Google Assistant runs in the background on most Android phones and some computers, listening for the "Hey Google" wake word and using processing power even when you are not actively using it. You can disable it completely, turn off just the voice set up, or restrict it to specific apps — the steps depend on what device you have and how much you want to keep.
Key Takeaways
- On Android phones, you can disable Google Assistant entirely through Settings > Apps > Google > Permissions, or turn off voice set up alone through the Google Assistant app.
- On computers running Windows or Mac, Google Assistant does not install by default, but if you have it, you can uninstall it like any other program.
- Disabling voice set up stops the device from listening for "Hey Google" and frees up background processing, which can improve battery life on phones.
- If you turn off Google Assistant completely, voice search and some smart home controls will stop working, so decide first whether you actually use those features.
Disable Google Assistant on Android phones
The simplest way to turn off Google Assistant on an Android phone is through the Google app itself. Open the Google app (the one with the colorful "G" icon), tap your profile picture in the top right corner, then tap Settings. Go to Google Assistant, then General. Toggle off the switch next to Google Assistant. This stops the app from listening for voice commands and removes the Assistant from your home screen.
If you want to keep Google Assistant but just stop it from listening for the wake word, stay in the Google app settings, go to Voice, then Voice Match, and toggle off Hey Google. This prevents the device from constantly listening for the set up phrase, which reduces background processing. You can still open Google Assistant manually by swiping up from the bottom corners of your screen or by pressing and holding the home button, depending on your phone model.
Some Android phones also let you disable Google Assistant through the main Settings app. Go to Settings > Apps > Google > Permissions and turn off Microphone. This prevents any app from using your phone's microphone, which is more restrictive than disabling Assistant alone, so use this only if you do not need voice features in other apps either.
Turn off Google Assistant on Windows computers
Google Assistant does not come pre-installed on Windows, but if you installed it yourself or it came with another Google app, you can remove it. Go to Settings > Apps > Apps & Features, search for "Google Assistant," and click Uninstall. Confirm the removal and restart your computer if prompted.
If you have Google Chrome installed and want to disable voice search through the browser, open Chrome and click the three-line menu in the top right. Go to Settings > Search engine > Manage search engines. Find Google in the list, click the three dots next to it, and select Edit. Toggle off Search with voice. This stops the microphone icon from appearing in your search bar, though it does not affect Google Assistant if it is installed separately.
Disable Google Assistant on Mac computers
Google Assistant is not a standard Mac process, so most Mac users do not have it installed. If you installed it as a standalone app, open Applications, find Google Assistant, and drag it to the Trash. Empty the Trash to complete the removal.
If you use Google Chrome on Mac and want to turn off voice search, open Chrome and click Chrome in the top menu bar, then Settings. Go to Search engine > Manage search engines, find Google, click the three dots, select Edit, and toggle off Search with voice. This removes the voice search option from your browser without affecting other Google services.
What happens when you disable Google Assistant
Turning off Google Assistant stops the device from listening for voice commands and removes the Assistant widget from your home screen or lock screen. Voice search through Google will no longer work, and any smart home devices you control through Google Assistant will become inaccessible from that phone or computer. If you use Google Assistant to set reminders, control music, or check the weather by voice, those features will stop working.
Disabling voice set up (rather than the entire app) is less disruptive. You keep the ability to open Google Assistant manually and use its features, but the device stops constantly listening for the wake word. This reduces background processing and battery drain on phones, which is why many people choose this option instead of full removal.
If you only disable the microphone permission, Google Assistant can still run, but it cannot hear you. You would need to re-enable microphone access in Settings before voice commands work again.
Re-enable Google Assistant if you change your mind
On Android, open the Google app, tap your profile picture, go to Settings > Google Assistant > General, and toggle the switch back on. If you only disabled the wake word, go to Voice > Voice Match and toggle Hey Google back on.
On Windows or Mac, if you uninstalled Google Assistant, you would need to read it again from the Google website or reinstall it through the Google Play Store (on Android devices that synced with your account). If you only disabled voice search in Chrome, open Chrome settings again and toggle voice search back on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does disabling Google Assistant improve phone battery life?
Turning off voice set up does reduce battery drain because the microphone stops listening constantly for the wake word. The improvement is usually small — a few percent per day — but noticeable on older phones or if you rarely use voice commands. Disabling the entire app has a similar effect.
Can I disable Google Assistant but keep Google Search?
Yes. Google Search and Google Assistant are separate. You can disable Assistant through the Google app settings while keeping Search active in your browser and search bar. Voice search in Chrome is also separate and can be turned off independently.
What if I only want to disable Google Assistant on my lock screen?
On Android, go to Settings > Lock screen (or Security, depending on your phone), find the option for lock screen apps or widgets, and remove Google Assistant from that list. The app stays active elsewhere on your phone, but you cannot access it from the lock screen.
Will disabling Google Assistant affect other Google apps?
No. Gmail, Google Maps, Google Photos, and other Google apps work independently of Google Assistant. Disabling Assistant does not affect them. Only voice-activated features and smart home control through Google Assistant will stop working.
How do I know if Google Assistant is actually listening on my phone?
If the Hey Google toggle is on in the Google app settings under Voice > Voice Match, the device is listening. You can also check your Google Activity log at myactivity.google.com to see what the Assistant has recorded, though this shows only what was processed after set up, not constant background listening.