Having a smart assistant right on your Android phone is extremely helpful, and useful. From turning lights on and off in your home, to sending messages when your hands are full, the possibilities are almost endless.
Although Google, Apple, and Amazon have a significant lead in the smart assistant department, some company’s have tried to combat the big boys. Samsung, is arguably the largest company to try and take on the trifecta of smart assistants with Bixby. But even though it’s built into your phone, you will probably want to turn off Bixby on the Galaxy S21 in favor of Google Assistant.
What is Bixby?
Bixby was originally introduced back in 2017 with the launch of the Galaxy S8 lineup. This was meant to be a competitor to the likes of Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Siri.
As expected, Samsung has integrated Bixby in a wide variety of ways across all Galaxy phones, including the Galaxy S21. Samsung has put plenty of work into Bixby to try and make it a viable option. However, the truth is that it just ends up getting in the way of using the vastly-superior Google Assistant.
How to turn off Bixby on Galaxy S21
Ever since the Galaxy Note 10 lineup was released, Samsung has enabled Bixby by default. The reason for this has been to try and force users to “take advantage” of Samsung’s inferior built-in assistant. However, when stacked up against Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and even Apple’s Siri, Bixby just falls short.
Here’s how you can turn off Bixby on the Galaxy S21:
- Swipe down to reveal the notification shade.
- Tap the Power button in the top right corner.
- From the Power Menu, tap the Side Key Settings button at the bottom.
- Under Double Press, tap either Quick launch camera, or you can tap Open app and select another app to launch.
- Under Press and hold, tap Power off menu.
Moving forward, you won’t have to worry about accidentally activating Bixby by pressing and holding the power button.
Remove Samsung Free on Galaxy S21
If you have ever used a Pixel phone, you may have noticed the Google Discover page when swiping all the way to the left. However, in the company’s efforts to make Bixby more popular, previous Galaxy devices featured Bixby Home, which is also known as Samsung Daily.
With the Galaxy S21, it seems that Samsung has finally “learned its lesson”, and is not forcing users into Bixby anymore. For the first time on a Galaxy device, you can actually enable Google Discover while using Samsung’s stock launcher.
Here’s how you can switch from Samsung Free to Google Discover on the Galaxy S21:
- Press and hold on an empty space on your Home Screen.
- Swipe to the right until you reach the left-most Home Screen panel.
- Tap Google Discover from the list.
You can also remove this panel entirely by tapping the switch in the top right-hand corner.
Can you use Google Assistant instead of Bixby?
Although Samsung does not allow you to explicitly use Google Assistant instead of Bixby, there are a few workarounds. If you happen to be using gestures instead of the navigation bar, this is the easiest way to activate Assistant. Simply swipe inwards from the bottom left or right corners, and Google Assistant will activate.
Additionally, you can actually set the Side Button to activate specific applications with a double-tap.
- Swipe down to reveal the notification shade.
- Tap the Power button in the top right corner.
- From the Power Menu, tap the Side Key Settings button at the bottom.
- Select Open app under Double Press.
- Scroll down and select Google.
Now this will exactly activate Google Assistant, but it will automatically bring up the Google app. It’s kind of a wonky workaround, but it’s still a quick shortcut to activate Google whenever you want, from wherever.
Conclusion
Samsung really has gone to great lengths to try and improve Bixby since its inception. Bixby Routines are rather impressive, as it’s similar to Apple’s Siri Shortcuts on iOS. But the fact remains that Bixby just isn’t powerful enough to handle the day-to-day needs.
Let us know what you think about Bixby. Have you decided to stick with it? Or did you give up the goose, opting for Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa instead?
Alastair says
Thank you! Samsung make great hardware an then wreck it by pushing worthless bloatware in your face constantly, especially Bixby. Your method finally eliminated Bixby and made the side button useful. Thanks again.
Amergin Ó Kai says
This doesn’t tell you how to turn Bixby off – it just shows you how to change the function of the button. How the phuque do you turn the dam thing OFF????
Harry says
I HATE BIXBY!!!!! END OF CONVERSATION!!!! PLEASE SAMSUNG, TAKE IT OFF OF YOUR PHONES!!!!! IT IS OBNOXIOUS!!!!
Mike Senn says
Bixby is a nuisance. The horrible Bixby button is placed where my vehicle device holder hits the button. I had to crazy glue the button so it won’t activate. I am on my second Samsung device in which Bixy is forced on me. I won’t buy another Samsung product until Bixby is completely removed and not forced on us. If I wanted that kind of garbage, It is not a “feature”, it is a nuisance app that we can’t delete from the phone. I had high hopes that the S21 finally put it to sleep for good. Unfortunately, this forces me to try another manufacturer. I hate Bixby.
Xandrovic says
Thanks a lot. Was able to switch bixby off with your manual.
Vernon Stewart says
Yes, very frustrating trying to turn off Bixby. Your instructions were easy to follow.
Thanks
Sarah says
I currently have an S9 plus and am looking to upgrade. I was very specifically seeking this information before moving forward…THAT is how annoying the Bixby button is. If there was no way to completely deactivate it, I wouldn’t even buy another Samsung device. EVER. I really hope the developers and those who design future models see articles like this. Make it optional ONLY or lose customers!!!
Pat says
Yes it did, I find Bixby very irritating. When i press the power button it to turn the phone off. Thanks
Wilmer says
I agree… do don’t like “Forced apps”
Thanks for helping me to recover my privilege of turnings off my phone when I want to!
Logan says
I just switched to a Galaxy S21+ from a Google Pixel 2 XL. I loved my Pixel and probably would have kept it longer if I could have, as I think it was one of the best phone’s Google has released. I’m enjoying the S21+ but here are some areas I think that it falls short:
– The camera is not quite as good as the Pixel 2 XL, and that phone is 3 years older! After taking comparison photos, the Pixel 2 XL still has a significantly better camera than the Samsung which really surprised me.
-The on-screen fingerprint scanner. Unless you have the clock display on that shows you the time and date when your phone is turned off, you’re pretty much guessing where the scanner is which makes it easy to miss and mess up. If you do have it turned on and can see where to place your finger, the scanner still does a pretty bad job of reading your fingerprint and I often find myself having to put in a passcode instead. (I guess they’re trying to move things over to face recognition anyway?) Regardless, I think the fingerprint reader on the Pixel was worlds better and the placement on the back of the phone was perfect.
-Forcing Bixby and making it fairly difficult to disable. You would think that holding down a power button would shut down your device but here, Samsung thought that they would be able to persuade people to use Bixby by causing Bixby to appear when you held down the power button. Okay, let’s just say you like Bixby; you shouldn’t have to look up and research how to turn off your device.
-Forced apps. Lots of other apps that were preinstalled on the phone that you can’t delete or remove. Nothing I can’t stand more in a phone. Chances are we don’t want it so why force it just to have it take up unnecessary storage? If I want it I’ll download it myself ffs.