Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 8 Pro has become a bestseller thanks to its powerful camera and performance. However, many users are faced with the intrusiveness of Google’s built-in services, particularly the voice assistant, which is often activated accidentally when unlocking or holding the power button.
Disabling this feature may be necessary for a variety of reasons, from wanting to increase battery life to simply preferring other methods of managing the device. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available ways to deactivate Google Assistant on the MIUI shell installed on your device.
You will learn how to prevent accidental launch when holding a button, how to completely turn off the service through account settings and what hidden management methods exist. MIUI 11, 12, 13 and 14.
Why you should turn off the voice assistant on Redmi
The main reason why owners of Redmi Note 8 Pro are trying to get rid of the standard assistant lies in the peculiarities of the hardware buttons. By default, a long press on the lock button is caused by Google Assistant, which often leads to accidental activations in the pocket or when carried in the bag.
In addition, the background work of the service constantly monitors voice commands, which can negatively affect the autonomy of the device. Although power consumption is not critical, on older batteries every percent of the charge is in the account.
⚠️ Warning: The complete shutdown of Google system components could affect other applications tied to the search ecosystem, such as a smart home or voice translator.
Many users are also concerned about privacy, with the constant listening to the microphone to activate the phrase "Ok Google" raising questions for those who are careful about their digital privacy, and deactivating the feature solves this problem at the hardware level of the software.
📊 Do you use voice assistants on your smartphone?
Yeah, all the time.
Sometimes for a timer.
For typing only.
No, I completely shut it off.
The most common scenario requiring intervention is calling the assistant button. In modern versions of the MIUI shell on the Redmi Note 8 Pro, this option is put into a separate button menu, making the process of disconnecting simple and understandable even for beginners.
To start, you need to go to the basic settings of the device. Find the section responsible for additional system functions. The path may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but the logic remains the same for all Xiaomi devices.
Once you select the "Do Nothing" action or reassign the button to the turn off menu call, Google Assistant will stop responding to a long press, which returns the standard button behavior that most Android smartphone users of previous years are used to.
If you don’t find a relevant item in the button settings menu, your version of MIUI may need an update or have regional restrictions, so check for system updates or use alternative methods of settings through the search bar in the settings menu.
Completely disable via Google account settings
If simply reassigning a button is not enough and you want to completely eliminate the service, you need to refer to the settings of the application itself. On Redmi Note 8 Pro, this is done through the user profile in the search giant ecosystem.
Open the Google app or find the icon with the colored letter "G" in the app menu. Click on your profile avatar in the upper right corner of the screen. In the drop-down list, select "Settings" and then go to the "Google Assistant" section.
| Setup parameter | Recommended value | Impact on the system |
|---|
| Activation of OK Google | Off. | The microphone doesn't listen to the phrase. |
| Screen locking | Banned | It does not work with a locked screen. |
| Personalized responses | Shut down. | Reducing the collection of user data |
| History of action | Pause/Delete | Cleaning up accumulated data |
Inside the Assistant's settings menu, look for "All Assistant Settings" or "Phone" and you can find a switch that stops the service completely, and then when you try to call, the system will tell you that the function is not available.
What happens to the data after the shutdown?
Once the service is completely disabled, Google will no longer process your voice requests and save your voice search history. However, the basic text search functions in the Google app will continue to work as normal.> Permissions and microphone access management Another effective method of limiting activity is to withdraw permissions. On Android, which is installed on the Redmi Note 8 Pro, you can configure in detail what resources a particular application has access to. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps. Find the Google app in the list. Click on it and select "Aption Permissions". Here we are interested in accessing the microphone. You can turn off the voter. However, it’s worth remembering that this will also disable the ability to dictate text in Gboard and voice search in the Chrome browser. ⚠️ Warning: Prohibiting microphone access for Google’s system application can cause the desktop search widget to work in an unstable way and cause errors in the company’s other services, the most radical software method. It is suitable for those who categorically do not use voice input and prefer to print text manually or use third-party solutions for dictation. For advanced users of the Redmi Note 8 Pro who want to completely change the interface, an excellent solution will be the installation of a third-party launcher. MIUI Launcher on Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Smart Launcher lets you ignore the system button settings. Third-party launchers often have their own button management settings that take precedence over system ones. By installing such a launcher, you can assign a long-press power button to run any other application, such as a flashlight or voice recorder. In addition, there are specialized macro applications, such as Button Mapper. They allow you to reprogram any buttons on the smartphone body, including short, long and double presses. This gives maximum flexibility in managing the device. Using custom launchers can also positively affect the performance of the Redmi Note 8 Pro, since they are often easier and more relevant for devices that are already used for several years. The issue of power consumption remains a key issue for many smartphone owners. Google Assistant, working in the background, periodically turns to the processor and communication modules to update information and wait for commands. After the service is turned off, users often notice a small but noticeable increase in battery life. On the Redmi Note 8 Pro with its capacious battery, this can give an additional hour of screen time, which in a critical situation is very important. 💡Disabling Google Assistant background services is an effective way to micro-optimize the system, which, in combination with other settings, gives a noticeable increase in autonomy. It's worth considering that the effect will be most noticeable on devices that are already wearing out the battery or running at the limit of their capabilities due to the large number of applications installed. For new devices, the difference may be less obvious. Frequently asked questions (FAQ) Can you completely remove Google Assistant with Redmi Note 8 Pro? Complete removal of the system application without root rights is impossible, because it is sewn into the system partition. However, it can be completely disabled through the application settings, which will make it non-working and hide from the interface. Does disabling the Assistant affect the alarm clock? No, the standard alarm clock on Xiaomi works independently of the voice assistant. However, voice commands to set the alarm clock ("OK Google, set the alarm for 7am") will stop working. What if the settings are lost after the update? Major updates to the MIUI firmware sometimes return the settings to factory values. In this case, the procedure for turning off the power button activation will have to be repeated again through the additional functions menu. Is it safe to use apps to reassign the buttons? Yes, using proven applications from the Google Play store, such as Button Mapper, is safe. They do not require root rights and do not violate the warranty on the interface, can not directly reduce the speed of the device, but can it will not reduce the speed of the device's workflow of the device.