Despite its age, the Xiaomi Mi8 remains a popular device due to its performance and quality screen. However, Google’s built-in services, which are actively integrated into the MIUI shell, can annoy users with their intrusiveness. Often owners face a situation where the voice assistant is activated accidentally when unlocking or calling the search menu.
Complete removal of Google system components requires superuser rights, which can lead to loss of warranty or unstable device operation. Which is why for most users the question is not about radical removal, but about competent deactivation of functions that interfere with the comfortable use of the gadget. In this article, we will discuss safe ways to disable the assistant without the need for flashing.
We’ll look at the app’s settings, navigation button management, and system constraints, and understanding how Android interacts with voice services will allow you to take back full control of your Xiaomi interface.
Analysis of the causes of compulsive voice assistant
The main reason Google Assistant is constantly appearing on the Mi8 screen is because of the standard Android settings. By default, long-term pressing on the central navigation button or the Home button is perceived as a command to activate voice input. For many users, this creates inconvenience, especially when typing or playing fast.
There is also the “Ok Google” feature, which makes the smartphone microphone constantly listen to the surroundings for a key phrase.This not only consumes the battery of the Xiaomi Mi8, but can also lead to false positives in noisy rooms.
It's important to understand that you can't completely cut the assistant out of the system without root rights, because it's part of Google Play services, but we can block all triggers for it to run, making it invisible, and that will keep the operating system stable while eliminating visual and audio noise.
⚠️ Note: Before making changes to system settings, it is recommended to back up important data to avoid accidental loss of information in the event of a failure.
There are several levels of disconnection, from simply blocking button activation to completely limiting the application’s background activity, depending on how deeply you want to integrate into the MIUI settings.
Disabling activation with buttons and gestures
The most common way to accidentally call an assistant on the Xiaomi Mi8 is to use a control button. In modern versions of Android and MIUI shells, the behavior of the navigation buttons is flexible, and to change the response of the device to a long press, you need to refer to system parameters.
Go to Settings, then select Additional Settings, and you're interested in Language and Entering. In some versions of firmware, the path may look like Settings → System → Language and input. Find the option that will act when you press the Home button or the center button for a long time.
☑️ Setting up navigation buttons
In the menu that opens, you'll see a list of actions available. The default can be "Google Assistant." You need to change this value to "Nothing" or, if you don't have one, select a standard Google search that doesn't call the voice interface, which will break the link between the physical or on-screen control ale and the launch of the voice module.
If you use gesture control instead of buttons, the situation may be different. In gesture mode, a long press on the bottom of the screen can also activate the assistant. Check the settings in the Full-screen or Navigation section. Make sure that the Quick Start Assistant function is not activated there.
Setting up parameters inside the Google app
Even if you have disabled the buttons, the Google app can try to run the assistant through other channels. To get deep customization, you need to go directly to the configuration of the service itself. Open the Google app (the "G" icon) on your Mi8.
Click on your account avatar in the upper right corner or the menu button (three dots/lines). Select Settings, then go to Google Assistant. This is where all the key switches that control service behavior are concentrated. We're interested in the Assistant or Devices tab.
In the list of devices, find your Xiaomi Mi8 and click on it. You will see the switch "Google Assistant." Transfer it to the Off position. This action will prevent the assistant interface from running on that particular device, even if other triggers remain active.
| Setup parameter | Recommended value | Impact on the system |
|---|---|---|
| Long push of the button | Nothing/Search | Blocks the launch on the button |
| Activation by phrase | Off. | Saves battery and traffic |
| Access from locked screen | Forbidden. | Increases data security |
| Personal results | Disconnected. | Limits the collection of user data |
Also in this section, it is useful to disable the Personal Results option if you want to minimize the collection of data about your preferences, which does not affect the functionality of the disconnection, but increases the overall level of privacy on your smartphone.
Control of voice activation and microphone
One of the most annoying features is constantly tapping the microphone to detect the phrase "Ok Google." On the Xiaomi Mi8, you can turn it off, which will significantly reduce the background load on the processor. Go back to the Assistant settings discussed in the previous section.
Find the "Hey Google" and Voice Match (or "Ok Google" and voice matching) section, where you uncheck "Access from the lock screen" and completely turn off the "Hey Google" switch, and then the smartphone will stop responding to voice commands when the screen is turned off or locked.
Why does the assistant turn on itself?
There's also a nuance about app permissions. You can go to Settings → Apps → All apps, go to Google's listing, and go to Permissions, where you can temporarily revoke access to the microphone, but beware: this could disrupt voice input on the Gboard keyboard or other services of the company.
A milder option is to leave access to the microphone, but to prevent background work. In the Battery and Performance (or Energy Savings) section, find the Google app and set a background activity limit, which will prevent the service from constantly hanging in memory while waiting for a command.
Use of third-party launchers and customization
If standard MIUI methods seem inadequate or confusing, a third-party launcher like Nova Launcher, Lawnchair or Microsoft Launcher will be an effective solution, and they replace the desktop entirely and often have their own, more intuitive button management settings.
When installing a third-party launcher on the Xiaomi Mi8, the system will ask you to confirm the default application change. Agree to this action. The new launcher settings usually have a Gestures and Input section where you can reassign the action to double-touch or long-press, completely ignoring the Android system settings.
- 🚀 Nova Launcher: Allows you to assign any gesture action, including running specific apps instead of an assistant.
- 🎨 Lawnchair: Minimalist launcher that perfectly replicates the style of “clean” Android, but gives full control over the navigation buttons.
- 🛡️ Button Mapper: A dedicated application that intercepts button clicks and reassigns them, allowing you to completely disable the standard behavior of the Home button".
Using button-mapper apps like Button Mapper is one of the most reliable ways, running on top of the system and intercepting the pressing signal before it reaches the Google Assistant system, you can set a flashlight, a camera, or just leave the action blank at a long press of the home button.
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When installing a third-party launcher, be sure to give it all the permissions requested, including access to the overlay, otherwise the animations and gestures may not work properly.
Limitation of background activity and battery
Even if you’ve disabled all visible features, Google’s processes can continue to run in the background, consuming Xiaomi Mi8 resources. For maximum efficiency, it’s worth limiting them through the battery system manager.
Go to Settings → Battery and Performance. Search the Google app in the list. Select No Limits mode (to allow work if you only want to turn off buttons) or Vice versa, Energy Saving / Background activity if your goal is to minimize service presence.
In the newer versions of MIUI, there is also a “Space” feature. Go to the Security app (standard for Xiaomi), select Permissions → Auto Run. Make sure that this item is turned off for the Google app. This will prevent it from starting immediately after you turn on the phone until you open the search or maps yourself.
⚠️ Warning: Completely limiting background activity may cause Google widgets (weather, news) to stop updating in real time.
Also worth checking is Advanced Settings → For Developers. If you have Developer Mode enabled, make sure that it doesn’t activate the debugging features that Google services can wake up to. While this is rare, sometimes resetting developer settings helps solve problems with phantom launches.
Possible problems and solutions
During the setup process, Xiaomi Mi8 users may face a number of typical problems, such as when the MIUI system is updated, the settings may be reset to factory settings, and the assistant will start to activate again, in which case the button check procedure will have to be repeated.
Another common problem is application conflict. If you have multiple voice assistants installed (e.g., Alice from Yandex or Siri via emulators, which is unlikely but possible in an emulator environment), the system may try to choose the default assistant each time you press a button. Make sure that the default settings of the Application → Assistant are "No" or "Google", but with the functions disabled.
If the assistant keeps showing up, try clearing the cache and data of the Google app itself. → Annexes → All applications → Google → Memory and press "Clear" This will return the settings of the service to the original state, after which you can re-execute the procedure, but from the "clean sheet".
In rare cases, the problem may be a hardware malfunction of the Home button (if it is physical, although it is touch/screen on the Mi8) or a sticking screen. Check if the screen responds to touch on its own using the sensor check mode in the engineering menu (#6484###).
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An integrated approach, including disabling buttons, voice activation and background restrictions, ensures the complete elimination of unwanted interference by the assistant in the operation of the smartphone.