Modern smartphones like the Xiaomi Mi 9 are packed with features that should make life easier. However, not all gadget owners like the constant willingness of the digital assistant to respond to every word or touch. Google’s voice assistant is often activated by accident, expending battery power and distracting attention at inappropriate moments. Which is why the question of how to turn off the Google Assistant on the Xiaomi Mi 9 remains a topical issue for many users who value silence and autonomy.
The deactivation process is not trivial, as Android deeply integrates search and voice services into its shell. Flagship owners often find standard switches hidden in the depth of the menu or require you to change the settings of the Google app itself. Below we will take a detailed look at all the available methods, from simply turning off the hot button to completely blocking background activity.
It is important to understand that a complete shutdown of the service can affect the operation of other system functions that depend on voice input. We will consider safe ways to restrict functionality that will not interfere with the stability of the MIUI operating system.
Disconnection through Google App Settings
The most effective way to limit the work of a smart assistant is to change its internal settings. Since Google Assistant is part of the main search engine application, it is managed there. On Xiaomi Mi 9, this method allows you to turn off the response to voice commands and the power button without removing system components.
First, you have to open the Google app on your smartphone, which is usually represented by an icon with a colored letter "G." Once you start, click on your account avatar in the upper right corner of the screen. In the menu that opens, select "Settings", and then go to the "Google Assistant" section. This is where all the levers of smart functions are concentrated.
Inside the settings menu, find the All Assistant Settings or Devices tab, where you need to find the Google Assistant option and switch to an inactive state, which blocks the assistant's core functions, making it non-responsive to commands, but it's worth remembering that some system calls can still activate basic voice search.
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If you can’t find a menu item, use the search bar inside the Google app settings and type in the word “Assistant.”
After these steps are completed, the system may request confirmation of your actions.Agree with the warning that the functionality will be limited.Now your Xiaomi Mi 9 will stop responding to the phrase "Ok Google" and will not start with a long press of the power button if the corresponding setting has also been changed.
Managing the power button and hot keys
One of the most annoying features for many users is activating the assistant when (long press) the power button. Xiaomi Mi 9 owners often accidentally launch this service when they just want to turn off the screen or trigger the device's switch-off menu. Fortunately, the MIUI shell allows you to reconfigure the behavior of the physical button.
To change the purpose of the button, go to the basic settings of the smartphone. You need to find the section "Additional features" or "Advanced settings", which depending on the version of the firmware can be called differently. Within this menu, look for the item "Push and hold the power button." By default, it often has the value "Google Assistant".
Change the value to "Stop Menu." Now, if you hold the button for a long time, you'll see a standard window with a choice of actions: reset, turn off or flight mode. This brings back the classic logic of Android smartphones and eliminates accidental launches, and this setting is critical for those who are used to traditional control.
☑️ Setting up the power button
It is worth noting that on some global versions of MIUI firmware, this option can be hidden or replaced with a Google Assistant call without the option, in which case you may need to use special commands or third-party utilities to reassign keys, but the standard system means this is solved in the manner described above.
Setting up voice activation "Ok Google"
Even if you remove the button, voice activation can remain active, causing the phone to constantly listen to the surroundings.This not only invades, but also consumes the CPU resources. On the Xiaomi Mi 9 with its powerful hardware, this may not be as noticeable, but for general optimization, it is better to turn off this feature.
Go back to the Google Assistant settings that we talked about in the first section. Find "Hey Google and Voice Match." Inside this menu, turn off the Hey Google switch. The system will prompt you to confirm the action, warning you that the phone will stop responding commands.
You can also remove your voice model in this section, which will cause the system to forget your timbre, which will increase security, but make it impossible to use personalized commands. If you plan to completely abandon the service, removing the voice model is the logical final step.
- 🔊 Open the Google Settings and go to the Assistant section.
- 🗣️ Select "Hey Google" and turn off voice activation.
- 🧹 Remove the saved voice model for complete deactivation.
- 📱 Check if your phone is not responding to voice commands.
Why is the phone still listening?
Once voice activation is turned off, the microphone will stop constantly scanning the airwaves for a keyword phrase, which is especially useful in situations where you are watching TV or in a noisy place where background sounds can be mistakenly recognized as a command.
Limitation of background activity and battery
Even in sleep mode, Google services can consume energy. If your goal is to maximize the autonomy of the Xiaomi Mi 9, you should limit the background operation of the Google application. MIUI is known for its aggressive energy saving policy, and we can use this to our advantage.
Go to your phone's settings and select "Apps." Go to the "Google" app. Go to "Battery" or "Energy" section. Here you'll see the mode options: "No Limits," "Economies of Charge" and "Strict Limits."
Select "Strict Limit" or "Saving Charge" mode, which will prevent the Google app from running processes in the background when you're not using it, and as a result, Google Assistant will not be physically activated on its own because its processes will be frozen by the system.
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Hard battery restriction for the Google app is the most radical but effective way to prevent any background activity of the Assistant.
However, keep in mind that this can affect the performance of desktop search widgets and the timeliness of notifications from other Google services. If you are actively using the search engine ecosystem, it is better to choose the mode "Saving Charge", which is less strict, but still limits excess activity.
Disconnection through access rights and permissions
Another layer of control over the digital assistant is permission management, where without access to the microphone and location, the assistant loses most of its functionality, a "soft" way of shutting down that doesn't break system dependencies, but renders the service useless.
In the Google app settings, go to Permissions, and here you will see a list of access requests, find Microphone and select Prohibit, and it is also recommended to restrict access to Geoposition by setting the value of Request or Prohibit.
Without access to the microphone, any attempt to activate a voice will end in error. The system may issue a pop-up asking for permission, but if you don't give it, the functionality will remain locked, and this is a reliable way to make sure that the phone can't hear you.
| Type of permit | Recommended value | Impact on the system |
|---|---|---|
| Microphone | Banned | Full blocking of voice commands |
| Geoposition | Request. | Decreasing the accuracy of contextual clues |
| Contacts | Banned | Inability to call through voice |
| Calendar | Banned | No reminders from the Assistant |
Using this method, you create an additional barrier, and even if the service somehow gets started, it won't be able to perform its primary function, which is especially true for users who are concerned about data privacy.
Using ADB for Advanced Users
For those who are not afraid of technical manipulation, there is a way to disable the component through debugging via USB. This method requires connecting the smartphone to the computer and installing the ADB utility (Android Debug Bridge), which allows you to completely freeze the package responsible for the Assistant.
First, activate the developer mode on the Xiaomi Mi 9. To do this, seven times click on the build number in the About Phone section. Then turn on USB debugging in the developer menu. Connect the phone to your PC and start the command prompt.
Enter the command to disable the package:
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.apps.googleassistant⚠️ Attention: Use of teams ADB Disabling system packages can cause a launcher or other Google services to run in an unstable way.
This command does not delete the application, but only makes it inactive for the current user. It will disappear from the list of applications and stop running. To return everything back, use the command adb shell pm enable com.google.android.apps.googleassistant.
This is ideal for those who want to completely clean the system of excess software without resorting to root rights, but remember that after resetting the settings to factory, all changes will be canceled.
Effect of shutdown on system operation
Users often ask if disabling Google Assistant will cause errors in the Xiaomi Mi 9. In most cases, the system reacts calmly, as it is not a critical system process, but an add-on.
This is especially true for voice input, which, if you're used to dictating messages in instant messengers, may stop working or require you to re-authorize each time, and Google Discover widgets on the left of your desktop may disappear.
Also, OK Google commands to control your smart home or search for information will no longer be executed, and if you don't use these functions daily, you won't even notice the difference, except for faster operation and lower battery consumption.
- 📉 Reducing battery consumption in standby mode.
- 🚫 No random activations in your pocket or bag.
- 🔒 Increasing the level of confidentiality of personal data.
- 🧹 Freeing RAM from background processes.
So for the average user, disabling the Assistant is a step towards a cleaner, faster interface, and the key is to choose a method that fits your technical skills and needs.