Google Assistant is the virtual assistant developed by Google that allows you to use voice commands to get information, set reminders and alarms, control smart home devices, play music, and more. While Google Assistant can be incredibly useful, you may want to disable it at certain times for privacy, security, or other reasons.
Fortunately, Google Assistant makes it easy to temporarily or permanently disable voice commands. Here are step-by-step instructions for how to turn off “OK Google” detection and mute Google Assistant on Android devices and iPhones.
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Turn Off “OK Google” Detection on Android Devices
“OK Google” detection allows you to activate Google Assistant just by saying “OK Google” aloud. Here’s how to disable it:
Temporarily Disable “OK Google”
If you want to temporarily turn off “OK Google” detection, you can do so through quick settings:
- Swipe down from the top of your Android device’s screen to open quick settings
- Long press on the Google Assistant box
- Tap on the “Ok Google” detection toggle to turn it off
This will disable “OK Google” until you manually re-enable it through the same steps.
Disable Through Google App
To permanently disable “OK Google” detection:
- Open the Google app
- Tap “More” then “Settings”
- Tap “Voice”
- Turn off “Hey Google” and “Voice Match”
Toggling these options off prevents your device from actively listening for the “OK Google” wake phrase.
Mute Google Assistant on Android
If you want to mute Google Assistant so it won’t provide any verbal responses, while keeping voice commands enabled:
- Open the Google Assistant app
- Tap your profile icon
- Tap “Settings” then “Preferences”
- Turn on “Silent mode”
With silent mode activated, Google Assistant will only respond visually instead of speaking aloud.
Disable “Hey Siri” Detection on iPhones
To turn off “Hey Siri” detection on iPhones:
- Go to Settings
- Tap Siri & Search
- Turn off “Listen for Hey Siri”
You can also disable access to Siri entirely from lock screen or anytime by toggling those options off.
Mute Siri Responses on iPhones
To mute Siri’s voice on iPhones:
- Go to Settings
- Tap Siri & Search
- Turn on “Silence Siri”
This will stop Siri from responding out loud to your requests.
Why Disable Voice Assistants?
There are a few key reasons you may want to disable Google Assistant, Siri, or other voice assistants at times:
- Privacy – Turning off the microphone prevents constant listening and recording when you don’t need it.
- Security – Disabling voice commands blocks others from accessing your device through voice without permission.
- Concentration – Muting responses helps avoid distracting interruptions when you need to focus.
- Appropriateness – You may need to temporarily disable voice functions in situations like meetings, performances, or other sensitive environments.
- Redundancy – If you don’t use voice commands frequently, you can disable them to simplify your device.
Re-Enabling Google Assistant and Siri
Once you’ve turned off voice activation or muted responses from Google Assistant or Siri, you can re-enable full functionality at any time.
On Android devices, open quick settings and toggle “Ok Google” detection back on or turn off silent mode in Google Assistant settings.
On iPhones, go back into Siri & Search settings to turn “Listen for Hey Siri” and voice responses on again.
