How to Turn Off “OK Google” on Xiaomi: Step-by-step Methods for All Models

Why Google’s Voice Assistant is Hindering Xiaomi Users

Voice assistant “OK Google” (or “Hey Google” in the new versions) automatically activates on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones after the first connection to a Google account. For many users, this feature becomes a source of irritation: the assistant is triggered by random phrases, consumes battery power in the background and can even intercept voice commands from videos or podcasts, triggering unnecessary actions.

Complicating the problem is that MIUI integrates its own voice services with Google solutions, which makes standard disconnection through settings not always working. In this article, we will discuss 5 working methods, from basic to advanced, including hidden options for MIUI 14/15 and Android 12-14. All methods are tested on Xiaomi 13/14, Redmi Note 12/13 and POCO F5/X5 models.

Before you start, consider that some methods require administrator rights or disable system applications, which can affect the stability of the phone, and we noted such moments with warnings.

Method 1: Disconnecting through Google Settings

The most obvious and safe method is to deactivate the voice assistant in the Google app menu, which is suitable for most users and does not require technical skills.

Open the Google app (the icon with the letter “G” on a color background) and follow the following steps:

• 📱 Slip on the profile avatar in the upper right corner.
• ⚙️ Select Settings → Voice search.
• 🔍 Go to the Voice Assistant section.
• 🚫 Turn off the Hey Google slider (or OK Google in older versions).

If the assistant continues to work after that, check the Google Assistant settings:

• 🔄 Go back to Google Settings and select Google Assistant.
• 📋 Go to General Settings and turn off the Google Assistant option.

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If the assistant still works after turning off, clear the Google app cache in your phone settings (Settings → Apps → Google → Memory → Clear the cache).

Method 2: Deactivation through MIUI settings

MIUI has its own voice command controls that can conflict with Google’s settings. To completely block voice activation, you need to disable the functions in two places.

First, deactivate voice input in the system settings:

• 🔧 Go to Settings. → Additional settings → Language and input.
• 🎤 Select Voice and disable all available options.
• 🔍 Return to Additional Settings and open Special Options → Voice assistant.
• 🚫 Make sure nothing is activated here either.

Then check the settings of Quick Commands (function) MIUI, voice-responsive):

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔍 Find Quick Commands (or Quick Commands) and turn off Autoplay.

Method 3: Disconnect via ADB (for power users)

If standard methods don’t work, you can block the system-level voice assistant using Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires connecting the phone to a computer and basic command line knowledge.

Warning: Incorrect ADB commands may disrupt your phone. Create a backup before executing.

Instructions:

1. 🖥️ Install. ADB Tools on the computer.
2. 📱 Turn on Debugging. USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Tap 7 times, then return to the Additional Settings → For developers).
3. 🔌 Connect your phone to your PC and execute in the terminal:

adb shell pm clear com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox


adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox

These commands will clear the data and disable the Google app that's responsible for voice search. To get it back, use:

adb shell pm enable com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox

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Disabling through ADB is the most radical method, but it is guaranteed to remove all of Google Assistant's background processes.

Method 4: Using Third-Party Applications

If you don’t want to mess with ADB, you can use apps to block background activity, such as Greenify or Brevent, which lets you freeze unnecessary processes, including voice assistant.

Instructions for Greenify:

• 📱 Install Greenify from Google Play.
• 🔍 Grant the application rights Special features (in the phone settings).
• ➕ Add to the list of “freeze” apps Google and Google Play Services.
• ⚡ Enable the option of Aggressive hibernation to completely block background activity.

The advantage of this method is that it does not require root rights and is reversible, but some phone features (such as Gmail notifications) can work in an unstable way.

Method 5: Removing Google Updates (last resort)

On some MIUI firmware, the voice assistant is activated after the Google service update, and to return the original state, you can roll the application back to the factory version.

For this:

• 📱 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔍 Find Google (not to be confused with Google Play Services!).
• ⚙️ Slip on the three dots in the top corner and select Remove Updates.
• 🔄 Reboot the phone.

After that, the system will return to the factory version of the application, where voice search can be disabled by default, but Google Play will soon offer to update the application again - refuse or use an update blocker (for example, App Block).

Compatibility table with Xiaomi models

Not all methods are equally effective across devices, and the following is a compatibility table for popular models:

If your model is not specified, try methods in the order of 1 to 5. The most versatile are ADB and Greenify.

Frequent problems and solutions

Even after the OK Google shutdown, users are faced with the assistant being reactivated, and let's look at typical scenarios and how to solve them.

Problem 1: The assistant is activated after the MIUI update.

Solution: Re-execute Method 1 or Method 3 (ADB). Updates often reset user settings.

Problem 2: Voice search is activated in headphones or over Bluetooth.

Solution: Turn off the option of Voice Recognition via Bluetooth in the Google Assistant settings.

Problem 3: The lock screen will show the prompt “Say OK Google.”

Solution: In MIUI settings, go to Lock Screen → Notifications and turn off the prompts display from the Google app.

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If the assistant continues to work after all the manipulations, check if third-party launchers (such as Nova Launcher or Hyperion) are installed on the phone.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions

If none of the methods worked, check to see if your phone has custom firmware or modified versions of MIUI installed. In such cases, manual editing of system files may be required, which is beyond the scope of this article.