The quickest way to disable Bixby

Bixby is Samsung's voice assistant that runs in the background on most Samsung phones and tablets, consuming processor power and memory even when you are not using it. You can turn it off entirely, disable just the voice set up, or straightforward prevent it from launching — the method depends on which Samsung device you have and how completely you want to stop it.

The fastest route for most people is to disable the Bixby button itself. On Samsung phones made after 2017, a physical button on the side of the device launches Bixby by default. Holding that button down for three seconds opens the Bixby settings menu, where you can remap it to do nothing, launch a different app, or trigger the power menu instead.

If you want Bixby gone entirely rather than just the button, you can disable the Bixby app through your phone's settings. This stops it from running in the background and frees up the memory and processor cycles it was using. The steps differ slightly between Samsung's One UI versions, but the principle is the same on every recent Samsung phone.

Key Takeaways

  • The Bixby button on the side of your Samsung phone can be remapped to launch nothing, another app, or your power menu instead of Bixby.
  • Disabling the Bixby app through Settings stops it from running in the background and consuming processor power and memory.
  • You can turn off Bixby voice set up separately from the app itself if you want to keep the button but prevent voice commands.
  • Samsung phones made before 2017 do not have a physical Bixby button, so you only need to disable the app in Settings.

Remapping or disabling the Bixby button

The physical Bixby button sits on the left side of most Samsung Galaxy phones, below the volume controls. When you press it, Bixby launches. You can change what that button does without touching the app itself.

Hold down the Bixby button for three seconds. A menu appears asking what you want the button to do. Choose "Bixby voice" at the top, then tap the three-dot menu icon in the upper right corner. Select "Remap button" and choose your preferred action — you can set it to launch Google Assistant, open a specific app, trigger the power menu, or do nothing at all.

If you want the button to do nothing, select "Do nothing" from the remap menu. This prevents accidental launches and stops Bixby from starting when you bump the button in your pocket. The button remains on your phone but becomes inert.

Disabling the Bixby app in Settings

Turning off the button does not stop Bixby from running in the background. To fully disable it and free up the memory and processor power it uses, you need to disable the app itself through your phone's Settings.

Open Settings and go to Apps. Scroll down and find "Bixby" or "Bixby Voice" — the exact name depends on your Samsung model and One UI version. Tap it, then select "Disable" at the bottom of the screen. Your phone will ask you to confirm; tap "Disable app" again. This removes Bixby from your running processes and prevents it from launching in any way.

On some Samsung phones, you may see "Bixby" and "Bixby Voice" as separate apps. Disable both. If you see a button that says "Uninstall" instead of "Disable," your phone allows you to remove Bixby entirely — tap it. Not all Samsung models let you uninstall Bixby, but disabling it achieves the same result: it stops running and stops consuming resources.

Turning off Bixby voice set up without disabling the app

If you want to keep Bixby available but prevent it from responding to voice commands, you can disable voice set up separately. This is useful if you occasionally use Bixby's other features but do not want it listening for wake words.

Open the Bixby app by pressing and holding the Bixby button, or find it in your app drawer. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the lower right corner. Go to Settings, then Voice. Toggle off "Voice wake-up" and "Always listening." This stops Bixby from responding to "Hi Bixby" or other voice commands, though the app remains installed and the button still works if you press it.

What to do if you cannot disable Bixby

Some Samsung phones, particularly older models or those sold through certain carriers, do not allow you to disable Bixby through Settings. If the "Disable" button is grayed out or missing, your phone's software version may not support it.

In this case, your options are limited to remapping the button and turning off voice set up. You can also use a third-party launcher like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher, which can prevent Bixby from launching even if the app is still technically running. Install the launcher from the Google Play Store, set it as your default launcher in Settings, and Bixby will no longer respond to the button press.

If you have a Samsung tablet rather than a phone, the process is identical — find Bixby in Settings, Apps, and disable it. Tablets do not have a physical Bixby button, so you only need to disable the app itself.

Why Bixby uses processor power and memory

Bixby runs as a background service on your phone, constantly listening for wake words and monitoring for button presses. This requires the processor to stay partially active and reserves a portion of your phone's RAM, even when you are not using Bixby. On phones with limited memory or older processors, this background activity can slow down other apps and drain battery faster.

Disabling Bixby frees up both processor cycles and RAM for other tasks. The amount of improvement you notice depends on your phone's age and how much memory it has — newer phones with 8GB or more RAM may show little difference, while older phones with 4GB or less may feel noticeably snappier after Bixby is disabled.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will disabling Bixby break anything on my Samsung phone?

No. Bixby is a standalone app, and disabling it does not affect any core phone functions. Your phone will work exactly as it did before, except Bixby will not be available. You can re-enable it later through Settings if you change your mind.

Can I disable Bixby on a Samsung tablet?

Yes, the process is identical to phones. Go to Settings, Apps, find Bixby, and tap Disable. Tablets do not have a physical Bixby button, so you only need to disable the app itself.

What happens if I remap the Bixby button but do not disable the app?

Bixby will continue running in the background and consuming memory, but it will not launch when you press the button. To fully stop it from using resources, you need to disable the app itself in Settings.

If I disable Bixby, can I use Google Assistant instead?

Yes. You can remap the Bixby button to launch Google Assistant, or straightforward use the Google Assistant button that appears in your notification panel. Google Assistant works independently of Bixby and does not interfere with disabling it.

Does disabling Bixby improve battery life?

Slightly, because Bixby no longer uses processor power to listen for wake words and monitor the button. The improvement is usually small on newer phones with larger batteries, but more noticeable on older or budget models with limited battery capacity.