Google Assistant turns off in your device settings, not in the Google app itself

Google Assistant is the voice and text search tool that responds when you say "Hey Google" or tap the microphone icon. If you do not want it running, you can disable it completely on Android phones, iPhones, Chromebooks, and computers. The steps differ by device, but the setting is always in your device's main settings menu, not buried in the Google app.

Turning off Google Assistant does not delete your Google account or affect Gmail, Maps, or other Google services. It only stops the Assistant from listening for voice commands and responding to text requests. You can turn it back on anytime using the same steps.

Key Takeaways

  • On Android, open Settings, tap Apps, find Google App, and toggle off "Google Assistant" under Permissions.
  • On iPhone, open the Google app, tap your profile picture, go to Settings, then Assistant, and turn it off.
  • On Chromebook, open Settings, click Apps, then Google Assistant, and select "Turn off".
  • Disabling Google Assistant does not affect your Gmail, Google Drive, or other Google services.
  • If you only want to stop "Hey Google" voice activation, you can disable just the voice command feature instead of turning off the entire Assistant.

Turning off Google Assistant on Android phones

Open the Settings app on your Android phone. Scroll down and tap Apps (or Application Manager on older phones). Search for or scroll to find Google App — this is the main Google search and Assistant app, not Google Play Services or Google Play Store.

Tap Google App, then tap Permissions. Look for the toggle next to Google Assistant and turn it off. On some Android versions, you may see this under App Permissions instead of a single Permissions screen. If you see a toggle for Microphone, turn that off as well to prevent the app from listening for voice commands.

After you turn it off, try saying "Hey Google" — your phone should not respond. If it still does, go back to Settings and check that the toggle is fully off. Some phones also have a separate Google Assistant toggle in Settings > Google > Manage Your Google Account > Services & Preferences, which you can turn off as a second step.

Turning off Google Assistant on iPhones

Open the Google app (the colorful "G" icon). Tap your profile picture in the top right corner, then tap Settings. Scroll down and tap Google Assistant. At the top of the screen, you will see a toggle for Google Assistant — turn it off.

On iPhone, Google Assistant is less aggressive than on Android because Apple's Siri is the default voice assistant. Turning off Google Assistant in the Google app stops it from responding to voice commands within the Google app, but the Google app itself will still work for search. You can still use Google Search normally; you just will not be able to ask it questions by voice.

Turning off Google Assistant on Chromebooks

Click the time in the bottom right corner of your screen, then click Settings. In the left sidebar, click Apps. Scroll down and click Google Assistant. You will see a toggle or button that says "Turn off" — click it.

After you turn it off, the "Hey Google" voice command will no longer work on your Chromebook. If you want to turn it back on later, return to the same screen and click "Turn on".

Turning off Google Assistant on Windows and Mac computers

Google Assistant on desktop computers is less common than on phones, but if you have it installed, you can disable it through your browser. If you use Google Chrome, open Chrome Settings by clicking the three vertical dots in the top right, then clicking Settings. Click Privacy and Security on the left, then click Site Settings. Scroll down and click Microphone. Toggle off the switch next to "Ask before accessing" or remove Google.com from the allowed list.

This prevents websites from using your microphone to activate Google Assistant, but does not disable the Assistant entirely on your computer. If you have the Google Assistant app installed as a standalone program on Windows, right-click it in your Start menu and select Uninstall.

Stopping only "Hey Google" voice activation without disabling the whole Assistant

If you want to keep Google Assistant but stop it from listening for "Hey Google" voice commands, you can disable just the voice activation feature. On Android, open the Google app, tap your profile picture, go to Settings, then tap Voice. Under "Hey Google" detection, toggle it off. This lets you still use Google Assistant by typing or tapping the microphone icon manually, but it will not listen for the wake word.

On iPhone, the same setting is in the Google app under Settings > Google Assistant > Voice. On Chromebook, open Settings, click Apps, click Google Assistant, and look for Voice Activation or "Hey Google" detection to turn off separately.

What to do if Google Assistant keeps turning back on

Some phones and Chromebooks re-enable Google Assistant after system updates. If you turn it off and it comes back on, check your device settings again after any update notification. On Android, also check Settings > Google > Manage Your Google Account > Services & Preferences to see if there is a separate toggle there that needs to be turned off.

If you see a notification saying "Google Assistant is off" but it still responds to voice commands, the microphone permission may still be on. Go back to the Google App permissions and make sure Microphone is also toggled off. On some devices, you may need to turn off both the Assistant toggle and the Microphone permission for it to stop listening completely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will turning off Google Assistant delete my Google account or data?

No. Turning off Google Assistant only disables the voice and text command feature. Your Google account, Gmail, Google Drive, Photos, and all other Google services remain active and unchanged. You can turn Google Assistant back on anytime without losing anything.

Can I turn off "Hey Google" but keep using Google Search?

Yes. You can disable just the voice activation feature while keeping Google Assistant available for text searches and manual requests. On Android and iPhone, go to the Google app settings and toggle off "Hey Google" detection or Voice Activation separately from the main Assistant toggle.

Why does Google Assistant turn back on after I turn it off?

System updates sometimes re-enable Google Assistant. After any update, check your device settings again to turn it off. Also check Settings > Google > Manage Your Google Account > Services & Preferences on Android, as there may be a separate toggle there that needs to be turned off as well.

Does turning off Google Assistant stop it from listening to my conversations?

Yes. When Google Assistant is off, it does not listen for the "Hey Google" wake word or process voice commands. However, the Google app itself may still collect data based on your searches and activity. If you want to limit data collection further, you can manage your Google account privacy settings at myaccount.google.com.

Can I turn off Google Assistant on just one device if I have multiple devices?

Yes. Each device has its own settings. Turning off Google Assistant on your phone does not affect it on your Chromebook, computer, or smart speakers. You must turn it off separately on each device where you want it disabled.