Modern Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones come with a variety of smart features designed to make it easier to interact with the device, one of which is the voice assistant, which can be activated by default at any time, and users often face a situation where the phone responds to random sounds or button presses by launching the assistant without the owner’s knowledge.
The constant operation of the background microphone services is not only annoying with sudden switching on of the screen, but also significantly affects the autonomy of the gadget. Many owners prefer to completely deactivate this feature to avoid accidental calls or commands. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to turn off the voice assistant on Xiaomi, using different methods for different versions of the shell.
The process of disabling may vary depending on which assistant is installed by default: Google Assistant or proprietary MIUI Assistant (formerly known as Xiao AI).We will consider both options, and also touch on the nuances of hardware button customization, which often cause unwanted activation.
Disconnecting Google Assistant on Xiaomi smartphones
Most global versions of smartphones use Google's ecosystem as the main intelligent core.To prevent the system from responding to voice commands or swipes, you need to change the settings of the Google app itself.
First, open the main Google app on your desktop or app menu. In the upper right corner, click on your profile icon or avatar. In the menu that opens, select Settings, then go to Google Assistant, and that's where all the key switches that control how the system behaves are.
Inside the assistant menu, look for Google Assistant (sometimes called All Assistant Settings), and here you're interested in the Google Assistant switch at the top of the screen, turn it to Off. The system can request confirmation of actions, warning of loss of functionality, agree.
☑️ Checking for Google Assistant Disconnection
After switching off the main switch, it is also recommended to check the Hey Google section and Voice Match. Make sure the Hey Google switch is also deactivated.This will prevent the phone from being activated by the phrase "OK, Google", even if the main assistant is formally enabled for text search.
⚠️ Note: After disabling Google Assistant, the power button or swipe from the corner of the screen may stop causing voice input, but in some custom launchers, the button behavior may persist until the reboot.
Set up and disable Mi AI (Xiao AI)
Chinese firmware versions, as well as some global models with MIUI installed, can run Mi AI (or Xiao AI), a voice assistant that is deeply integrated into the system and has its own settings independent of Google’s services, and requires access to a specific MIUI settings menu.
To start, go to the basic Settings of your smartphone. Find a section that may be called Advanced Settings or just Google (depending on the shell version). You need to find Voice Assistant or Language and Input. In newer versions of HyperOS, the path may look like Additional → Voice Assistant.
If you have a separate Mi AI service installed, find it in your app list or system settings. Turn off Voice Activation and Button Activation from the menu. It is important to remove or disable the autoboot of this service if you are not using Xiaomi’s smart home ecosystem.
- 📱 Open the settings and enter in the search "Mi" AI" or Xiao AI".
- 🔇 Find the Voice Awakening switch and deactivate it.
- 🚫 In the access rights section, prohibit the application from using the microphone in the background.
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If you can’t find Mi AI settings, try installing the official “Mi AI” app from GetApps, go to the settings and find the service’s deletion or disable button there.
It is worth noting that on Xiaomi’s global firmware, this assistant is often replaced by Google, but its remnants can consume resources. Completely disabling or removing (via ADB) this component can slightly speed up the interface.
Control activation through the power button
One of the most common causes of user irritation is the inclusion of the voice assistant when unlocking the screen or pressing the power button long enough. In modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones, this behavior is set separately and often turned on by default for quick access.
To change this setting, go to Settings → Additional (or Advanced Settings) menu. Find Buttons or Shortcuts. There will be Long Press Power button option. By default, Google Assistant or Voice Enter may be there.
Change the value to the Off Menu or Nothing if this option is available in your version of the software. This will return the power button its classic function of calling the menu to reboot and turn off the device, which is much more convenient in everyday use.
Also check your gesture settings. In Settings → Additional → Gestures and buttons (or Control), you can activate the assistant when swiping from the bottom corner. Turn off this item to prevent accidental starts when carrying your phone in your pocket or bag.
Disable the “OK Google” and voice search function
Even if the main assistant is turned off, the system can continue to respond to the keyword “OK Google” through the desktop search widget or through the search bar settings.
Open the Google Search widget on your desktop (usually the line at the top or the widget at the bottom). Click on the profile icon or the three dots in the corner of the widget, then select Settings → Voice Search. Here you need to find Voice Match OK, Google and turn it off.
In the same menu, you should clear your voice command history to remove previously recorded samples of your voice, which will increase privacy and ensure that your device will stop responding to voice commands from sleep.
| Function | Where to turn off | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|
| Hey Google | Google's Settings → Assistant | High. |
| Power button | Additionally. → Buttons | Low. |
| Swipe from the corner | Settings → Management | Average. |
| Mi AI | Settings → Applications | Average. |
⚠️ Note: Disabling voice search does not affect the work of text dictation in messengers, as it uses system input services, not constant listening.
Hiding Widgets and Quick Access Panels
Often, the voice assistant doesn't come from voice activation, but from a random swipe to the right on the home screen where the Google Discover tape or the assistant widget is located, and you can remove this panel through the desktop settings.
Push two fingers across your desktop to open the edit menu, or press the empty area. Select Settings (or the gear icon) and find the Google Ribbon, Google Discover or -1 screen option and turn it off.
Also check the widget bar settings. In some MIUI themes, swiping down or sideways can trigger a smart recommendation panel, and disabling this feature will make the interface cleaner and remove unnecessary voice controls.
What to do if the settings are reset?
For full effect, it is also recommended to remove the Google widget from the home screen, if it is present there. Long click on the widget and select Remove or Change the size (with subsequent hiding) will help to avoid accidental touches.
Using ADB to remove components completely
For advanced users who want to ensure that no back-end processes associated with voice control are allowed, there is a method of using ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which allows you to hide the system packages responsible for the work of assistants without obtaining root rights.
You'll need a computer, USB-cable and installed drivers ADB. On the phone, you need to activate the developer mode (7 times click on the build number in About phone) and enable Debugging by USB. Connect your smartphone to your PC.
In the computer command line, type a command to search for packages containing "assistant" or "google." To disable, use the command:
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.apps.googleassistantThis command will force the current user to stop and hide the Google Assistant app, and to get it back, the enable command is used instead of the disable-user command. Be careful: removing system components may affect the stability of other Google services.
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Using ADB is the most radical, but also the most effective way to (completely) get rid of embedded voice services that cannot be disabled by standard methods.