How to Open Google Assistant on Xiaomi Phones: A Complete Guide to Problem Solutions

Google’s voice assistant has long been an integral part of Android smartphones, but Xiaomi device owners often have difficulty activating it. It’s all about the MIUI proprietary shell, which by default prioritizes its own XiaoAI assistant (or Mi Assistant in global firmware). Even if you have installed all the necessary applications, the Google Assistant call button may simply be missing in the settings.

In this article, we will discuss all the working ways to run Google Assistant on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones, from basic settings to bypassing the limitations of MIUI. We will focus on solutions for devices with Chinese firmware, where access to Google services is blocked at the system level, and you will learn how to configure voice activation on the command “OK, Google” and what to do if the assistant does not respond to queries.

Why Google Assistant doesn’t work on Xiaomi by default

The main reason is the conflict between MIUI and Google Mobile Services (GMS), the manufacturer deliberately restricts the functionality of third-party assistants in order to promote its own XiaoAI.

• 🔹 No pre-installed app: On some models (especially in the Chinese market), Google App is not included in the basic firmware.
• 🔹 Locking at the level MIUI: Even after installing Google Assistant, the system can ignore voice commands by redirecting them to XiaoAI.
• 🔹 Region restrictions: On firmware devices for China (CN ROM) Google services blocked by default.
• 🔹 Conflict of access rights: MIUI You can automatically revoke permissions from Google App after updates.

For example, on Xiaomi 13 Ultra with global firmware (EEA ROM), the assistant starts with a long hold of the Home button, and on the Redmi Note 12 Pro with Chinese firmware, this feature is missing even after manually installing the application.

Method 1: Basic setting of Google Assistant on global firmware

If your Xiaomi smartphone is running on global or European firmware (MIUI Global/EEA), you can turn on the assistant in the standard way.

1. Make sure that the device has a Google app installed (usually preinstalled). If not, download it from Google Play.
2. Open Settings → Apps → App Management and search Google. Tap it and select Permissions.
3. Activate all permissions, especially: 📱 Microphone (for voice commands) 📍 Location (for contextual clues) 🔄 Auto-run (to have the assistant work in the background)

Return to the main Settings menu and go to System → Gestures → Home button. Select Google Assistant as the long-click action.

The assistant will then be triggered by holding the Home button (or swiping from the corner of the screen on new models without physical buttons) to activate voice control:

Set the default language in Google Assistant|Enable the “OK Google” option in the Assistant settings|Take Voice Recognition Training|Make sure the microphone is not blocked by other apps-->

Important: On some models (e.g. POCO F5), the gesture settings are reset after the MIUI update. If the assistant stops opening, reassign the action to the Home button.

Method 2: Manual installation on Chinese firmware (CN ROM)

China Firmware Devices (CN ROM) are stripped of Google services out of the box. To activate Google Assistant, you will need to:

1. Install Google Play Services and Google App manually. Download APK-files from a verified source (e.g. APKMirror) and install them in the order of: 1.com.google.android.gms (Google Play Services) 2. com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox (Google Appsearchbox)
2. Activate Google Play Services through Settings → Memory → Autostart and enable autorun for both apps.
3. Use it. ADB unlock MIUI. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell pm grant com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox android.permission.BIND_ACCESSIBILITY_SERVICE This will allow the assistant to access system functions.

On Xiaomi 12S Ultra and other flagships with CN ROM, Google Assistant will be available via a long press on the Home button after these actions, but voice activation may not work due to a lack of support for Google Play Services at the system level.

Warning: Use of ADB-Unlocked Bootloader: On new Xiaomi models (released after 2022), unlocking can lead to loss of warranty and reset of all data.

Method 3: Activate via the voice command “OK, Google”

If the assistant is installed but does not respond to voice commands, follow the following steps:

1. Open the Google app and go to the profile (icon in the upper right corner) → Settings → Google Assistant.
2. Tap OK Google and Voice Match and turn on the Hey Google option.
3. Go through the learning process: Say the phrase "OK, Google" 3 times, then "Hey Google" 3 more times. Make sure the room is quiet - the system remembers voice patterns.
4. Go back to Settings → Apps → Google and check that AutoRun and Background are allowed.

The Redmi K60 Pro and other models with MIUI 14+ may require additional microphone resolution in Settings → Privacy → Application Permissions → Microphone. If the “OK, Google” option is not activated in gray, then Google Play Services is not working correctly (see the decision in the previous section).

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If the assistant doesn't recognize voice in a noisy environment, turn on the "Mic Sensitivity" option in its settings, which will increase the radius of the response, but may lead to false activations.

Problem Solving: Google Assistant doesn't open or crash

If after all the manipulations the assistant refuses to work, check the following points:

On the POCO X5 Pro, users often face a problem when Google Assistant opens but shuts down immediately.This is due to a conflict between Google App and Mi Security.

1. Open Security (the shield icon in the app menu).
2. Go to AutoStart Management and enable AutoStart for Google and Google Play Services.
3. In the same section, find Background Activity Limitations and remove restrictions for said applications.

For full operation, you need Google Play Services version at least 22.XX.