How to permanently disable Google Assistant on Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S: from the button to background processes

Google Assistant on Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S may be useful, but not for everyone. Many users complain about the occasional activation of voice assistant, unnecessary battery consumption or simply do not want their data to go to Google. Unfortunately, you can not completely remove the application without root rights — it is sewn into the firmware MIUI as a system. But there are several ways to turn it off, from deactivating voice call to blocking background activity.

In this article, we’ll break down all the working methods for the Redmi Note 10S (relevant to MIUI 12, 13, and 14). Importantly, some settings may vary depending on the firmware version, but the general logic remains the same. If you use custom firmware (e.g., Pixel Experience or LineageOS), some of the instructions may not work, in which cases superuser rights will be required.

Why does Google Assistant work for Xiaomi, even if you don’t use it?

The Redmi Note 10S comes pre-installed with Google’s GMS service package, which includes not only the Assistant, but also:

• 🔍 Google Play Services – Background service that manages updates and syncs;
• 🎤 Google App – the application responsible for search and voice commands;
• 🔄 Google Account Manager – Authorization Service.

Even if you have never manually activated the Assistant, it can be triggered automatically for several reasons:

• 📱 Long pressing of the home button (unless reassigned);
• 🎙️ Voice command "OK, Google" (recognises even on a locked screen);
• 🔄 Background Processes – Google Play Services periodically checks for updates for Assistant.

In addition, on some MIUI firmware, the Assistant can be activated when you connect your headphones or after you update Google services, which is not a bug, but a feature, as Google tries to increase user engagement.

Method 1: Disabling voice activation (OK, Google)

The easiest way to reduce the Intrusiveness of the Assistant is to disable voice command recognition, which won't delete the app itself, but will prevent accidental positives.

Instructions:

1. Open the Google app (the icon with the letter "G" on a color background).
2. Slip on your avatar (or initials) in the upper right corner.
3. Select Settings → Voice search.
4. Go to Voice Assistant.
5. Click on Google Assistant.
6. In the Devices section, select your Redmi Note 10S.
7. Turn off the slider Access from the lock screen.
8. Go back and select Voice Control.
9. Turn off Google (voice confirmation may be required).

The Assistant will then stop responding to voice commands, but it can still be triggered when the Home button is held or through the search widget.

Go to Google Settings → Voice Search

Make sure that OK Google is off.

Check that "Access from the Lock Screen" is disabled

Reboot your phone to apply changes-->

Method 2: Reassign the Home button (for MIUI 12-14)

On the Redmi Note 10S, the default long-term home click (or swipe up late) is called by Google Assistant. This can be changed.

How to reassign:

1. Open the settings → Additional settings.
2. Select the Home button (or gestures if you use navigation without buttons).
3. Click on Long Press (or Swipe Up and Hold).
4. Instead of Google Assistant, select: 🔍 Search (Google search bar opens without voice assistant); 📱 No action (to completely disable the hold response); 🔧 Other application (you can assign, for example, the launch of a camera or flashlight).

If your MIUI version does not have the Home Button option, try an alternative way:

1. Press the Home button (or swipe up with a delay).
2. At the bottom of the screen will appear a hint – tap on the gear. ⚙️.
3. Turn off Google Assistant and select another action.

💡

If after reassigning the Home button began to work unstable, try resetting the gesture settings in Settings → System → Resetting the settings → Reset the gesture settings.

Method 3: Disabling background activity through application settings

Google Assistant keeps working in the background, even if you're not using it, and it's consuming battery and traffic to limit its activity.

Steps:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In search, type in Google and select the Google app (not to be confused with Google Play Services!).
3. Put it on Battery.
4. Choose to limit background activity.
5. Go back and press Notifications → turn off all sliders.
6. In the Permissions section, turn off: 🎤 Microphone; 📍 Location; 📱 Auto-start.

These actions will not remove the Assistant, but will significantly reduce its impact on performance. Please note that after updating the Google app, some permissions may reset — check them periodically.

⚠️ Attention: Restricting background activity may cause some features to stop working, such as voice search in the browser or automatic data synchronization of Google. If you notice problems, return some permissions.

Method 4: Remove Google Updates (Reset to the factory version)

Google Assistant is updated through Google Play, and new versions may ignore your settings to bring the app back to factory status:

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find and open Google.
3. Tap it on three points. ⋮ in the upper right corner and select Remove Updates.
4. Confirm the action.
5. Reboot the phone.

Step-by-step:

1. On your phone, turn on Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (tap 7 times to activate the developer mode).
2. Return to Settings → Additional settings → Developer settings.
3. Activate Debugging on USB.
4. Connect the phone to your computer and select File Transfer mode.
5. On your computer, open the command line (Windows) or the terminal (Linux/macOS).
6. Enter the commands in turn: adb devices (you should have your device name) adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.apps.googleassistant
7. Reboot the phone.

These commands will remove updates to the Google app and disable the Assistant for the current user.

• ✅ Google Search will work;
• ✅ Play Store and other services will remain active;
• ⚠️ After resetting the phone to the factory settings, the assistant will return.

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB If you have problems after completing the commands (for example, the Play Store stopped working), follow the command: adb shell pm enable com.google.android.gms and restart the device.

What happens if you completely disable Google Assistant?

Many people are afraid that when the Assistant is deactivated, the other functions of the phone will stop working.

Main consequences of disconnection:

• ✅ Increased battery life (on the 5-15% depending on the use);
• ✅ Accidental microphone activations will disappear;
• ❌ There will be no voice control in some apps;
• ❌ Some widgets will stop working (for example, weather from Google).

If you use alternative services (e.g. Yandex.Alice or Siri via iPhone), disabling Google Assistant will not affect their work.

💡

Disabling Google Assistant does not affect the basic functions of the phone (calls, SMS, camera, Internet), only those features that directly depend on Google services suffer.

FAQ: Frequent questions about disabling Google Assistant on Xiaomi