How to Turn Off Google Assistant

Google Assistant is deeply integrated into the Android operating system. While some users love being able to shout “Hey Google” across the room to set a timer or check the weather, others find it incredibly annoying when the Assistant constantly interrupts them, or triggers accidentally when they press the power button.

If you are concerned about digital privacy and do not want Google’s microphone constantly listening for a wake word, or if you simply prefer typing your searches manually, you can completely lobotomize Google Assistant.

Method 1: The Complete Kill Switch (Turn Off Assistant Entirely)

This is the most effective method. It completely severs the Assistant’s connection to your Google Account on that specific device, preventing it from ever answering your voice or responding to button presses.

1. Open the Google App on your Android phone. (This is the dedicated app with the large multi-colored ‘G’ logo, not the Chrome browser).
2. Look at the top right corner of the screen and tap your Profile Picture (or your initial).
3. A menu will slide up from the bottom. Tap on Settings.
4. Scroll down and tap on Google Assistant.
5. You are now in the massive Assistant configuration menu. Scroll down until you find the section labeled General. Tap it.
6. At the very top of the General menu, you will see a master toggle switch labeled Google Assistant.
7. Tap the switch to turn it Grey (Off).
8. A pop-up will appear warning you that the Assistant will no longer respond to you or help with tasks. Tap Turn off to confirm.

The Assistant is now dead on this device.

Method 2: Stop “Hey Google” (Microphone Only)

If you still want to be able to use the Assistant by manually typing questions into it, but you want to stop it from constantly listening for the “Hey Google” wake word, you can turn off the voice-activation module without killing the entire Assistant.

1. Open the Google App > Tap your Profile Picture > Tap Settings > Tap Google Assistant.
2. Instead of going to “General,” look near the top of the list and tap on Hey Google & Voice Match.
3. You will see a toggle switch labeled Hey Google.
4. Tap the switch to turn it Grey (Off).

Your microphone is now physically disconnected from the Assistant’s wake-word detection algorithm. You can shout “Hey Google” all day and the phone will ignore you.

Method 3: Stop the Power Button Shortcut

On modern Android phones (especially the Google Pixel and newer Samsung Galaxy devices), the Assistant is mapped to the physical Power button. If you hold the button to turn off your phone, the Assistant pops up instead. This is infuriating for many users.

You can remap the hardware button back to its traditional function (turning off the phone).

1. Open the main Android Settings app (the grey gear icon, not the Google app).
2. Scroll down and tap on System (on Samsung phones, tap Advanced features).
3. Tap on Gestures (on Samsung, tap Side key).
4. Look for an option labeled Press and hold power button. Tap it.
5. You will see two options: “Digital assistant” and “Power menu.”
6. Select Power menu.

Now, when you squeeze the power button on the side of your phone, the familiar “Restart / Power Off” menu will appear instead of the Google Assistant.