How to activate OK Google on Xiaomi: from setup to problem solving

Google’s voice assistant, “OK Google,” has long been an integral part of the Android ecosystem, but Xiaomi smartphone owners often have trouble setting it up, and the problem lies in the features of MIUI, which by default limits app background access and optimizes power consumption more aggressively than “pure” Android, which may result in voice activation not working even after installing all the updates.

In this article, we will discuss all the ways to run OK Google on Xiaomi – from basic settings to circumventing the limitations of MIUI, including models on Android 12/13/14 and MIUI 13/14/15 firmware. Particular attention will be paid to typical errors (for example, when the assistant does not respond to voice or turns off after 5 seconds) and how to fix them without root rights. If you tried to set up voice search according to standard instructions from Google and encountered problems, here you will find solutions adapted specifically for Xiaomi.

Why is Google not working on Xiaomi by default?

The reason lies in three key features of MIUI firmware:

• 🔋 Aggressive battery optimization: MIUI Automatically restricts background activity of apps, including Google Assistant, to extend battery life, causing the assistant to fall asleep and not respond to voice commands.
• 🛡️ Auto-start restrictions: By default MIUI Blocks auto-run many of Google’s system services required for constant microphone listening.
• 🔊 Conflict with the brand assistant XiaoAI: On some models (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro or Redmi Note 12), the preinstalled XiaoAI can intercept voice commands, interfering with the work of Google Assistant.

In addition, devices with regional firmware (such as China) may not have a pre-installed Google app, requiring manual installation of Google services (GMS) via MIUI Global ROM or third-party tools like Google Installer.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi models for the Chinese market (noted) CN Google voice search may not work even after installation GMS In this case, we recommend considering alternatives like XiaoAI or Alice from Yandex.

Preparation of the smartphone: what to do before setting up

Before you activate OK Google, follow the necessary preparatory steps:

1. Update your firmware: Go to Settings → About Phone → Update MIUI and install the latest version. At 2026, the minimum required version is MIUI 13 (for stable Android 12+ running).
2. Install the Google App: If it is not on the system, download it from Google Play or via APKMirror (for GMS-free devices).
3. Set up a Google account: Without logging in, voice search won’t work. Check sync in Settings → Accounts → Google.

Chinese firmware models (such as Xiaomi 12S Ultra or Redmi K50) may require unlocking the bootloader and installing the Global ROM. This process erases all data, so pre-back up via Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset.

Update MIUI last-minute|Install/update the Google App|Log in to your Google account|Turn off battery optimization for Google (see next section)|Check the presence of a microphone (test in the application "Dictophon»)-->

Step-by-step setting up voice activation

When the preparation is complete, we move on to the basic setting. Instructions are suitable for all modern Xiaomi models, including the POCO F5, Redmi Note 12 Pro+ and flagships of the Xiaomi 14 series.

Step 1: Enabling voice control in the Google app

1. Open the Google app (the icon with the letter G on a colored background).
2. Tap your avatar in the upper right corner → Settings → Voice search.
3. Select the Voice Assistant → Google Assistant.
4. Press Voice Control and activate the switch OK Google.

The system will offer to learn a voice model — say the phrase "OK Google" 3 times and "Hi Google" 3 times. This helps the assistant to better recognize your voice.

Step 2: Configure the permissions for the microphone

Without access to the microphone, the assistant will not be able to hear commands.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find Google in the list and select it.
3. Tap the Permissions → Microphone and set the value to Allow always.
4. Do the same for Google Assistant (if it’s on the list).

Step 3: Turning off battery optimization for Google

This is the most critical step for Xiaomi — without it, the assistant will shut down a few seconds after locking the screen.

1. Open Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Consumption Management by Apps.
2. Select Apps and find Google in the list.
3. Set up a No Limits mode.
4. Repeat the steps for Google Play Services and Google Assistant.

Some firmware may have different paths. Alternatively,

Settings → Applications → Application Management → Google → Battery → Without Limits

⚠️ Warning: If the assistant still turns off after these manipulations, check the AutoStart settings in Settings → Annexes → Application management → Google → Autostart and turn it on.

💡

If OK Google doesn’t work after locking the screen, add the Google app to the list of No Restrictions in Battery Settings and turn off the Adaptive Battery feature in Settings → Battery → More

Solving common problems

Even after setting up correctly, Xiaomi users may encounter common errors, including their causes and ways to fix them.

Problem 1: The assistant doesn't respond to the voice

If nothing happens after saying OK Google, check out:

• 🔇 microphone volume level: Run the voice recorder app and record your voice. If the sound is quiet or absent, clean the microphone (the hole next to the connector) USB-C) dusty.
• 📶 Internet connection: Voice search requires an active connection. Check if mobile internet or Wi-Fi is working.
• 🔄 Language settings: Make sure that in Settings → Additionally. → Language and input → Google voice input is the correct language (e.g. Russian (Russia)).

Problem 2: The assistant shuts down after 5-10 seconds

This is a classic Xiaomi problem related to background optimization.

1. Turn it off. MIUI Optimization (requires unlocked bootloader and superuser rights): adb shell settings put global miui_optimization_disabled 1 After completing the command, restart the device.
2. Add Google to the memory cleanup exceptions: Settings → Apps → App management → Google → Additional → Block in memory.

Problem 3: Conflict with XiaoAI

On some models (such as the Xiaomi 13T or Redmi K60), the XiaoAI assistant can intercept voice commands to fix this:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find XiaoAI and turn off the Microphone.
3. Or turn off auto-start for XiaoAI completely in the battery settings.

Alternative ways to call an assistant

If the voice activation never worked, you can use alternative methods to start Google Assistant:

• 🖱️ Gesture to call: In some firmware MIUI You can call the assistant to double press the power button or swipe from the corner of the screen. → Special facilities → Gestures and movements.
• 🔍 Home Screen Widget: Add Google Assistant Widget or Google Search for Quick Access.
• 🎙️ Voice button in the notification bar: Activate it in the Google app settings.

For owners of POCO F4 or Redmi Note 11 with MIUI 14, there is another way to use Bixby Remapper (requires ADB).This app allows you to reassign the Google Assistant button to a physical key (for example, the Bixby button, if it is on the device).

Customization for specific Xiaomi models

Some Xiaomi models have unique features when setting up a voice assistant.

Xiaomi 13/13 Pro/13 Ultra (MIUI 14, Android 13)

On the 2023 flagships with HyperOS (new name MIUI), the battery optimization algorithms are even stricter, so that Google will work steadily:

1. Open Settings → Battery → Performance Mode and select Balance (not Energy Saving).
2. In Settings → Applications → Application Management → Google → Additionally, enable the option to Run in the background.

Redmi Note 12 Series (MIUI 13/14, Android 12/13)

These models often conflict with XiaoAI. We recommend:

1. Completely disable XiaoAI: Settings → Applications → Application Management → XiaoAI → Disable.
2. Install Google Assistant as the default application for voice search in the system settings.

POCO F5/F5 Pro (MIUI 14 for POCO, Android 13)

POCO devices with light firmware may not have Google services preset, in which case:

1. Install Google Installer from APKMirror.
2. After installing the GMS, restart the device and reset the “OK Google” setting.

Xiaomi 13/14 series |Redmi Note 11/12|POCO F4/F5|Redmi K50/K60| Another model |I don't know-->

Security and confidentiality

Using voice assistant raises privacy issues, and Google records and analyzes voice commands to improve the service, so that it can control that data:

• 🔒 View your voice command history: Go to My Google Account Activity page and filter your voice and audio recordings.
• 🗑️ Delete Records: In the same section, you can delete individual records or the entire history of voice commands.
• 🛡️ Disable personalization: In the settings of Google Assistant (Settings) → Google Assistant → Your data in the Assistant) disable the options Personalized results and Voice and audio.

Xiaomi also has proprietary privacy settings to restrict apps from accessing the microphone:

1. Go to Settings → Privacy → Application Permissions → Microphone.
2. Disable access for unnecessary apps (such as social media or gaming).

⚠️ Note: If you use Xiaomi with Chinese firmware (CN ROM), Voice command data can be transmitted to Xiaomi servers to improve XiaoAI. To avoid this, install Global. ROM or use VPN when setting up Google services.

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For maximum privacy, turn off the option to Improve Voice Input in Google Settings and regularly clear your command history on the My Activity page.

FAQ: Frequent questions