How to disable Google Assistant on Xiaomi Mi 9T

Xiaomi Mi 9T series smartphones are deservedly considered one of the most balanced devices of their time, offering users a clean interface and powerful hardware. However, the integration of Google services into the MIUI shell sometimes leads to situations where features designed to help become annoying with intrusiveness. Voice assistant is often activated accidentally when unlocking the screen or in your pocket, consuming battery power and causing random queries to the search engine.

Users often wonder how to completely deactivate this service to regain full control of their device.The process is not always obvious, since the settings are scattered across different menus of the system and the application itself. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available methods for disabling Google Assistant on the Mi 9T model, including hidden settings and fine-tunings.

Not only can you turn it off completely, but you can also set it up so that it doesn't interfere with your daily use of the gadget, and we'll look at both the software methods through your account settings and the system constraints available on Android, which will allow you to optimize the interface and remove unnecessary elements.

Why you should turn off the voice assistant

The main reason Xiaomi Mi 9T owners are keen to disable Google Assistant is because of its aggressive data collection policy and constant listening to the microphone in the background. Although the company claims that recording is only activated after the keyword, many users prefer not to risk their privacy.

Another annoying factor is accidental activation. Often, a phone in a case or when it is not carefully removed from your pocket reacts to sounds, triggering a search or dictation of messages. This is not only distracting, but can also lead to the sending of sensitive information to third parties. On the Xiaomi Mi 9T, activation often occurs through prolonged pressing of the power button, which is a common cause of accidental switching.

Disabling the service also frees up system resources that can be redirected to more important tasks for the user. For gamers or those who use a smartphone to work, every megabyte of RAM and battery percentage matters. When you remove unnecessary processes, you will notice that the device has become slightly more responsive.

• 🔒 Increased personal privacy and protection against wiretapping.
• ⚡ Increased Autonomous Operation Time by Stopping Background Processes.
• 🚫 Elimination of accidental launches and false positives in the pocket.

⚠️ WARNING: A complete shutdown of Google services could affect smart home and voice input in other apps, such as Gboard.

Basic settings through the Google app

The first and most appropriate way to manage the assistant is to use the Google app itself, which allows you to configure your system behavior flexibly without resorting to drastic measures, so you can start by opening the Google app on your Xiaomi Mi 9T and go to the user profile, which is usually located in the upper right corner of the screen.

In the menu that opens, you should select Settings, and then look for Google Assistant, and that's where all the voice assistant controls are concentrated, and you'll need to find the All Assistant Settings or Phone subsection where the key activation switches are hidden.

In this menu, you can turn off the response to the phrase "OK, Google", which will prevent activation when the screen is unlocked, and you can also deny access to your voice activity history, which will increase privacy. It is important to carefully study each item, since some settings can be hidden in the additional submenu.

• 📱 Open the Google app and click on the profile avatar.
• ⚙️ Go to Settings. → Google Assistant → All settings of the Assistant.
• 🗣️ Select “OK, Google” and “Voice Activation” for detailed customization.

⚠️ Note: Changes only take effect after syncing with your Google account, which can take a few seconds.

Disconnection via the power button on MIUI

Owners of Xiaomi Mi 9T often find that it is Google Assistant that causes long-term clamping of the power button, and not the turn-off menu, as in classic Android. This behavior of the MIUI system can be easily changed by returning the usual functionality to the button.

Inside this menu, you need to find the buttons and gestures or the power button. Here you will see the Long Press option, which is set by default to the Assistant call. Switch this option to the "Stop Menu", and now the long clamping will open the standard mode selection window (sleep mode, reboot, turn off).

This setup is critical for those who are used to the classic logic of Android smartphones: not only does it remove the annoying start of voice search, but it also speeds up access to power management of the device, and it also eliminates the accidental activation of the assistant when wearing a phone in tight clothes.

• 🔧 Go to Settings. → Advanced settings.
• 🔘 Select "Buttons and gestures" or "Inclusion button».
• 🔄 Change the action "Long press" to "Switch off menu».

After changing the setting, it is recommended to check the operation of the button several times to make sure that the action performed is correct. If the switch-off menu does not appear, you may need to restart the device to apply the system changes.

History and confidentiality management

Even if you don’t want to completely disable Google Assistant, it’s crucial to control the information you collect.The service defaults to storing all your voice requests and audio recordings in the cloud to “improve the experience.” On the Xiaomi Mi 9T, you can turn this off by going to Google account activity management.

In the My Actions section, you can delete all your accumulated voice search history or set up automatic deletion of data older than 3 or 18 months, which reduces the digital footprint and minimizes the risk of personal information leakage, and you can also turn off the storage of audio recordings, leaving only the text decryption of queries.

Regularly cleaning up your history is a good habit for any Android user, not only protecting but also freeing up space in your cloud account storage. For the Mi 9T, which is often used as a multimedia center, data control is especially relevant.

Remember to check these settings periodically, as app updates can reset some privacy settings to default values.

Alternative methods and limitations

There are more radical methods of disabling, such as freezing system applications through ADB or using third-party launchers. However, on the Xiaomi Mi 9T with its optimized MIUI, these methods can lead to unstable system operation. For example, completely removing the com.google.android.apps.googleassistant package can disrupt the widgets and search widget on the desktop.

Using third-party applications to block is also not always effective, as the Android system has built-in mechanisms to protect critical services. Instead of completely removing it, it is better to use the “Do Not Use” mode in the application settings, if such an option is available for your region and firmware version.

If standard methods don't work, you can try resetting the Google app itself to factory settings, which will return all settings to the original state, after which you can re-run the disabling procedure, avoiding configuration errors.

⚠️ Warning: Attempting to force removal of Google system components could disrupt Play Market and other dependent services.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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The best way is not to remove the service, but to correctly adjust its parameters and disable the activation by the power button.

Following these instructions, you will be able to fully control the operation of your Xiaomi Mi 9T, getting rid of intrusive functions and increasing the comfort of use.