Many users of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 smartphone face a situation where the Google Assistant digital assistant starts working autonomously, caused by a random tap or voice command. This can occur at the most inopportune moment, for example, during a conversation or watching a video, which causes significant discomfort.
The deactivation process is not limited to simply switching one switch to the menu, as the system offers several levels of interaction with the assistant. You will need to go through the Google application settings, MIUI system parameters and the configuration of control buttons. Only a comprehensive approach will completely eliminate unwanted activations and free up the system resources of the device.
In this article, we will look at all available methods to limit the functionality of the virtual assistant on your device, we will examine the nuances of voice control, power button settings and system notifications so that you can flexibly manage your gadget.
Basic settings of the Google application
The first and most obvious step is to change the settings inside the app itself, which is responsible for the smart assistant, so you first need to open the app menu and find the standard Google icon, which usually has a colored "G" logo. This is where the basic controls of the assistant behavior are.
Once you start the app, click on your profile avatar in the top right corner of the screen to open the account menu. In the list that opens, select Settings, then go to Google Assistant. Here are a wide range of options to fine-tune or completely limit functionality.
Inside the assistant settings menu, find All Assistant settings. Scroll down to the Phone box. This is where the main switch for activating the function is located. Turn the slider to off to prevent the assistant from starting at (long press) the power or home button, if it's software.
⚠️ Note: After the main switch is turned off, the assistant will stop responding to calls, but Google’s application background processes may continue to work for other system features.
You should also look at Popular Themes or Tapes if you want to remove personalized cards, and turning them off will make the interface cleaner, but it won't affect voice control directly, and it's important to understand the difference between turning off the interface and turning off the query engine itself.
Voice Activation Management by OK Google
One of the most annoying features for many Redmi Note 7 owners is the ability to launch a voice assistant.The smartphone constantly listens to the microphone for the phrase "OK, Google" or "Ok Google", which theoretically can affect battery autonomy, although current algorithms are optimized for minimal consumption.
To disable voice activation, go back to the Google Assistant settings menu via your user profile. Select Hey Google and Voice Match (Russian version may call "Ok Google" and "Voice Match"). Here you will be prompted to disable the Hey Google switch.
The system can request confirmation of action, warning that voice commands will become unavailable. Agree to the changes. Also in this menu, you can delete a previously stored voice sample, which will make it impossible to recognize your diction, even if the function is accidentally activated in another way.
- 🗣️ Voice commands: Disabling this option prevents any voice action from being triggered through the system interface.
- 🔒 Security: Removing a voice sample prevents access to personal information through voice search from a locked screen.
- 🔋 Energy consumption: Continuous listening to the microphone in the background may be insignificant, but increase battery consumption.
It is worth noting that even after disabling voice activation, you can still use voice input in the keyboard or voice recorder, as these functions work independently of the Voice Match module.
Why does the assistant turn on itself?
Setting up the power and navigation button
In the Android operating system installed on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7, there is a standard behavior for the power button: a long press (about 1-2 seconds) calls Google Assistant. Many users are used to using this action to call the off menu, so changing the habit or completely turning off the feature is a priority.
To solve this problem, go to the system settings of the smartphone. Find the Advanced Settings (or “Advanced”) section, and then select the button settings (in some versions of MIUI, the path may differ: Settings → Special features → Buttons).
The default is "Google Assistant." Click on this and select an alternative action, such as "Nothing" or "Switch off menu," which is critical for those who want to completely eliminate accidental launches of the assistant from their pocket or when carrying a phone in their bag.
Path to setup: Settings → Advanced settings → Button settings → Long pressing of the power buttonIf you use gesture navigation, check the swipe settings as well. In the Full Screen Mode menu, make sure that swipes from the lower corners of the screen are not assigned to launch the assistant. In MIUI, this is less common, but in pure Android, this option is present.
☑️ Checking button settings
Disabling notifications and prompts
Even if you have disabled voice activation and reconfigured buttons, Google Assistant can continue to bother you with pop-up prompts, action suggestions, or notifications of new features. These interface elements often appear as "bubble" or newsfeed cards.
To remove visual noise, go to Smartphone Settings, then to Notifications and Status bar → Notification Management. Search the Google app in the list. Inside the notification menu, you can customize in detail what types of alerts will arrive on the lock screen and into the curtain.
Pay special attention to the categories "Tips and Suggestions" or "Gogle Guidelines." Turn off the switches next to these items, which will remove intrusive messages that often advertise the capabilities of the assistant or offer to install related services.
| Type of notification | Recommended action | Impact on work |
|---|---|---|
| Advice from the Assistant | Shut down. | Removes pop-up clues |
| Search results | Leave it. | We need widgets to work. |
| PO Updates | Set up | Important for safety |
| Advertising and offerings | Shut down. | Reduces information noise |
Also worth checking is the settings of Google Discover, which swipes left on the desktop, and in the feed settings, you can turn off the Reminder Cards from the Assistant, making the home screen cleaner and more minimal.
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For quick access to the notification menu of a particular application, press your finger on the notification icon in the curtain and click on the gear settings.
Limitation of background activity and permissions
For those who want maximum control of the device, there is a more radical method – limiting the background activity of the Google app.This will not remove the service completely (which is impossible without root rights), but will significantly reduce its ability to work in the background and collect data.
Go to Settings → Applications → App Management. Go to the listing of the Google app. Go to the Battery (or “Energy”) section and select Background Activity Limitation or “Strict Limitation” mode.
In addition, you can revoke microphone, location and contacts under App Permissions, but beware: this may disrupt voice search in Chrome, Find Device, and correctly determine the time and weather.
- 🔋 Energy savings: Background restriction helps to keep the battery power, especially on older models like the Redmi Note 7.
- ⚠️ Functional risk: Without microphone access, voice input in Gboard keyboard will stop working.
- 📍 Geolocation: Disconnecting access to GPS will deprive you of the opportunity to get current traffic jams and weather in widgets.
⚠️ Note: When critical permissions are withdrawn, Android may constantly issue warnings about the unstable performance of Google services.
An alternative to a complete ban is to use the “Sleep” mode for the application in the MIUI battery settings, which allows the system to automatically “freeze” the application when you are not using it, defrosting only when you are explicitly running it.
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A severe restriction of background activity is the most effective way to reduce Google’s impact on the system, but it requires a willingness to lose some of the user-friendly features.