How to completely disable Google Assistant on Xiaomi Mi 10T: all working methods

Why Users Want to Remove Google Assistant from Mi 10T – and Whether to Do It

Google’s voice assistant is integrated into the Xiaomi Mi 10T at the MIUI firmware level, but not all users benefit from it. The main reasons for turning it off are constant consumption of 20-40 MB of RAM in the background, random activation when you press buttons or voice, and collection of location and activity data, especially for owners of the Mi 10T with 8/128 GB modification, where every megabyte of RAM counts.

On the other hand, removing the assistant completely can disrupt some MIUI features, such as quick search or integration with Google Lens. Before you start to turn it off, consider whether you are being hampered by background activity, voice control or notifications, and perhaps partial rights restrictions instead of radical measures will be enough.

In this article, we’ll look at 5 proven ways, from simply turning off through settings to deep removal of system components. All methods tested on Xiaomi Mi 10T with MIUI 12.5 firmware and MIUI 13 (Android 11/12). If your smartphone is running on a newer version, check the relevance of the instructions in the comments.

Method 1: Standard shutdown via MIUI settings

The safest and most reversible method is to use the built-in system options, which is suitable if you need to temporarily suspend the assistant without deleting system files.

1. Open the Google app (the icon with the letter "G" on a color background).
2. Slip on the profile icon in the upper right corner → select Settings.
3. Go to the Google Assistant section → General.
4. Turn off the Google Assistant slider (at the top of the screen).
5. Confirm the action by clicking Turn Off in the dialog box.

This method doesn't remove the assistant completely, it only blocks it from running on the voice command "OK, Google" or holding the Home button. The app will still hang in the background, but its activity will decrease. To completely stop the background work:

• 📱 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔍 Find Google in the list and select it.
• 🚫 Press Stop (forced stop).
• 🔒 Turn off autostart: Battery → Auto-start → Google (click to the left).

⚠️ Note: After a forced stop, some functions MIUI (For example, search by settings may not work properly, and the Google Play Store may give errors when updating applications, in which case it is enough to restart the Google application manually.

Make a backup copy of important data

Check out the MIUI version (Settings → About the phone)

Turn off sync with your Google Account (if not necessary)

Remember the password from your Mi Account (may be required to unlock it)-->

Method 2: Disconnect via ADB (no root rights)

If standard settings don’t work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a debugging tool that allows you to turn off system components without getting root access, a method that is suitable for power users and requires connecting a smartphone to a PC.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔧 Does not require superuser rights.
• 📉 Significantly reduces background activity of Google.
• 🔄 Reversible process (you can bring it all back).

To start, turn on USB debugging on the Mi 10T:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 7 times on the MIUI version until the notification “You became a developer” appears.
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
4. Activate Debugging via USB and confirm the resolution.

Now connect your phone to your computer and execute the commands in ADB:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox


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

The first command removes the updates for Google Search (where the assistant is built in), and the second command disables the assistant itself for the current user.

• ✅ Voice activation will disappear.
• ✅ Notifications from the assistant will stop coming.
• ❌ Google Play Services will remain active (they are needed for other applications).

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI after updating the team system ADB You'll have to repeat the procedure. To avoid this, block the automatic update of the Google app through Settings. → Annexes → Google → Threefold → Disable updates.

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If Google Maps or YouTube stop working after ADB commands, try clearing the cache of those apps in the settings, which usually resolves the problem without rolling back changes.

Method 3: Remove via MIUI Hidden Settings (for advanced)

MIUI firmware contains hidden settings that allow you to disable system components without ADB or root. Accessing them requires the MIUI Hidden Settings app (available on 4PDA or GitHub), which works on the Mi 10T with MIUI 12.5+ and does not require a PC connection.

Instructions:

1. Download and install. MIUI Hidden Settings (APK-file).
2. Open the application and give access to the settings.
3. Go to the Manage Applications section.
4. Find Google and Google Play Services in the list.
5. Choose each one of them and then choose the one that you have.

The effect will be similar. ADB-The method, but with one key difference: MIUI Hidden Settings allows you to flexibly configure permissions for each component, for example, you can only turn off voice input, leaving Google Lens to work.

If you notice a MIUI malfunction after you turn off (for example, the Camera or Gallery does not open), return the settings back through the same application. MIUI Hidden Settings does not make irreversible changes to the system.

Method 4: Complete removal with TWRP and Magisk (for experienced)

If you’re willing to take drastic measures and have experience with custom firmware, you can physically delete Google Assistant files via TWRP and Magisk modules, a method that offers a 100% shutdown guarantee, but requires an unlocked bootloader and installed recovery.

Pre-launch warnings:

• 🔓 Unlocking the bootloader will reset all data on the phone.
• 🛠️ Incorrect actions in TWRP This can cause a “brick” (inoperability) of the device.
• 🔄 After updating MIUI You have to repeat the procedure.

Step-by-step:

1. Unlock the bootloader through Mi Unlock Tool (the official utility from Xiaomi).
2. Install TWRP Recovery for Mi 10T (the version must match the apollo model).
3. Download the Magisk module and module Disable_GApps (available XDA Developers).
4. Download to TWRP (Power buttons + Volume up).
5. Install Magisk, then the module. Disable_GApps.
6. Reboot and check for no Google Assistant.

Module Disable_GApps Allows you to selectively disable Google Mobile Services components (GMS). In its settings, you can choose which services to remove:

• 🎤 Google Assistant – Voice Assistant.
• 🔍 Google Search – The search bar on the home screen.
• 📍 Google Location History – Location History.

⚠️ Note: Delete Google Play Services via TWRP This will make it impossible for most apps, including YouTube, Gmail and Google Maps, and if you need these services, use more gentle methods (for example, use more sparing methods, ADB).

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Use this method only if you are critically interested in getting rid of all Google footprints. For most users, 1-3 methods are sufficient.

Method 5: Alternative launchers and workarounds

If you are only hindered by the visual presence of Google Assistant (for example, the search bar on the home screen), you can do without making deep changes to the system.

The best options for Xiaomi Mi 10T:

• 🏠 Nova Launcher – allows you to hide the Google search bar and disable the assistant gestures.
• 🎨 Lawnchair – Lightweight Open Source Launcher, Supports Themes MIUI.
• ⚡ Hyperion Launcher – Optimized for performance, blocks Google background activity.

How to configure Nova Launcher to disable Assistant:

1. Install a launcher from Google Play.
2. Press your finger on the main screen → Settings.
3. Go to the App Settings → Search bar.
4. Select No in the "Search bar on the home screen" section.
5. In the Gestures and buttons section, turn off Google Voice Search.

You can also use the Shizuku + App Ops app to fine-tune Google rights:

• 🔕 Block access to the microphone.
• 📍 Turn off Location.
• 📵 Stop auto-starting.

These methods do not remove the assistant completely, but make it invisible and inactive in everyday use, the main advantage is that there is no risk to the stability of the system and the ability to quickly return to standard settings.

What happens if you completely remove Google Assistant from Mi 10T?

Deleting Google's system components completely could have unexpected consequences.

The safest option is partial shutdown (methods 1-3). Complete removal is only advisable if you:

• 🛡️ Use Mi. 10T without Google services (e.g. with Huawei AppGallery).
• 🔧 Ready for manually configured alternatives (MicroG, custom firmware).
• 📱 Have a backup device in case of failures.

If your goal is to simply save battery power, try first to limit background activity through battery settings (Settings → Battery → Application Selection → Google → Limit background activity) this will reduce resource consumption without risk to the system.

FAQ: Frequent questions about disabling Google Assistant