How to disable Google Assistant on Xiaomi Redmi 8

Owners of Xiaomi smartphones, in particular the popular Redmi 8 model, often face intrusive behavior of Google’s voice assistant. Android system is set to be activated by default when you press the home button or voice command, which can annoy users who prefer classic control. Moreover, the background work of Google Assistant consumes battery power, which is critical for devices with a battery capacity of 4000 mAh, which includes the model in question.

Disabling the service requires several steps in the system settings to be performed consistently, since there is no single “Switch Off” button. You need to deactivate voice activation, remove the binding to the control button, and hide the widgets from the lock screen. In this article, we will discuss each step in detail so that you can completely free your smartphone from unnecessary software.

Before we make the changes, it’s worth noting that disabling Google’s system components doesn’t disrupt the phone’s basic features.You’ll still be able to use search bar, maps, and other services, just stop receiving automated prompts and voice responses without your direct request, especially for those who value privacy and want to minimize the collection of location and queries data.

Basic settings inside the Google app

The first step is to turn off functions directly in the assistant app, by opening the list of installed apps and finding the standard Google app (not Chrome or Play Market), which hides the main switches that control the assistant's behavior. Once you start the app, click on the profile avatar in the upper right corner to go to the settings menu.

In the menu that opens, select Settings, and then search for Google Assistant, which shows a wide range of options that you can change. You are interested in the All Assistant Settings or Phone tab where the main switch is located. Turn the slider to Off to prevent the assistant from starting when you press the Home button.

⚠️ Warning: After disabling this feature, a short tap on the central navigation button will simply fold the current application or return to the desktop without triggering the voice interface.

Additionally, this section recommends disabling Personalized Results, which analyzes your search history and location to provide contextual clues that directly affect device autonomy, and disabling this option will not only increase privacy, but also reduce the load on the Snapdragon 439 processor installed in Redmi 8.

Disable activation by voice “Ok Google”

One of the most annoying features is constant microphone monitoring waiting for a keyword. Even when locked, the phone can respond to similar sounds from the TV or conversations by accidentally activating the recording. To fix this problem, go back to the Assistant's settings and select OK Google and Voice Match.

In this menu, you need to uncheck the box on "Access with Ok Google." The system will warn you that voice activation will not be available. Confirm the action. It's also worth checking if the "Unlock with Voice Match" mode is activated, which allows you to control your phone without entering a password. For Redmi 8, with its standard speed, disabling this feature will add a little security.

If you're using a headset or plugging your phone into a car, settings may be duplicated for those devices. Check the Devices or Vehicles subsection in the Assistant settings. Make sure the OK Google switch is off for external audio devices as well, unless you plan to use voice control on the way.

Managing widgets on the lock screen

Even after you turn off voice, Redmi 8's lock screen may still have a microphone icon or hint bar, which is part of the MIUI interface that's integrated with Google services. To remove this, unlock your phone, but don't open any apps, and go straight to the main Settings system.

In the settings menu, find the Lock Screen section (sometimes inside the Passwords and Security section). Scroll down to "Shortcuts on the Lock Screen" or "Widget Management" and find the switch responsible for Google Search or Google Assistant and deactivate it.

After this action, swiping right on a locked screen will stop opening the search bar. This action also frees up RAM, since the system no longer needs to keep the search interface preloaded. For budget smartphones like the Redmi 8, saving each megabyte of RAM is important for performance.

Hiding Google widget from the desktop

Xiaomi's desktop often has Google's default search bar fixed, and while it's convenient for many, it takes up space and can be accidentally touched by a finger, triggering unnecessary processes, and it can't be removed by standard means, because it's a system widget, but it can be replaced or hidden.

To replace, tap and hold your finger on the empty desktop space to go into edit mode. Select the Search widget (usually a magnifier from Xiaomi or Google) and drag it to the place of the old row. If you want to just clear the space, try moving the string to the widget sidebar (swipe to the right of the left edge) if your version of MIUI allows it.

Alternatively, third-party launchers like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher allow you to completely ignore Google’s system widgets and customize the interface to your liking, but installing a launcher requires additional resources, which is worth considering when using Redmi 8.

Using ADB to Advance Disconnect

For users who are not afraid of computer interfaces, there is a more radical method. ADB (Android Debug Bridge can disable the system-level components of Google Assistant, making them invisible to the OS. This requires connecting the phone to the PC via a computer. USB-cable.

First, activate the developer mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly press 7 times on MIUI Version. Then, in the advanced settings, turn on USB Debugging. Connect the phone to your computer and type the following command in the terminal:

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

This command will forcefully stop and hide the Google Search app, which is the shell for the Assistant. If you want to return everything as it was, use the command adb shell pm enable com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox. Be careful: disabling system packages can affect the work of weather and news widgets.

⚠️ Attention: Use of teams ADB A mistake in the name of the package can cause important system functions to disappear.

Possible problems and solutions

After making changes, users may find themselves in a situation where the Assistant spontaneously turns on again, often after updating Google apps or the MIUI system itself, in which case you need to recheck the settings, especially after a major Android update.

Sometimes the Home button continues to call voice input even when Assistant is disabled, which may be due to keyboard settings, go to your keyboard settings (Gboard or standard MIUI) and check the Voice input section, and turn off the microphone button there if it interferes.

Also, consider that some applications, such as navigators or voice recorders, may request permission to use the microphone, which indirectly activates Google services. Control permissions in the "Applications" → "Permissions" → "Microphone".

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If after all the settings, the phone is slower, try clearing the cache of the Google app through Settings. → Annexes → All applications → Google → Memory. → Clear the cache. This will delete temporary files that may have accumulated.

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The complete shutdown of all Google Assistant features on Redmi 8 requires you to change your settings in three places: inside the Google app, in the MIUI lock screen settings, and optionally through ADB for complete hiding.