Bixby is Samsung’s voice assistant. It launches accidentally when you press the side button (or Bixby key on older Galaxy phones). It interrupts Spotify, video calls and games. Most Samsung users prefer to disable Bixby entirely and let Google Assistant or Alexa handle voice commands instead. The good news is Samsung does provide multiple ways to disable Bixby.
Here is how to disable Bixby completely or just the parts that bother you most.
Remap the Side Button
The most common Bixby annoyance is the side button launching it. Remap the button to do something useful instead. Settings > Advanced features > Side key. The screen shows what the side key does when double-pressed and when long-pressed.
For Double press, pick Quick launch camera or Open app. For Press and hold, pick Power off menu (most useful) or Open app. The Bixby launch is replaced. Now you can press the side button without triggering Bixby. The trade-off is losing the Bixby shortcut entirely, which is what most users want.
Disable Bixby Voice Activation
If you do not want Bixby responding to Hi Bixby voice commands, disable voice activation. Open Bixby Voice (search in Settings or apps). Tap the menu (three lines or dots) > Settings > Voice wake-up. Toggle off Use voice wake-up.
Bixby no longer listens for the wake phrase. The mic does not stay open for Bixby specifically. You can still trigger Bixby through the app icon if needed but not by accident through voice.
Sign Out of Samsung Account from Bixby
If you signed in to Bixby with your Samsung account, signing out effectively disables most of Bixby’s functionality. Open Bixby Voice. Tap menu > Settings. Pick the Samsung account or sign out option. Confirm. Bixby loses its ability to use personalized features and most prompts go away.
Disable Bixby Home (Older Phones)
Older Samsung phones had Bixby Home as the leftmost home screen panel. Swipe right reaches Bixby Home which shows news and other suggestions. Disable it by long-pressing empty home screen space. Swipe right to find Bixby Home. Toggle the switch above it off. Bixby Home is gone from your home screen swipe gesture.
Replace Bixby with Google Assistant
If you want voice control but prefer Google Assistant, the setup is straightforward. Settings > Apps > Choose default apps > Digital assistant app. Pick Google instead of Bixby. Now voice commands from the home button gesture or hot word route to Google Assistant.
Why Samsung Includes Bixby
Samsung wants to control the assistant experience on its phones similar to how Apple controls Siri on iPhones. Bixby has tighter integration with Samsung apps and SmartThings home automation. For users invested in the Samsung ecosystem, Bixby has real benefits.
For most users who do not specifically need Samsung-only features, Google Assistant is the better default because it works across more platforms and apps. The remap or disable methods above let you choose which assistant works for you.
Other Bixby Features to Consider Disabling
Bixby has multiple components that can be disabled separately. Knowing what each does helps target what to turn off.
- Bixby Voice handles voice commands and conversations.
- Bixby Routines automates phone behavior based on triggers (location, time, app usage).
- Bixby Vision was a visual search feature similar to Google Lens, mostly deprecated.
- Bixby Home was the leftmost home screen panel on older phones.
- Bixby Quick Commands let users create custom voice shortcuts.
- Side key launch was the side button shortcut to open Bixby Voice.
Cannot Fully Uninstall Bixby
Bixby is part of Samsung’s One UI system software. You cannot uninstall it through normal means. Some users use ADB commands to disable Bixby packages but this is risky and not necessary for most. The disable and remap options achieve practical full disable without root or technical complexity. Just stop using Bixby and you effectively have a phone without it.
Final Thoughts
To disable Bixby on Samsung, remap the side key in Settings > Advanced features > Side key. Disable voice wake-up in Bixby Voice settings. Set Google as default digital assistant in Settings > Apps. These changes effectively give you a Samsung phone without Bixby interrupting your experience. Bixby cannot be fully uninstalled but the practical effect of these changes is the same.
If you found a specific Bixby annoyance that needed a different fix, share it in the comments.