How to permanently disable Google Assistant on Xiaomi with MIUI 11: a step-by-step guide

Why users want to get rid of Google Assistant on Xiaomi

Google Assistant is built into most Android smartphones, including Xiaomi devices with MIUI 11 shell. However, not all users need this feature. The main reasons for turning off: constant resource consumption in the background, random activation when you press the Home button or voice, and collection of location and preferences. On MIUI 11, the situation is complicated by the fact that the shell is closely integrated with Google services, and standard disconnection through settings often works incompletely.

Another problem is that even after deactivation through the menu, Assistant can automatically turn on after updating Google Play services, which is due to the company's policy that the assistant is an integral part of the ecosystem. In this article, we will discuss all working ways to disable, including hidden settings and technical methods for advanced users.

Method 1: Standard shutdown via MIUI 11 settings

Let's start with the simplest method that most users can use: it doesn't require super-user rights or special knowledge, but it has a limitation: the assistant can be activated again after the Google App update.

Instructions:

• 📱 Open the Settings app (⚙️) on your Xiaomi.
• 🔍 Go to the Appendix section → Application management.
• 🔧 In the upper right corner, press three dots (⋮) and select Show all applications.
• 🤖 Find the Google (or Google App) list and tap it.
• ⚙️ Select Notifications, then disable all switches associated with Google Assistant.
• 🔙 Go back and press the Warehouse. → Clear the data and clear the cache.

After this, the assistant will stop responding to voice commands and pressing the Home button. However, as mentioned earlier, after updating the Google app, the settings may reset. To avoid this, move to the next way.

Method 2: Disconnect via ADB (without root)

A more reliable method is using Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which allows you to disable Google Assistant at the system level without requiring superuser rights, minus: when you reset your settings or reflash the procedure, you will have to repeat it.

What you need:

• 💻 Computer with drivers installed ADB (You can download from the official website of Android Developers).
• 📱 Xiaomi smartphone with enabled debugging USB.
• 🔌 USB-Type C Cable (original or high-quality analogue).

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on the Developer Mode on your smartphone: go to Settings → About phone and 7 times tap on the item MIUI version.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and activate Debugging over USB.
3. Connect the phone to your computer and confirm the debugging permission.
4. Open the command line (cmd) on the PC and type:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox

If the command is successful, you will see a message Package com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox new state: disabled-user. Google Assistant is now completely disabled, including background processes.

Install ADB drivers on PC

Enable the developer mode on Xiaomi

Activate debugging over USB

Connect the original cable

Download platform tools ADB-->

Method 3: Remove Google App Updates (Radical Method)

This is a way for those who are willing to sacrifice some of Google’s functionality to get rid of the assistant altogether, and the essence of the method is to roll back the Google App app to the factory version, where the Assistant can be permanently disabled.

Important: After that, some services, such as Google Discover on the home screen, may not work properly, and you will also need to disable automatic updates of the application in the Play Market.

How to do this:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Google.
2. Press three points (⋮) In the upper corner and select Remove Updates.
3. Confirm the action. The app will return to the factory version.
4. Open the Play Market, search for Google App, click three dots and uncheck Auto Update.

Now you have to disable the assistant through the settings, as in Method 1. Since the application will not update, the Assistant will not come back on its own, but be prepared for some of the Google search features to become less user-friendly.

Comparison of Google Assistant Disablement Methods

To choose the best method, compare all three methods on key parameters: complexity, reliability and side effects.

For most Xiaomi users on MIUI 11, the best solution is a combination of Method 2 (ADB) and disabling auto-updates, which ensures a stable result without serious loss of functionality.

What to do if Google Assistant is activated

Sometimes, even after all the manipulations, the assistant keeps going, and this can happen for several reasons:

• 🔄 Automatic Update: Play Market Updates Google App in the Background, Restores Assistant.
• 📱 Resetting: After resetting to factory settings, all changes are reset.
• 🔧 Conflict with MIUI: Some versions MIUI 11 have bugs that do not save settings.

Decisions:

1. Check with Play Market to see if Google has updated the app, and if so, uninstall the updates (see Method 3).
2. Use ADB to turn off again (see Method 2).
3. If the problem is MIUI, try updating your firmware to the latest stable version via Settings → About Phone → System Update.

💡

To permanently block the Google App update, you can use apps like AppBlock or Disabler (root required), which allow you to blacklist the app for the Play Market.

Alternatives to Google Assistant on Xiaomi

If you have disabled Google Assistant but want to keep the voice assistant functional, consider the alternatives:

• 🤖 Xiao AI — Xiaomi’s built-in assistant, optimized for MIUI. It works in Chinese and English, supports the management of smart devices of the Mi Home ecosystem.
• 🗣️ Alice from Yandex is a Russian-language assistant with good integration with Yandex services (Search, Music, Maps.
• 🌍 Bixby (for Samsung device owners, but available on other brands) – supports Russian and has advanced automation features.

To establish an alternative assistant:

1. Download the app from Play Market (e.g. Yandex with Alice).
2. Go to Settings → Applications → By default → Voice input and select a new assistant.
3. Set up activation by voice command or button in the app.

Note that some alternatives (e.g. Xiao AI) may conflict with MIUI 11 on global firmware, in which case the firmware reflashing to the Chinese or European version of MIUI will help.

💡

Disabling Google Assistant does not affect the basic functions of a smartphone, but it can limit access to some Google services, such as quick search or reminders. If you are actively using the Google ecosystem, weigh the pros and cons before deactivating.

FAQ: Frequent questions about disabling Google Assistant

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 8 Pro or Mi) 9T) After disabling Google Assistant, the camera activation gesture can stop working with a double press of the power button. MIUI 11 uses the same event handler for both functions. Solution: reassign the action to Settings → Lock screen → Gestures.

⚠️ Note: If you use Xiaomi.eu or custom firmware, the path to Google Assistant settings may be different. In some builds, the assistant is disabled by default, but it can be activated through Settings. → System system → Language and input → Voice input before experiments with ADB Make sure your firmware supports pm disable-user commands.