How to permanently disable Google Assistant on Xiaomi with MIUI 12:5 proven ways

Why Xiaomi users want to get rid of Google Assistant

Google Assistant on Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 12 shells is often a source of irritation. The app not only takes up space in memory, but also actively consumes battery power even if you are not using it. Many owners of Redmi Note 9 Pro, Poco X3 or Mi 10T notice that the assistant spontaneously activates when holding the Home button or using the voice command "OK, Google", interrupting work.

Another reason is privacy, and the assistant constantly sends your queries to Google servers, even if you didn't explicitly consent to it. MIUI 12 there is no standard option to completely remove this service, but there are several workarounds. ADB.

It’s important to understand that simply turning off settings often fails — Google Assistant can be activated again after a reboot or system update, so we’ll focus on methods that are guaranteed to work on MIUI 12 and newer.

Method 1: Disconnect via standard MIUI settings

The easiest, but not always effective, method is to use built-in system options, which is suitable for those who do not want to go into technical details.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Show All Apps.
3. In the search bar, type in Google and find the Google Assistant app (could be simply called “Google”).
4. Slip it, then select Disable or Remove Updates (if the "Disable" button is inactive).

If the Disable button is not available, then the application is system-based and blocked by the manufacturer, in which case move on to the next method.

💡

After turning off, check if the Assistant is activated when you press the Home button long. If so, additional gesture adjustments are required in Settings → Additional → Buttons and gestures

⚠️ Note: On some models (for example, Mi 11 Lite) after disabling Google Assistant may stop working voice search in the browser Chrome. ADB (method 3), where only unnecessary functions can be selectively disabled.

Method 2: Remove updates and reset to factory version

Google Assistant is updated frequently through Google Play, and these updates can restore its work even after it is disabled.

• 📱 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Google Assistant (or simply Google Assistant").
• 🔄 Click Remove Updates (button will appear if the app has been updated).
• 🚫 Then open Google Play, search for “Google Assistant” and click Delete (or Unsubscribe if you have one).
• 🔒 In Google Play settings, add the app to the auto update blacklist: Settings → Auto-update of applications → Do not update (selectively).

This method works temporarily – the next major MIUI update will allow the Assistant to return, and the permanent solution will require disabling through ADB or removing system packets (requires root).

Method 3: Completely disabling through ADB (without root)

This is the most reliable method for rootless users. It works on all Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 12 and newer, including the Redmi Note 10 Pro, Poco F3 and other models. You will need a computer with ADB drivers installed and USB debugging enabled on the phone.

Steps:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and tap the MIUI version 7 times.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
3. Connect the phone to the PC, confirm the debugging permission on the smartphone screen.
4. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and type:

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


adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.apps.googleassistant

The first command removes the Assistant updates for the current user, the second command disables it completely.

Install ADB drivers on PC (download from Google website)

Enable debugging over USB on your phone

Connect your phone with the original cable (not all) USB-cables support data transmission)

Check the connection with the adb device command (the serial number of the device should appear)-->

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI 12.5+ If you run these commands, you may lose voice search in Google Chrome. If critical, use an alternative command: adb shell pm hide com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox It hides the app, but doesn't delete it completely.

Method 4: Remove system packages (requires root)

If you have root rights (e.g., through Magisk), you can completely remove Google Assistant from the system, which is guaranteed to prevent it from reappearing.

• 📲 Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or Root Explorer). FX File Explorer).
• 🔍 Go to the folder. /system/priv-app/ or /system/app/.
• 🗑️ Find and delete folders: Velvet (main package Assistant) GoogleQuickSearchBox PrebuiltGmsCore (optional if you want to delete all Google services)
• 🔄 Reboot the phone.

After that, Google Assistant will be completely uninstalled, but please note that this may disrupt other Google services such as Play Market or Gmail, and if you need them, you’d better use the ADB method (Mode 3).

Yeah, all the time.

Sometimes for specific tasks

No, I'm afraid I'll lose my guarantee.

I don't know what that is.-->

Method 5: Replacing Google Assistant with an alternative assistant

If you have disabled Google Assistant but want to keep voice control functionality, consider alternatives:

• 🤖 Alice from Yandex - integrates well with MIUI, Supports Russian language and smart home.
• 📱 Bixby (if you have Xiaomi with Samsung Knox installed – rare, but possible on custom firmware).
• 🎵 Siri (via the AssistantShortcut app for Android, but requires an iPhone to work properly).
• 🔧 Tasker + AutoVoice – for advanced users, allows you to create your own voice commands.

To assign an alternate assistant to the Home button:

1. Install the selected application (for example, Yandex with Alice).
2. Go to Settings → Additional → Buttons and gestures → Home button.
3. Select the Voice Assistant and specify the desired application.

Note that on some models (Poco F2 Pro, Mi 11 Ultra) this option may be blocked, in which case only ADB or custom firmware will help.

💡

Alice from Yandex consumes significantly less battery than Google Assistant, and is better adapted for Russian-speaking users.

What if Google Assistant is back after the update?

Even after a successful Google shutdown, the Assistant may reappear after the MIUI or Google Play Services update.

• 🔒 Block Auto Updates for All Google Apps in the Play Market.
• 🛡️ Install App Ops (requires) ADB or root) and disable permissions for com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox.
• 📵 Use Firewall applications (such as NetGuard or AFWall)+), to block Internet access for the Assistant.
• 🔄 Regularly check the list of active applications in Settings → Annexes → Start and forcefully stop unnecessary services.

If the Assistant does come back, repeat the steps from Method 3 (ADB), and you can combine the commands into a script and run it after each update:

@echo off


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




adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.apps.googleassistant




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




pause

Save this text to a file with the.bat extension and run it on behalf of the administrator if necessary.

FAQ: Frequent questions about disabling Google Assistant