Google Assistant on Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphones can make everyday tasks from setting an alarm clock to managing a smart home much easier. However, many users are faced with the problem that standard gestures or voice commands do not work due to the features of the MIUI firmware. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to call the assistant, including hidden settings and bypassing system restrictions.
It’s important to understand that Xiaomi often blocks some features of Google services in favor of its own solutions (for example, XiaoAI). But even on the latest versions of MIUI 14 and Android 13/12, you can make the assistant work correctly – you need to know where to look for the right options. We tested all methods on Xiaomi 13 Pro, Redmi Note 12 and POCO F5 models, so the instructions are relevant for most devices of the brand.
If you've tried to set up a voice assistant before, but you haven't succeeded, check if it conflicts with Xiaomi's branded services. Sometimes you just need to disable XiaoAI or reset the Google app settings to make it work. Then we'll look at step-by-step solutions for different scenarios.
1. Standard way: voice command "OK, Google"
The most obvious method is to use voice activation, but on Xiaomi it is often disabled by default due to a conflict with XiaoAI.
- Open the Google app (not to be confused with Google Play!).
- Tap the profile icon in the upper right corner → Settings → Voice search.
- Select Voice Assistant and activate the OK Google switch.
- Take voice training (the system will suggest repeating the phrase 3 times).
⚠️ Note: On some models (POCO X5 Pro, Redmi 10C) This option may not be available due to regional restrictions, in which case you can change the language to English (USA) temporarily.
If the “OK, Google” command fails to work:
- 🔍 Check if the microphone for the Google app is disabled in Settings → Annexes → Permits.
- 📱 Make sure you turn on Google Assistant as the default assistant in Settings → Annexes → By default.
- 🔄 Reboot your phone – sometimes it solves the voice recognition problem.
2. gesture to call the assistant (home button or swipe)
On Xiaomi smartphones with a physical or touch button Home, you can assign a retention to call Google Assistant, which works even if voice activation is disabled:
- Go to Settings → Additional → Home button (on some firmware, the path may differ: Settings → System → Gestures).
- Select Hold the Home button.
- In the action list, search for Google Assistant and confirm the choice.
For devices without a Home button (e.g., Xiaomi 13 Lite with gesture control):
- 👆 Go to Settings. → Display. → Navigation gestures.
- 🔧 Select Additional Gesture Settings → Gesture to call an assistant.
- 🎤 Activate the option and assign a swipe from the corner of the screen (usually at the bottom right or left).
⚠️ Note: On some versions MIUI (for example, MIUI 12.5 for Redmi Note 9) this gesture may conflict with the XiaoAI call, in which case you will have to disable the brand assistant in Settings. → Annexes → Application management → XiaoAI → Shut down.
Make sure the latest version of Google App is installed
Check if the antivirus is blocking the microphone
Disable power saving for Google app in battery settings
Reboot your phone after the changes-->
3. Adding the Google Assistant widget to the home screen
If voice commands and gestures don’t work, the most reliable way is to add an assistant widget to your desktop, which is guaranteed to work even on older models (Redmi 7A, POCO M3):
- Press and hold the empty space on the main screen.
- Select Widgets from the bottom menu.
- Scroll down to the Google section and find the Assistant widget (usually 4×1 or 2×2).
- Drag it on the screen and confirm the placement.
Now, you just have to click on the widget to call the assistant, and the advantage of this method is:
- ⚡ It works without the Internet (for basic teams).
- 🛡️ It doesn't depend on the settings. MIUI or conflicts with XiaoAI.
- 🔧 You can place it in the Quick Settings panel (swipe down from the top edge of the screen).
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If the widget doesn’t appear in the list, update the Google app through the Play Market and reboot your phone.
MIUI 11
Google Assistant
Settings → Google → Settings for applications → Search, helper and voice
4.Activated via Google Settings (for MIUI 14 and later)
In the latest versions of MIUI (MIUI 14 based on Android 13), the path to the assistant settings has changed. Now it is hidden deeper, but you can find it like this:
- Open your phone settings → Google → Settings for Google apps.
- Choose Search, Assistant and Voice → Google Assistant.
- Activate the Google Assistant switch and go through the initial setup.
If Google is not in the main settings:
- 🔎 Try to find it through the search bar in the settings (the magnifier icon at the top).
- 📲 Install the latest version of Google Play Services from the Play Market.
- 🔄 Reset the Google App Settings in Settings → Annexes → Application management → Google → Warehouse → Drop it.
⚠️ Note: On some models (Xiaomi) 12T, POCO F4 GT) post-update MIUI 14 may need to manually enable microphone permission for the Google app in the Settings section → Confidentiality → Application authorizations → Without it, voice commands won't work.
5.Use commands via ADB (for advanced users)
If standard methods fail, you can force Google Assistant to be activated via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a method that is suitable for power users and requires connecting the phone to a computer.
Instructions:
- Turn on Developer Mode on your phone: go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI Version 7 times.
- Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and activate Debugging over USB.
- Connect your phone to your PC, install ADB (you can download from the official website) and execute the command:
adb shell pm grant com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox android.permission.RECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED
adb shell pm grant com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGSThen restart your phone. Now Google Assistant should appear in the default assistant list.
What if the ADB does not recognize the device?
6. Problem Solving: Why is the Assistant Not Working?
If none of these methods worked, check the following points:
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Voice command is unrecognizable | Microphone is busy with another app | Close all applications that use the microphone (such as voice recording or calls) |
| The assistant opens up but doesn't follow commands | There is no internet or weak signal | Connect to Wi-Fi or check your mobile data |
| There is no “OK Google” option in the settings. | Regional restrictions or outdated version of Google | Update Google App and Change Region to US in Phone Settings |
| The call gesture doesn't work. | Conflict with XiaoAI or other gestures | Turn off XiaoAI in the app settings or reset gestures |
A few more nuances:
- 🔋 On some models (Redmi) 9A, POCO M2) Google Assistant can shut down in power saving mode. Add Google app to battery exclusions.
- 📱 After the update MIUI Assistant stopped working, try clearing the cache of the Google app in the settings.
- 🌍 For some regions (e.g. China), Google Assistant is locked at the firmware level, in which case only changing the region or installing custom firmware will help.
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On devices with MIUI for Russia (e.g. Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G), Google Assistant can be disabled by default, in which case it will have to be activated manually through Google settings, as described in section 4.