How to Include Google Assistant on Xiaomi: The Complete Guide

Modern Xiaomi smartphones offer users powerful tools to control the device, and one of the most useful among them is the voice assistant. Google Assistant on the shell MIUI or HyperOS often turns off by default or hidden due to the peculiarities of regional settings.

Activating this feature gives you access to fast app launches, timers, smart home management, and information retrieval without having to unlock the screen. Xiaomi doesn’t block this feature at the software level, but the path to enabling it may not be obvious to the inexperienced user. In this article, we’ll break down all the nuances of the setup so you can fully exploit the potential of your gadget.

Before you get to the settings, make sure that your smartphone meets the basic requirements. For the voice assistant to work correctly on Xiaomi devices, it is critical that the system language is installed in English (United States) or Russian, and the region in the settings is not set to China. If these conditions are met, you can proceed to a detailed configuration of the system.

Basic activation via Google settings

The first and most obvious step is to check the main switch in the Google app. Often users look for settings in the phone menu, forgetting that the assistant itself is managed through the services of the search giant. Open the Google app on your smartphone and click on the profile avatar in the upper right corner of the screen.

In the menu that opens, you select Settings, and then go to Google Assistant, and here is the key switch that needs to be activated, and if it's turned off, no other manipulation of the buttons or voice will produce the desired result.

Once the main feature is enabled, the system will suggest setting up Voice Match, which allows the assistant to recognize your voice, providing personalized access to data and increasing security, and the learning process takes only a few minutes and requires you to say a few standard phrases.

It’s important to note that some global versions of MIUI firmware may have slightly different interfaces. If you don’t find the right items, try updating the Google Play Services app and Google search to the latest version through the Play Market store.

Configure the call button and voice

Once the service is activated, you need to configure how to call it. The standard long-press power button on Xiaomi by default can be reserved to call the off menu or start Mi AI (in Chinese versions). To reassign this feature, go to the phone Settings.

In the settings menu, look for the Additional or Advanced Settings section, then select Buttons and gestures. Here we are interested in Starting Google Assistant. In this menu, you can choose whether the assistant will be called by a long press of the power button or a combination of buttons.

⚠️ Note: On some models with a shell MIUI 12.5 and older, the power button assistant function may be hidden if China is chosen as the region, and changing the region to Russia or Ukraine often solves this problem.

An alternative way to activate is by voice command, and in the assistant settings, turn on Hey Google or OK Google, which will allow you to call the assistant without touching the screen, which is especially convenient when driving or cooking.

It is also worth checking the lock screen settings. To work voice search with the screen off, you need to allow the Google app to access the microphone in the background and allow work on top of other windows.

Solving problems with regions and language

One of the most common reasons for the Google Assistant’s inoperability on Xiaomi smartphones is the conflict of regional settings.The Android system is closely related to the geolocation of the account and the selected region in the settings of the device itself.

If you have moved or bought a phone from another country, check the Settings path → Additional settings → Region. Make sure your current country of residence is selected. Changing this setting may require rebooting the device to take effect.

Special attention should be paid to language packs. Even if the phone interface is in Russian, the assistant may need to download additional voice data. Go to the assistant settings, select Languages and make sure that the first language is installed correctly, and the second (if necessary) added through the + Add language button.

Sometimes cleaning up Google app data helps. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps → Google → Memory and click Clear. Fear not, it won't delete your account, but it will reset your cache and search settings, which often eliminates software bugs.

Integration with smart home and services

One of the main strengths of the Google ecosystem is the ability to manage smart home devices, which works especially well on Xiaomi smartphones, given the popularity of Mi Home devices. Once you activate the assistant, link your Google account to your Mi Home account.

To do this, in the Google Home app, click on the plus in the top left corner, select Device Settings and find in the Xiaomi Mi Home list. log in and all compatible light bulbs, sockets and robot vacuum cleaners will appear in the Google interface.

Now you can use commands like "Switch on the light in the living room" or "Start the vacuum cleaner." The voice assistant can also create scripts, for example, the phrase "I'm home" can automatically turn on Wi-Fi, brighten up and start music.

Remember that remote control of smart home devices via an assistant requires stable Internet access, and local commands can work faster if the devices are on the same Wi-Fi network.

Hidden functions and useful commands

Many users use only a small part of the capabilities provided by Google Assistant on Android, and on Xiaomi devices it can act as an advanced voice recorder, translator and even secretary.

Try using the "Write This" command during a conversation or lecture — the assistant will start recording and even try to recognize the text. The "Translate to English" function will instantly start the dialogue mode for communicating with foreigners.

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Use the "Show me my photos" command to quickly view photos from Google Photos without manually searching albums, saving time when showing photos to friends.

Continued Conversation is also available, and by enabling it in the settings, you can ask multiple questions in a row without having to say, "OK, Google," every time, the assistant will wait for a pause in the speech before completing the session.

Drivers can benefit from driving mode, which activates automatically when connected to the car’s Bluetooth, with the interface simplified, buttons getting bigger, and voice control becoming a priority mode of interaction.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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Properly configuring regions and language packages solves 90% of the problems with launching Google Assistant on Xiaomi smartphones.