google Now continues to activate after all the manipulations, the problem may be:

• 🔄 System cache - clean it through Settings → Memory. → Cleaning (select Cash Systems).
• 📦 Updates MIUI — some global firmware (MIUI Global) forced to restore Google services. Solution: move to MIUI EU or xiaomi.eu.
• 🤖 Hidden Device Administrators – Check in Settings → Passwords and security → Device administrators and disable Google Play Services.

The last option is to reset to factory settings and then shut down all Google services before the first Internet connection.

1. Reset through Settings → About Phone → Reset settings.
2. When you first set up, skip the step of logging into your Google account.
3. Connect to Wi-Fi, but don’t update your apps!
4. Disable Google Now immediately through Google Settings (Method 1).
5. Install an alternative launcher (mode 5).

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI for Russia (e.g. Redmi) 12C) After the reset, you may need to re-activate through Mi Account. If you forget your Xiaomi account details, use the official website to restore the data.

FAQ: Frequent questions about turning off Google Now