How to disable Google Assistant on Xiaomi Mi 9

The Xiaomi Mi 9, released in 2019, remains a popular device due to its powerful processor and high-quality screen. However, the built-in features of the Android operating system, in particular Google Assistant, can be annoying for users who are used to minimalism or prefer other management methods. Often activation occurs by accident when unlocking or holding the power button, which prevents comfortable use of the gadget.

Disabling the voice assistant is not just a matter of aesthetics, but also a way to save battery power, as the service constantly listens to the environment in the background. Owners of the Xiaomi Mi 9 can face difficulties, since the MIUI shell interface has its own features of configuring system applications. In this article, we will discuss all the available methods of deactivation, from standard settings to advanced methods through ADB.

It’s important to understand that completely removing the Google Assistant system component may require root rights or computer use. However, in most cases, it’s enough to fine-tune the settings inside the menu to eliminate random starts and background activity. We’ll look at a step-by-step algorithm that will help you regain full control of your device.

Why you should turn off the voice assistant on MIUI

Many Xiaomi users don’t even use voice search, preferring manual text input or voice commands of the built-in XiaoAI assent (in Chinese versions) or simply ignoring this feature.Having a constantly running Google Assistant leads to increased CPU resource consumption, especially on models of the past like the Mi 9, where every percent of the battery counts.

In addition, accidental activations can occur in your pocket or while carrying your phone in your bag.This not only wastes energy, but can also lead to unwanted actions, such as sending messages or making calls.Switching off the service increases privacy, as the microphone stops constantly scanning the sound environment in anticipation of the trigger phrase.

⚠️ Note: Before making changes to system settings, it is recommended to back up important data. While it is safe to disable the assistant, random actions in other menu sections can affect the system operation.

It’s also worth noting that some features of Google Now or News Feeds can be unstable when the assistant is completely blocked.If you’re actively using the Google ecosystem, some features may become unavailable. However, for most Xiaomi Mi 9 use cases, this is not a critical limitation.

Basic Disconnection through Google Settings

The easiest and safest way to restrict the service is to use the built-in account settings. You need to open the Google app on your Xiaomi Mi 9. Go to the profile menu by clicking on the avatar in the upper right corner, and select Settings. Next, find the Google Assistant section in the list of available options.

In the menu that opens, you'll find Google Assent (or Google Assistant) and go to Phone, and you'll find the switch that activates the function on that device, and you'll be able to turn it off, and you'll be able to stop the assistant from running when you're using voice commands, but that doesn't always block activation through the button.

To get a deeper setup, go back to the assistant's main settings menu and select Hey Google and Voice Match. Turn off the Hey Google option to stop the phone responding to voice commands, which will significantly reduce the load on the microphone and processor in standby mode.

• 📱 Open the Google app on Xiaomi Mi 9.
• ⚙️ Go to Settings. → Google Assistant.
• 🔇 Turn off the Hey Google and Voice Match option.
• 🚫 In the "Phone" section, uncheck the activation tick.

Once you do this, the assistant will stop responding to voice commands, but to completely eliminate it, you need to adjust the response to the physical buttons of the device, which is especially true for MIUI.

Remove the reaction to the power button and gestures

Owners of Xiaomi Mi 9 often find that it is Google Assistant that causes long-term on-button clamping, not the off menu. This behavior is set by default in modern versions of Android. To change this, go to the basic smartphone settings.

In the settings menu, find the Additional (or Advanced Settings) section, where you need to locate the Power Button or Press and Hold the Power button. In the list that opens, select the Off Menu option instead of the Google Assistant, which will return the usual functionality to the button.

Also worth checking is the gesture settings. Lock and Protect or Passwords and Security may have the option to trigger the assistant when you swipe the corner of the screen, and if it is active, it should also be deactivated to avoid accidental triggers.

⚠️ Note: On different versions of the firmware MIUI (Global, China, EU) menu items may vary slightly. Look for the keywords "Food," "Button" or "Assistant".

If standard methods to change the behavior of the button fails, you can use third-party applications to reassign the buttons, but this requires the installation of additional software and the provision of special permissions through ADB.

Limitation of background activity and permissions

Even if you have disabled the launch button, the Google app can continue to work in the background, consuming resources. To fully pacify the service, you need to limit its rights. Go to Settings → Apps → All applications.

Search the Google app (not Chrome, but the G-log system app) and revoke the microphone, location, and contacts without these permissions, the assistant won’t be able to function properly even if it’s running.

Next, go to Autostart and turn it off for the Google app. Also, in Battery (or Energy Consumption) select No Limits mode and replace it with Hard Savings or Background Restriction, which will prevent the service from running in sleep mode.

This comprehensive approach ensures that Google Assistant will not interfere with your work with Xiaomi Mi 9 and waste battery power.

💡

If after the restriction of rights the system requires to restore access for the search operation, agree, but immediately again limit background activity in the Battery section.

Using ADB to Advance Disconnect

For users who want to get the most out of the way and are not afraid to work with a computer, there is a method of disabling through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which allows you to hide or freeze the system component responsible for the assistant, without the need to obtain root rights.

To start, you need to turn on the developer mode on Xiaomi Mi 9. Go to Settings → About phone and quickly press 7 times on the MIUI version. Then in the section Additional enable debugging over USB. Connect your phone to your PC and use the command:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.apps.googleassistant

Executing this command will deactivate the Google Assistant package. If you want to return everything as it was, use the command adb shell pm enable com.google.android.apps.googleassistant. This method is the most effective for completely removing functionality from the system.

It is important to understand that forced shutdown of system packages can in rare cases lead to unstable operation of the launcher or search bar. Use this method only if the standard settings did not give the desired result.

Alternative solutions and replacement of functionality

After disabling Google Assistant, Xiaomi Mi 9 users may wonder: how to replace voice control? MIUI has its own XiaoAI assent, but it is focused primarily on Chinese language and services. For the Russian-speaking segment, a great alternative is Yandex Alice or Google Search without a voice interface.

You can set up the launch of the desired application by long pressing the power button using third-party utilities such as Button Mapper. This gives flexibility in managing: one click is a flashlight, a long press is a voice recorder or any other service.

• 🎙️ Use Yandex Alice to better understand Russian.
• 🔍 Leave Google Text Search for Quick Searches.
• ⌨️ Set up the Gboard keyboard for easy voice input.
• 📱 Use widgets to quickly access frequently used features.

Thus, you do not lose the functionality of the smartphone, but only adapt it to your personal preferences, getting rid of intrusive interference from Google.

⚠️ Note: When installing third-party apps to reassign buttons, be sure to give them special permissions through ADB, Otherwise, they will not be able to intercept the system commands Xiaomi Mi 9.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

💡

Completely disabling through menu settings, rights restriction, and ADB locking is the only way to ensure that Google Assistant doesn’t bother you on the Xiaomi Mi 9 anymore.