How to Remove Google Assistant with Xiaomi Mi 8: 5 Ways to Work

Xiaomi Mi 8

Google Assistant

Xiaomi

Google

Settings → Applications

Mi 8

MIUI 12/13/14

If you want to get rid of your voice assistant completely, rather than just disabling its notifications, you’ll have to use a combination of standard and advanced methods. In this article, current ways for 2026, including options without root rights and with them. Importantly, on the Xiaomi Mi 8 with Global firmware, removing Google Assistant may disrupt some of the voice-related MIUI features.

Before you start, check your firmware version in Settings → About Phone → MIUI. This is the choice of method. Also note that after removing some features (for example, a quick search on the system) may work differently.

1. disable Google Assistant via MIUI settings

The safest way is to deactivate the assistant through standard menus, which will not physically remove the app, but will stop it from working and the background processes.

Go to:

1. Settings → Applications → Application Management
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Show all apps
3. Find Google (not to be confused with Google Play Services)
4. Select Warehouse → Clear Data and Clear Cache
5. Go back and click Disable (if the button is active)

Turn off voice activation:

1. Press the Home button (or swipe from the corner of the screen if you use gestures)
2. In the assistant window that appears, tap the profile icon in the upper right corner.
3. Select Settings → Google Voice Assistant → Voice Activation
4. Turn off all switches, including "OK, Google."

⚠️ Note: On some versions MIUI 14 after Google is disabled, the Assistant can automatically turn on after the restart. ADB root-access.

Download Platform Tools from Android Developers

Enable debugging over USB in the developer settings

Connect Xiaomi Mi 8 to PC with original cable

Allow debugging on the phone at the first connection-->

2. Removal via ADB (without root rights)

If the standard shutdown didn’t work, use Android Debug Bridge (ADB).This method removes the app for the current user without affecting system files.

First, connect your phone to your computer and execute it in the terminal (cmd or PowerShell):

adb devices

Make sure your device appears in the list. Then type in:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox

This command removes Google Assistant for your profile only. After the reboot, check if the assistant has disappeared from the app list. DELETE_FAILED_INTERNAL_ERROR, This method is blocked on your firmware - you will need root.

3. Complete removal with root rights

To radically remove the system application, root access is required. On the Xiaomi Mi 8, you can get it through unlocking the bootloader and installing Magisk or SuperSU. Please note: this cancels the warranty and can lead to unstable system operation.

Once root is obtained, use a root-enabled file manager (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer) and delete the following files:

• 📁 /system/priv-app/Velvet (assistant-file)
• 📄 /system/priv-app/PrebuiltGmsCore/PrebuiltGmsCore.apk (If you want to remove all Google services)
• 📄 /data/data/com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox (residual)

An alternative way is to use ADB root access:

adb shell


su




mount -o rw,remount /system




rm -rf /system/priv-app/Velvet




rm -rf /system/app/GoogleSearch




reboot

⚠️ Attention: Removal of system APK-files can lead to bootloop ( looped reboot). Before manipulation, create a backup through TWRP Or OrangeFox Recovery. MIUI after removing the assistant, the search in the settings and launcher ceases to work.

4. Alternative methods: replacement of launcher and MIUI-tweaks

If removal seems risky, consider less radical options:

Change Launcher: Install an alternative launcher (like Nova Launcher or Lawnchair) and turn off Google Assistant integration in its settings.

1. Long press on the desktop → Settings
2. Applications and notifications → Assistant by default
3. Choose No or another application

MIUI-tweaks through hidden settings: Enter the Phone code in the application:

##4636##

Go to Phone Information → Menu (three dots) → Switch to factory settings. You can turn off some system services here, but be careful - not all items are safe to change.

Restrictions through Digital Wellbeing:

• 🔒 Go to Settings. → Digital well-being
• 🕒 Select Google in the list of applications
• ⏳ Set the usage limit for 0 minutes
• 🛡️ Enable Forced Stop after the limit

5. Recovery of the assistant (if something went wrong)

If after manipulations the phone began to work unstable or you changed your mind to remove the assistant, you can restore it in several ways:

If Google Play Services stop working after deleting, manually update them through the Google Play Store or install the latest version of GMS Core with APKMirror. On Xiaomi Mi 8, it is critical to maintain the integrity of the com.google.android.gms package - many applications will not work without it.

💡

Before flashing, check the compatibility of the version MIUI For Xiaomi Mi, with your model. 8 (codename dipper) only firmware marked dipper_global or dipper (for the Chinese version).

Frequent problems and their solutions

After deleting Google Assistant, Xiaomi Mi 8 users are faced with typical errors:

Problem 1: Persistent stop notifications for Google Play Services.

Decision:

• 🔄 Reboot the phone.
• 📥 Update Google Play Services manually
• 🚫 Turn off auto-update for this app in the Play Store

Problem 2: Search in MIUI settings is not working.

Decision:

This involves removing the system search module: Return files /system/priv-app/Velvet or use third-party apps to search by settings (e.g. Settings Search from the Play Store).

Problem 3: The smartphone does not pass SafetyNet (bank applications do not work).

Decision:

Install MagiskHide Props Config in Magisk Manager and activate the cloaking for Google Play Services. Alternatively, use Island or Shelter to isolate banking apps.

💡

On the Xiaomi Mi 8 with the unlocked bootloader, SafetyNet checking will always be a fallout if you don't use MagiskHide.This is normal behavior for custom firmware devices.

7. Google Assistant Alternatives for Xiaomi Mi 8

If you have removed the standard assistant, consider replacing it with similar solutions:

1. XiaoAI (Integrated Xiaomi Assistant)

Activated by a long press of the Home button or a voice command "Hello Xiaoai" works without Google Services, but supports only Chinese and English.

1. Go to Settings → More → XiaoAI
2. Turn on the switch Voice Assistant
3. Set up voice activation and permissions

2. Bixby (for users of Samsung services)

Install Bixby from the Galaxy Store (you'll need a Samsung account). Works stable but takes up a lot of RAM.

3.Alice by Yandex

Optimized for Russian-speaking users, install Yandex with Alice and set the activation button:

1. Open the Yandex app.
2. Go to Settings → Alice → Voice Assistant
3. Select Assign to the button and follow the instructions

4. AssistantTrigger (Castom Activation)

An app from the Play Store that allows you to reassign an assistant call to any action (such as shaking or triple tapping the screen) supports integration with Tasker for advanced scenarios.

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing Google Assistant