How to turn off or limit Google Assistant on your Android device

Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider

Google Assistant can be a useful tool, but there may be times when its usefulness is outweighed by its limitations, or when you don’t want your phone listening in to all of your conversations.
Turning off the Google Assistant on your Android device is quick and easy.
Deactivating the Google Assistant support button is a good alternative for those who still want access to the features.
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Google Assistant has its uses — finding a song name, having a hands-free option for Google searches, creating reminders for various tasks. But sometimes activating it is too easy, or for some the fact that it’s always listening is just creepy, rather than helpful.

Sometimes, what you really want is to disable the feature and have more control over your tech.

Whatever your reason, turning off Google Assistant is relatively easy for those with Android devices. Doing so will completely revoke your access to the Assistant’s features. But if you prefer to have occasional access, you might instead consider deactivating the support button, rather than turning off Google Assistant altogether. That way, you’ll still be able to access the assistant through your phone, but you can’t do so via the home button.

Here’s how to perform either action on your Android device:

How to turn off Google Assistant on Android

For those who are completely over Google Assistant, follow these directions to turn it off completely via your Android device:

1. Open your Google app and then tap the three dots in the bottom toolbar (labeled as "more").

2. Select "Settings" to open up a new menu.