You can disable Google Assistant in your phone settings, on your computer, or through your Google account
Google Assistant turns on by default on most Android phones and devices with Google services. You can turn it off entirely, disable just the voice activation feature, or restrict it to specific apps. The steps differ depending on whether you use an Android phone, iPhone, or a computer with Google services.
The fastest route is usually your phone's settings app, where you can toggle Assistant off in a few taps. If you want to keep Assistant but stop it from responding to voice commands, you can disable the "Hey Google" hotword instead. On computers, you can turn off Assistant through your Google account settings or by uninstalling it from your browser.
Key Takeaways
- On Android phones, open Settings, search for "Google Assistant," and toggle it off under the General section.
- On iPhones, Google Assistant is not installed by default, but you can delete the Google app or disable voice search within it.
- You can disable just the "Hey Google" voice activation while keeping Assistant available in other ways, such as through the Google app.
- On computers, you can turn off Google Assistant through your Google account settings or remove it from your browser extensions.
- Disabling Assistant does not delete your Google account or affect other Google services like Search or Gmail.
How to disable Google Assistant on Android phones
Open the Settings app on your Android phone. Scroll down and tap "Google," then select "Manage your Google Account." Go to the "Services and preferences" tab, scroll down, and tap "Google Assistant." Under the General section, toggle off "Google Assistant."
If you want to keep Assistant but stop it from activating when you say "Hey Google," you can disable just the voice activation instead. In the same Google Assistant settings, tap "Voice Match" and toggle off "Hey Google." This prevents the assistant from listening for the hotword, but you can still open it manually through the Google app or by holding the home button.
Some Android phones also let you disable Assistant through the home button settings. Long-press your home button and hold it for a few seconds — if a menu appears, look for an option to turn off Assistant or change what the button does.
How to disable Google Assistant on iPhones
Google Assistant does not come pre-installed on iPhones. If you downloaded the Google app and want to stop using Google Assistant, you can delete the app entirely by pressing and holding it on your home screen, then selecting "Remove App" and "Delete App."
If you want to keep the Google app but disable voice search, open the app, tap your profile picture in the top right, go to "Settings," then "Voice," and toggle off "Voice Search." This prevents the app from listening for voice commands while keeping text search available.
How to disable Google Assistant on Windows and Mac computers
On Windows, Google Assistant is not installed by default. If you use Google Assistant through your browser, you can disable it by removing the extension. Open Chrome, click the three-dot menu in the top right, go to "Extensions," find Google Assistant, and click the trash icon to remove it.
On Mac computers, the process is the same. Open Chrome, access Extensions through the menu, and delete the Google Assistant extension. You can also disable it without removing it by unchecking the box next to the extension name, which turns it off but keeps it installed.
If you use Google Assistant through a Google Home device connected to your computer, you can disable it through your Google Home app. Open the app, select the device, tap the settings icon, and toggle off "Google Assistant."
How to disable voice activation without turning off Assistant completely
If you want to keep Google Assistant available but stop it from listening for "Hey Google," disable Voice Match on your device. On Android, go to Settings > Google > Manage your Google Account > Services and preferences > Google Assistant > Voice Match, and toggle off "Hey Google."
You can still use Assistant after disabling Voice Match by opening the Google app manually or by holding your home button (on phones that support this). This approach is useful if you want Assistant available for searches but do not want it listening constantly for voice commands.
What happens when you disable Google Assistant
Disabling Google Assistant does not affect your Google account, Gmail, Google Search, or any other Google services. You can still use Google Search normally, receive notifications, and access your Google account on any device.
If you disabled Assistant on your phone but still want voice search, you can use Google Search's voice feature instead. Open Google Search, tap the microphone icon, and speak your query. This works independently of Google Assistant and does not require Assistant to be enabled.
If you have a Google Home device or other smart home products connected to your account, disabling Assistant on your phone does not turn off those devices. You would need to disable Assistant on each device separately through its own settings.
How to re-enable Google Assistant if you change your mind
To turn Google Assistant back on, go to Settings > Google > Manage your Google Account > Services and preferences > Google Assistant, and toggle it back on. If you deleted the Google app on your iPhone, you can reinstall it from the App Store.
If you removed the Google Assistant extension from Chrome, you can reinstall it by visiting the Chrome Web Store, searching for Google Assistant, and clicking "Add to Chrome." Your settings and preferences will be restored once you sign back in with your Google account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will disabling Google Assistant stop Google from collecting my data?
Disabling Google Assistant does not stop Google from collecting data through other services like Google Search, Gmail, or your browser. If you want to limit data collection across Google services, you can adjust your privacy settings in your Google account under "Data and privacy" and manage what information Google stores.
Can I disable Google Assistant on just one device?
Yes. Google Assistant settings are device-specific, so you can disable it on your phone while keeping it enabled on your tablet or smart home device. Each device has its own settings that you control separately through that device's Settings app or the Google Home app.
What is the difference between disabling Assistant and disabling Voice Match?
Disabling Voice Match stops the "Hey Google" hotword from working, but you can still open Assistant manually through the Google app or home button. Disabling Assistant completely turns off the service, so you cannot use it at all unless you turn it back on.
If I disable Google Assistant, can I still use Google Search?
Yes. Google Search works independently of Google Assistant. You can search normally through your browser or the Google Search app even if Assistant is disabled. Voice search through Google Search also works separately from Google Assistant.
Does disabling Google Assistant affect Google Home devices?
No. Google Home devices have their own Assistant settings that are separate from your phone. Disabling Assistant on your phone does not turn off Assistant on your smart speakers or displays. You would need to disable it on each device through the Google Home app or that device's settings.