How to disable Google Assistant on Xiaomi Redmi: the complete guide

Modern smartphones Xiaomi and Redmi, which run on the Android operating system, are equipped with many smart features designed to simplify interaction with the device. One of these features is the Google Assistant, which is activated by voice command or holding the power button. Despite the stated utility, many users face a situation where the assistant is launched accidentally in their pocket or simply interferes with the usual control of the gadget, this is especially true for owners of models with a side fingerprint scanner, where the unlock button is combined with the on button.

The constant appearance of voice assistant can be annoying and even draining the battery, as the microphone and processor are in active wait for the command. Fortunately, the MIUI shell or its new version of HyperOS allows you to flexibly adjust the behavior of system buttons and services. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available ways to deactivate Google Assistant, from simple disconnection in settings to deeper methods of locking through system parameters.

It is important to understand that completely removing a system application without root rights is impossible, but it can be completely defused by preventing it from running automatically. We will look at the steps you need to take to regain full control of your device. Follow the instructions carefully, as the menu layout may vary slightly depending on the firmware version and region.

Why Google Assistant is included in Xiaomi

The main reason for the spontaneous activation of the voice assistant on Xiaomi smartphones is the setting of the power button. By default, in modern versions of Android, it is Google Assistant that causes a long press on the on button, rather than the off menu, as it was in older versions of the interface. This decision of the developers often comes as a surprise to users accustomed to the classic control scheme.

And then there's Hey Google, which lets you activate the assistant with your voice even when the screen is off, and if it's noisy or someone says similar things in the room, the phone can misrecognize the command, which not only interferes with, but also consumes battery power, because the microphone is constantly listening to the air in the background.

Another factor is integration with the lock screen. When accidentally tapping the screen or swiping up in some configurations, search or voice input may be triggered. Users who appreciate minimalism and speed of the interface are advised to disable these features to improve device performance.

⚠️ Note: Disabling Google system services may affect other voice-dependent applications, such as text dictation in instant messengers or navigation in maps by voice.

Disconnecting through the settings of Google Assistant

The first and most appropriate step is to disable the functions directly in the assistant app, which does not remove the service itself, but prevents it from responding to external stimuli, and you need to open the Google app on your Redmi smartphone or go to settings through the assistant menu.

Click on the profile avatar in the top right corner of the screen, then select Settings. In the list that opens, look for the Google Assistant section. This is where all the key switches that activate the assistant are concentrated. You'll need to change a few settings to completely disable the function.

First, look for Hey Google or Voice Correspondence, and when you go into this menu, you'll see the voice-recognition switch, put it in the off position, and then the system will stop responding to voice commands, even if you say "OK, Google."

Then go back to the main assistant settings menu and look for the Devices or Phone section, and there may be an additional switch available to allow activation from the locked screen, make sure that all the checkmarks associated with access without unlocking are removed, which will prevent accidental launch in your pocket.

• 📱 Open the Google app and go to your profile settings.
• 🎙️ Find the Google Assistant section and select Hey Google".
• 🚫 Turn off the "Access with Hey Google" slider".
• 🔒 Disable activation from the locked screen in the device settings.

Once you do this, the assistant will stop responding to the voice, but it may still be called by the buttons. This is normal behavior, because we only touched on the software part of the recognition. To completely block, you need to change the settings of the MIUI system.

Change the power button action on Redmi

The most common problem Xiaomi users have is to launch an assistant when trying to turn off the phone. In newer versions of Android (starting at 10 and above), a long press on the power button by default causes Google Assistant. To return the usual off menu, you need to change the system setting.

Go to your smartphone Settings. Search for settings, type the word "power" or search for the Additional section (sometimes inside the Advanced Settings section), and you want a section called Press and Hold the Power button.

In the menu that opens, you'll see two options: Google Assistant and the Shutdown Menu. The default is the first option. You need to switch the radio button to the Shutdown Menu, and then prolonged hold of the button will cause a standard window to reboot or turn off the device, like in older smartphones.

It is worth noting that on some global versions of HyperOS firmware, this item may be called differently or moved to the Special Features section. If standard search does not help, use the search bar at the top of the settings menu by typing in the "power button" query.

⚠️ Warning: Changing this setting does not turn off the assistant itself, but only changes the action of the button. To call the assistant, you can use a swipe from the corner of the screen or voice if it has not been disabled previously.

Blocking through special features settings

Sometimes Google Assistant can be integrated deeper into the system, especially if it is used to control a smartphone without hands, in which case you need to check the settings of special features (Accessibility), this method is especially relevant if the assistant starts when you connect your headphones or headset.

Go to Settings -> Advanced Settings -> Special Features. In the list of services, look for Google Assistant or C Voice Access. If you see active voice-related services there, click on them and select Disable.

Also in this section, you should check Voice Access, a separate feature that allows you to control your phone by voice, and it often conflicts with your normal use of the device, and turning it off is guaranteed to prevent any voice interference with the system.

After disabling all suspicious services, it is recommended to restart the Redmi smartphone, which will allow the system to reset the cached states of services and apply new configurations. If the assistant still pops up, it may be launched by a third-party application.

Disabling the widget and swipe on the main screen

Another source of irritation is Google search widgets on the desktop or activation of the assistant when swiping. The MIUI shell often has a Google widget installed by default at the top of the screen or in the leftmost desktop (Google Discover), disabling these elements will make the interface cleaner.

To remove the widget, find it on your desktop, hold your finger and drag it to the top of the screen where the basket icon or the Remove cross will appear. This action will not remove the app, but remove its visual display from the home screen. If you lose the search bar at the bottom, it can be returned or removed through the launcher settings.

To control the left screen (Google Discover), press the empty space on the desktop and select Settings (or the gear icon). Find Search String or Left Screen. Here you can turn off the display of the news feed and Google search, replacing them with standard MIUI search or leaving the screen empty.

• 🗑️ Click the Google widget on the screen and drag it into the cart.
• ⚙️ Go to the desktop settings through the editing menu.
• 📉 Turn off the display of “Google Tapes” or “Discover".
• 🔍 Choose an alternative search engine or remove the search bar.

Some users also complain about the Assistant activation when swiping from the bottom up.This behavior depends on the theme or gesture settings set. Check the Topics section -> Profile -> Settings if you use third-party themes, as they may have their own launch scripts.

Using ADB to Advance Disconnect

For power users who want to get rid of the service, there is a method using ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which allows you to “freeze” the Google Assistant package, making it invisible to the system.

First, turn on USB Debugging on your phone. To do this, go to Settings -> About Phone and quickly click on the MIUI Version (or OS Version) 7 times until you become a developer. Then in Additional -> For developers, activate the USB Debugging Switch.

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

Executing this command via your computer will disable the assistant package. If you want to return everything as it was, use the command adb shell pm enable com.google.android.apps.googleassistant. Be careful: disabling system packages can lead to unstable work of some functions of Google.

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Before using ADB, make sure to make a full backup of your smartphone data, as interfering with system packages always carries minimal risk.

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB-Disabling the wrong packages (e.g. Google Play Services) can cause the smartphone to fail and need to be reset before factory settings.

Possible problems and solutions

Even after you have done all the settings, there can be situations where Google Assistant is unpredictable, such as when you connect a Bluetooth headset or certain headphones, which is because many accessories use standard Google protocols for fast pairing.

So if you want to check the Bluetooth device itself, go to Settings -> Bluetooth, click on the gear icon next to the connected device, and see if there's an assistant or voice control. If there's one, turn it off.

Also, problems can be caused by an outdated version of the Google app: Go to the Play Market, find the Google app and click Update. Often, spontaneously run bugs are fixed in new versions of the software.

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The comprehensive shutdown of all functions (buttons, voice, widgets) ensures that the assistant will no longer bother you in everyday use of the smartphone.

If nothing helps, consider installing a third-party launcher that completely ignores Google's system gestures.However, for most users, the setting described in the previous sections is enough.