How to Turn Off Google Assistant on Your Computer

Google Assistant runs in the background on Windows and Mac, using CPU and memory even when you are not using it

Google Assistant is a voice and text assistant that comes built into some Windows computers and can be installed on others. It listens for voice commands, responds to text queries, and syncs data with Google's servers — all of which consume processor power and RAM. If you do not use voice commands or do not want the background activity, disabling it frees up system resources and stops the data collection.

The steps to disable it depend on whether you have it as a Windows feature, a Chrome extension, or a standalone app. Most people have it as an extension in Google Chrome or as a Windows feature that runs alongside your operating system.

Key Takeaways

Google Assistant on Windows can be disabled through Settings > Privacy & Security > Voice set up, where you can turn off "Allow apps to use voice set up" entirely.
If you have Google Assistant as a Chrome extension, right-click the extension icon and select Remove to stop it from running in your browser.
Disabling Google Assistant will not affect other Google services like Search or Gmail, only the voice assistant and its background processes.
After disabling it, restart your computer or browser to may support the process stops using system resources.

Disable Google Assistant on Windows 11 and Windows 10

Open Settings by pressing Windows key + I, then navigate to Privacy & Security on the left sidebar. Scroll down and click Voice set up. Toggle off "Allow apps to use voice set up" — this disables the system-wide voice listening that Google Assistant uses to detect the wake word.

If you want to disable the Google Assistant app itself, go to Settings > Apps > Apps & Features, search for "Google Assistant," and click it. Select Uninstall and confirm. This removes the app entirely from your computer. If the Uninstall button is greyed out, the app came with your Windows installation and cannot be removed through Settings — in that case, disabling voice set up is the most effective way to stop it from running.

After making these changes, restart your computer. This ensures any background processes associated with Google Assistant stop running and free up the memory and CPU they were using.

Disable Google Assistant in Google Chrome

If you have Google Assistant installed as a Chrome extension, open Chrome and click the Extensions icon (puzzle piece) in the top right corner. Find "Google Assistant" in the list, click the three dots next to it, and select Remove. Chrome will ask you to confirm — click Remove again.

If you do not see Google Assistant in your extensions list, it may be running as a built-in Chrome feature rather than an extension. In that case, open Chrome Settings, go to Search Engine > Manage search engines and site search, and remove any Google Assistant entries from the list. Then go to Privacy and security > Site Settings > Microphone and disable microphone access for sites you do not trust.

Close and reopen Chrome after making these changes. The browser will no longer request microphone access or run the Assistant background process.

Disable Google Assistant on Mac

Mac computers do not have Google Assistant built into the operating system the way Windows does. If you have it installed, it is likely a Chrome extension or a standalone app you downloaded. Follow the Chrome extension removal steps above if you installed it through the browser.

If you installed a standalone Google Assistant app, open Applications, find Google Assistant, and drag it to the Trash. Empty the Trash to complete the removal. If the app will not delete, restart your Mac in Safe Mode (hold Shift while restarting), then try deleting it again.

What Happens When You Disable Google Assistant

Disabling Google Assistant stops the background process that listens for voice commands and sends audio data to Google's servers. Your computer will use less CPU and RAM, which can improve performance on older machines or systems with limited resources. Battery life on laptops may also improve slightly.

You will still be able to use Google Search, Gmail, Google Drive, and other Google services normally. Disabling the Assistant does not affect those. If you change your mind later, you can re-enable voice set up in Settings or reinstall the Chrome extension.

Why Google Assistant Uses System Resources

Google Assistant runs a process that constantly monitors your microphone input, waiting for the wake word ("Hey Google"). This monitoring uses CPU cycles and keeps a portion of your RAM allocated. Additionally, when you use voice commands, the audio is sent to Google's servers for processing, which requires network bandwidth and can slow down your internet connection temporarily.

On a modern computer with 8 GB of RAM or more, the impact is usually small. On older machines with 4 GB or less, or on systems running many other programs, disabling Google Assistant can noticeably improve responsiveness and reduce lag.

Disable Google Assistant Without Removing It Completely

If you want to keep Google Assistant installed but prevent it from running automatically, you can disable it in Task Scheduler on Windows. Press Windows key + R, type "tasksched.msc," and press Enter. Navigate to Task Scheduler Library > Microsoft > Windows > process Experience. Find "Google Assistant" in the list, right-click it, and select Disable. This stops it from launching at startup without uninstalling it.

You can also manage startup apps in Settings > Apps > Startup. If Google Assistant appears in the list, toggle it off. This prevents it from launching when you start your computer, though the app remains installed and can still be opened manually if needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will disabling Google Assistant affect my Google account or other Google services?

No. Disabling Google Assistant only stops the voice assistant and its background processes. Your Google account, Gmail, Google Drive, Google Search, and all other Google services will work exactly as before. The change only affects the Assistant app itself.

Can I disable Google Assistant on just one user account instead of the whole computer?

Yes. If you have multiple user accounts on your Windows computer, you can disable voice set up for just your account by going to Settings > Privacy & Security > Voice set up and toggling it off. Other accounts will not be affected. For Chrome extensions, disabling them affects only the user account you are logged into.

What if I want to use Google Assistant again later?

If you disabled voice set up in Settings, you can re-enable it the same way: Settings > Privacy & Security > Voice set up, then toggle it back on. If you uninstalled the app, you can reinstall it from the Microsoft Store. If you removed the Chrome extension, you can reinstall it from the Chrome Web Store.

Does disabling Google Assistant improve performance on all computers?

The improvement depends on your system. On computers with 8 GB of RAM or more and a modern processor, you may not notice a difference. On older machines, laptops with limited RAM, or systems running many programs at once, disabling Google Assistant can reduce lag and improve battery life noticeably.

Can I disable just the microphone listening without removing Google Assistant?

Yes. In Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone, you can toggle off microphone access for Google Assistant specifically. This prevents it from listening for voice commands while keeping the app installed. You can still use text commands if you open the app manually.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.