How to Turn Off Google Assistant - Step by Step on Android

Step by step

1. 1

   Open Assistant settings in the Google app

   Launch the Google app (the colorful G), tap your profile picture in the top right corner, and choose Settings. Go to the Google Assistant section - this is where you control all of the assistant's behavior. Menu names can differ between app versions, so if you don't see a given option, use the search field at the top of the settings.

2. 2

   Turn off Hey Google detection

   In the Assistant settings, find the entry called Hey Google & Voice Match. Switch the Hey Google toggle off so your phone stops listening for the wake phrase in the background. This is the most common cause of accidental launches, so this step alone solves most problems.

3. 3

   Set the default assistant to None

   Open your phone's system Settings, go to Apps, then Default apps, and the Digital assistant app entry. Choose None so that no assistant launches from a gesture or button. The path varies between brands, so if you can't find it, type assistant into the settings search.

4. 4

   Block launching via gesture and button

   The assistant most often starts with a swipe from the corner of the screen or by holding the side or power button. In system settings, look for the Gestures section or the side button configuration and assign a different action to it, such as the power menu. Manufacturers put this option in different places, so check Gestures, Buttons, or your model's manual.

5. 5

   Turn off the assistant on headphones and other devices

   If the assistant speaks up in your headphones, open the manufacturer's app or the Devices section in the Assistant settings and disable voice control. The same goes for a watch or speaker linked to your account. That way the assistant won't activate through accessories, even if you miss something on the phone itself.

6. 6

   Check that the assistant has actually gone quiet

   Say Hey Google and hold the button you previously used to launch it. No reaction means everything works. If the assistant still appears, go back to the default assistant app setting and make sure it's set to None - that setting takes priority over everything else.

Hey Google vs fully disabling the assistant - which to choose

You have two different levels here. Turning off Hey Google leaves the assistant in place, but the phone stops listening in the background. It's a good fit if what mostly bothers you is the phone reacting to random words, or you care about battery life and privacy.

Setting the default assistant app to None goes further: it cuts off launching via gesture and button, so the assistant won't pop up even by accident. The Google app itself stays on your phone and search keeps working, so you lose nothing except the assistant itself.

How to stop the power button from launching the assistant

On many phones, holding the side button wakes the assistant by default instead of showing the shutdown menu. The fix is in system settings: look for the side button or power button configuration and change the long press action to the power menu.

Some manufacturers call the option Side button, others hide it under Gestures or Advanced. If you don't find it right away, type button or assistant into the settings search. After the change, holding the button will once again bring up the usual restart and power off options.

Should you remove the entire Google app

You don't have to. The Google app usually can't be uninstalled because it's baked into the system, and it also powers search and the home screen widget. Disabling just the assistant is entirely enough.

If you want to go all the way, you can disable the Google app in system Settings under Apps, but expect to lose search and some home screen features. For most people, the safer route is the one described earlier: setting the assistant to None.

Frequently asked questions