How to completely disable Google Assistant in Xiaomi headphones: 5 proven ways

Google's Voice Assistant in Xiaomi headphones can be useful for quick music management or information acquisition, but not everyone likes it automatically triggered by random touch or voice commands. Especially annoying when the assistant activates while listening to music interrupting playback, or when it responds to the puff of sounds in noisy environments. Fortunately, you can turn it off in several ways - both temporarily suspend work and completely deactivate.

In this article, we will analyze all available methods of disabling Google Assistant for popular Xiaomi headphone models - from budget Redmi Buds to flagship Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro and Xiaomi AirDots Pro 3. It is important to consider that some methods require the presence of a smartphone on Android (versions at least 8.0), and for individual models of headphones may need a branded Mi Fit or Xiaomi Wear. If you use the iPhone, the options for settings will be limited - this will also be discussed below.

Before you start to shut down, make sure your headphones are connected to your phone and the device firmware is updated to the latest version, which will help avoid disruptions and provide access to all control functions.

Why does Google Assistant activate on its own?

Many users complain that the Google Assistant in Xiaomi headphones is working for no apparent reason.

• 🎧 Sensitivity of microphones: In some models (for example, Xiaomi AirDots 3 Pro) microphones are set to capture voice even in noisy environments, which allows the assistant to respond to puffing sounds.
• 👆 Random touches: Touch panels on headphones (especially in Redmi Buds 4) sometimes perceive touch as a command to call an assistant.
• 📱 Smartphone settings: On some phones (e.g. Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO) voice recognition is enabled by default even in the locked state.
• 🔄 Firmware updates: After upgrading your headphones or smartphone, the assistant settings may reset.

If you encounter Google Assistant turning on without your command, first check if you accidentally hit touch buttons on your headphones. Also, you should disable the function of OK, Google in the phone settings - this will reduce the number of false positives.

⚠️ Note: In some headphone models (e.g. Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro), Google Assistant is integrated at the firmware level. its complete disabling may make it impossible to use other voice commands (e.g., to control playback).

Method 1: Disconnect via Mi Fit/Xiaomi Wear

The most reliable way to disable Google Assistant is to use the official Mi Fit app (for older models) or Xiaomi Wear (for newer ones), a method that works for most Xiaomi headphones, including:

• 🎧 Xiaomi AirDots (all generations)
• 🎧 Redmi Buds 3/4/5 Pro
• 🎧 Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro
• 🎧 Xiaomi Buds 4/5

Instructions for unsetting:

1. Open the Mi Fit or Xiaomi Wear app.
2. Connect your headphones to your phone (if they are not already connected).
3. Go to the Devices section and select your headphones.
4. Click on Headphone Settings (or Control, depending on the model).
5. Find Voice Assistant or Google Assistant.
6. Select the option to Disable or No.
7. Save the changes and restart the headphones (if required).

Are the headphones connected to the phone?

Has the Mi Fit/Xiaomi Wear app been updated?

Is there a "voice assistant" in the headphone settings?

Is there any third-party software used to control the headphones?

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If your app doesn’t have a point to disable Google Assistant, it could mean that:

• 📱 Your headphone model doesn’t support this feature through an app (e.g. Redmi Buds 2 Lite).
• 🔄 The headphone firmware is outdated – try to update it.
• 📲 You are using an unofficial version of the application (for example, a modified version).

⚠️ Note: After disabling Google Assistant via Mi Fit, some headphone features (such as reading notifications or controlling voice) may become unavailable.

Method 2: Disconnect at the level of Android-smartphone

If the Mi Fit app does not have an option to disable the assistant, you can block it through Android settings. This method works on all smartphones (including Xiaomi, Samsung, Google Pixel, etc.), but does not guarantee a 100% result - some headphone models can ignore the system settings.

How to disable Google Assistant on your phone:

1. Open the settings on your phone.
2. Go to the Google → Settings section for Google apps.
3. Select Search, Assistant and Voice → Google Assistant.
4. Scroll down and press Devices with Assistant.
5. Find your Xiaomi headphones on the list and turn off the switch next to them.
6. Go back and in the Voice Input section, turn off the OK, Google option.

If your headphones don’t appear on the device list, it means they don’t support system-level integration with Google Assistant. In this case, try other ways from this article.

For iPhone owners, this is not a good option, as Google iOS Assistant has limited functionality, in which case you can only disable the assistant via the Mi Fit app (if it is available for iOS) or use alternative methods described below.

Method 3: Resetting headphones to factory settings

If Google Assistant keeps activating despite all attempts to turn it off, you can reset your headphones completely, and that will bring everything back to factory settings, including the voice assistant settings, and you'll have to reconnect your headphones to your phone and adjust them after the reset.

Reset instructions (relevant to most Xiaomi models):

1. Place both headphones in the case and close it.
2. Open the case cover and leave the headphones inside.
3. Press and hold the button on the case (usually located behind or below) for 10-15 seconds until the indicator flashes red and white.
4. Release the button and the headphones will drop.
5. Connect the headphones to the phone again via Bluetooth.

After reset, check if Google Assistant is activated when you click on touch buttons. If so, the assistant is on by default and needs to be turned off via the app or phone settings (see methods 1 and 2).

⚠️ Note: Resetting will not help if Google Assistant is activated due to the firmware of the headphones. In some models (for example, Xiaomi AirDots Pro 2), the assistant is sewn in at the software level, and it can only be disabled via Mi Fit.

Method 4: Using Third-Party Applications

If standard methods didn’t work, you can try disabling Google Assistant with third-party utilities. For example, the MaterialPods app (available on GitHub) allows you to flexibly configure Xiaomi headphone management, including disabling the voice assistant.

How to use MaterialPods:

1. Download and install MaterialPods from the official repository.
2. Put the headphones on the phone.
3. Open the app and select your headphones from the device list.
4. Go to the Voice Assistant section.
5. Select the option to Disable or No Assistant.
6. Save the settings and reboot the headphones.

The advantages of MaterialPods:

• 🔧 More customization options than in Mi Fit.
• 📱 It runs on most Xiaomi models (including Redmi Buds 3 Pro and Xiaomi AirDots 3).
• 🆓 Free and Open Source Software (without Advertising).

Disadvantages:

• ⚠️ Requires the debugging enabled by USB (certain functions).
• 🔄 It may not support the newest headphone models.
• 🛠️ Minimum technical skills are required to set up.

If you don’t want to install third-party apps, try the following method – it doesn’t require additional software, but it’s not suitable for all models.

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Before using MaterialPods, back up your headphone settings in Mi Fit, which will help you quickly restore them if something goes wrong.

Method 5: Physically shutting down microphones (extreme case)

If the software methods don't work, and Google Assistant keeps getting in the way, you can take the radical step of turning off the microphones in the headphones, which completely blocks the ability to use the voice assistant, but also disables:

• 🎤 The ability to call through headphones.
• 🎶 Voice control (e.g. pause/replay).
• 📞 Use of headphones for voice messages.

How to turn off the microphones:

1. Open the Mi Fit or Xiaomi Wear app.
2. Go to the headphone settings.
3. Find the Microphone or Calls section.
4. Turn off the option to use the microphone headphones.
5. Save the changes.

If the app does not have this option, you can try to turn off microphones at the Android level:

1. Open the Settings → Applications.
2. Find Bluetooth and select your headphones.
3. Turn off the permission to access the microphone.

⚠️ Warning: Turning off the microphones is an irreversible process in the current connection session, and to get them back to work, you'll have to reset the headphone settings or reconnect them to the phone.

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Turning off the microphones is a last resort, and only use it if other methods have not worked, and you are ready to lose the functionality of calls and voice control.

What do you do if nothing helps?

If you’ve tried all of these, but Google Assistant is still activated, the problem may be:

• 📱 Headphone firmware: Some models (e.g. Xiaomi AirDots Pro) 2S) have a sewn assistant that cannot be turned off without flashing.
• 🔄 Phone Updates: After Android Update, Settings Are Reset.
• 🎧 Hardware defect: Touch buttons may be too sensitive.

In such cases, there are several options:

1. Contact Xiaomi to provide firmware without Google Assistant.
2. Buy another model (e.g. Xiaomi Buds 4 with Xiao AI support instead of Google Assistant).

If you decide to call for support, please indicate:

• A headphone model.
• The firmware version (can be found in Mi Fit).
• Phone model and Android version.
• Description of the problem (when and how the assistant works).

FAQ: Frequent questions about disabling Google Assistant in Xiaomi