Google Assistant turns on by default on most Android phones and some other devices, but you can disable it completely in a few steps
Google Assistant is a voice tool that listens for commands and answers questions. It comes turned on by default on Android phones, some tablets, and some smart displays. If you do not use it and want to stop it from responding to voice commands or appearing in your search results, you can turn it off entirely. The steps differ depending on whether you are using an Android phone, an iPhone, a computer, or a smart speaker.
Disabling Google Assistant does not delete your Google account or affect other Google services like Gmail or Google Search. It simply stops the Assistant app from running and listening for commands on that specific device.
Key Takeaways
- On Android phones, you can disable Google Assistant by opening the Google app, going to Settings, and turning off the Assistant toggle.
- On iPhones and iPads, Google Assistant is not installed by default, but if you have the Google app, you can turn off voice search in the app settings.
- On Windows and Mac computers, you can uninstall Google Assistant or disable it through your browser settings if it is a web-based version.
- On Google Home speakers and smart displays, you can disable the microphone using the physical button on the device or turn off voice activation in the Home app.
- Disabling Google Assistant does not affect your Google account, email, or other Google services.
Disable Google Assistant on Android phones
Most Android phones have Google Assistant built into the system. To turn it off, open the Google app (the colorful "G" icon on your home screen or in your app drawer). Tap your profile picture in the top right corner, then select Settings. Scroll down and tap Google Assistant.
On the next screen, tap General. You will see a toggle switch next to "Google Assistant." Tap it to turn the switch off. The switch will turn gray, which means Google Assistant is now disabled. You can also scroll down on this same screen to find Voice Match and turn that off as well, which stops the device from responding to your voice when you say "Hey Google."
If you cannot find the Google app on your phone, it may be hidden or disabled already. Try opening your Settings app, going to Apps or Application Manager, searching for "Google," and checking whether the Google app is disabled. If it shows a button that says "Enable," your Assistant is already off.
Disable Google Assistant on iPhone or iPad
iPhones and iPads do not come with Google Assistant installed by default. However, if you downloaded the Google app from the App Store, you can turn off voice search features. Open the Google app, tap your profile picture in the top right, and go to Settings. Tap Voice Search and turn off the toggle next to "Voice Search."
If you want to remove Google Assistant entirely from your iPhone or iPad, you can delete the Google app itself. Press and hold the Google app icon on your home screen, then select Remove App and confirm. This will remove the app completely, and Google Assistant will no longer be available on that device.
Disable Google Assistant on Windows and Mac computers
Google Assistant on computers usually runs through your web browser or as a separate application. If you use Google Assistant through Chrome, open Chrome and click the three-line menu in the top right corner. Go to Settings, then Privacy and Security, and look for Site Settings. Find Microphone and turn off access for all sites or for Google specifically.
If you have Google Assistant installed as a standalone app on Windows, you can uninstall it like any other program. Right-click the Start menu, select Apps and Features, search for "Google Assistant," and click Uninstall. On a Mac, open Applications, find Google Assistant if it is there, and drag it to the Trash.
You can also disable Google Assistant by turning off microphone permissions for the Google app in your system settings. On Windows, go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Microphone and toggle off access for Google apps. On Mac, go to System Preferences > Security and Privacy > Microphone and uncheck Google apps from the list.
Disable Google Assistant on Google Home and smart speakers
If you have a Google Home speaker, Google Home Mini, or other Google smart display, you can disable the microphone using the physical button on the device. Most Google Home devices have a mute button on the top or back. Press it once to turn off the microphone. An LED light will usually turn red or change color to show the microphone is muted. When the microphone is off, the device cannot hear voice commands.
You can also disable voice activation through the Google Home app on your phone. Open the app, tap the device you want to control, tap the settings icon (gear), and scroll down to find Microphone. Toggle it off. This does the same thing as the physical button but lets you control it remotely from your phone.
If you want to completely remove Google Assistant from a smart speaker, you can factory reset the device, but this will erase all your settings and preferences. Most people find it easier to simply mute the microphone using the button on the device or the app.
Stop Google Assistant from appearing in search results
Even if you disable Google Assistant, you might still see Assistant suggestions or cards when you use Google Search. To remove these from your search results, open the Google app on your phone and tap your profile picture. Go to Settings > Google Assistant > General. Look for an option called Search results or Assistant cards and turn it off.
On a computer, you can also adjust your Google Search settings. Go to google.com, click the settings icon in the bottom right, and select Settings. Look for options related to Assistant or voice search and turn them off. These settings are separate from disabling the Assistant itself, so you may need to adjust both if you want to remove all traces of Assistant from your Google experience.
What happens after you disable Google Assistant
After you disable Google Assistant, saying "Hey Google" or "OK Google" will no longer trigger any response on your device. Voice commands will not work. If you have a Google Home speaker with the microphone muted, the device will not respond to any voice at all until you unmute it.
You can still use Google Search normally on your phone, computer, or browser. Disabling Assistant does not affect your ability to search, use Gmail, watch YouTube, or access any other Google service. Your Google account remains active and unchanged. If you ever want to turn Google Assistant back on, you can follow the same steps in reverse and toggle the Assistant back on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will disabling Google Assistant delete my Google account?
No. Disabling Google Assistant only turns off the voice assistant feature on that device. Your Google account, email, photos, and all other Google services remain active and unchanged. You can still sign into your Google account and use all Google products normally.
Can I disable Google Assistant on just one device if I have multiple devices?
Yes. Each device has its own settings. You can disable Google Assistant on your phone but keep it on your smart speaker, or vice versa. Changes you make in the Google Home app affect only the device you select, and changes in the Google app on your phone affect only that phone.
What is the difference between muting and disabling Google Assistant?
Muting turns off the microphone so the device cannot hear you, but the Assistant software is still running in the background. Disabling turns off the Assistant completely. On smart speakers, muting is usually enough. On phones, disabling is more thorough if you want to stop the Assistant from running at all.
If I disable Google Assistant, can I still use voice search in Google Search?
It depends on your device. On Android phones, disabling Google Assistant may also disable voice search in the Google Search app. On computers and iPhones, voice search is usually a separate feature that you can control independently. Check your search app settings if you want to keep voice search but disable the Assistant.
How do I turn Google Assistant back on if I change my mind?
Follow the same steps you used to turn it off and toggle the switch back on. On Android phones, open the Google app, go to Settings > Google Assistant > General, and turn the toggle back on. On smart speakers, press the mute button again or toggle the microphone back on in the Google Home app.