How to disable the voice assistant on Android Xiaomi Redmi

Modern smartphones of the Xiaomi Redmi i Poco series come with pre-installed software that actively introduces artificial intelligence functions into everyday use. One of these elements is Google Assistant, which is activated by default when you long press the power button or swipe from the corner of the screen. For many users, this becomes a source of random activations when the phone is in a pocket or bag, causing unnecessary actions and battery drain.

Completely disabling this service requires a careful approach, since the system MIUI or HyperOS deeply integrates voice control into shell. The process is not limited to simply switching a toggle switch in the settings; It is often necessary to change the configuration of system buttons and (permissions). In this article, we will analyze in detail all available deactivation methods so that you can regain full control over your device without unnecessary automation intervention.

It is worth noting that complete removal of a system component without root access is impossible, but its functionality can be reduced to zero. This will prevent accidental launches and free up CPU resources that were previously wasted waiting in the background for the voice command “Ok Google.” Let's move on to the practical steps of setting up your gadget.

Disable via Google system settings

The first and most logical step is to turn to the native settings of the service itself from the search giant. This method allows you to prevent the assistant from responding to voice commands and blocks it from launching through the lock screen. Go to the main Settings of your smartphone and find the section responsible for Google services.

Inside the settings menu you need to find the item Settings for Google applications. This is where the control of most ecosystem functions lies. Select the section Search, Assistant and Google Lens, and then go directly to settings Google Assistant. The interface may vary slightly depending on the version of Android, but the logic remains the same for all devices Redmi.

Find the tab Assistant and scroll the list to item Phone. This is where the key switches are located. You need to deactivate the option Google Assistant. After this, the system will stop processing your voice requests, and the microphone icon will disappear from the lock screen and from widgets.

⚠️ Attention: Disabling the assistant in this menu can also deactivate the voice dialing function via a Bluetooth headset. If you often use wireless headphones for calls, check this scenario after changing the settings.

Additionally, in the same section, it is recommended to disable the function Access from a locked screen. This is a critical security setting because it prevents others from accessing your information via voice commands when your phone is locked. Without this measure, an attacker could theoretically find out the latest notifications or make a call.

Configuring the power button and launch gestures

Smartphone owners Xiaomi often encounter a situation where the assistant starts when you long press the power button. This behavior is set by default in new versions of the shell MIUI 12, 13, 14 and HyperOS. To return the power button to its classic function of calling the shutdown menu, you need to change the corresponding parameter in the system.

Open Settings and go to the section Additional functions. In the list of options, find the item Power button (or "Power button"). By default, it may be set to "Google Assistant". You need to switch this parameter to Shutdown menu.

Now a long press of the physical button will bring up the familiar menu with options "Turn off", "Reboot" and "Airplane mode". This change does not affect the operation of the assistant itself if you launch it through search, but eliminates the most common trigger of accidental activation.

• 📱 Check whether the assistant launch is assigned to a swipe from the bottom corner of the screen in the gesture settings.
• ⚙️ Make sure that in the "One-handed control" section, functions that trigger voice are not activated input.
• 🔒 On some Redmi Note models, the power button settings may be located in the "Accessibility" subsection.

It is also worth checking the navigation settings. If you use gesture controls instead of classic buttons, swiping from the bottom left or right corner can be reserved for calling an assistant. Disable this function in the menu Settings → Desktop → Navigationif such an option is present in your firmware version.

Google replacement Assistant for Yandex Alice

For users from the CIS countries who are inconvenient to use the American service, the current solution is to replace Google Assistant with Yandex Alice. Yandex applications are deeply integrated into the Android system and can intercept voice control functions, providing more relevant answers in Russian.

To make Alice your main assistant, install the application Yandex or Yandex with Alice from the store Google Play. After installation, go to the settings of the Yandex application itself and find the Voice functionssection. There will be an option Run instead of Google Assistant or similar wording.

The system will ask for permission to use Alice as the default assistant. Confirm this action. Now, when you call the assistant using standard methods (a button or a gesture, if you have not completely disabled them), it will be the product from Yandex that will be activated.

Characteristics	Google Assistant	Yandex Alisa	Marusya (VK)
Speech recognition	High	Excellent (RU)	Good
Integration with services	Google Maps, Mail	Yandex.Taxi, Market	VK Music, Messages
Work without the Internet	Limited	Basic commands	Network required
Smart home control	Google Home	Yandex.Station	Capsule

Using an alternative assistant allows you to maintain the convenience of voice control, but get rid of being tied to the Google ecosystem. This is especially important for those who prefer local food delivery services, taxis and music.

Is it possible to remove Google Assistant completely?

Complete removal of the Google Assistant system application without root access is impossible, since it is built into the system partition. However, it can be “frozen” via ADB commands, which will require a connection to a computer and knowledge of USB debugging.

Managing permissions and access to the microphone

If your goal is not just to change the settings, but to limit the ability to listen as much as possible, you should turn to managing permissions. Android provides a flexible tool to control app access to sensitive data, including your microphone.

Go to Settings → Privacy protection → Permission manager. Select a category Microphone. In the list that opens, you will see all applications that have access to audio recording. Find in the list Google or Google Assistant.

Click on the application name and change the resolution to Deny or Ask. If you select a ban, the assistant will physically not be able to hear the activation command “Okay, Google,” even if the function is enabled in the settings. The system will block attempts to access the microphone at the kernel level.

⚠️ Warning: Denying microphone access to the Google app may interfere with voice typing in the Gboard keyboard and voice search in the Google Search app itself. Be prepared for these features to stop working.

The privacy indicator feature is also available in newer versions of Android. When any app is using the microphone, a green dot will light up in the top right corner of the screen. This is a useful visual signal that allows you to instantly understand that the device is “listening to you.”

Regularly check the microphone access log in the section Privacy control panel. There, the system keeps a log of all application requests to sensors over the last 24 hours. If you see suspicious activity from unknown apps, immediately revoke their permissions.

Hidden settings via ADB for advanced users

For those who are not afraid to work with the command line and want to achieve maximum effect, there is a method disabling a component via the debug bridge ADB (Android Debug Bridge). This method allows you to deactivate the system package responsible for hot phrase detection without obtaining root access.

First, you need to activate developer mode. Go to Settings → About phone and quickly click 7 times on the item MIUI version (or OS version). After the message “You have become a developer” appears, return to the main settings menu, find the section Additional → For developers and turn on the toggle switch USB debugging.

Connect your smartphone to the computer with a cable. The Android Platform Tools package must be installed on your PC. Open a command line or terminal and enter the command to log into the device shell:

adb shell

Once successfully connected, enter the command to disable the hotword detection component. The exact name of the package may vary, but the most commonly used instruction is the following:

pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox

This command will forcefully stop the main Google search application, which will effectively kill the assistant. If you want to disable only the phrase detector, you can try a more specific command, depending on the firmware version:

pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.hotword.enrollment

It is important to understand that using ADB carries certain risks. Improperly disabling critical system processes can result in unstable launcher performance or persistent "Application has stopped" errors. Always write down the commands that you enter so that, if necessary, you can return everything back by replacing disable-user with enable.

Frequent problems and nuances of working in the background

Even after performing all the above steps, users sometimes notice that the assistant continues to be active. This may be due to the way background processes work in the shell MIUI. The system aggressively manages memory, but some Google services have high priority.

Check your autorun settings. In the application Security (green icon with lightning), preinstalled on all Redmi, go to the section Permissions → Autostart. Find the Google app and prevent it from launching automatically when you turn on your phone. This will prevent the assistant services from initializing immediately after the system boots.

It is also worth limiting background activity. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications → Google → Battery saver. Set the value Limitation or Hard Limit. This will prevent the process from running when the screen is off.

• 🔋 Limiting background activity may delay the arrival of notifications from Gmail or Google Calendar.
• 🔄 After updating the system, the settings may be reset to factory values, so the procedure will have to be repeated.
• 📲 Google Widgets on the desktop desktop may try to restore the assistant, remove them to be safe.

If you use third-party launchers (Nova Launcher, Niagara, etc.), make sure that their settings do not contain gestures that cause a system search. Sometimes a conflict between the standard MIUI launcher and a third-party solution leads to unpredictable behavior of the buttons.

Why did the phone start working faster after disconnecting?

The voice assistant constantly uses processor resources to process audio in the background ("always listen" mode). Disabling this function frees up RAM and reduces the load on the battery, which is especially noticeable on budget Redmi models.

Is it possible to turn the assistant back on?

Yes, all changes are reversible. It is enough to return to Google settings or issue an enabling command via ADB with the enable parameter. If you changed the power button settings, just select "Assistant" back.

Does turning it off affect the operation of the smart home?

If you control your smart home through the Google Home app, voice control will stop working. However, manual control through the app itself or widgets will remain available. For Alice or Marusya, you will need to configure the appropriate skills.

Is it safe to deny access to the microphone?

Absolutely safe from the system point of view. However, you will lose the ability to use text dictation in any input field that uses the Gboard keyboard with a microphone function, as well as voice search in the Chrome browser.

What should you do if the settings reset themselves?

This behavior may indicate the presence of malware or a system update conflict. Try resetting all applications (without deleting data) through the recovery menu or check your phone with an antivirus.