Google Assistant on Xiaomi smartphones is often activated by accident – just press the Home button or say “OK, Google.” For many users, this feature is useless, and it consumes up to 15% of battery power in the background (according to tests on the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ with MIUI 14).
In this article, you’ll find 5 proven ways to disable, from standard settings to root-enabled power users, and we’ll go through the nuances for different versions of MIUI (12 to 14), and explain why some methods only work temporarily. If you’re tired of spontaneous voice search runs or want to save battery life, read on.
1. Standard shutdown via Google Settings
The simplest method, which works on all Xiaomi smartphones without any additional manipulation, is suitable for users who want to disable voice activation but save access to the assistant through a long press on the Home button.
The instructions are relevant for MIUI 13/14 and all models: Redmi Note 11/12, POCO X5/F5, Xiaomi 13/14, etc. On older versions (MIUI 12), the path to settings may be slightly different.
- 📱 Open the Google app (the icon with the letter “G” on a colored background).
- 👤 Click on your avatar in the upper right corner → Select Settings.
- 🔊 Go to the Google Assistant section → General settings.
- 🚫 Find the Google Assistant and move the slider to the off position.
⚠️ Note: This method only disables voice activation ("OK, Google"). The assistant will still start when holding the Home button or swipe from the corner of the screen (on some models).
☑️ What to check after disconnection
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2. Complete shutdown via MIUI settings
If you need to completely deactivate Google Assistant, including starting from the Home button, use the hidden MIUI settings.This method works on all Xiaomi smartphones, but requires care - wrong actions can reset gesture settings.
Important: on some firmware (for example, MIUI 14 Global), the path to settings may be hidden. If you do not find the right item, use a search by settings (the magnifying icon at the top of the screen).
- Open the settings → Additional settings.
- Select buttons and gestures → Home button".
- Find the Google Assistant and turn it off.
- For models with MIUI 14, you may need to further disable Long Press Home.
| Xiaomi model | The path to settings | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 10/11/12 | Settings → Additional → Buttons → Google Assistant | Global firmware may be called Digital Assistant. |
| POCO X3/X4/X5 | Settings → System → Gestures → Home button | Reboot required to apply changes |
| Xiaomi 12/13/14 | Settings → Screen → Home button → More | In Chinese, the item may not be available. |
After turning off, check the Home button — on some devices, a long press may stop working at all, in which case, return the settings to the factory settings or use the method from the next section.
3. Disconnection via ADB (no root)
If the standard methods didn’t work, and you don’t have root rights, you can use ADB debugging. This method completely blocks Google Assistant at the system level, including background processes.
Warning: Incorrect ADB commands may disrupt the system. Follow the instructions carefully and do not change other settings.
- 🖥️ Install. ADB Tools on the computer.
- 📱 On your smartphone, activate Developer Mode (7 times click on Version) MIUI In Settings → The phone).
- 🔌 Connect your phone to your PC and allow debugging. USB.
- 💻 In the command line (Windows) or terminal (Mac/Linux) enter:
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.googlequicksearchboxThis command will delete Google Assistant for the current user without affecting the system files. To return the assistant, use:
adb shell cmd package install-existing com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox⚠️ Note: On some firmware (for example, MIUI 14 China) This method can cause errors in the operation of Google services. Before executing the command, make a backup through Settings. → Additionally. → Backup.
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If voice commands in other apps (such as Google Maps) are no longer working after being disabled via ADB, install an alternative voice search from Google Play, such as Voice Search from APKMirror.
4. Disconnection with root rights (for experienced)
If you have root access (e.g., through Magisk), you can completely remove Google Assistant from the system, a method suitable for users who want to free up up to 300 MB of memory and reduce background activity (based on the POCO F4 GT tests).
Important: removing system applications can lead to unstable firmware, and we recommend you to create a full backup beforehand through TWRP or OrangeFox Recovery.
- 📲 Install a root-enabled file manager (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
- 🔍 Cross the path. /system/priv-app/Velvet or /system/app/Velvet.
- 🗑️ Delete the Velvet folder (this is the Google Assistant).
- 🔄 Reset the device.
An alternative way is to freeze the app via Magisk or Titanium Backup, which is less risky than completely uninstalling and allows you to return functionality if necessary.
| Method | Root is required. | Reversibility | Risks. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delete the Velvet folder | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No, I need a backup) | Possible errors in the work of Google services |
| Freeze through Titanium Backup | ✅ Yes. | ✅ Yes. | Minimum |
| Disconnection via Magisk (modules) | ✅ Yes. | ✅ Yes. | Conflicts with other modules |
What if Google Services stopped working after deletion?
If after removing Velvet, the Google Play Store, Gmail or other services stopped working, restore the folder from the backup or execute a command in ADB:
adb shell cmd package install-existing com.google.android.gmsIf the problem persists, you may need to flash through Fastboot or install a custom GApps package (such as NikGApps).
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5. Disconnection through Google Account Settings
Few people know, but Google Assistant can be deactivated at the account level, which is useful if you're using one account on multiple devices and want to disable the assistant everywhere at once.
Limitation: This method only works for voice activation (OK, Google) and doesn’t disable the Home button, but it syncs across all devices where you’re logged in.
- 🌐 Open in myaccount.google.com.
- 🔧 Go to Data and Personalization section.
- 🗣️ Find the voice and audio activity block → Voice settings.
- 🚫 Turn off the voice control option and delete all recorded voice commands.
This method is especially useful for users who want to protect their privacy — Google stops recording and analyzing your voice requests — but it doesn’t affect how the Google Assistant app itself works on the device.
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Disconnecting through a Google account is the only way that works on all devices at the same time (including tablets, smartwatches, and Android TVs).
Frequent problems and their solutions
Even after Google is disabled, Assistant can spontaneously turn on after updating the firmware or resetting settings. Here are the most common problems and ways to solve them:
Problem 1: After the MIUI update, the Assistant is activated again.
- 🔄 Repeat the shutdown via Google Settings or ADB.
- 📵 If it doesn’t help, roll back to the previous firmware version via Fastboot.
Problem 2: The Home button stopped working after the shutdown.
- 🔧 Return your gesture settings to factory (Settings) → System system → Gestures → Reset).
- 🔄 Restart the device – sometimes a simple reboot helps.
Problem 3: A notification appears that says “Google Assistant is stopped.”
- 🛠️ Clear the app cache (Settings) → Annexes → Google → Warehouse → Clear the cache).
- 🚫 Turn off notifications for Google in Settings → Notifications → Google.
⚠️ Note: On some firmware (for example, MIUI 14 China) Google Assistant is integrated into system services, its complete removal may lead to loss of functionality of Google Play (ADB or account settings).