Google will remove Google Assistant from Android mobile phones and tablets starting September 4, the company announced in emails to users. The tech company stated that the phase-out process may take several weeks to reach every device. Once the update arrives on a phone or tablet, users will no longer be able to access the old assistant or select it in device settings.
Gemini will take over as the default assistant provided by Google, assuming the device meets minimum requirements and the service is available in the user's region. Triggering the assistant by saying "Hey Google" or holding down the power button will launch Gemini instead of Google Assistant. Devices that do not support Gemini, or those located in regions where Gemini has not launched, could be left without any Google assistant service.
The removal also extends to secondary devices that depend on a connected mobile phone to access Google Assistant. Smartwatches running Wear OS, compatible headphones, and vehicles connected through Android Auto will all lose access to the legacy assistant when the paired mobile device loses it.
Exceptions for Google TV and Built-In Automotive Systems
Vehicles equipped with Google built-in, known in Spain as Google integrado, are excluded from this phase-out for now. This platform integrates services such as Google Assistant, Google Maps, and Google Play directly into the vehicle infotainment system at the factory without requiring a connected smartphone.
The notification email sent to users also excludes Google TV devices alongside smart speakers and smart displays managed through Google Home. These product lines remain outside the September 4 schedule, although Google is gradually transferring legacy assistant features to Gemini across other device categories.
A Decade of Service Since 2016 Debut
Google originally unveiled Google Assistant at the Google I/O developers conference in May 2016. The tool first appeared inside the Google Allo messaging application and on the Google Home smart speaker before arriving on Pixel smartphones in October 2016. It later expanded to Android devices from other manufacturers, televisions, smart displays, connected cars, and iOS devices.
Google had initially announced plans to retire the assistant on most mobile devices during 2025, but the company delayed the shutdown until this year. Setting September 4 as the start of the final rollout marks the definitive end of Google Assistant on Android phones, just over ten years after its initial presentation.
