Where to find and disable voice control
Voice control — the feature that listens for commands like "Hey Siri" or "OK Google" — lives in your device settings, not in a separate app. On most phones and tablets, you turn it off in the same place you turn on other listening features. The exact path depends on whether you use an iPhone, Android phone, or tablet.
The fastest way is to search your settings for "voice" and look for options labeled Voice Control, Voice Assistant, or Voice Wake-up. Once you find the setting, you can toggle it off entirely, or in some cases, disable only the "wake word" — the phrase that makes your device start listening without you touching it first.
Key Takeaways
- Voice control on iPhones is called Siri and is disabled in Settings > Siri & Search by turning off "Listen for 'Hey Siri'".
- On Android devices, Google Assistant is disabled in Settings > Apps > Google > Permissions, or by turning off microphone access entirely.
- Disabling the wake word stops your device from listening constantly; you can still use voice commands if you manually set up them.
- If you only want to prevent accidental set up, turn off the wake word but leave voice control available when you press and hold the button.
Disabling Siri on iPhone and iPad
On any iPhone or iPad, open Settings and tap Siri & Search. You will see several toggles. Turn off "Listen for 'Hey Siri'" to stop your device from listening for that wake phrase. This is the most important one if you want to prevent constant listening.
You can also turn off "Press Side Button for Siri" (or "Press Home Button for Siri" on older models) if you want to disable voice commands entirely. If you leave that on, you can still use Siri by holding the button, but the device will not listen passively. Scroll down in the same menu and turn off "Allow Siri When Locked" if you want to prevent voice commands when your phone is locked.
Disabling Google Assistant on Android
On Android phones, open Settings and search for "Google" or "Assistant." Tap Google > Manage your Google Account > Services & preferences > Google Assistant. From there, tap Assistant devices, select your phone, and turn off the Google Assistant toggle at the top.
If that path does not work on your specific phone, try Settings > Apps > Google > Permissions and turn off Microphone. This prevents Google Assistant from hearing anything, though it may also block the microphone for other apps like phone calls or voice messages. A safer approach is to go to Settings > Apps > Default apps and remove Google Assistant as your default voice assistant, then use the Google app settings to disable the wake word separately.
Turning off the wake word without disabling voice control entirely
If you want to keep voice control but stop your device from listening all the time, disable only the wake word. On iPhone, this means turning off "Listen for 'Hey Siri'" while leaving "Press Side Button for Siri" on. On Android, open the Google app, tap your profile picture > Settings > Google Assistant > Voice Match and turn off "Hey Google" detection.
This approach lets you use voice commands when you choose to — by pressing a button or opening the app — without the device constantly monitoring for a trigger phrase. It reduces battery drain and gives you more control over when listening happens.
Removing microphone permissions from voice apps
Even after you disable the built-in voice assistant, other apps on your phone may still have microphone access. Go to Settings > Privacy > Microphone (on iPhone) or Settings > Apps > Permissions > Microphone (on Android) and review which apps have permission to use your microphone. Turn off microphone access for any app you do not use for calls or voice messages.
This step is separate from disabling Siri or Google Assistant, but it prevents third-party apps from recording audio without your knowledge. Social media apps, messaging apps, and games sometimes request microphone access even though they do not need it for their core function.
What happens when you disable voice control
Disabling voice control does not break your phone. You can still make calls, send messages, and use every other feature normally. The only thing that stops working is the ability to give voice commands — either through the wake word or by pressing the button, depending on which settings you turned off.
If you change your mind later, you can turn voice control back on by reversing the same steps. There is no penalty for disabling it, and you can toggle it on and off as often as you want. Some people turn it off at home for privacy but turn it back on in the car for hands-free navigation.
Checking whether your device is still listening
After you disable voice control, check your phone's privacy settings to confirm the change took effect. On iPhone, go to Settings > Privacy > Microphone and verify that Siri is no longer listed, or that it shows as having no microphone access. On Android, check Settings > Apps > Permissions > Microphone and confirm that Google Assistant or your voice assistant is not listed.
You can also test by saying the wake phrase out loud near your phone — if the screen does not light up or show a listening indicator, the wake word is disabled. If you want extra confirmation, check your Google or Apple account activity to see whether your device has been sending audio data to the company's servers. Both companies let you view and delete this history in your account settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does turning off voice control affect Siri or Google Assistant in my car?
No. Car systems like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto have their own voice control settings, separate from your phone. You will need to disable voice control in your car's settings or infotainment system separately if you want to turn it off there as well.
Will disabling voice control stop my phone from recording me?
Disabling the voice assistant stops it from listening for the wake word and processing voice commands. However, other apps with microphone permissions can still record if they are actively using the microphone. Review your microphone permissions in Settings to see which apps can access it.
Can I disable the wake word but keep voice control when I press the button?
Yes. On iPhone, turn off "Listen for 'Hey Siri'" but leave "Press Side Button for Siri" on. On Android, disable "Hey Google" detection in the Google app settings. This way your device only listens when you manually set up it.
What if I cannot find the voice control setting on my phone?
Search your Settings app for "voice" or "assistant" — the search function will take you directly to the right menu. If your phone is very old or uses a custom version of Android, the path may be slightly different, but the setting will be under Apps, Google, or Privacy.
Does disabling voice control use less battery?
Yes, slightly. Constantly listening for a wake word uses a small amount of power. Disabling it may extend battery life by a few percent, though the difference is usually not dramatic on modern phones.