Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face intrusive functionality that the manufacturer implements into their devices. One of the most annoying features has long been a special button located on the side of the case, which is designed to call the voice assistant Mi AI or Google Assistant, but for many users it causes accidental activation in the pocket or bag. It is not just a minor inconvenience, but a real problem that prevents comfortable use of the gadget.
Fortunately, the company's engineers have made it possible to configure it flexibly or shut it down completely. Depending on the version of the operating system, whether it's a classic MIUI or a new HyperOS, the algorithm of actions may vary slightly. You can turn off the Xiaomi button through system settings without resorting to third-party software or complex methods of modifying the system. We will discuss all the available ways to solve this problem in detail.
In this article, you will find the latest instructions to help you get rid of accidental launches of the assistant. We will look at the settings for different regions of the firmware, as the location of the menu can vary. Also touch on the topic of blocking ads, which often pops up when using Xiaomi services. Get ready to take back full control of your device.
Why you need a power button Xiaomi and why it is turned off
The physical key on the side of Xiaomi’s smartphone was originally designed to provide fast access to artificial intelligence, with long-term pressing or double-clicking to instantly activate the voice assistant, allowing the user to ask questions or launch applications in voice, but in the realities of use in CIS and Europe, this functionality often goes unused, becoming a source of problems.
The main reason users are looking for a way to turn off the Xiaomi button is because of what they call “phantom presses,” which, when they are in their jeans pocket or bag, reacts to the pressure of the fabric by activating the assistant, which leads to battery drain, unintentional calls, or voice messages, and the constant notification that “assistant listens” is annoying.
Another factor is regional specificity: voice assistant Mi AI is tailored primarily to the Chinese market and language, it is almost useless for a Russian-speaking or English-speaking user, occupying system resources and creating unnecessary software, disabling this feature allows you to focus on the main tasks of the smartphone without unnecessary digital noise.
Preparing the smartphone to change system settings
Before you make changes to the hardware buttons, you need to make sure that the device is working correctly. Any manipulation of the system settings requires a stable operating system state. If your Xiaomi smartphone has critical errors or freezes, it is better to first reboot or update the software to the latest available version.
☑️ Checking before setting up
It is important to understand that the MIUI and HyperOS interface may differ depending on the firmware region (Global, China, EEA, Russia). In some versions, the menu may be called differently or hidden in the depth of sub-items. If you do not find the item described, try searching by settings by entering the keyword "Button" or "Button".
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Search in settings: at the top of the settings screen, there is a search bar. Type "Button" into it to instantly navigate to the desired menu without going through long lists of parameters.
It is also worth checking whether the device is activated in the mode "Simple mode" or mode for the elderly. In these modes, some standard menu items can be hidden or renamed to simplify the interface.
Instructions: Disable the button via MIUI and HyperOS settings
The most reliable and safe way to deactivate the function is to use the built-in menu of the system, which does not require root rights or violate the warranty, and is quite simple, but requires careful attention, since item names can be translated differently depending on the version of the localization.
To start, open the main Settings menu on your smartphone. Find a section that could be called "Advanced," "Advanced Settings," or "Special Features." In the newer versions of HyperOS, the settings logic has been changed, so look for "Buttons" or "Button Management." That's where the switch we want to use is hidden.
⚠️ Note: In some regions (e.g. India or China), a paragraph may be called "Google Assistant" or "Mi" AI", It's not just a power button. Be careful when you search.
Once you log in, you'll see the option that controls the action of pressing and holding, and the default is "Voice Assistant Call." You need to change that to "Nothing" or "Switch off" (if that option is available in your version of the software), which will completely stop the system from reacting to a long push of the button.
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Changing the action of the button to "Nothing" is the only regular way to completely ignore the click without third-party software.
If you use double tap to start the camera or other functions, these settings are also in this section, and it is recommended to turn off all unnecessary actions, leaving only a short tap to turn the screen on/off and lock, this minimizes the risk of accidental activation.
Configure the actions of the volume buttons and additional functions
Users often confuse the power button with volume buttons, especially on models where they are close together. In Xiaomi smartphones, you can adjust these controls, for example, double-pressing the volume button can start the camera or voice recorder, which also sometimes interferes.
To access these settings, go to Settings → Additional Settings → Button Management. Here you will see a list of all physical keys. Select the volume button and see what actions are assigned to long press or double click. If there is an assistant or camera starting, change the action to No or select a more useful feature.
The table below shows the main actions that can be reassigned and their impact on the operation of the system:
| Action. | Standard behavior | Recommended setting | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long pressing of the power button | Calling Mi AI/Google | Nothing. | Blocks accidental launch |
| Double press of the power button | Camera launch | Nothing / Camera | Depends on the need. |
| Prolonged volume pressing | Running the recorder | Nothing. | Removes unnecessary functions |
| Triple backstroke | Screenshot. | Nothing. | Reduces sensitivity. |
Remember that disabling the camera's launch function by double pressing the power button can make it impossible for you to take a quick snapshot in an emergency. Weigh the pros and cons. If you rarely use this feature, turning it off will only increase your comfort of use.
Using third-party applications for reassignment
In cases where standard MIUI settings don’t allow you to completely disable a button or the desired item is simply not on the menu, third-party apps come to the rescue. One of the most popular and proven tools is Button Mapper. This application allows you to reassign the actions of almost any physical button on a smartphone.
Once you install an app from Google Play or the Galaxy Store, you'll need to give it special permissions. Button Mapper will request access to Accessibility, so that the app can intercept button presses before the system processes them. Without that permission, the reassignment won't work.
Security of Third Party Applications
In the program interface, select the button you want to set up (such as Power button or Volume button). Set the Remap box. Then select Double press or Long press and assign it a No action action or any other action that is convenient for you. This will interrupt Xiaomi's system settings.
⚠️ Attention: Using button reassignment apps may consume additional battery power as they run in the background constantly.
It's worth noting that on some newer versions of Android and HyperOS, the system can aggressively unload such applications from memory. To prevent this from happening, go to the battery settings, find the Button Mapper and set the "No Limits" mode, which ensures that the reassignment works smoothly.
Blocking Advertising and MSA Pop-ups
Often, the desire to disable a button is not only due to the fact that it is there, but also to the advertising that can appear when using Xiaomi services, which is the MSA (MIUI System Ads) process for displaying ads on the system, which helps to remove intrusive offers that sometimes pop up when you accidentally press buttons or open system applications.
To limit personalized advertising, go to Settings → Passwords & Security → Access to Personal Data. Search the msa list and turn off the slider. The system will alert you that certain features may stop working, and trigger a countdown timer (usually 10 seconds).
It is also recommended to disable receiving recommendations in the Tools folder and other system applications. Go to the settings of each standard application (for example, "Conductor", "Music", "Video"), find the "About Program" or "Settings" section, and turn off the "Receive recommendations" option. This will make the interface cleaner and reduce the likelihood of accidental clicks on advertising links.
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Disabling MSA does not remove ads completely, but it significantly reduces the amount of ads and makes the system less intrusive.
Another step is to disable the Receive References service in general ad settings, which can look like this: Settings → Passwords & Security → Access to Personal Data → Get Recommendations. Disabling this item will prevent data about your actions from being collected for targeted advertising, which will also have a positive effect on privacy.
Resetting settings and solving problems with sticking buttons
Sometimes the problem is not the software, but the physical state of the button. If the power button lands, sticks or has a mechanical defect, the software shutdown may not help, since the contact will be closed constantly, in such cases, you need to check the cleanliness of the button socket.
Try to clean the area around the button with compressed air or a soft brush. Often, dust and pile stuffed into the gap between the button and the body cause false positives. If the button has visible damage or the movement of the button is disturbed, you may need to replace the button module in the service center.
If the problem is software and settings are lost on their own, you can try resetting all applications. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps → three points in the corner → Reset application settings. This will return all permissions and system flags to the original state, which can eliminate the software bug causing the button to malfunction.
The radical method
In extreme cases, if the button is physically faulty but the phone is working, you can use the screen turn on feature (raise the phone to turn on the screen) or set up an on/off schedule to minimize the need for a physical power button.