Many Xiaomi Redmi smartphone users face a situation where the voice assistant is activated accidentally in their pocket or while talking.This is not only annoying, but can lead to occasional calls or sending commands.The built-in Google Assistant is deeply integrated into the MIUI shell and global versions of Android, so a simple "Switch off" switch is often not provided in the system.
But there are proven ways to limit its functionality or block activation entirely through hotkeys. You don't need to be an IT expert to customize your device, and we'll look at methods ranging from simply locking a button to completely hiding services through system settings.
It is important to understand the difference between a complete deletion and a functional deactivation. Since Google Assistant is a system component, deleting it can disrupt other services, so the best solution is to adjust the activation settings and disable the functions that you do not need.
Configure activation parameters and hot keys
The first and most effective step is to prevent the system from running the assistant by pressing the power button or long-term retention. In modern versions of MIUI and HyperOS, these settings are in the system section. You need to go to Settings → Additional → Buttons and gestures or Settings → System → Language and input.
You'll find the voice command that you're going to run here, often called "Google Assistant Launch" or "Voice Input," and if you turn that off, you'll stop pressing the power button or swiping from the corner of the screen and stop calling the assistant interface.
- 🔍 Go to the Settings section of your smartphone.
- 🔍 Find a subsection Additional or System.
- 🔍 Open the buttons and gestures menu to control physical keys.
- 🔍 Find the Google Assistant and deaktivate it.
⚠️ Note: Some Redmi models with global firmware may have the option of shutting down hidden, in which case the system will require you to set up the assistant at the first start, but will not allow it to completely turn off through the standard menu.
When you change your settings, make sure you check the result. Try pressing the power button or saying an activation command. If the screen doesn't catch fire and voice input doesn't start, you've successfully blocked the main trigger.
Disabling in the Google app and setting up an account
Even if you block a button, the service itself can stay active in the background, waiting for the "OK, Google" command to completely defuse it, you need to go to the settings of the Google app itself. Find the app icon on your desktop, which usually has a colored "G" letter.
Inside the app, click on the profile avatar in the top right corner, then select Settings → Google Assistant. This is the Google Assistant switch. By turning it to off, you will disable voice requests. This is a critical step for those who want to stop listening to the microphone for trigger phrases entirely.
Also in this section, you can turn off the "OK, Google Recognition" function, which will prevent the microphone from running constantly in standby mode, and the system will stop analyzing ambient sound, which will positively affect the autonomy of the device.
☑️ Checking privacy settings
Also, check your activity history, and in the "My Google activities" section, you can delete saved voice queries, which will improve your digital hygiene and privacy.
Control widgets and lock screen
Users often confuse the Assistant with the Google Discover widget, which is to the left of the home screen, and you can and should turn it off if it interferes with it.
At the bottom of the feed or in the desktop settings (Settings → Desktop), find the Google Tape or Google Discover switch. Disabling this element will remove the news feed and speed up the launcher.
| Interface element | Where to turn off | Impact on the system |
|---|---|---|
| Voice input | Settings → System | Blocks the launch on the button |
| Google Tape | Desktop settings | Takes the news out on the left. |
| Lock screen | Settings → Lock screen | Hiding widgets when off screen |
Also, check the lock screen settings. Go to Settings → Lock screen and find the widget section. Make sure that the Quick Access Shortcut to the Assistant or the camera is not activated, which may be triggered by accident.
Why is the newsfeed coming back?
Use of energy saving regimes
One radical but effective way to limit background services is to use energy saving modes, and Xiaomi smartphones have a built-in battery optimizer that can limit application activity.
Go to Settings → Battery and Performance. Find the Google or Google Assistant app on the list. Change the mode from No Limits to Energy Saving or Hard Limitation. This won’t shut it down completely, but it won’t work in the background when the screen is off.
- 🔋 Open the Battery settings in the menu.
- 🔋 Find a list of high-consumption applications.
- 🔋 Select Google from the list.
- 🔋 Set a limit on background activity.
This approach is useful if you need to keep a charge in a critical situation, but you don't want to completely break the functionality of the system, but it's worth remembering that voice search can be delayed in this mode.
⚠️ Attention: Setting strict restrictions on Google system services may cause other applications that depend on those services to run insecurely, such as maps or navigation.
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Use Flight mode for complete isolation. If you need absolute peace of mind, turning on the air mode is guaranteed to turn off all network functions of the Assistant, since he will not be able to send a request to the server.
Advanced methods: ADB and shutdown via computer
For users who want to maximize their results, there is a USB debugging (ADB) method that requires connecting the smartphone to the computer, which allows the system package responsible for the assistant to be frozen without physically removing it.
You'll need to turn on Developer Mode. To do this, click on the build number in About Phone 7 times. Then activate Debugging USB in the Developer Menu. Connect the phone to your PC and use the command to disable the package.
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.apps.googleassistantThis command will put the com.google.android.apps.googleassistant component into a disabled state for the current user. The assistant will disappear from the system completely. To get it back, use the adb shell pm enable com.google.android.apps.googleassistant command.
This is the most reliable method, but it requires caution. An error in the input of a command can lead to unstable operation of the system. Always double-check the syntax before sending a command.
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Use of the ADB-commands allow you to completely remove the visibility of the system application for the user without violating the integrity of the system partition.
Possible problems and solutions
During the shutdown, you may find that the system periodically suggests that you “configure” the assistant again, which is standard Android behavior when trying to use features that depend on Google.
Sometimes, after updating MIUI, settings may reset. If you notice that the Assistant has started to respond to commands again, check the settings section again. It is also worth updating the Google Play Services app to the latest version, as there may be bugs in older versions.
- 🛠 Check for system updates.
- 🛠 Make sure there are no pending updates on Google Play.
- 🛠 Restart the device after making changes.
If the problem persists, try clearing the cache of the Google app. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps → Google → Memory and click Clear Cache. This won't delete your data, but will reset temporary files that could be causing conflicts.