How to permanently disable “OK, Google” on Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro: a detailed guide

Google Assistant, which uses the activation phrase “OK, Google,” often interferes with Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro owners by accidentally triggering in their pocket or during conversations. Despite the convenience of the feature for some users, many want to completely deactivate it — not only disable voice activation, but also stop the background operation of the service, which consumes up to 15% of battery power per week when used actively.

In this article, 5 proven ways to disable OK Google on Redmi Note 9 Pro (including the M2003J6A1G and M2003J6B1G models) running MIUI 12/13/14 and Android 10/11/12. The methods are distributed from simple (through standard settings) to advanced (using ADB) so that each user finds the right option. Particular attention is paid to hidden MIUI settings that Xiaomi does not advertise, but which allow you to deactivate the assistant without losing the functionality of the phone.

Why Google is working on Xiaomi, even if you didn’t turn it on

Many Redmi Note 9 Pro users are surprised to find that the voice assistant activates itself, the reason being that the MIUI is pre-set:

• 🔹 Automatic activation on first start. When you set up a new phone, the system suggests turning on Google Assistant -- many agree without realizing the consequences.
• 🔹 Background synchronization. Even if you don't use voice commands, com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox works in the background, updating the data.
• 🔹 Integration with MIUI. Xiaomi adds its own triggers to launch the assistant (for example, hold the Home button).
• 🔹 Google Play Services Updates: Google Services can re-activate voice functions after updates, even if you’ve disabled them before.

According to XDA Developers’ tests, on the Redmi Note 9 Pro with Android 11 and MIUI 12.5, Google Assistant consumes up to 300MB of traffic per month for background activity alone, a critical feature for users with limited tariffs or weak internet.

Method 1: Disconnect via Google Settings (the easiest)

If you need to quickly remove your voice response but save access to other Google Assistant features (such as smart home management), follow these steps:

1. Open the Google app (the icon with the letter G on a colored background).
2. Slip on the profile avatar in the upper right corner → select Settings.
3. Go to the Google Assistant section → General.
4. Find the OK Google and Voice Input item – disable both sliders.

After that, the phone will stop responding to the phrase "OK, Google," but the background processes of the assistant will remain active.

Make sure your phone is at least 50 times charged%|Connect to a stable Wi-Fi|Close all background applications|Make a backup copy of important data-->

Method 2: Deactivate through MIUI settings (hidden options)

Xiaomi hides some of the Google Assistant settings in the feature menu, which allows you to disable the assistant at the system level, but does not remove it completely:

1. Go to Settings → Special features → System settings.
2. Find the Assistant Applications section (may be called Special Opportunity Services).
3. In the list, disable Google and Google Assistant.
4. Confirm the action by pressing OK in the dialog box.

This method blocks the launch of the assistant through the Home button and gestures, but does not affect background activity. To completely disable you will need to use ADB (Method 4).

Method 3: Remove Google Updates (Temporary Solution)

If Google Assistant came up after the Google Play Services update, you can roll it back to the factory version. This method works, but requires repetition after each automatic update:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find Google (not to be confused with Google Play Services!) and tap it.
3. In the upper right corner, click on ⋮ → Remove updates.
4. Confirm the action and restart the phone.

Once rolled back, the app version will reset to the one it had when you bought the phone, to prevent automatic updates:

• 📱 Go to Google Play. → Menus. → Settings → Auto-update of applications.
• 🔄 Choose Do Not Update Automatically or Wi-Fi Only (if you want to control the process).

⚠️ Note: Removing updates may cause other Google services to work in an unstable way (such as Gmail or YouTube.

Method 4: Complete disabling via ADB (for advanced)

The most radical method is to deactivate Google Assistant at the system level using ADB (Android Debug Bridge), the only way to completely stop the background activity of the assistant without root rights, but requires connecting the phone to the computer.

Instructions for Windows:

1. Download Platform Tools from Google’s official website and unpack the archive.
2. On your phone, activate Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (shap 7 times).
3. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
4. Connect Redmi Note 9 Pro to your PC, select File Transfer mode and confirm debugging access.
5. Open the command line in the folder with Platform Tools and enter in turn:

adb devices


adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox




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




adb shell pm clear com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox

Once you have completed the commands, restart your phone. Google Assistant will be completely disabled, including:

• 🎤 Voice activation (OK, Google).
• 📱 Launching through the Home button.
• 🔄 Background synchronization.

⚠️ Note: If after executing commands the phone began to brake or overheat, return the settings with the command: adb shell pm enable com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox This is due to the fact that some system processes MIUI Depends on Google Services.

Method 5: Alternatively, Replacement with Mi AI Assistant

If you don’t like Google Assistant but want to keep voice control, consider Xiaomi’s built-in Mi AI Assistant, which is less voracious and better integrated with MIUI:

1. Open Settings → Additional → Mi AI Assistant
2. Activate the Mi Voice Assistant slider.
3. Set up the activation phrase (by default, “Little courtesy” in Chinese or “Hey, Mi” in global firmware).
4. Disable Google Assistant in any of the ways described above.

Advantages of Mi AI Assistant:

• 🔋 Less battery consumption (up to 2 times more efficient than Google Assistant).
• 🌐 It works better with Chinese and Asian services (if you need them).
• 🔒 Does not send data to Google servers.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Limited English language support (in global firmware).
• ❌ No integration with Google Home and other Google ecosystem services.

💡

If after disabling Google Assistant, voice activation in applications (for example, in Yandex.Navigator) stopped working, check the microphone settings in Settings → Applications → Permissions → Microphone and enable access for the desired programs.

What to do if Google is still working?

If after all the manipulations the phone continues to respond to the voice command, check the following points:

1. MIUI Updates: After the system update, the settings may reset. Repeat the disconnection via ADB.
2. Third-party launchers: Some shells (like Nova Launcher) have their own voice control settings.
3. Apps from the manufacturer: On some firmware, Xiaomi embeds duplicate services (for example, com.miui.voiceassist).
4. Chrome Browser: Voice Search can be enabled in the browser settings.

For diagnosis, use the log of system events:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb logcat | grep -i "google\|assistant\|voice"
2. Say the phrase “OK, Google” and see which app responds.

💡

If the problem persists, it’s probably the firmware that’s to blame: Try reflashing your phone to a more stable version of MIUI (like MIUI 12.5 Enhanced) or installing custom software like Pixel Experience (requires unlocking the bootloader).

FAQ: Frequent questions about shutting down "OK, Google"