You cannot fully delete Bixby, but you can disable it on most Samsung phones

Bixby is Samsung's voice assistant built into most Samsung phones and tablets. It works like Google Assistant or Siri — you can speak commands to it, ask it questions, or use it to control your phone. Many people want to remove it because it takes up storage space, drains battery, or launches accidentally when they press the Bixby button on the side of their device.

You cannot completely uninstall Bixby the way you would delete a regular app, because it is part of Samsung's system software. However, you can disable it, turn off the physical button that launches it, and prevent it from running in the background. The steps depend on which Samsung device you have and which version of Android it runs.

Key Takeaways

  • Bixby cannot be fully deleted because it is built into Samsung's system, but you can disable it through Settings on most devices.
  • The Bixby button on the side of your phone can be remapped to launch a different app or disabled entirely in most cases.
  • You can prevent Bixby from running in the background and using battery power by turning off its permissions and background activity.
  • Newer Samsung phones allow you to disable Bixby more easily than older models, which may require workarounds or third-party apps.

Disable Bixby through Settings on Android 11 and newer

If your Samsung phone runs Android 11 or later, the easiest path is through the Settings app. Open Settings, then go to Apps. Scroll down and find Bixby (it may be listed as "Bixby Voice" or just "Bixby"). Tap it, then look for a button that says "Disable" — tap that button and confirm your choice. The app will be hidden from your home screen and will not run automatically.

After disabling Bixby through Settings, go back to the main Settings menu and search for "Bixby button" or "Side key". You should find an option to remap what happens when you press the physical button on the side of your phone. You can set it to launch Google Assistant, open a different app, or do nothing at all. This prevents accidental launches when you grip your phone.

Turn off Bixby on older Samsung phones (Android 10 and earlier)

Older Samsung devices do not always have a "Disable" button for Bixby in Settings. Instead, open Settings, go to Apps, find Bixby, and tap "Force Stop". This stops it from running right now, but it may restart on its own. Then tap "Permissions" and turn off every permission listed — location, microphone, camera, contacts, and any others. Without these permissions, Bixby cannot function even if it restarts.

Next, go to Settings and search for "Bixby button" or "Side key settings". Most older Samsung phones let you remap or disable the button here. If you cannot find this option, you can read a third-party app like "Button Remapper" from the Google Play Store, which lets you reassign what the Bixby button does. This is not an official Samsung tool, but it works on many devices.

Prevent Bixby from using battery and storage

Even if you disable Bixby, it still takes up storage space on your phone because it is part of the system software. You cannot remove that space without using specialized tools that require technical knowledge. However, you can prevent it from draining your battery by turning off background activity.

Go to Settings, then Battery or Battery and Device Care. Look for "App Power Management" or "Background Usage Limits". Find Bixby in the list and set it to "Restricted" or "Never Allow in Background". This stops Bixby from running when you are not actively using it. You can also go to Settings > Apps > Bixby > Permissions and turn off "Run in Background" if that option appears on your device.

What to do if Bixby keeps restarting

Some Samsung phones re-enable Bixby after system updates or restart it automatically even after you disable it. If this happens, the most reliable fix is to disable it again when ready after the update, then turn off all its permissions and background activity as described above. Make sure you have also remapped the Bixby button so it does not launch the app by accident.

If Bixby continues to restart despite these steps, check whether you have any Samsung apps installed that depend on Bixby — apps like Samsung Health or Samsung SmartThings sometimes re-enable it. You can disable those apps too, or uninstall them if you do not use them. If the problem persists, a factory reset will clear all settings and stop the behavior, but you will lose all your data unless you back it up first.

Alternatives if you want to keep Bixby but use it less

If you want to keep Bixby installed but just prevent it from launching accidentally, remapping the Bixby button is usually enough. You can set it to open Google Assistant instead, which many people find more useful. Go to Settings, search for "Bixby button" or "Side key", and choose your preferred app from the list.

You can also change Bixby's wake word or turn off voice set up entirely. Open the Bixby app itself, go to Settings within the app, and look for "Voice Wake-Up" or "Voice set up". Turning this off means Bixby will only respond when you press the button, not when you say "Hi Bixby" across the room. This reduces accidental activations while keeping the app available if you ever want to use it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will disabling Bixby break other Samsung features?

No. Bixby is separate from other Samsung apps and features like Samsung Health, Samsung Pay, or Samsung Messages. Disabling Bixby will not affect those apps. However, some Samsung devices may show a warning that certain features work better with Bixby enabled — you can ignore this warning safely.

Can I delete Bixby completely using ADB or developer tools?

Technically yes, but it requires connecting your phone to a computer and using Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which is a command-line tool for advanced users. This method can cause problems if you make a mistake, and Bixby may reinstall itself after a system update. For most people, disabling it through Settings is safer and achieves the same result.

Does disabling Bixby free up storage space?

Disabling Bixby through Settings hides it and stops it from running, but the app files remain on your phone and still take up storage space. The amount is usually between 100 and 300 megabytes depending on your phone model. If you need that space, a factory reset is the only way to remove it completely, but that erases everything on your phone.

What if my Samsung phone does not have a Bixby button?

Newer Samsung tablets and some budget Samsung phones do not have a physical Bixby button. On these devices, you can still disable Bixby through Settings > Apps > Bixby > Disable. You can also turn off voice set up so Bixby does not respond to "Hi Bixby" commands. This is usually enough to prevent accidental launches.

Will my phone work normally after I disable Bixby?

Yes. Your phone will work exactly the same way. All other features, apps, and functions will continue to work normally. The only difference is that Bixby will not be available, and the Bixby button will do whatever you remapped it to do instead.