Xiaomi’s Home button is the default Google Assistant, a voice assistant that doesn’t seem convenient to all users. Especially annoying is randomly triggered with prolonged pressing or unwanted pop-ups. In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to disable Google Assistant on the Home button, including hidden MIUI settings, ADB commands, and alternative solutions for different versions of firmware.
Complicating the problem is that Xiaomi regularly updates the MIUI interface, hiding or moving options. We tested all methods on the latest versions of MIUI 14 (Android 13/14) and highlighted those that work consistently. Importantly, some methods require developer rights or a PC connection, but there are also simple options for beginners.
If you want to not just disable the assistant, but reassign the Home button to another action (for example, launching a camera or flashlight), there is a bonus section at the end of the article with customization instructions.
Why is Google Assistant activated from the Home button?
Starting with Android 8.0 Oreo, Google has made it mandatory to integrate its voice assistant into the system buttons. On Xiaomi smartphones, this is implemented as follows:
- 🔘 Short press – returns to the main screen (standard behavior).
- 🔘 Long pressing (1-2 Seconds: Google Assistant Launches.
- 🔘 Swipe up – opens a list of recent apps (on some models).
This is a system-level scheme, and simply turning off the assistant in Google's settings doesn't always help, because MIUI uses a separate gesture processing module that ignores Android's standard limitations.
On Xiaomi models with hardware home button (for example, Redmi Note) 5/6 or Mi 8) Disabling the Assistant is easier than on touch gesture devices (Redmi Note series) 10/11, POCO X3/X4). The latter often require intervention through ADB.
Method 1: Disconnect via Google Settings (the easiest)
If you just need to remove the reaction to a long press, but not reassign the button completely, try this method. It works on most Xiaomi devices with MIUI 12-14:
- Open the Google app (the icon with the letter "G" on the home screen).
- Slip on the profile avatar in the upper right corner → select Settings.
- Go to the Google Assistant section → General.
- Find the Assistant option and turn off the switch next to Use the Home button.
Some firmware may have different paths, and if you don't have a Home button, your version of MIUI is blocking that change, move on to the following ways.
⚠️ Warning: After being turned off by Google’s settings, the Home button may not respond to a long press at all.
Method 2: Using gesture settings in MIUI
MIUI 13/14 has a separate section for gesture control, where you can reassign the actions of the buttons.
- Go to Settings → System → Gestures (or Settings → Additional → Gestures on older versions).
- Select the Home button (or Navigation buttons if you have a touchpad).
- Find the option Long-Tap and tap it.
- In the action list, select No Action or Disable.
If your firmware doesn’t have a No Action option, try to select another action, such as Launching a Camera or Xiaomi Voice Search (if installed).
| Xiaomi model | Does it support disconnection through gestures? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 10/11 | Yes. | MIUI 13+ required |
| POCO X3/X4 | Yes (partially) | You may need to reset your gesture settings. |
| Mi 11/12 | Yes. | The option is hidden in Additional settings → Buttons |
| Redmi 9/9A | No. | Requires ADB or root |
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If after the changes, the Home button stopped working completely, return the gesture settings to the factory: Settings → System → Resetting → Resetting gesture settings.
Method 3: Disconnect via ADB (for power users)
If previous methods don't work, you'll have to use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which is Google's official tool for controlling your device via PC.
Step 1: Preparation
- 🖥️ Install. ADB Tools on PC.
- 📱 On your smartphone, activate Developer Mode: Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (tap 7 times).
- 🔧 Turn on Debugging. USB In Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
Step 2: Connect and commands
- Connect your smartphone to your PC via USB (select File Transfer mode).
- Open the command prompt (cmd) in the ADB folder and type: adb devices Make sure the device is defined.
- Follow the command to disable the Assistant: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox Attention! This will remove the Google app for the current user, but will not affect the performance of other services (e.g. Play Market).
Step 3: Reboot
Once you have completed the command, restart your smartphone. The Home button will no longer run Google Assistant.
⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI after updating the system of settings ADB You'll have to repeat the procedure. To avoid this, use the command: adb shell cmd overlay enable-exclusive com.android.internal.systemui.navbar.gestural_extra_wide_back It will block automatic gesture changes.
☑️ Preparation for ADB-team
Method 4: Using third-party applications (without root)
If ADB seems complicated, you can use apps from the Play Market that intercept button clicks.
- 📱 Button Mapper - allows you to reassign any hardware and touch buttons. MIUI, requires ADB-permit.
- 🛠️ Tasker is an advanced automation tool, and you can create a task that will block the Assistant from starting with prolonged pressing.
- 🔄 Fluid Navigation Gestures – replaces standard gestures with customized ones (works on top of them) MIUI).
Instructions for Button Mapper:
- Install the application and grant it permissions through ADB (the team will be in the hints inside the application).
- Select the Home Button → Long pressing.
- Assign action No action or select another (such as launching Google Lens or flashlight).
What if the Button Mapper doesn’t work?
Method 5: Completely remove Google Assistant (requires root)
If you are willing to take drastic measures and have root rights, you can completely remove the Google Assistant app from the system, which will permanently solve the problem, but deprive you of other features (for example, voice search on Google).
Instructions:
- Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or FX File Explorer).
- Go to /system/priv-app/Velvet (or /system/priv-app/GoogleQuickSearchBox).
- Delete or rename the files: Velvet.apk Velvet.odex (if any).
- Reset the device.
An alternative method is to use Titanium Backup to freeze the com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox app.
⚠️ Attention: Removing system applications may cause firmware to work unstable, Play Market errors, or inability to update.Before doing so, back up through TWRP or MIUI Backup.
Bonus: Reassign the Home button to other activities
If you don’t just need to remove Google Assistant, but assign another action to the Home button, here are a few ideas:
- 📸 Quick camera start – handy for selfies or scanners QR-code.
- 🔦 Lighting a flashlight is useful in the dark.
- 🔊 Activation of Xiaomi voice assistant (if XiaoAI is installed).
- 🔄 Switching between the latest applications (alternative to swipe).
How to reassign (via Button Mapper):
- Open the Button Mapper and select the Home Button.
- In the section Long-Tap tap Add action.
- Select the desired action from the list (for example, Launch the application → Camera).
- Save the settings and test.
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Reassignment of buttons works more stable on firmware without heavy customization (for example, POCO Launcher or Pixel Experience. MIUI There may be conflicts with system gestures.