How to enable and configure Google Assistant on Xiaomi Mi 9T: All ways 2026

Why Google Assistant doesn’t work on the Mi 9T out of the box

Xiaomi Mi 9T (also known as Redmi K20 in some regions) comes with a proprietary MIUI shell that gives priority to Xiao AI’s own voice assistant by default. This is not a coincidence, but part of Xiaomi’s strategy to promote its own services. However, for many Google users, Assistant remains a more functional solution – especially if you are actively using the Google ecosystem: calendar, mail, maps or a smart home.

The problem is compounded by the fact that some versions of the Mi 9T (especially those with global firmware for China) may not have a Google Mobile Services (GMS) package - without it, the Assistant simply won't install. Even if GMSs are present, MIUI often blocks the assistant's activation through a long press on the Home button or voice command "OK, Google," redirecting the call to Xiao AI.

In this article, we will look at all the current ways to include Google Assistant on the Mi 9T in 2026, including bypassing MIUI restrictions, customizing gestures and solving typical bugs. The instructions will be suitable for all firmware versions (including MIUI 14 and HyperOS), but with nuances for Chinese and global models.

Checking Preconditions: What Google Assistant Needs to Work

Before you start setting up, make sure your Mi 9T meets the minimum requirements. Without it, the Assistant will either not install or will work with errors.

• 📱 Android Version: Not Lower than Android 9 Pie (on the Mi) 9T from the box is Android 9 or later. → The phone. → Android version.
• 🔄 Google Mobile Services (GMS): It should be installed on the Chinese versions (China) ROM) There are no manual installations required (instruction below).
• 🌍 Google Region: The supported region (e.g., USA, Europe) must be selected in your account settings. → Managing a Google Account → Personal data → Region.
• 🔊 Microphone: Microphone Access Permits for Google App (included in Settings) → Annexes → Application management → Google → Permits).

If at least one of the conditions is not met, the Assistant will either fail to start or will give the error "Google Assistant is not available." For example, on Chinese firmware without GMS Attempt to invoke virtual method 'java.lang.String android.content.pm.PackageManager.getPackageInfo' will cause a failure during the installation phase.

Method 1: Activate via Google Settings (for global firmware)

If your Mi 9T is running on global or European firmware (Global ROM or EEA ROM), you can turn on Assistant in the standard way - through the Google app, which is the most secure method and does not require superuser rights.

1. Open the Google app (an icon with the letter "G" on a color background). If it's not, install it from the Play Market.
2. In the lower right corner, tap your profile icon (or initials).
3. Select Settings → Google Assistant.
4. Go to General → Google Assistant and turn on the switch.
5. Follow the instructions for setting up voice mapping (OK, Google) and personalization.

After activation, check the Assistant's work:

• 🎤 Say “OK Google” (if voice control is enabled).
• 🖱️ Hold the Home button (unless reassigned to Xiao) AI).

Make sure the microphone is not physically silenced (no crossed-out microphone icon in the status bar)

Check what in Settings → Sound → Voice input is selected by Google as the main service

Reboot your phone if your assistant doesn’t respond to the first command.

Update Google App to the latest version in Play Market

-->

Attention! If the Assistant does not start from the Home button after activation, then MIUI has reassigned this action to Xiao AI. You can fix this in Settings → Additional → Home button (instructions in the next section).

Method 2: Reassign the Home button from Xiao AI to Google Assistant

By default, on the Mi 9T, a long tap of the Home button (or swipe gesture from the corner on gesture navigation screens) calls Xiao AI. To reassign this action to Google Assistant, follow the following steps:

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Home button (on some versions of MIUI, the path may differ: Settings → System → Gestures → Home button).
2. Select Google Assistant instead of Xiao AI.
3. If Google Assistant is not listed, MIUI is hiding it, and installing a third-party launcher (like Nova Launcher) that supports gestures will help.

On MIUI 12 and later, the path to settings may change. If you don't find a section, search by settings (the magnifier icon in the upper right corner of Settings) and type in the "home button" request.

💡

If there is no option in MIUI settings to reassign the Home button, try installing the Xiaomi Home app (an alternative launcher from Xiaomi) – it often has additional gesture options available.

Attention! On some Chinese firmware (China) ROM) Home button reassignment option can be blocked even after installation GMS. In this case, only reflashing to the global version will help. MIUI use ADB-commands (see method 4).

Method 3: Install Google Assistant on Chinese firmware (without GMS)

If your Mi 9T runs on China ROM, it probably doesn't have Google Mobile Services (GMS) without it, and the assistant won't install through the Play Market, so you can manually install GMS using XiaomiTool V2 or Mi Flash.

Warning: Installing GMS on Chinese firmware can lead to unstable system operation, update errors and loss of warranty.

1. Download XiaomiTool V2 and install it on PC.
2. Connect the Mi 9T to your computer via USB, enable Debugging via USB (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times tap on version → Return to Settings → Additional → For developers → Debugging by USB).
3. Start XiaomiTool V2, select your model (Mi 9T or Redmi K20) and follow the instructions for installing GMS.
4. Once installed, restart your phone and check for Play Market.
5. Install Google Assistant from Play Market and set it up (see Method 1).

An alternative method is to run a global version of MIUI through Mi Flash.

1. Download the official global firmware for the Mi 9T from Xiaomi’s website.
2. Unpack the archive and run through Mi Flash in Clean All mode.

💡

Installing GMS on Chinese firmware is a temporary solution. Google services may disappear again after the next MIUI update, and it is recommended to switch to global firmware for stable operation.

Method 4: Activate Google Assistant through ADB (for power users)

If MIUI Blocks the Assistant’s launch even after installation GMS, You can manually turn it on through ADB-This method requires access to the Debugging USB Basic knowledge of working with the command line.

Here's the step-by-step instruction:

1. Install ADB and Fastboot Tools on PC.
2. Connect the Mi 9T to your computer and allow debugging over USB.
3. Open the command line (or PowerShell) and execute: adb shell settings put secure assistant com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox/com.google.android.apps.gsa.staticplugins.opa.OpaActivity adb shell settings put secure voice_interaction_service com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox/.GoogleVoiceInteractionService
4. Reboot the phone.

These commands are forced to assign Google Assistant as the default assistant, bypassing the limitations of MIUI. If the Assistant does not start after the reboot, check if the settings have reset after the system update.

Attention, on some versions MIUI post-execution ADB-commands may need to reset Google app settings (Settings) → Annexes → Google → Warehouse → Drop it).

Solving typical Google Assistant issues on the Mi 9T

Even after you have successfully set up Google, the Assistant may not work properly, and here are the most common mistakes and ways to fix them:

• 🔇 Assistant does not respond to “OK Google”: Check if voice mapping is enabled in the Assistant settings (Settings) → Google Assistant → Voice mapping. Make sure that in Settings → Sound. → Voice input is chosen by Google as a speech recognition service. Retrain the voice model (in the same settings).
• ⚙️ "Google Assistant Unavailable" error: Update Google and Google Play Services apps in the Play Market. Clear the cache and data of the Google app (Settings) → Annexes → Google → Warehouse → Clear the cache/data. Check if it's blocking. MIUI Access to the microphone (in Settings) → Confidentiality → Permits → Microphone).
• 🔄 Assistant starts but closes immediately: Disable battery optimization for Google app (Settings) → Battery → Optimizing the battery → All applications → Google → Install the latest version of Google Assistant from Play Market (sometimes the beta version is more stable).

If the problem persists, try resetting MIUI to factory settings (with data saved) or flashing a more recent firmware version.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions