How to completely disable Google Assistant on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro: all working methods

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro

Google Assistant

Xiaomi

Redmi Note 8 Pro

MIUI 12/13

To make matters worse, Google Assistant is integrated at the Android level, and manufacturers often limit customizations for the sake of “improved experience.” However, there are both standard methods through the settings menu and advanced methods using ADB or third-party utilities. In this article, we’ll break down all the current methods, including those that work even after the phone is reset to factory settings.

We warn you beforehand that some methods will require developer rights or a connection to a computer. If you're not sure about your abilities, start with the simplest options. Now we move on to the detailed analysis.

Why Google Assistant is in the way of Redmi Note 8 Pro?

On the Redmi Note 8 Pro, Google’s voice assistant can be different and not always appeals to users, and here are the most common reasons owners want to turn it off:

• 🔋 Battery consumption: The assistant works in the background, constantly monitoring voice commands through the microphone and analyzing screen activity. 5-10% Charges per day even with minimal use.
• 🎤 False positives: Pressing a side button (especially in a case) or accidentally touching a screen often triggers an assistant. MIUI This is compounded by gesture settings.
• 📱 Conflict with MIUI-In the firmware Xiaomi has its own voice assistant (Xiao) AI), It duplicates the functions of Google Assistant, creating confusion.
• 🛡️ Privacy: Permanent recording of voice data and its transfer to Google servers raises concerns among users who care about privacy.

Interestingly, on newer Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note) 11 pro POCO X4 Pro) the problem is partially solved, where the Assistant can be turned off in two clicks. 8 Pro with Android 9/10 and MIUI 12 I have to go for tricks.

Before you get to the instructions, check if it is the Google Assistant that is really to blame. Sometimes the Google App system app (not to be confused with Google Play Services!) is responsible for its behavior. To make sure, go to Settings → Apps → App Management → Google and look at the Storage section – if it takes up a lot of cache space, this is an indirect sign of the active work of the assistant.

Method 1: Standard shutdown via MIUI settings

To start with, the simplest method that works for 60-70% of users is that it doesn't require superuser rights or PC connectivity, but it has a limitation: Google Assistant can be activated again after a firmware update.

1. Open Settings on your Redmi Note 8 Pro.
2. Go to the Appendix section → Application management.
3. In the search bar, type in Google and select the Google app (the icon with the colored letter "G").
4. Slip on Notifications and turn off all switches.
5. Go back and select Permissions. Turn off Microphone, Camera and AutoRun.
6. Now go to Settings → System & Device → Gestures → Home button (or Navigation buttons, depending on the version of MIUI).

After these manipulations, the assistant will stop working on the buttons, but it will not be completely deactivated - it will remain in the system and can be launched through the search bar or Google widget.

⚠️ Warning: If after disabling permissions, the Google app starts to give out errors (for example, search does not work), return access to the Microphone, but leave AutoRun disabled.

Method 2: Disconnect with Google Activity Controls

This method is less obvious, but it limits the functionality of Google Assistant to the account level, which is suitable for those who do not want to dig into the system settings, but are willing to sacrifice some of the “smart” features.

1. Open your browser on your phone or computer and click on the link: https://myactivity.google.com/activitycontrols.
2. Sign in with the same Google account that is linked to your Redmi Note 8 Pro.
3. Find the Google Assistant block and tap on it.
4. Turn off all switches: 📍 Web and applications 🗣️ Voice and audio recordings 📱 Device information

Save the changes and restart the smartphone.

This doesn’t remove the Assistant completely, but it makes it almost useless: it stops analyzing your actions, recording your voice, and offering personalized hints.

Method 3: Complete disabling via ADB (for advanced)

If standard methods don't work, it's time to move to the Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires you to connect your phone to your computer, but it's guaranteed to shut down Google Assistant at the system level.

First, prepare everything you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/Linux/macOS.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 📱 Initiated Debugging Mode USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Tap 7 times, then go back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers).
• 🛠️ Installed drivers ADB Fastboot (you can download from the official Android website).

Now follow the instructions:

1. Connect the Redmi Note 8 Pro to your computer and select File Transfer mode.
2. Open the command prompt (cmd on Windows or Terminal on macOS/Linux) and type: adb devices If the device appears in the list, go further. If not, check the drivers and permissions on the phone.
3. Run the command to disable Google Assistant as the default application: adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox
4. For reliability, add another command that blocks background activity: adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.apps.googleassistant
5. Reboot your phone: adb reboot

After these Google Assistant commands, you'll be completely disabled, including running it through a long-press home button or voice activation, and to get it back, replace the disable-user commands with enable.

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If, after the execution, ADB-commands the phone starts to brake, clear the cache of the Google app in the settings MIUI. This will help to avoid conflicts with system services.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI After the Google update, the Assistant may be activated again. To avoid this, back up before the update via Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

Method 4: Removing Google App Updates

Sometimes Google Assistant becomes aggressive after updating Google's app through the Play Market, in which case you can roll it back to the factory version that came with the firmware, which is temporary, and the next update will bring back the problem, but it will help you buy time.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Google.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Remove Updates.
3. Confirm the action and restart the phone.
4. (Optional) Go to the Play Market, search for the Google app and turn off Auto Update.

After the application is rolled back, the application version will be, for example, 10.XX.XX instead 14.XX.XX. Google Assistant functionality will shrink, but it won't disappear completely. For a radical solution, combine this with a new approach. ADB-method of the previous section.

Method 5: Use of third-party utilities (Root rights)

If you’re willing to go to extremes and your Redmi Note 8 Pro has root rights, you can remove Google Assistant permanently with specialized apps.This method is only suitable for power users, as improper actions can lead to a bootloop (a looped reboot).

The most reliable tools for this task:

• 🔧 Titanium Backup – allows you to freeze or remove system applications, including com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox.
• 🗑️ System App Remover – a utility for removing embedded services (requires caution!).
• 🛡️ Lucky Patcher – can disable automatic updates to Google services.

Instructions for Titanium Backup:

1. Install the application and give it root access.
2. In the list of applications, find Google or Google Assistant.
3. Then, put it on the back and choose to freeze it (it is safer than deleting it).
4. Reboot the phone.

Warning: Deleting system applications may disrupt Google Play Services, causing errors in other services (such as YouTube or Gmail).If the phone becomes unstable after manipulation, restore deleted files through a backup in Titanium Backup.

Alternative solutions: replacing Google Assistant with Xiao AI

If you don’t like Google Assistant but want to keep the functionality of the voice assistant, consider switching to Xiaomi’s built-in Xiao AI, which is less intrusive, better optimized for MIUI, and supports Russian (though not perfect).

To activate Xiao AI:

1. Make sure your phone has Xiao AI installed (if not, download it from the Mi App Store).
2. Go to Settings → System and device → Gestures → Home button.
3. In the Long Click section, select Xiao AI instead of Google Assistant.
4. Start Xiao AI and go through the initial setup (allow access to microphone and contacts).

The advantages of Xiao AI on the Redmi Note 8 Pro:

• 🔋 Lower battery consumption compared to Google Assistant.
• 📱 Better integration with MIUI (For example, quick access to phone settings).
• 🎤 Support for voice commands to control camera, flashlight and other functions.

Of the disadvantages: Xiao AI is less able to understand complex queries in Russian and does not know how to work with Google services (for example, can not add an event to Google Calendar), but it will definitely not accidentally activate when you press buttons.

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If you only need an assistant for basic tasks (calls, messages, phone management), Xiao AI is the best replacement for Google Assistant on Xiaomi devices.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When you turn off Google Assistant on Redmi Note 8 Pro, users often face unexpected difficulties, and let’s look at the most common ones and how to fix them.

If, after all the manipulations of Google, the Assistant continues to appear, check:

• 🔍 Duplicate applications (e.g. Google Assistant Go for devices with low memory capacity).
• 📱 Firmware updates – sometimes Xiaomi returns Assistant via OTA-apats.
• 🔧 Security settings → Permits → Special access → Battery Optimization – Make sure Google is not excluded from the optimization.

⚠️ Note: On some custom firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience or LineageOS), Google Assistant can be part of the system and not be disabled by standard methods. MIUI.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions