Modern smartphones, including the popular Xiaomi Mi 8, come with a host of pre-installed services that the user doesn’t always need. Google Assistant is one of those components that is deeply integrated into the Android operating system. Many device owners notice that the voice assistant consumes a significant amount of RAM and can be activated by accident, interrupting workflow.
Complete removal of system applications requires caution, as incorrect actions can lead to unstable operation of the MIUI interface. However, if you rarely use voice control, disabling or uninstalling this service will free up the CPU resources and extend the battery life of your gadget.
In this article, we'll look at safe and advanced ways to get rid of an intrusive assistant, learn how to minimize its impact on the system, or completely remove it using debugging tools. ADB-In the standard system, you can only limit the functionality of the system.
Why you should consider removing an assistant
The main reason Xiaomi Mi 8 users are looking to get rid of Google Assistant is because of performance optimization: the service’s background processes are constantly scanning the screen and microphone, waiting for the activation command, which creates a constant strain on the CPU, which is especially noticeable on devices that have been in use for several years.
And there's also a privacy issue: Voice assistant has access to search history, geolocation, and screen content; for users who value privacy, constant data transfer to Google servers is critical; disabling the service breaks this data collection channel.
Another aspect is accidental activation, and often the phone in your pocket responds to foreign sounds or touches by triggering an eavesdropping, which not only irritates, but also quickly drains the battery, eliminating this feature makes smartphone use more predictable.
⚠️ Before making any changes to system applications, make sure you have a backup of important data on an external medium or in the cloud.
Limiting functionality through system settings
The safest, though not the most radical, method is to deeply deactivate the assistant's functions through the regular menu, which requires no connection to the computer and eliminates the risk of damaging system files, and first you need to go to the settings of the application itself.
Open the Google app on your Xiaomi Mi 8 and go to profile. In the settings section, look for Google Assistant. You should turn off the Hey Google option to stop the phone responding to voice commands.
Next, limit background activity. In the battery settings, find the Google app and select No Limits mode (or vice versa, limit background activity, depending on the version of MIUI), this will prevent services from running constantly in the background.
- 🔹 Open the Google settings and find the Assistant section".
- 🔹 Go to the Phone menu and turn off all switches.
- 🔹 In the Languages section, leave only one primary language or remove Russian if possible in your version.
- 🔹 Disable access to action history to increase privacy.
After doing this, the Assistant will stop responding to voice and buttons, but will formally remain in the system, a compromise option for those who are afraid to experiment with the code.
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If you are not using Google’s search bar on your desktop, remove the widget, which will further reduce the chance of an assistant accidentally activating when you unlock the screen.
Xiaomi Mi 8 Prepared for Removal via ADB
To solve this problem, you will need to use the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) toolkit, which allows you to remove system applications that are hidden from the average user, and you need to prepare your smartphone and computer before you start.
First, activate Developer Mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click on MIUI build number seven times. After you have become a developer, go back to the main settings menu.
In the advanced settings, look for "Developers" where you need to enable USB debugging, and it's also important to install ADB drivers on your computer if you're running a Windows environment.
☑️ Checking readiness for removal
Connect your smartphone to your computer with a cable. You'll see a request for debugging permission on your screen -- make sure you tick "Always Allow" and press "OK." Without this step, your computer won't be able to send commands to the device.
Removal process through the command line
Once you have successfully connected, open the command line or terminal in the ADB tool folder. Enter the adb device command to check for communication. If a device with the status of "device" appears in the list, you can proceed to delete.
To remove Google Assistant, you need to know the exact name of the package. In the case of Xiaomi Mi 8 and most Android devices, it is com.google.android.apps.googleassistant. The removal command is as follows:
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.apps.googleassistantIt is important to understand that the pm uninstall command with the --user 0 flag does not physically delete the file from the partition of the system, but hides it for the current user.
| ADB Team Team | Action. | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| adb shell pm disable-user | Shutting down the app. | Low. |
| adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 | Hiding for the user | Medium. |
| adb shell pm install-existing | Restores the app | Low. |
| adb reboot | Reboots the device | Low. |
If the "Success" message appears in the terminal after the command is executed, then the procedure was successful, the assistant will disappear from the list of applications and stop starting even with a long press of the power button.
What to do if the team is not executed?
Alternative methods and third-party utilities
Not all users feel comfortable in the command line. For these cases, there are graphical shells for the command line. ADB, for example, Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools or Universal Android Debloater.These programs automatically detect the connected device and offer a list of system applications to remove.
Using these gates makes it much easier. You don't have to look for packet names, it shows Google Assistant in the list, and you just tick the box and click Uninstall.
However, it is worth remembering that third-party software also requires drivers installed and debugging enabled, and download such programs only from official repositories, such as GitHub, to avoid malware.
⚠️ Note: Using third-party debloathers on Xiaomi Mi 8 could lead to removal of critical components MIUI, If you don't pay attention, only remove what you're sure of.
Another method is to use sub-apps that intercept the long press of the home button or power button, launchers or utilities like Button Mapper allow you to reassign the physical action to run another application or simply ignore it.
Recovery and possible challenges
If you notice strange behavior after you delete the Assistant or want to return it as it was, don't panic. Since the files are physically left in the /system partition, you can reactivate them without flashing them.
To restore functionality, use the command:
adb shell cmd package install-existing com.google.android.apps.googleassistantOne possible problem could be a Google freeze or a persistent pop-up error, which happens if dependent components have been removed, such as clearing the Google Play cache or completely resetting the Google app.
Also, Xiaomi Mi 8 users sometimes find that after updating the system, the remote application returns, which is the normal behavior of the Android protection mechanism, you will have to repeat the deletion procedure after each major update of the operating system.
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Removing via ADB is a reversible process for the user, but requires a repeat of the procedure after resetting settings or updating the firmware to the factory version.