Google Assistant is the voice helper that responds when you say "Hey Google" — and you can turn it off entirely or just disable the voice set up.
Google Assistant is a voice and text tool built into most Android phones, Google Home devices, and some other hardware. It listens for the phrase "Hey Google" and then carries out tasks like setting timers, playing music, or answering questions. If you do not want it running at all, you can disable it in your phone's settings. If you want to keep it but stop it from listening for voice commands, you can turn off voice set up instead.
The steps differ slightly depending on whether you have an Android phone, an iPhone with the Google app, or a Google Home speaker. This guide covers the most common setups.
Key Takeaways
- On Android phones, you can turn off Google Assistant by opening Settings, going to Apps, finding Google, and toggling off the Assistant permission.
- Disabling voice set up (so "Hey Google" does not trigger anything) is faster than fully removing the app and works on most devices.
- On iPhones, Google Assistant is a separate app that you can delete or straightforward close, since it does not run in the background by default.
- Google Home speakers require you to mute the microphone with the physical button on top, or disable voice set up in the Google Home app.
Turning Off Google Assistant on Android Phones
Open the Settings app on your Android phone. Scroll down and tap Apps or Applications (the exact name varies by phone maker). Find and tap Google in the list. Tap Permissions, then look for Microphone. Toggle it off. This stops Google Assistant from listening for voice commands.
If you want to remove it completely rather than just disable the microphone, go back to the Google app page and tap Uninstall or Disable. On some phones you cannot fully uninstall Google because it is built into the system, but you can disable it so it does not run. If the Uninstall button is grayed out, tap Disable instead.
After you disable the microphone permission or the app itself, "Hey Google" will no longer work. You can still use Google Search by opening the Google app manually if you need it.
Disabling Voice set up Without Removing the App
If you want to keep Google on your phone but stop it from listening for "Hey Google", you can disable just the voice set up. Open the Google app, tap your profile picture in the top right, then tap Settings. Tap Google Assistant, then General. Toggle off Google Assistant.
This approach is useful if you use Google Search or other Google services but do not want the voice listening feature. The app stays on your phone and works normally when you open it, but it will not respond to voice commands in the background.
Turning Off Google Assistant on iPhones
Google Assistant on iPhones is a separate app, not built into the system like it is on Android. Open the App Store, search for Google Assistant, and tap Offload or Delete App. If you see Offload, tap it first — this removes the app but keeps your data. Then tap Delete App to remove it entirely.
If you want to keep the app but prevent it from running in the background, open Settings, tap Google Assistant, and toggle off Background App Refresh. The app will only work when you open it manually.
Disabling Google Assistant on Google Home Speakers
The fastest way to stop a Google Home speaker from listening is to press the mute button on top of the device. It is usually marked with a microphone icon with a line through it. When the light turns red or orange, the microphone is off and the speaker cannot hear "Hey Google".
If you want to disable voice set up through the app instead, open the Google Home app on your phone, tap the device you want to change, tap the settings icon (gear symbol), then tap Assistant. Toggle off Google Assistant. The speaker will still play music and perform other functions, but it will not respond to voice commands.
What Happens After You Turn It Off
Once Google Assistant is disabled, saying "Hey Google" will do nothing. Your phone or speaker will not respond, and no audio will be recorded. If you disabled only the microphone permission but left the app installed, you can still use Google Search by opening the app manually.
If you change your mind later, you can re-enable Google Assistant by reversing these steps: turn the microphone permission back on in Android Settings, re-enable the app, or reinstall it from the App Store on iPhone. On Google Home speakers, press the mute button again or toggle the Assistant back on in the Google Home app.
Why You Might Want to Turn It Off
Some people disable Google Assistant because they are concerned about privacy and do not want a microphone listening for voice commands. Others find the feature annoying because it activates accidentally, or they straightforward do not use voice commands and prefer a cleaner phone. Disabling it also saves a small amount of battery power on phones, since the system is no longer monitoring for the wake phrase.
If you only use Google Assistant occasionally, disabling voice set up (rather than removing it entirely) is a good middle ground — you keep the feature available when you need it but stop it from listening all the time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will turning off Google Assistant affect my Google Search?
No. You can still search by opening the Google app or using the search bar on your home screen. Disabling Google Assistant only removes the voice command feature, not the search tool itself.
Can Google Assistant turn back on by itself?
No. Once you disable it or turn off the microphone permission, it stays off until you manually turn it back on. System updates may reset some settings on rare occasions, but you would have to re-enable it yourself.
Does muting a Google Home speaker turn off Google Assistant?
Yes. When you press the mute button on top of a Google Home speaker, the microphone turns off and the device cannot hear "Hey Google" or any other voice commands. The button is the fastest way to stop listening.
What if I only want to stop "Hey Google" from working at night?
Google Home speakers have a Do Not Disturb mode in the Google Home app that silences notifications and voice responses during set hours. This is faster than disabling the whole feature if you only want a break at certain times.
Can I turn off Google Assistant on just one device if I have multiple?
Yes. Each phone, tablet, or speaker has its own settings. Disabling it on one device does not affect the others. Use the Google Home app to manage multiple speakers separately, or adjust settings on each phone individually.