I have over 5 years of experience writing about and troubleshooting Android devices. As an Android device enthusiast and power user, I often get asked how to customize devices to suit different needs. One common request from Samsung Galaxy device owners is how to disable or remap Bixby, Samsung’s virtual assistant.
In this comprehensive guide, I will walk through the various methods to disable or limit Bixby on the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus.
Table of Contents
What is Bixby?
Bixby is Samsung’s proprietary virtual assistant software, similar to Siri, Alexa or Google Assistant. It was first introduced on the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus in 2017.
Bixby aims to provide deeper integration and control over Samsung devices and services. You can use Bixby to:
- Open apps
- Adjust device settings
- Set reminders
- Dictate text
- Answer questions
- Control smart home devices
On the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus, Bixby has a dedicated physical button on the left side of the phone. Pressing this button launches the Bixby assistant.
Why Disable Bixby?
There are a few common reasons why Galaxy owners want to disable or limit Bixby:
- Accidental presses of the Bixby button, especially when reaching for the volume keys
- Prefer using Google Assistant over Bixby
- Find Bixby lacking in capabilities compared to other assistants
- Bixby seen as bloatware taking up storage space
Fortunately, Samsung has provided official options to disable or customize Bixby. There are also third-party apps that offer additional customization.
Official Ways to Limit Bixby
Here are the official methods to disable or limit Bixby on Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus provided by Samsung:
1. Disable the Bixby Button
This prevents the physical Bixby button from launching the assistant while still keeping Bixby enabled.
Steps:
- Open Bixby Home by pressing the Bixby button
- Tap the 3-dot menu button in the top right
- Tap Settings
- Tap Bixby key
- Toggle the switch off for “Press to open Bixby”
The physical button will now do nothing when pressed.
2. Disable Bixby Voice
This disables the “Hi Bixby” voice activation feature.
Steps:
- Open Bixby Home
- Tap the 3-dot menu button
- Tap Settings
- Toggle off “Wake with Hi Bixby”
You can no longer launch Bixby using voice commands.
3. Disable Individual Bixby Services
You can disable specific aspects of Bixby while keeping some features enabled:
- Bixby Dictation – toggle off in Bixby Voice settings
- Bixby Vision – toggle service off in Camera app settings
- Bixby Home screen – long press home screen and disable
This lets you limit Bixby while retaining some functionality.
Third Party Apps for Bixby Customization
If the official options are still not enough, third party apps provide additional ways to customize or disable Bixby.
Popular options include:
- BxActions – Completely disable Bixby and remap button to other actions
- Button Mapper – Similar functionality to BxActions
- Routines+ – Replace Bixby Routines with more powerful automation app
Be aware these apps may require a bit more technical knowledge to setup properly.
Should You Completely Disable Bixby?
While the options above allow you to fully disable Bixby, you may want to consider keeping Bixby Routines enabled even if you disable other aspects.
Bixby Routines is the automation app that replaces SmartThings on Galaxy devices. It provides powerful automatic rules based on contexts like time, location, apps opened, etc. Bixby Routines operates independently of the Bixby assistant.
So evaluate if you find benefit in Bixby Routines automation before deciding to completely purge Bixby.
Conclusion
Bixby aims to provide value through deeper integration with Samsung’s ecosystem. But if you are finding it intrusive or lacking compared to alternatives, the options outlined above should give you more control.
You can fully disable Bixby using official options or third party apps. For most flexibility, apps like BxActions allow complete remapping of the Bixby button.
Consider selectively disabling Bixby services instead of fully removing to retain Bixby Routines automation. Evaluate if this Samsung exclusive feature brings you enough benefit to warrant keeping Bixby around in a limited capacity.
Hopefully with the customization options covered, you can now tailor your Galaxy S9 or S9 Plus to suit your needs and preferences! Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions.
