How to Get Rid of Gemini on My Android Phone

What You’ll Need

Your Android phone with Gemini installed (either as an app or as the default assistant)
Access to the Settings app and the Google app
Internet connection for some steps (optional)

Step-by-Step

Check if Gemini is the default assistant. Open your phone’s Settings, go to Apps (or “Default apps” on some models), then tap “Digital assistant app”. If Gemini is listed, you’ll need to switch it back to Google Assistant.
Switch the default assistant back to Google Assistant. In the “Digital assistant app” settings, tap “Default digital assistant” and choose “Google” (or “Google Assistant”). Confirm any prompt that asks if you want to switch.
Disable Gemini as the default in the Google app. Open the Google app, tap your profile picture (top right), go to Settings, then “Google Assistant”, then “General”, and look for “Gemini”. Toggle off any option that says “Use Gemini” or “Gemini as assistant”.
Uninstall the Gemini app if you want it fully gone. If Gemini was installed as a separate app, long-press its icon on the home screen or in the app drawer, then tap “Uninstall” (or “Remove”). If you don’t see “Uninstall”, it’s a system app and you’ll need to disable it instead.
Disable the Gemini app if it can’t be uninstalled. Go to Settings > Apps, find “Gemini”, tap it, then tap “Disable”. Confirm that you want to disable the app. This will stop it from running and hide it from the app drawer.
Clear Gemini’s default app associations (if any). In Settings > Apps, tap “Gemini”, then “Open by default”, and tap “Clear defaults”. This prevents Gemini from automatically opening when you try to use the assistant.
Remove Gemini from the home screen (if it’s a widget). If you see a Gemini search bar widget on your home screen, long-press it and drag it to the “Remove” area at the top of the screen.
Restart your phone. After making changes, restart your phone to ensure all settings take effect. Then press and hold the home button or power button to test which assistant opens.

Common Mistakes

Only changing the default assistant but not disabling the app: Gemini may still appear when you press the assistant shortcut if the app is still active.
Forgetting to clear defaults: Even after switching the assistant, Gemini might still open for certain voice commands if it has default associations.
Assuming all phones have the same settings: Samsung, Pixel, and other brands have different menu paths; don’t get stuck if you can’t find a specific option.
Disabling the wrong app: Make sure you’re disabling “Gemini” and not “Google” or “Google Assistant” – otherwise you might lose assistant functionality entirely.

Tips

If you only want to stop Gemini from popping up when you long-press the home button, switching the default assistant is enough; you don’t need to uninstall the app.
If you disable Gemini, you may lose access to Gemini features like AI image generation or voice conversations. Make sure you don’t need them.
On some phones, you can also say “Hey Google, open settings” to jump directly to assistant settings.
If you want to keep Gemini but not have it as the default, just switch the default and leave the app installed.

Troubleshooting

If the steps above don’t work, try the following:

Gemini still opens when I press the home button: Go to Settings > Apps > Default apps > Digital assistant app, and make sure “Google” is selected. If it already is, tap “Clear defaults” on Gemini again, then restart.
I can’t find the Gemini app in Settings: On some phones, Gemini is integrated into the Google app, not a separate app. In that case, go to the Google app settings and disable the Gemini toggle there.
The “Disable” button is greyed out: This means Gemini is a system app that cannot be disabled on your phone. You can only switch the default assistant away from it, and you may need to use ADB (Android Debug Bridge) to remove it completely – but that’s advanced and not recommended for most users.
After disabling, my assistant doesn’t work at all: You may have accidentally disabled the Google app. Go to Settings > Apps, find “Google”, and tap “Enable” if it’s disabled.
Gemini keeps coming back after updates: Some phone manufacturers re-enable Gemini after system updates. You may need to repeat the steps after each update.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will disabling Gemini free up storage space?

Disabling an app won’t free up storage because the app’s data is still on your phone. If you want to free space, you can try clearing its data (Settings > Apps > Gemini > Storage > Clear storage) or uninstall it if possible.

Can I still use Google Assistant after disabling Gemini?

Yes, if you switch the default assistant back to Google Assistant before disabling Gemini, Google Assistant will work normally. Just make sure you don’t disable the Google app itself.

Why did Gemini replace Google Assistant on my phone?

Google has been rolling out Gemini as the default assistant on many Android phones, especially newer models. It’s part of Google’s push to integrate its AI features. You can switch back to Google Assistant as described above.

Is it possible to completely remove Gemini from my phone?

If Gemini is a system app (pre-installed), you can’t uninstall it without rooting your phone, which is not recommended. You can only disable it. If it was installed as a user app, you can uninstall it normally.

Will disabling Gemini affect other Google apps?

No, disabling Gemini only affects the Gemini app itself. Other Google apps like Gmail, Maps, and YouTube will continue to work normally.

How do I know if Gemini is my default assistant?

Press and hold the home button (or power button on some phones). If Gemini’s interface appears (with a text box and “Ask Gemini” text), then it’s your default. You can also check in Settings > Apps > Default apps > Digital assistant app.

Sources: Google Android Help. Menus and buttons can differ slightly by version. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.