How to completely disable voice on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8: instructions with pictures

Voice on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 can be useful for people with disabilities, but for most users it becomes a real headache: unexpected voice prompts, voiceover of each touch of the screen or activation of Google Assistant at the most inopportune moment – these are problems faced by many owners of Xiaomi smartphones.

In this article, we will analyze all possible sources of voice support on the Redmi Note. 8 (including the Redmi Note models 8 Pro and Redmi Note 8T) And we'll show you how to turn them off, and you'll learn how to remove TalkBack, deactivate Google Assistant, stop voice notifications from the system, and even block voice functions from accidentally turning on. All of the instructions have been tested on current versions. MIUI 12/13/14 and adapted to the features of Xiaomi firmware.

If your phone "talks" after a drop, update or reset, don't panic. 90% In some cases, the problem is solved for 2-3 minutes without data loss, the key is to correctly identify the source of the voice.

1. How to determine which function is the voice of the action

Before you turn off the voice, you need to understand which service activated it. On the Redmi Note 8, you can answer for voiceover:

• 🔊 TalkBack – Special Opportunities Service for the Visually Impaired (voices all touches, gestures, notifications).
• 🤖 Google Assistant – Voice Assistant (responds to “OK, Google” commands and voices search results).
• 📢 System Notifications – Voiceover SMS, Calls, alarm clocks (set in "Sounds»).
• 🎵 Third-party apps – some programs (such as navigators or audiobooks) may include voice prompts.

To diagnose the problem:

1. Listen to what it says: If the phone says "Double tap to activate," "Swipe two fingers up" is TalkBack. If you hear the answers to the questions ("It's raining now," "Nearest pharmacy 500 meters away"), it's Google Assistant. If only the notifications are voiced, it's Google Assistant (SMS, Calls – Problem with the Sound and Vibration settings.
2. Check when the voiceover started: After the system update? TalkBack's settings probably went wrong. After installing the new app? The culprit is a third-party program. After pressing the button combination (e.g., Volume up). + Volume down)? worked "hot" combination.

If you’re not sure which service is to blame, try turning everything off in turn, starting with TalkBack – it’s responsible for 70% of unwanted voiceovers.

2. Disable TalkBack (Special Opportunity Services)

TalkBack is a major source of voice problems on Xiaomi, which is designed for visually impaired people, but is often activated by accident.

• 🔄 Three times press the Power button (if Quick Access is enabled).
• 📱 System updates (sometimes special features settings are lost).
• 🤹 Use gestures (e.g., Swipe three fingers down may enable TalkBack on some firmware).

To turn off TalkBack:

1. Go to Settings → Special Opportunities → TalkBack.
2. Press the switch to turn off the service. ⚠️ Warning: If TalkBack is active, you will have to use special gestures to navigate. To press the "Stop" button, touch it twice (not with double tapping, but with two separate pause taps).
3. Confirm the disconnection in the window that appears.
4. Reboot your phone (this will help reset the temporary settings).

If TalkBack is not disabled via the menu:

• 🔧 Try resetting special features settings: Go to Settings → System system → Setting reset. Select Resetting Special Options. Confirm action.

hard-dump

3. Deactivate Google Assistant and other voice assistants

If your Redmi Note 8 is voiced by search results, answers questions ("What's the weather?" or "Switch on your flashlight") or activates by "OK, Google," it's Google Assistant's fault. This assistant can work even if you're not using it - some apps (like Google Search or YouTube) activate it automatically.

To disable Google Assistant:

1. Open the Google app (the icon with the letter “G” on a color background).
2. Touch your avatar in the upper right corner → Settings → Google Assistant.
3. Go to General Settings and turn off the Google Assistant switch.
4. Go back and select Voice Entering. → Turn off Google.

If the Assistant continues to activate:

• 🔍 Check the resolution settings for the microphone: Go to Settings → Annexes → App management. Find Google and Google Assistant, open Permissions. Turn off Microphone access.
• 📵 Turn off voice search on YouTube: Open YouTube → touch the avatar → Settings → General, turn off voice search.

If you don’t use voice commands at all, you can completely remove the updates for Google Assistant:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find Google Assistant and open the menu (⋮) and select Remove Updates.
3. Turn off auto-update for this app on Google Play.

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If Google Assistant turns on on by itself, check if you accidentally click the Home button (on some firmware, holding this button for a long time will activate the Assistant).

4. disable voice system notifications

Sometimes Redmi Note 8 starts to voice incoming SMS, The calls or alarms are not TalkBack, but a separate feature in the audio settings to turn it off:

1. Go to Settings. → Sound and vibration → Voiceover.
2. Turn off the switches: 📩 Voice incoming SMS 📞 Calling names ⏰ Sing alarm clocks

Voice prompts

On some firmware MIUI These settings may be located elsewhere:

• 🔊 Settings → Special facilities → Rumor → Voiceover of notifications
• 🎵 Settings → Additionally. → Voice functions

If only notifications from specific apps (such as WhatsApp or Telegram) are voiced:

1. Open the settings of the desired application.
2. Go to Notifications. → Voice alerts.
3. Turn off voiceover or set the Quiet Mode.

5. How to block the accidental inclusion of voice functions

Often, voice is activated by accidentally pressing button combinations or gestures. On the Redmi Note 8, this can happen as follows:

• 🔄 Three-time tap on Power (includes TalkBack).
• 🤏 Finger-breeding gesture (can activate voice search).
• 🔊 Long hold of the button Volume down (on some firmware includes dictation mode).

To prevent accidental activation:

1. Turn off button combinations: Go to Settings → Special facilities → Quick access. Turn off TalkBack from the list of available features. Remove the tick with Three-Tap Power.
2. Set up gestures: Go to Settings → System system → Turn off voice search in the Launch Gestures section.
3. Use the lock screen: 🔒 Set a Password or pattern lock – This will prevent accidental taps in your pocket. 🕒 Set Autolock to AutoBlock 15-30 seconds (Settings) → Lock screen → Autolocking).
4. Update the firmware: In older versions MIUI (Below 12.5) there were bugs with TalkBack spontaneously enabled. Update the system via Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.

⚠️ Note: If you use a magnet case (such as a book), it may accidentally activate special features when closing. → Lock screen → Cover.

6. Verification of third-party applications for voiceover

If you have voice backup after you shut down all system functions, it's the third-party app that's to blame.

• 🗺️ Navigators (Google Maps, Yandex.Navigator, Sygic) – voice the routes.
• 📖 Audiobooks and podcasts (Audible, Bookmate, CastBox).
• 🎮 Voice chat games (PUBG, Free Fire, Discord).
• 🤖 Alternative voice assistants (Alice from Yandex, Siri through synchronization).

To find and disable the problem app:

1. Check the latest installed programs: Go to Settings → Annexes → Application management. Sort the list by installation date (⋮ → Sorting → Delete suspicious applications or disable them from accessing the microphone.
2. Limit the rights to the microphone: Go to Settings → Confidentiality → Application authorizations → Microphone: Turn off access for all apps except those that actually need it (like WhatsApp for voice messaging).
3. Check Autostart: Go to Settings → Annexes → Application management → Autorun. disable autorun for unnecessary programs (especially navigators and assistants).

If you can't identify the culprit:

• 🛑 Turn on Safe Mode: Press the Power button before the turn off menu appears. Hold your finger to Turn off. → Select Safe Mode. If the voiceover is gone in Safe Mode, it's the third-party app's fault.

ADB

adb shell dumpsys media.audio_flinger

This command will show which app is currently using the audio stream.

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If voice is only available in a particular app (such as a game or navigator), check its settings – often the voiceover is included in the Sound or Voice Tips menu.

7. Reset settings if nothing helps

If all of these things don't work, you have to reset, and it's a radical method, but it's guaranteed to fix all the voice problems before you reset.

Resetting instructions:

1. Soft reset (without data loss): Go to Settings → System system → Settings reset. Select Reset all settings (does not delete files, but resets application settings). Confirm action.
2. Hard discharge (full cleaning): ⚠️ Warning: This method will remove all data from your phone, including photos, messages and installed apps. Use it only if a soft reset didn't work. Turn off the phone. Press Volume up. + Power before the Mi logo appears. In the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (volume button control, confirmation - power button) After reset, the phone will restart in a factory state.

After discharge:

• 🔧 Do not restore settings from backup – this can return the problem.
• 📱 Set up your phone manually by skipping steps with voice assistants.
• 🔄 Turn off TalkBack and Google Assistant in the settings.

If the problem returned after reset, it may indicate a hardware malfunction (for example, a Loudness button was stuck or a damaged screen plume).

FAQ: Frequent questions about voice support on Redmi Note 8