How to permanently disable Google Assistant on Xiaomi Redmi 4X: proven ways

Xiaomi Redmi 4X is still a popular budget smartphone, but its owners often face an intrusive Google Assistant that is activated by random taps, eats battery power and collects data. Unlike new Xiaomi models, where the voice assistant is integrated into MIUI 12+, Redmi 4X (with MIUI 9/10 based on Android 6/7) it can be turned off completely - without root rights and loss of warranty.

The problem is that standard shutdown through settings often doesn’t work properly: Assistant continues to run on the Home button or voice command “OK, Google.” In this article, 5 working methods (including hidden settings) MIUI and ADB-Teams, their performance comparison and unique nuances for Redmi 4X We'll also look at how to get the Assistant back if you need it for Google Pay or other services.

Why is Google Assistant not disabled in the standard way?

On Redmi 4X (Santoni model), the Assistant is sewn into the firmware layer as a system application. Even after turning off the Settings menu → Apps → Google, it can:

• 🔄 Automatically activate after Google Play Services update.
• 🎤 Respond to voice due to background process com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox.
• 🔋 Consume up to 5% charge per day (according to AccuBattery for Redmi) 4X Android 7.1.2).
• 📱 Conflict with MIUI: For example, block the gesture of long pressing the Home button.

The reason is architecture. MIUI: Xiaomi does not remove Google services even in regional firmware for Russia/China, but simply hides them from the user. → Apps work as 'cosmetic' measure.

⚠️ Attention: On Redmi 4X With custom firmware (e.g. LineageOS 14.1), the assistant can be part of a GApps package, and its removal will lead to the collapse of Google Play Market and other services. → The phone. → Version. MIUI.

Method 1: Disconnect via MIUI settings (partial)

This method is suitable for users who want to block accidental Assist launches but don't remove it completely.It runs on a stock MIUI 9/10 without root rights.

Steps:

1. Open Settings → Applications → All applications.
2. Find Google (the icon with the G logo) and tap it.
3. Select Notifications → Turn off all switches.
4. Go back and press Permissions → turn off the microphone, camera, contact.
5. Go to Memory → Clear the cache and Clear the data.
6. Click Disable (if the button is active).

After that, the Assistant will stop responding to voice commands and pressing the Home button for a long time, but it will still hang in the background as a system process.

There is no response to “OK, Google"|Pressing the Home button for a long time does not call the Assistant.|There is no process in the list of running applications com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox|Notifications from Google are not available-->

Method 2: Remove Google Updates (Radical Method)

If the Assistant is back after the Google Play Services update, you can roll it back to the factory version.This method is suitable for Redmi 4X with Android 6.0.1 or 7.1.2, where Google applications are not critical to the system.

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings → Apps → Google.
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner → Remove updates.
3. Confirm the action. The system will return the app to the version that was used when you bought the phone.
4. Open Settings → Apps → Google Play Services and also remove the updates.

After that:

• ✅ Assistant will stop running on voice and button.
• ❌ Some features will stop working: Google Pay, automatic contact sync, push notifications from Gmail.
• ⚠️ Note: The next time you connect to the Internet, Google Play Market will try to update the apps. To avoid this, turn off auto-update in the Play Market settings or use the app. ADB (see method 4).

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If Gmail notifications stop coming after you delete the updates, install an alternative client (such as FairEmail) or use the web version of email.

Method 3: Configure gestures in MIUI (for the Home button)

On Redmi 4X, the Assistant is often triggered by pressing the Home button for a long time, and this gesture can be reassigned or disabled through hidden MIUI settings.

How to change the action of the button:

1. Open Settings → Additional settings → Buttons.
2. Select the Home button (or Navigation buttons if you use soft buttons).
3. In the Long-Tap section, select No Action or Recent Apps.
4. Save the changes and restart the phone.

If the button item is not on the menu, then your firmware does not support reassignment, in which case ADB (Method 4) or installing a launcher from a third-party developer (for example, Nova Launcher), where you can turn off gestures, will help.

Method 4: Disconnect via ADB (no root rights)

This is the most reliable way to completely block Google Assistant on Redmi 4X without losing warranty. You will need a computer with ADB drivers installed and USB debugging on your phone enabled.

Step-by-step:

1. Download Google’s Platform Tools and unpack the archive.
2. On your phone, turn on: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (tap 7 times to turn on Developer Mode) Settings → Additional → For Developers → Debugging over USB
3. Connect Redmi 4X to your PC over USB and select File Transfer mode.
4. Open the command line (cmd) in the folder with ADB and enter: adb devices (should appear device with serial number).
5. Follow the commands in turn: adb shell pm hide com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox adb shell pm uninstall-k --user 0 com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox

After restarting the phone:

• ✅ The assistant will be completely disabled (including voice launch).
• ✅ The Home button will stop responding to a long press.
• ⚠️ Note: If Google Play Market or YouTube stops working after that, follow the command: adb shell pm enable com.google.android.gms

Method 5: Remove via TWRP (for advanced users)

If you have custom TWRP recavators installed, you can physically delete Assistant files from the system partition, which gives you 100% results, but requires root rights and can lead to unstable phone operation.

Instructions:

1. Download TWRP for Redmi 4X and install it via Fastboot.
2. Load into the recavery: turn off the phone, then press Volume up + Power.
3. Go to Advanced → File Manager.
4. Delete the following files: /system/priv-app/Velvet /system/priv-app/GoogleQuickSearchBox /data/data/com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox
5. Wipe the cache (Wipe) → Cache and restart your phone.

Warnings:

• 🚨 Risk of “brick”: Deleting system files can lead to a download cycle.
• 🔧 Loss of functionality: All Google services, including Play Market, will stop working.
• 🔄 Recovery: To get the Assistant back, you'll have to refashion the phone.

⚠️ Attention: On Redmi 4X with a blocked bootloader (bootloader) installation TWRP It requires official unlocking through the Mi Unlock Tool, without which the phone can turn into a brick".

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If you are not sure about your TWRP skills, use the ADB method (Method 4) – it will give a similar result without risking damage to the system.

How to get Google Assistant back?

If you have problems after disconnecting (for example, Google Pay or YouTube Music does not work), you can return the Assistant in the following ways:

For methods 1-3:

• 🔄 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Google and click Enable.
• 🔄 Update Google Play Services and Google App through Play Market.

For method 4 (ADB):

adb shell pm enable com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox


adb shell pm install-existing com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox

For method 5 (TWRP):

• 🔄 Fly your phone through the Mi Flash Tool with the official firmware.
• 🔄 Recover deleted files from backup TWRP (if they were taken before the removal).

After returning the assistant, check his work:

1. A long press on the Home button should open the assistant.
2. The voice command “OK, Google” should work after setting up Settings → Google → Settings for Assistant.

FAQ: Frequent questions about disabling Google Assistant