How to turn off Gemini on Android, in Gmail and in Chrome

Gemini now shows up in a lot of places: your phone’s power button, “Hey Google”, Gmail, Google Docs and Chrome. There is no single off switch, so this guide works through each one. Pick the sections you need — you don’t have to do them all.

Before you start: Google began replacing Google Assistant with Gemini on eligible Android phones in September 2026. Once your phone has switched, you can’t go back to Assistant, but you can stop Gemini from opening and remove it as your assistant.

Turn off Gemini on an Android phone

These steps are for Google Pixel and most Android phones. Menu names can vary slightly by manufacturer; if you can’t find a setting, search your Settings app for “digital assistant”.

Step 1: Remove Gemini as your default assistant

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Apps, then Default apps, then Digital assistant app.
3. Tap Default digital assistant app.
4. Choose None, or another assistant app.

Step 2: Stop the power button opening Gemini

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap System, then Gestures, then Press & hold power button.
3. Choose the power menu instead of the assistant.

Step 3: Turn off “Hey Google”

1. Open the Gemini app.
2. Tap your profile picture or initial, then Settings.
3. Tap Talk to Gemini hands-free and turn off “Hey Google”.

Step 4: Delete or disable the Gemini app

Delete the Gemini app like any other app, or disable it if your phone doesn’t allow removal. Deleting the app on its own doesn’t remove Gemini as your default digital assistant, so do Step 1 as well.

Turn off Gemini on a Samsung Galaxy phone

On recent Galaxy phones, pressing and holding the Side button opens Gemini by default.

1. Open Settings and tap Advanced features.
2. Tap Side button, then Long press.
3. Choose Power off menu.

Then remove Gemini as the default assistant: search Settings for digital assistant app and set it to None.

Turn off Gemini in Gmail

Gemini features in Gmail — summaries, “Help me write” and the Gemini side panel — are tied to Google Workspace smart features. On a computer:

1. Open Gmail and click Settings (the gear icon), then See all settings.
2. On the General tab, scroll to Google Workspace smart features.
3. Click Manage Workspace smart feature settings.
4. Turn off Smart features in Google Workspace (and, if you want, Smart features in other Google products).
5. Click Save.

Nearby on the same tab, Smart features controls separate Gmail features such as inbox categories, Smart Compose and Smart Reply. Leave it on if you still want those.

Turn off Gemini in Google Docs, Drive and other Workspace apps

The Smart features in Google Workspace setting above applies across Google’s Workspace apps, including Docs and Drive, so turning it off in Gmail also removes those Gemini features. If you use a work or school account, your organisation’s administrator decides whether Gemini is available, and you may not see these settings.

Turn off Gemini in Chrome

1. In Chrome, open the menu and go to Settings.
2. Click AI innovations, then Gemini in Chrome.
3. Under Preferences, turn off the options you don’t want.

To hide the Gemini button, right-click the top of the Chrome window and click Unpin Gemini.

Stop Gemini saving your conversations

Turning Gemini off doesn’t delete what it already has. To stop saving new chats and remove old ones:

1. Open the Gemini app (or go to gemini.google.com on a computer).
2. Tap your profile picture, then Gemini Apps Activity (on the web, open the menu and choose Activity).
3. Tap On, then choose Turn off or Turn off and delete activity.

Even with activity turned off, Google keeps conversations with your account for up to 72 hours to provide the service.

Want a different assistant instead?

If you’re turning off Gemini because you prefer another assistant, compare the options in Gemini vs ChatGPT and Claude vs Gemini, or read our guide to the best AI personal assistant for your needs.