Many owners of the popular smartphone Redmi 5 Plus are faced with a situation where the built-in voice assistant from Google begins to interfere with the daily operation of the device. Google Assistant can spontaneously activate in your pocket, respond to extraneous sounds or simply consume precious battery resources, which is especially noticeable on models of previous years of release. Xiaomi, integrating its services, often leaves standard Android settings unchanged, so managing the digital assistant requires special attention of the user.
Disabling this feature completely not only improves the autonomy of the Redmi 5 Plus, but also frees up RAM, which is often in short supply on this model. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available methods of deactivation, from simple hiding a button to deep system settings through the developer menu, you will learn to block activation by voice, disable reaction to long presses and prevent accidental launches.
Before we go into radical measures, it's worth understanding that the system component is deeply integrated into the Android shell. However, for most users, it's easy to reconfigure activation triggers, which will keep the search functionality intact, but remove annoyances. Let's look at a step-by-step algorithm for fully customizing voice control.
Disabling the reaction to a long press of the button
The most common way to activate the assistant on Redmi 5 Plus is by pressing the Home button or the central navigation button for a long time. By default, the system is set to start Google Assistant when holding this key for more than one second. To change this behavior, you need to refer to the keyboard and navigation system settings.
Go to your smartphone's settings menu and find the section that's responsible for additional features. Depending on the version of the MIUI firmware, the path may vary slightly, but the logic remains the same. You need to find the item associated with the Home button and change the action assigned to it. Instead of the assistant, you can set the menu of recent applications or just leave the return function.
⚠️ Warning: Changing the settings of the Home button may affect navigation. If you use voice input frequently to dictate messages, make sure that the alternative activation method remains available.
After making changes, the system may require rebooting the interface or the device itself to apply new parameters, the navigation bar will work according to the new scenario, and accidental launches of the assistant will stop, this is a basic level of protection against unwanted activation, which is recommended to be performed first of all by each owner.
☑️ Setting the Home button
Importantly, some global firmware versions may have this item hidden or moved. If you don't find the path described, try searching by settings by typing "button" or "navigation." Android's flexibility allows you to tailor your management to your needs, even if standard scenarios don't work.
Setting up voice activation and phrases Ok Google
The constant listening feature for finding the phrase “Ok Google” is one of the main consumers of energy in the background. On the Redmi 5 Plus, with its not the most capacious battery by modern standards, turning off the microphone in standby mode is a sensible step. To manage this setting, you need to go directly to the settings of the Google app itself.
Open the Google app on your smartphone and tap the profile avatar in the top right corner. In the menu that appears, select Settings, then go to Voice Control, and that's where the key switches for voice response and speech recognition are.
- 🎙️ Find the Voice Match and turn it off so that the phone stops responding to your voice.
- 🔇 Deactivate the “Clock Screen Access” option so that the assistant doesn’t turn on when the phone is lying on the table.
- 📵 Turn off “Access Through Headphones” if you’re not using a headset to control your smartphone.
Once these options are turned off, the microphone will stop constantly scanning the surrounding space for an activation command, which will not only save charge, but also increase your privacy.
Now, if you're using a voice control device, you'll only be able to call the assistant manually through an app or widget, and if you're used to using your phone while driving, this method might not be the right one for you, so you can only leave access on from the unlocked screen, and you can turn off the response from the locked state.
Managing Notifications and Google Now Cards
Another source of annoyance for Xiaomi users is often the so-called “cards” or news feed, which is called by swipe left from the home screen, a feature closely linked to Google’s ecosystem and constantly updates weather, currency and news data, consuming traffic and battery.
To get rid of this tape, you just need to swipe or pinch a long time on the free space on the desktop to go into editing mode. At the top of the screen or in the side menu, you will see a switch that is responsible for displaying the tape Google or Discover.
| Parameter | Impact on the system | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Google Tape | High traffic consumption | Shut down. |
| Personalized results | Location data collection | Shut down. |
| Notification of prompts | Processor load | Shut down. |
| Activity history | Occupying a place in the cloud | Clean up |
Additionally, it is recommended to go to the settings of your Google account and disable ad personalization and activity history. This will reduce the number of intrusive offers and make the interface more clean. Redmi 5 Plus will be more responsive, since the system does not have to constantly download content for preview.
⚠️ Warning: Turning off the news feed does not remove the Google app completely, it only hides its visual display on the desktop. For advanced users who want full control of the system, there is access to the hidden developer menu. MIUI The access to these settings is hidden, but it's easy to activate, and it allows you to manage the deeper processes associated with the work of system services and assistants. To activate the developer mode, go to the About Phone menu and find the version. MIUI. You need to press fast. 7-10 Once you have the version number until you have a successful activation message, and then a new Developer section will appear in the main settings». Settings -> About Phone -> Tap by MIUI (7 times) -> Settings -> For developers In this section, you can find options related to animation and background processes. Although there is no direct button "Kill Assistant" there, limiting background processes can prevent it from spontaneously starting. Be careful when changing these settings, as incorrect actions can lead to unstable system operation. The risks of changing the developer settings can lead to unpredictable behavior of individual applications or the entire system. If you are not sure about the specific method, you can leave the default on the desired method. However, for most users, the settings described in the previous sections are sufficient. The developer menu is a powerful tool that requires understanding the consequences of each action. The most radical, but also the most effective way is to completely disable the system component. On Redmi 5 Plus, this can be done through the Application Manager. It is important to understand that you cannot delete Google Assistant as a regular application, since it is part of the system image, but it can be “freeze.” Go to the settings, select “Apps” and find in the list of Google. Go to its properties and find the button “Disolve it, or the system will stop the associated resources. 🛑 Find the Google app in the list of installed programs. ❌ Click the “Disable” button to block work. ✅ Confirm action in the pop-up warning window. If the "Disable" button is inactive, try to delete all app updates first, and click on three dots in the corner of the screen and select the appropriate item. Once rolled back to the factory version, the shutdown button is often available, which will return the phone to a state of “clean” Android without intrusive services. 💡Disabling the Google system application through settings is the most reliable way to completely stop the Assistant and save device resources. After this procedure, a search in the Google bar may stop working or work in a limited mode. If you are critically interested in fast search, this method may not be the best choice. In this case, it is better to limit the configuration of activation triggers described above. Alternative solutions and functionality replacement After disabling the standard assistant, many users wonder what to replace its functionality. For Xiaomi, there are alternatives that can be more convenient and less resource-intensive. For example, you can use the built-in voice assistant MIUI or third-party applications from the Play Market store. One popular alternative is the use of quick-start widgets. You can set up the launch of the desired applications or actions on a schedule or geolocation. This allows you to automate routine tasks without the need for constant interaction with the voice interface. They allow a complete redesign of the interface, removing all elements of Google and replacing them with lighter counterparts. This is especially true for the Redmi 5 Plus, which over the years can run slower due to the proliferation of system debris. ⚠️ Attention: Installing third-party launchers can change the appearance of the interface and take time to get used to. Before installation, it is recommended to back up important data. If you only want to search, you can use the search bar widget of any browser. If automation is important, explore the possibilities of scripting in your phone settings. Android's flexibility allows you to create the perfect environment to work without too much noise. Frequently asked questions (FAQ) Can you completely remove Google Assistant with Redmi 5 Plus without root rights? Complete removal of the system component without root rights is impossible, as it is built into the firmware. However, it can be completely disabled through application settings, which is effectively equivalent to deleting for the user. The service will stop working, consume the battery and appear in the interface. Why does the Assistant turn on itself after disconnection? This can happen after updating the system components of Google Play Services. The system automatically restores the default settings. In this case, the deactivation procedure will need to be repeated. Also check if the Google OK function is not included in the settings of the Google application itself. Does disabling the Assistant affect other applications? However, features tied to voice input via Google (such as dictating in WhatsApp or searching in Chrome by voice) may stop working or require manual activation each time. Is it safe to turn off Google system services on Xiaomi? Disabling Google Assistant is safe for the stability of the phone. This will not cause malfunctions in the work of calls, messages or the Internet. However, it is not recommended to turn off the main services of Google Play, as this can disrupt the app store and authorization in the account. How to return all settings if something went wrong? To return settings, it is enough to go back to the menu again on the phone, or to reboot the menu, you can switch on the functions in the previously.