Original topic:

Disable Google Assistant

(Topic created: yesterday)
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TheRabbi
Comet
Options
Galaxy Watch
Has anyone found a way to disable Google Digital Assistant permanently? In typical evil Google fashion, it keeps re-enabling itself. 
6 Replies
Ellin
Supernova
Options
Galaxy Watch
Nope, I'm constantly turning it off
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AAbbott
Comet
Options
Galaxy Watch

Just ignore it.  It doesn't use any resources unless it's called into action. It waits quietly in the background waiting to be called. Doesn't even show in the battery usage statistics - if it does, it's at the very, very bottom; meaning it uses negligible battery.  You can check for yourself how much battery it's using by looking at the app info and it will tell you how much battery it used since your last charge - which should be 0% if you don't use it.  Who knows?  Someday you may find yourself with your hands full or greasy and need to ask it to do something.  Maybe not, but it's there for you.  I, myself, don't use it and it used to really annoy me to see it as one of the permanently running background apps (even when disabled), but since I know it doesn't use any of my battery, I just ignore it.  It's baked into WearOS which, as you should know, is a Google product.  As such Google won't allow it to be completely disabled.

Screenshot_20260725_081511_Galaxy Watch7 Manager.jpg

Jgameros
Asteroid
Options
Galaxy Watch
Do a force stop
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AAbbott
Comet
Options
Galaxy Watch

Yes, one can do a force stop, but the app will start up again.  Forced stops are not permanent stops,  it is just meant to stop a misbehaving app so that one can troubleshoot it.  Google wants its assistant to be awake in the background even if one does not use it.  On the occasion that one may want to use it, it does no good if it's not actively listening for a command.  Having to tap to activate it really defeats the purpose of being able to send a command if your hands are full or dirty.

The "hey, Google" command is used for some other Google apps, that rely on Google assistant (Android Auto comes to mind), and will not function if the app is not listening.  Bixby, on the other hand, can be totally disabled or not even set up in the first place, because it is not necessary for anything other than controlling your Samsung devices.  It, too, will remain listening in the background once activated.

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meself
Honored Contributor
Options
Galaxy Watch
Open the Google app and tap your profile picture in the top-right corner.

Go to Settings > Google Assistant.

Tap General (or "Hey Google & Voice Match").

Toggle the Google Assistant or Hey Google switch to the off positio
Go to Settings > Advanced features.

Tap Side button.

Under the Press and hold section, select Power off menu instead of Quick launch assistant or bixby
Open the Settings app on your Samsung device.

Scroll down and tap Apps.

Tap Choose default apps at the very top of the screen.

Select Digital assistant app, then tap Device assistant app.


AAbbott
Comet
Options
Galaxy Watch

Those are instructions for the phone, not the watch.  OP was asking about the watch.

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