Silence Your Assistant! How to Completely Turn Off Google Assistant

Are you tired of accidentally triggering Google Assistant with unintended voice commands? Or perhaps you simply wish to turn off Google Assistant because you prefer not to use the virtual assistant feature on your device?

Whatever your reasons, turning off Google’s Assistant is a straightforward process that can help streamline your user experience.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the step-by-step instructions to disable Google’s Assistant on various platforms, including Android phones, Google’s Home devices, and more.  

Here is a quick step guide to turn off your Google Assistant:

• First, open the Google app on your Android device.

• Next, tap your profile photo in the top right corner.

• Then, select “Settings.”

• After that, find and tap “Google Assistant.”

• Subsequently, navigate to “General” under “All Settings.”

• Finally, turn off the “Google Assistant” switch.

Whether you’re a tech-savvy user or new to the world of virtual assistants, our easy-to-follow explanations will ensure that you can quickly turn off Google’s Assistant without any hassle.  

Why turn off Google Assistant ?

There are several reasons why you might want to turn off Google’s Assistant temporarily or permanently

• Improve battery life on your mobile device

• Prevent accidental triggers or unwanted listening

• Protect your privacy and limit data collection, addressing any privacy concerns you may have.

• Avoid distractions or interruptions

• Troubleshoot issues or conflicts with other apps

How to turn off Google Assistant ?

Looking for some peace and quiet with your virtual helper? Whether you need a break or prefer to use manual mode, below we have mentioned simple steps on how to turn off Google Assistant and reclaim your digital space.

Adjusting the assistant setting on your assistant device or smart devices will help you manage its activity to suit your needs.

Let’s dive into the simple steps to silence your smart assistant when you want some peace of mind.

Disable Google Assistant:

• To begin, open the Google app on your Android device. (the icon looks like a multicolored “G”).

• Next, tap on your profile picture on the upper right corner of screen.

• Then, select “Settings”.

• After that, find and tap “Google’s Assistant”.

• Subsequently, navigate to “General” under “All settings”.

• Finally, toggle the switch next to “Google’s Assistant” to the off position. Once disabled, Google’s Assistant will not appear even if you try to open the Assistant app.

Remove Google as default assistant:

• Firstly, open Settings app on your phone.

• Secondly, look for a section related to applications or defaults. This section may be labeled as “Apps & Notifications” or alternatively, “Default Apps.”

• Then, look for a subsection related to Assistant or voice input. It could be called “Support App”, “Default Support App”, or something similar.

• Next, tap the option to choose the default assistant app.

• Subsequently, you may see a list of available assistant apps, including Google’s Assistant and potentially others like Bixby (on Samsung devices).

• Finally, select “None” or any option that indicates there is no default wizard..  

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How to turn off “Hey Google”  voice assistant detection ?

Is your device waking up with every “Hey Google” voice detection ? If you’re looking to prevent Google’s Assistant from responding to your wake word, you’re in the right place.

Here’s a simple steps to disable “Hey Google” detection and enjoy uninterrupted moments.

• Firstly, open the Google app on your Android device.

• Secondly, tap on your profile picture in the top right corner.

• Then, select “Settings”.

• After that, find and tap “Google’s Assistant”.

• Subsequently, select “Hey Google and Voice Match.”

• Finally, turn off the “Hey Google” switch.

This will prevent Google Assistant from activating when you say “Hey Google” or “OK ​​Google,” but you can still access it by launching the app manually or using a different activation method (if available on your device).

Also check: How to set-up Google Wi-Fi ?

How to stop the side button from launching Assistant ?

It can be really annoying when your digital assistant pops up by accident, especially at bad times. If you want to take back control of your device’s side button, this is the right guide for you.

First, in this section we will show you the easy steps to stop the assistant from coming up every time you press the side button by mistake.

• Open Settings: To begin, launch the Settings app on your Android device.

• Navigate to System: Next, go to the System section within the Settings menu.

• Select Gestures: Then, find the Gestures option and tap it.

• Adjust power button behavior: After that, find the Hold down power button setting.

• Switch to power menu: Finally, turn off the Press and hold switch for Assistant. This will change the behavior of the side button so that the traditional “Shut down” and “Restart” options appear instead of launching Google’s Assistant.

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How to turn off Google Assistant on ChromeOS devices ?

Here’s a quick guide on how to turn off Google Assistant and enjoy a distraction-free experience. Whether you’re in a meeting or just need to focus, turning off this feature is simple and fast:

Consequently, follow below mentioned steps to turn off Google’s Assistant on ChromeOS devices:

• First, click on the time in the bottom right corner of your Chromebook.

• Next, select the Settings gear icon.

• Then, go to the Search and Wizard tab.

• After that, click Google’s Assistant.

• Finally, move the switch to Off.

Alternatively, here is another method:

• Firstly, tap the white circle to access the Settings page in ChromeOS.

• Next, select the Search and Assistant option.

• Then, to disable voice commands, set the “Hey Google” drop-down box option to Off.

• Finally, if you want to completely disable Google Assistant, disable the button present there.

How to turn off Google Assistant on Google Nest speakers ?

Trying to enjoy some quiet time without your Google Nest speaker constantly responding? Or maybe you prefer not to use the virtual assistant feature at all.

In either case, disabling Google’s Assistant on your Nest speaker is a simple process.

You can turn off Google’s Assistant on your Google Nest speakers using the following methods:

Mute microphone

To begin, to prevent the Nest Wi-Fi point from listening to or responding to your queries, you can turn off the microphone. This won’t disable the speaker completely, so you can still use it for other purposes.

• Initially, locate the switch on the back of the Nest Wi-Fi point, next to the power cord.

• Then, slide the switch to the off position (you will see an orange color) to disable the microphone.

Turn off the mute light

Additionally, when the microphone is off, a bright orange light appears below the Nest Wi-Fi point.

If you want to turn off this bright orange light, follow these steps:

• First, open the Google Home app.

• Next, tap “Favorites” or “Devices.”

• Then, press and hold the tile on your device.

• After that, tap “Settings” and then select “Lights.”

• Finally, turn on “Turn off mute light”.

Remove Voice Match (for other devices)

Moreover, if you want to turn off Voice Match for a specific device, follow these steps:

• First, open the Google Home app.

• Next, tap “Startup Settings.”

• Then, go to “Google Assistant” > “Voice Match” > “Other devices”.

• Finally, uncheck the box next to the device for which you want to turn off Voice Match.

Temporarily disable Google’s Assistant

Furthermore, if you want to temporarily disable Google Assistant, you can set a schedule:

• Firstly, open the Google Home app.

• Secondly, tap “Settings” > “Digital Wellbeing.”

• Then, choose the time you want to change.

• Finally, disable the schedule or make changes as necessary.

Remember that while you can’t completely disable Google’s Assistant on a Google’s Home or Nest speaker, muting the microphone achieves a similar effect. Press the microphone button on your speaker to turn it on and off.

Conclusion

In conclusion, turning off Google Assistant is a simple process that can help you regain control of your device and enjoy a distraction-free experience.

Furthermore, whether you prefer to disable it completely, disable voice detection, or simply avoid accidental launches, this guide provides you with step-by-step instructions for various platforms and scenarios.

Additionally, remember while disabling Google’s Assistant on smart speakers like Nest may require workarounds like muting the microphone or setting schedules, it’s still possible to achieve the desired level of privacy and silence you’re looking for.

Ultimately, by following these simple tips, you can tailor your virtual assistant experience to your preferences and enjoy a more personalized and organized digital environment.

Reference:

Frequently Asked Question’s (FAQ’s)