How to completely disable Google Assistant on Xiaomi Mi9: 5 working ways

Google Assistant on Xiaomi Mi9 can be useful for quick information search or smartphone management, but not all users need it. Many people find that the assistant is activated accidentally - for example, when you hold the Home button for a long time or voice command "OK, Google", which drains the battery and distracts from work. In addition, on some versions of the MIUI Google Assistant can not be turned off by standard means without additional manipulation.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to deactivate the assistant, from simple settings in the menu to using ADB and removing system updates, focusing on the nuances for the Mi9 on different versions of MIUI (including global and Chinese firmware), and also explain how to avoid typical errors that can lead to malfunctions in the smartphone.

Why is Google Assistant not disabled in the standard way?

On the Xiaomi Mi9 (cepheus model), the problem with disabling Google Assistant is due to several factors:

🔄 Google App Updates. Even if you disable the Assistant in the settings, a subsequent update to the Google App through the Play Market can bring it back.
📱 Firmware MIUI. In Chinese versions MIUI (for example, MIUI China: Google Assistant is often absent initially but on the global (MIUI Global and European (MIUI EU) It is pre-installed and protected from removal.
🔧 System restrictions: Starting with Android 10, Google tightened its control over the assistant, blocking its complete removal without superuser rights (root).

There’s also a nuance to the Home button on the Mi9: Google Assistant is the default long-presser, not Xiaomi’s Mi Assistant. This can be changed, but not in all versions of MIUI.

⚠️ Attention: If you are using Mi9 firmware MIUI 12.5+, Some methods (for example, disabling through ADB) Additional steps may be required due to changes in Xiaomi’s security policy.

Method 1: Disconnecting through Google Settings

The easiest and safest method is to deactivate the assistant in the Google app menu, which is suitable for most users and does not require technical skills.

Instructions:

Open the Google app (the icon with the letter “G” on the home screen or in the app menu).
Slip on your avatar (or initials) in the upper right corner.
Select the Settings item → Google Assistant.
Scroll down and press General.
Turn off the Google Assistant switch.
Confirm the action by clicking Turn Off in the pop-up window.

The assistant will then stop responding to voice commands and gestures, but this method does not disable the Assistant call through a long press of the Home button, but instead needs to change the gesture settings separately (see Method 3).

☑️ What to check after disconnection

Google Assistant doesn’t respond to “OK Google”Long pressing Home doesn't call an assistantGoogle has no active devices with AssistantGoogle app not updated after shutdown

Done: 0 / 4

Method 2: Removing Google App Updates

If Google Assistant continues to work after disabling in settings, the problem may be in the latest updates to the Google app.

How to do this:

Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
Search the Google list (or com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox) and tap it.
Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Remove Updates.
Confirm the action. The system will return the application to the factory version.
Reboot your smartphone.

After that:

🔒 Stop Google from automatically updating to the Play Market (open the app page) → three-point → Remove from auto-update).
📵 Turn off notifications from Google Assistant in the app settings.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI When you delete the updates, you may lose the search bar on the home screen. To return it, install the Google widget manually.

What to do if the “Remove Updates” button is inactive?

This means that the Google app is system-based and can’t be reset without root permissions. In this case, try the ADB method (Method 4) or disable the assistant through gesture settings (Method 3).

Method 3: Change the Home Button Activity

On the Xiaomi Mi9, a long press on the Home button (or a swipe gesture from the corner on navigation gesture screens) calls Google Assistant by default. To fix this, you need to reassign the action of the button.

For MIUI 12 and newer:

Open Settings → Additional → Home button (or Settings → System → Gestures for gesture navigation).
Choose a Long Press (or Gesture from the Corner).
Instead of Google Assistant, set No Action or Mi Assistant (if installed).

For MIUI 11 and older:

🔧 Go to Settings. → System and device → Gestures → Home button".
📱 Choose Long Press. → No.

If your version of MIUI does not have such a clause, then the setting is blocked by the firmware, in which case only ADB (Method 4) or custom firmware installation will help.

📊 What kind of navigation you use on your Mi9?

Classic buttons

Gesture navigation (swipes)

I don't know what it is.

Method 4: Disconnect via ADB (for power users)

If standard methods don’t work, you can disable Google Assistant using Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires connecting your smartphone to your computer, but doesn’t need root rights.

Step-by-step:

Download and install ADB Tools on your computer.
On your smartphone, activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI Version. Go back to Settings → Additional → Developer. Turn on USB Debugging.

Mi9

File transfer

Terminal

ADB

adb devices

The serial number of your device should appear.

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

Reboot your smartphone.

After that:

🔄 Google Assistant will be completely deactivated, including calling through the Home button.
📵 Google will remain in the system, but its functionality will be reduced (for example, the search bar on the home screen will disappear).

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI 13+ The adb command may not work due to Xiaomi limitations. In this case, try first: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox But this will remove all app updates and it will have to be reinstalled manually.

adb shell pm enable com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox

Method 5: Remove Google Assistant with root rights

The most radical method is to completely remove the Google Assistant app with superuser rights (root), which is suitable for users with an unlocked bootloader and installed Magisk or SuperSU.

How to delete:

Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
Go to /system/priv-app/Velvet or /system/app/GoogleQuickSearchBox
Delete the Velvet or GoogleQuickSearchBox folder (pre-backup!).
Reset the device.

The following is a Titanium Backup:

🔧 Open the app and search for Google or Google Assistant listing.
🗑️ Choose Delete (not “Freeze” as this will not have a full effect).

Method	Root is required.	ADB is required	Reversibility	Risk of failure
Disconnection in Google Settings	❌ No.	❌ No.	✅ Yes.	❌ No.
Removal of updates	❌ No.	❌ No.	✅ Yes.	⚠️ Low.
Reassigning the Home button	❌ No.	❌ No.	✅ Yes.	❌ No.
ADB-team	❌ No.	✅ Yes.	✅ Yes.	⚠️ Medium.
Removal from root	✅ Yes.	❌ No.	❌ No (no backup)	❗ High-pitched

💡

If you are not sure of your skills, start with the safest methods (Methods 1-3). Use ADB or root only as a last resort, as this can lead to unstable system operation.

What if Google Assistant is back on again?

Even after a successful shutdown, the assistant can return after:

🔄 Updates to Google Apps via Play Market.
📱 Resetting smartphone settings to factory.
🔧 Firmware updates MIUI (Especially if you are switching to a new version of Android).

To prevent automatic activation:

Disable updates to the Google app in the Play Market.
Use ADB to block the packet (the command from Method 4).
Install an alternative launcher (like Nova Launcher) that is not integrated with Google Assistant.

If the assistant is back after the MIUI update, repeat the steps from the method you chose. Newer versions of the firmware may require ADB even for basic settings.

FAQ: Frequent questions about disabling Google Assistant on Mi9

Can I disable Google Assistant without a computer?

Yes, the first three (via Google’s settings, uninstalling updates, and reassigning the Home button) don’t require a PC connection, but if they don’t work, you’ll have to use ADB or get root rights.

Why did the Assistant disappear from the home screen after the shutdown?

The search bar is part of the Google app. If you delete its updates or disable it through ADB, the widget will disappear. To return a line, install the Google widget manually (long tap on the home screen → Widgets → Google Search).

Will Google work after the shutdown?

No, after a complete shutdown (especially through ADB or root), voice activation will stop working, but some users note that the command may be triggered accidentally if other voice-controlled apps (such as Yandex Alice) are installed on the smartphone.

Can I return Google Assistant after removal via root?

Yes, but it will require: Restore deleted files from the backup (if it was made), or reflash your smartphone (install the firmware again via Fastboot or Recovery), without a backup, it will be difficult to return the assistant, since the system files will be missing.

Does disabling Google Assistant affect other functions?

Most of the time, no. However, some Google services (like Google Photos or Google Maps) may lose some of the voice-based functionality, and the search bar on the home screen may be missing, but it can be easily returned via widgets.