How to completely disable Google Assistant on Xiaomi Redmi 8T: 5 proven ways

Google Assistant on Xiaomi Redmi 8T is often activated by accident — just press the Home button or say "OK, Google." For many users, this feature becomes a source of irritation: it eats battery power, collects data about location and habits, and also interferes with games or watching videos. Especially a problem for owners of Redmi 8T with MIUI 11/12 firmware, where the Assistant is integrated deeper than in the stock Android.

In this article, we’ll look at all the working ways to disable Google Assistant, from standard settings to hidden commands via ADB and editing configuration files, how to block the Assistant from running with gestures, voice and buttons, and what to do if the Assistant is activated again after the MIUI update. Importantly, some methods require superuser rights (root) or PC connection – we’ve marked them separately so you can choose the best option.

Why Google Assistant is running Redmi 8T, even if you didn’t turn it on

On the Xiaomi Redmi 8T (model M1908C3JG), Google Assistant is installed by default as part of Google Mobile Services (GMS). Even if you haven't manually set up the Assistant, it can activate automatically because of:

• 🔄 Updates MIUI: After installing new firmware versions (for example, with MIUI 11 on MIUI 12.5) Google Assistant may be re-enabled despite previous settings.
• 🎤 Voice activation: The phrase “OK, Google” is recognized even when the screen is locked, if the option “Voice recognition from the lock screen” is not disabled in the settings".
• 📱 Gestures and buttons: Pressing the Home button or swipe from the corner of the screen (in new versions) MIUI) Default is tied to the launch of the Assistant.
• 🔋 Background processes: com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox consumes up to 5-7% Battery charges per day, even if you don’t use an assistant.

In addition, Xiaomi sometimes adds its own triggers for Google Assistant to the firmware. For example, MIUI 12 introduced a feature called “Smart Assistant”, which can conflict with Google’s settings. This means that simply turning off the Settings → Google menu doesn’t always work.

⚠️ Note: If you use a Google corporate account (for example, through Android Enterprise), the administrator can force the Assistant to turn on through device policies.

Method 1: Disconnect via standard MIUI settings

The easiest and safest method is to use built-in options. MIUI. It is suitable for users who do not want to risk the stability of the system. 8T firmware MIUI 11–14:

1. Open Settings and go to Google → Settings for Google apps → Search, Assistant and Voice.
2. Select Google Assistant → scroll down and click General Settings.
3. Turn off the switches: 🔘 "Google Assistant (Main Tumbler) 🔘 "Voice Activation (for the phrase “OK, Google") 🔘 "Personalization" (to stop collecting data)

Go back to Settings → Apps → App Management, search Google and click Disable (if the option is active).

After this, the Assistant will stop running on the voice, but can remain accessible through gestures or buttons to remove the binding completely:

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Buttons and gestures → gesture of the Home button.
2. Choose Do Nothing or Last App instead of Google Assistant.

Steps:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and open the command line (or Terminal on macOS/Linux).
2. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices Should appear with the serial number.
3. Run the command to disable Google Assistant: adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox
4. Reboot your phone: adb reboot

Once you restart, the Assistant will be disabled at the system level. To get it back, use the command:

adb shell pm enable com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox

⚠️ Note: Some apps (such as Google Pay or YouTube) may stop working correctly after turning off Googlequicksearchbox.

Through settings MIUI|ADB-team|Root access|Disconnection through Magisk|I'm not turning it off, I'm using an assistant.

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Method 3: Remove via Magisk (root required)

If you have Magisk installed (or are ready to get root rights), you can completely remove Google Assistant without risk to the system, which is suitable for advanced users, as it requires modification of system files.

Instructions:

1. Install the Universal Google Assistant Remover module for Magisk.
2. Download the module file (.zip) and transfer it to the phone’s memory.
3. Open Magisk Manager, go to Modules → Install from Storage → select the downloaded file.
4. Reset the device.

The module removes the following components:

After installing the module, check the phone: some features (like Google Lens in the camera) may stop working. If you need to return the Assistant, just delete the module in Magisk and restart.

💡

Before installing Magisk modules, always back up the /system partition via TWRP, which will help restore the phone if something goes wrong.

Method 4: Disconnecting through editing build.prop

For advanced users who are ready to work with system files, there is a way to disable Assistant by editing build.prop. This method requires root rights and accuracy, as errors can lead to a bootloop ( looped reboot).

Steps:

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Open /system/build.prop file in the text editor.
3. Add the following lines to the end of the file: ro.opa.eligible_device=false persist.google.assistant.setup=0
4. Save the file and restart the phone.

These settings tell the system that the device does not support Google Assistant and it stops activating through gestures or voice. If the phone does not turn on after the restart, delete the added strings via TWRP (mount /system in recording mode).

⚠️ Warning: Editing build.prop can break OTA-update MIUI. Before the next update, delete the added lines or install firmware manually through Fastboot.

Method 5: Replacing Google Assistant with an alternative

If you don’t like Google Assistant but need a replacement for voice control, consider the alternatives:

• 🤖 Xiaomi AI Assistant (XiaoAI): Built-in assistant in the MIUI, It works without Google services, activated by holding the Power button for a long time (configured in Settings). → Smart assistant).
• 🗣️ Bixby (for users of Samsung services): You can install via APK, But requires a Samsung account.
• 🔍 Assistant.ai or Hound: Third-party assistants with support for Russian and advanced features (for example, search by photo).
• 📱 Tasker + AutoVoice: For advanced users, customize your own voice commands without cloud services.

To link the alternative assistant to the buttons:

1. Install the selected application (e.g. XiaoAI).
2. Go to Settings → Additional → Buttons and gestures → gesture of the Home button.
3. Select Launch the app and point the way to an alternative assistant.

The advantage of this method is that you retain the functionality of voice control, but without collecting data from Google. For example, XiaoAI is integrated with Xiaomi services (smart home, Mi Fit) and supports offline commands.

What to do if Google Assistant is turned on after the MIUI update

Many Redmi 8T users are faced with the Assistant being activated again after the Google firmware update, which is because Xiaomi resets some of its default settings to prevent automatic activation:

1. Before updating, back up through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset.
2. After installing the update, do not connect to the Internet via mobile network or Wi-Fi until you turn off the Assistant again.
3. Use ADB or Magisk to block the com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox (as described in Methods 2 and 3).
4. Turn off automatic sync with Google account: Settings → Accounts → Google → Disable sync

If the update is already installed and the Assistant is back, check:

• 🔄 Gesture settings: Maybe the Home button has been reset.
• 📦 App Updates: Go to Google Play → Check to see if Google Assistant has automatically updated.
• 🔧 Device policies: If the phone is tied to a work account, the administrator could force the Assistant to be activated.

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The most reliable way to prevent the Assistant from turning on automatically is to block it via ADB or Magisk. Standard MIUI settings can be reset after updates.

FAQ: Frequent questions about turning off Google Assistant on Redmi 8T