How Do I Turn Off AI on My Phone?

Overview

There is no universal switch that disables every AI function on every phone. The steps depend on what you mean by “AI”: a voice assistant such as Gemini, Samsung Galaxy AI features, Apple Intelligence, AI features inside Google Search, or tools built into individual apps. On Android, start by removing Gemini as the default digital assistant if you want it to stop opening; then turn off manufacturer and app-specific features separately. On a compatible iPhone, Apple provides a switch for Apple Intelligence. These steps turn off particular features, not every algorithmic function of a phone or its apps.

First identify the AI feature you want to stop

A phone may have several independent features labelled with an AI brand or capability. A voice assistant can be configured separately from the standalone assistant app; search results may include generated summaries; the phone maker can add writing, translation, or photo tools; and third-party apps have their own controls. Turning off one feature does not necessarily affect the others.

The best way to locate a setting on a phone whose menus differ is to open Settings and search for the feature name—for example, “digital assistant,” “Gemini,” “Galaxy AI,” or “Apple Intelligence.” Menu labels depend on the manufacturer, model, software version, language, and region.

How to disable AI on an Android phone

Turn Gemini off as the default digital assistant

For users who want Gemini to stop opening from a button or assistant gesture, remove it as the default digital assistant. On many Android phones, the Google-documented route is:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Apps → Default apps → Digital assistant app.
3. Tap Default digital assistant app.
4. Choose another assistant or None, if the phone offers that option.

Google notes that the exact path can vary by device. In Settings, search for digital assistant app if the menu is not where expected. “Google” may appear as the selected assistant even when Gemini is in use. Google also cautions that deleting the Gemini mobile app does not automatically remove Gemini as the device’s default assistant, so check the default-assistant setting separately. (Manage or delete the Gemini app on your Android device - Gemini Apps Help)

Stop voice, button, and lock-screen activation

If you want to keep Gemini installed but prevent it from appearing unexpectedly, change only its activation methods:

• Voice: In the Gemini app, open Menu → your profile picture → Settings → Talk to Gemini hands-free, then turn off Hey Google.
• Power button or gesture: In Android Settings → System → Gestures → Press & hold power button, choose an action other than Digital assistant. Some manufacturers use a Side button or similar menu instead.
• Lock screen: In Gemini settings, open Gemini on lock screen and turn off Use Gemini without unlocking.

These steps stop the listed entry points; they do not uninstall Gemini or necessarily remove its features from Google apps. Google documents these controls as distinct from changing or deleting the default assistant. (Manage or delete the Gemini app on your Android device - Gemini Apps Help)

Samsung Galaxy: disable Galaxy AI features individually

On Samsung phones, open Settings → Galaxy AI and turn off the feature switches you do not want. Depending on the model and software, the settings may be under Advanced features → Galaxy AI, Intelligent features, or Awesome Intelligence. Some AI controls are located inside the relevant app—for example, Phone, Notes, Camera, Gallery, Samsung Messages, Samsung Health, or SmartThings—rather than in one central list. Samsung says that available features vary by device and software, and that some AI functions are integrated into the system and cannot be disabled. It recommends restarting after changing feature settings. (Use features with Galaxy AI on your Galaxy phone and tablet)

If the concern is cloud processing rather than the presence of AI tools, Samsung documents a separate setting: Settings → Galaxy AI → turn on Process data only on device. Samsung describes this as a switch to disable cloud-based processing for Galaxy AI; it does not switch off every AI function. Some tools continue to run on the phone itself, while other features may be unavailable or limited. The feature list and processing behavior depend on the device and software. (Use features with Galaxy AI on your Galaxy phone and tablet)

Other Android phones

For Pixel and other Android models, begin with the digital-assistant setting and then check the phone maker’s own AI or “smart features” menu. If a setting is missing, search Settings for the exact feature name or consult the device maker’s support pages. Do not assume that turning off Gemini disables AI in search, the keyboard, camera, photo editing, or other installed apps.

How to turn off AI on an iPhone

On iPhones that support Apple Intelligence, Apple documents this route on iOS 26: Settings → Apple Intelligence & Siri → tap the switch next to Apple Intelligence. The labels and availability may vary with iOS version, device, language, and region. Apple also provides individual controls for some features, including message and email summaries, notification summaries, priority notifications, Mail smart replies, and Phone voicemail suggestions. Those controls are useful when the goal is to disable one behavior rather than all Apple Intelligence features. (Use Apple Intelligence on your iPhone - Apple Support (AL); Turn off and restrict access to Apple Intelligence features on iPhone - Apple Support (AE))

Disabling Apple Intelligence is not the same as disabling all Siri voice activation. If Siri itself should stop responding, Apple’s instructions are to open Settings → Siri or Apple Intelligence & Siri → Talk to Siri (or Talk & Type to Siri) → Off, then turn off Press Side Button for Siri if that option is present. This is a separate assistant control. (Turn on and activate Siri on iPhone - Apple Support)

Separate app and search features

Google Search AI Overviews

Turning off Gemini does not remove every AI element from Google Search. Google says AI Overviews are a core Search feature and cannot be turned off, but users can choose the Web filter after a search to display text-based links without AI Overviews. Google’s opt-in AI in Search experiments are separate: on Android, open Google Search in a browser, sign in, tap Labs → Manage, and switch off AI in Search. The Labs control disables the experiment, not the standard AI Overviews feature. (Find information in faster & easier ways with AI Overviews in Google Search - Android phone & tablet - Google Search Help)

AI in other apps

A keyboard, photo editor, messaging app, browser, or social-media app may offer its own writing assistant, image generation, summaries, or chatbot. Look inside that app’s settings for feature-specific controls. If an app has no disable option, removing the app or using an alternative may be the only practical way to avoid that app’s AI feature. System settings for Gemini or Galaxy AI do not necessarily govern third-party software.

Privacy controls are not the same as turning AI off

Changing assistant activation, disabling an AI feature, limiting cloud processing, and controlling saved activity are different actions. For example, switching off Keep activity in Gemini manages activity history; it does not remove Gemini as the default assistant or disable every Gemini function. Google says that when Keep activity is off, conversations may still be retained with the account for up to 72 hours to provide the service and process feedback. Users can separately delete prior Gemini Apps activity. (Manage and delete your activity in Gemini Apps - Android phone and tablet - Gemini Apps Help)

On Android, Settings → Privacy or Security and privacy → Privacy dashboard shows which apps have accessed permissions and lets users adjust them. On Android 12 and later, Quick Settings may also provide camera and microphone access switches. These controls limit access to those sensors; they do not turn off AI that does not need the camera or microphone, nor do they disable all other data access. (Manage permissions from the privacy dashboard - Android Help; Check if your Android camera or microphone is on or off - Android Help)

The practical answer

To turn AI off on an Android phone, first disable Gemini as the default assistant—or stop its voice and button triggers—then switch off the manufacturer’s AI features and the relevant app-specific tools. On Samsung, use the Galaxy AI menu and, if the issue is cloud processing, enable Process data only on device. On a supported iPhone, switch off Apple Intelligence in Settings, and separately disable Siri activation if that is also unwanted. There is no single phone-wide setting that guarantees all AI in every built-in and third-party app is disabled.