Disable Bixby in Settings

The fastest way to stop Bixby from responding is to turn it off in your Samsung device's settings. Open Settings, then go to Apps or Applications (the exact name depends on your phone model). Find Bixby in the list and tap it. You will see a button labeled Disable — tap that button, then confirm when the system asks if you are sure.

Disabling Bixby this way stops it from running in the background and removes it from your app drawer. The app itself stays on your phone but becomes inactive. If you change your mind later, you can re-enable it by going back to the same screen and tapping Enable.

On some Samsung phones, you may see Force Stop instead of Disable. Tap that, then go back and tap Storage, then Clear Cache. This stops Bixby from running but does not fully disable it — it may restart on its own after a reboot.

Key Takeaways

  • The most complete way to stop Bixby is to disable it through Settings > Apps > Bixby > Disable, which prevents it from running in the background.
  • You can also remap the Bixby button to do something else or open a different app instead of launching Bixby.
  • Turning off voice wake-up for Bixby stops it from responding to "Hi Bixby" but leaves the button and app active.
  • If your phone does not let you disable Bixby fully, you can hide it from your home screen and app drawer to keep it out of sight.
  • Disabling Bixby does not affect other Samsung features and will not slow down your phone.

Remap the Bixby Button to Do Something Else

Many people disable Bixby because they keep pressing the physical Bixby button by accident. Instead of disabling the whole app, you can remap that button to launch a different app or perform a different action. Open Settings, then go to Advanced Features or Bixby Key (the exact location varies by model). Look for an option called Bixby Key or Side Key.

Tap that option and you will see a list of actions the button can perform. Choose what you want — common options include opening the camera, launching Google Assistant, opening a specific app, or doing nothing at all. Once you select your choice, the button will perform that action instead of opening Bixby.

If you want the button to do nothing, look for an option that says Off or Disabled. This leaves the button physically on your phone but makes it inactive, so accidental presses will not trigger anything.

Turn Off Bixby Voice Wake-Up

If you want to keep Bixby installed but stop it from responding when you say "Hi Bixby," you can disable voice wake-up. Open the Bixby app by pressing and holding the Bixby button or tapping the Bixby icon. Tap the menu icon (usually three horizontal lines or three dots) in the bottom right corner. Go to Settings, then find Voice Wake-Up or Voice Activation.

Toggle that setting off. Bixby will still respond if you press the button or open the app manually, but it will not listen for the wake phrase. This is useful if you want to keep Bixby available for occasional use but do not want it listening all the time.

Hide Bixby From Your Home Screen and App Drawer

Some Samsung phones do not allow you to fully disable Bixby through settings. In that case, you can hide it so you do not see it. Long-press the Bixby app icon on your home screen and select Remove or Uninstall. If the option says Uninstall, tap it — if your phone does not let you uninstall it, the button will be grayed out.

To hide Bixby from your app drawer, open the app drawer, long-press the Bixby icon, and look for an option like Hide or Hide App. Tap that option. Bixby will still be on your phone and the button will still work, but you will not see it listed anywhere.

You can also create a folder on your home screen, move Bixby into it, and then hide that folder in a less-used area of your phone. This keeps Bixby out of your way without removing it entirely.

What to Do If Bixby Keeps Coming Back

After you disable Bixby, it may reappear after a system update or restart. This happens because Samsung sometimes re-enables Bixby as part of an update. If this occurs, go back to Settings > Apps > Bixby and disable it again. You may need to do this after each major update.

If Bixby keeps restarting even after you disable it, try clearing its cache and data. Go to Settings > Apps > Bixby > Storage, then tap Clear Cache and Clear Data. This removes any saved settings and forces Bixby to start fresh. After you clear data, go back and disable it again.

Some users find that disabling Bixby through Settings > Apps works better than remapping the button. If one method does not stick, try the other. You can also disable both — turn off the app and remap the button — to make sure Bixby stays off.

Disable Bixby on Older Samsung Models

Older Samsung phones may have a different process. On the Galaxy S8 and S9, you can disable Bixby by going to Settings > Apps > Bixby and tapping Disable. On the Galaxy S7 and earlier, Bixby may not be installed at all, or it may be called S Voice instead.

If you have an older phone and cannot find Bixby in your app list, it is likely not installed. You can check by opening your app drawer and searching for "Bixby" or "S Voice." If neither appears, the phone does not have Bixby and there is nothing to disable.

For phones released between 2017 and 2019, the steps above should work. If your phone is newer than 2019 and the steps do not match your screen, check your phone's model number in Settings > About Phone and search for instructions specific to that model.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will disabling Bixby slow down my phone?

No. Disabling Bixby actually frees up a small amount of memory and battery because the app is no longer running in the background. You will not notice a speed difference, but your phone will use slightly less power.

Can I uninstall Bixby completely?

Most Samsung phones do not let you uninstall Bixby — you can only disable it. Some carrier versions of Samsung phones may allow uninstall, but this is rare. Disabling it achieves the same result: Bixby will not run or respond until you re-enable it.

What if I accidentally press the Bixby button after disabling it?

If you have remapped the button, it will perform whatever action you assigned to it instead. If you have disabled both the app and remapped the button to "off," nothing will happen when you press it.

Does disabling Bixby affect Google Assistant?

No. Bixby and Google Assistant are separate apps. Disabling Bixby does not change Google Assistant, and you can still use Google Assistant by saying "Hey Google" or pressing and holding the home button, depending on your phone model.

Can I re-enable Bixby if I change my mind?

Yes. Go back to Settings > Apps > Bixby and tap Enable. If you remapped the button, go to Settings > Advanced Features > Bixby Key and change it back to launch Bixby. The app will work exactly as it did before.