How to permanently disable the voice assistant XiaoAI on the console Xiaomi: a detailed guide

The XiaoAI voice assistant on Xiaomi Mi Box consoles (including Mi Box S, Mi Box 4K and Mi Box 4C models) often activates accidentally, interrupts movie watching or gives unnecessary notifications. Despite the fact that the feature is positioned as a “smart assistant”, many users prefer to deactivate it completely – especially if the console is used in the children’s room or connected to a sound system with a sensitive microphone.

The problem is that Xiaomi doesn’t provide the obvious “Disable Forever” option in standard settings. Voice search can automatically turn on after firmware updates, even if you’ve previously deactivated it. In this guide, we’ll take a look at all the working ways — from basic to hidden — to get rid of unsolicited voice prompts once and for all.

Why voice assistant interferes: real cases of users

According to surveys on the 4PDA and Mi Community forums, more than 60% of Xiaomi console owners have experienced inconveniences due to XiaoAI.

• 🎮 False positives during games: the assistant is activated from loud sounds in shooters or races, interrupting gameplay.
• 👶 Children accidentally start a search: phrases like “moms, turn on the cartoon” are perceived as a command, and a voice input window appears on the screen.
• 🔊 Conflict with external speakers: if the console is connected to the soundbar or AV-The microphone picks up echoes and constantly “listens” to the room.
• 📺 Promotional Notifications: XiaoAI may show banners offering to connect other Xiaomi devices (e.g. light bulbs or robot vacuum cleaner).

Most of the complaints are related to models based on Android TV 9.0 and later, where the voice assistant is integrated at the system level. On older versions (for example, Mi Box 3 with Android 6.0), the problem is less common, but also requires manual disabling.

Method 1: Disconnection through standard settings (basic method)

If you don't want to dig into system files, start with the official path. This method works on most models, but can reset once the firmware update is in place.

1. Open the settings (cog in the top menu).
2. Go to Device → Voice Search (on some firmware, the path may differ: Settings → Voice Assistant).
3. Move the Google Voice Search slider to the off position.
4. Below, find the XiaoAI Assistant option and turn it off.
5. Return to the main menu and restart the console (Settings → Device → Reboot).

⚠️ Note: Some firmware may have the XiaoAI Assistant option hidden. If it's not on the menu, try the following method.

Method 2: Deactivation via ADB (for power users)

If the standard method doesn't work, you'll have to use ADB debugging. This requires you to connect the console to your computer, but it's guaranteed to disable the system-level assistant.

You'll need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 🔌 Cable USB (Micro-USB or Type-C depending on the console model).
• 📥 Google's Platform Tools utility (includes adb).

Instructions:

1. Turn on Developer Mode on the console: Go to Settings → Device → About the console. Press 7 times in a row on the Build Number until the notification “You became a developer” appears.
2. Return to Settings → Developer Preferences and enable: Debugging over the network via USB (optional if the cable connection does not work)
3. Connect the console to the computer with a cable and execute in the terminal (cmd or Terminal):

adb devices

(Series numbered device should appear. If not, check the drivers or cable.)

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.xiaomi.mitv.appupdater


adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.xiaomi.mitv.assistant

These commands completely shut down XiaoAI services and block their automatic launch. To get it back, use:

adb shell pm enable com.xiaomi.mitv.appupdater


adb shell pm enable com.xiaomi.mitv.assistant

Method 3: Blocking through the microphone

What many people don't know is that the voice assistant is activated not only by software, but also by hardware -- through the microphone on the Xiaomi Mi Remote remote. Even if you disabled the XiaoAI in the settings, the microphone button on the remote can trigger it.

Decisions:

• 🔇 Stick tape or tape onto the microphone hole on the remote (usually next to the Google Assistant button).
• 🔄 Reassign the button: Using the Button Mapper app (available on Google Play for Android) TV) You can assign another action to the microphone button (e.g., launch Netflix).
• 🛒 Buy a remote without a microphone: Original Xiaomi Mi Remote (no voice control) or universal (for example, Xiaomi Mi Mi) TV Remote for TVs doesn’t have this button.

⚠️ Note: If you use the remote from Mi Box S with Bluetooth, then the physical locking of the microphone may not work - the signal will be transmitted through the air).

💡

If you don’t want to buy a new remote, you can use the remote app on your smartphone (for example, Mi Remote or Yatse) and turn off access to the microphone in your Android settings.

Method 4: Disable via build.prop file (for advanced)

This method requires root rights and is only suitable for users willing to risk system stability, blocking voice assistant at the kernel level, but if you do the wrong thing, it can lead to a bootloop.

Instructions:

1. Get root access to the console (for example, through Magisk or KingRoot).
2. Connect to the console via ADB or use a root-access file manager (such as Solid Explorer).
3. Open /system/build.prop file in the text editor.
4. Add the following lines to the end of the file: ro.xiaomi.ai.assistant.enable=false persist.xiaomi.ai.assistant.disable=true
5. Save the file and restart the console.

⚠️ Warning: Changing build.prop may disrupt other system features, such as air updates (OTA) Google Play Services. Make a backup of the file before editing!

💡

If you are not sure about your root skills, use Method 2 (ADB) as it is safer and gives a similar result.

Method 5: Install custom firmware without XiaoAI

The radical, but most reliable way is to flash the console to an alternative firmware, where the voice assistant is removed at the image level.

• 📦 LineageOS for Android TV: Lightweight firmware without unnecessary Xiaomi services.

Firmware process:

1. Download the firmware for your model from the 4PDA or XDA Developers forum.
2. Unpack the archive and place the update.zip file on a flash drive (formatted in FAT32).
3. Connect the flash drive to the console and press the OK button on the remote when you turn on (to log in to Recovery).
4. Select the Apply update from USB and specify the firmware file.
5. After installation, run the Wipe cache and restart the console.

⚠️ Note: Unofficial firmware can take away your warranty and lead to unstable performance of some features (for example, Netflix in the Internet). 4K Before you run the firmware, check reviews about a particular build!

💡

If you're afraid of stitching the console yourself, go to a service center. Many workshops offer a service of "clean" firmware without Chinese services for 500-1000 rubles.

What to do if the voice assistant is turned on again after the update

Xiaomi regularly releases updates for its consoles, and sometimes they automatically restore disabled services, including XiaoAI.

• 🚫 Turn off automatic update: Go to Settings → The device → System Update. Turn off the option Automatic download updates.

Block XiaoAI domains

hosts

1. Connect to ADB and execute: adb shell su mount -o rw,remount /system echo "127.0.0.1 api.io.mi.com" >> /system/etc/hosts echo "127.0.0.1 mitv.api.xiaomi.com" >> /system/etc/hosts mount -o ro,re/systemmount

Use the firewall.

NetGuard

com.xiaomi.mitv.assistant

If the update has already been installed and returned to XiaoAI, repeat Method 2 (ADB) or Method 4 (build.prop) – they will survive the reset.

FAQ: Frequent questions about disabling voice assistant on Xiaomi TV Box