Why Can’t I Turn Off Bixby on Samsung Phones? (Complete Explanation and Fix)

Introduction

If you’ve ever tried to disable Bixby on your Samsung Galaxy phone and found that it keeps coming back, you’re not alone. Bixby, Samsung’s built-in AI voice assistant, is deeply integrated into One UI and the company’s ecosystem.

While Bixby can be useful for voice commands, smart home controls, and routines, many users prefer alternatives like Google Assistant — or no voice assistant at all. So why can’t you turn it off completely? And what can you do instead?

This guide breaks down why Bixby can’t be fully disabled, what happens if you try, and how to minimize or remove it safely without breaking your phone’s functionality.

1. What Is Bixby and Why It Exists on Samsung Phones

Bixby was introduced by Samsung in 2017 as a smart assistant to compete with Siri and Google Assistant. It comes pre-installed on all Galaxy devices and offers:

• Bixby Voice: Executes voice commands (“Call Mom,” “Turn on Wi-Fi,” “Set an alarm”).

• Bixby Home / Samsung Free: Displays news, app suggestions, and reminders.

• Bixby Vision: Recognizes text and objects using your camera.

• Bixby Routines: Automates tasks based on your habits.

The reason Samsung includes Bixby so deeply in its software is to promote its ecosystem and provide features that only Galaxy users can access — similar to how Apple integrates Siri into iPhones.

2. Why You Can’t Fully Turn Off Bixby

Even if you head into Settings and try to disable Bixby, you’ll notice it keeps reappearing after restarts or software updates. That’s because:

A. Bixby Is a Core System Component

Samsung built Bixby into One UI as a system-level app. It’s not like a downloadable app you can uninstall — it’s part of the operating system itself.

Disabling it completely would remove certain automation and AI features that other Samsung apps depend on, such as SmartThings, Camera AI, or Voice Assistant settings.

B. Samsung Doesn’t Allow Complete Removal for Stability

Samsung limits users from deleting Bixby to prevent software instability. If core apps that interact with Bixby are removed, it could cause:

• Glitches in system settings.

• Errors in voice input or search.

• Problems after software updates.

That’s why “Uninstall” is usually grayed out — you can only disable or turn off some features.

C. The Side Key (Bixby Button) Is Hardwired to It

Most Samsung phones (like Galaxy S21, S22, S23, and S24) have a Side Key that, by default, launches Bixby when pressed and held.
Even if you disable voice activation, pressing the button might still open Bixby unless you reassign its function manually.

D. Software Updates Re-Enable Bixby

After major system updates (like moving from One UI 6.0 to 6.1), Samsung often reactivates Bixby features automatically. This ensures that new features tied to Bixby are available to users — even if you had disabled it before.

3. What Happens If You Try to Disable or Remove Bixby

If you attempt to turn it off completely, here’s what typically happens:

In short — you can silence Bixby, but not completely remove it through normal settings.

4. How to Effectively Turn Off Bixby (Step-by-Step)

Even though Samsung doesn’t let you delete it, you can disable every part of Bixby to stop it from bothering you.

Here’s the safest way to do it:

A. Turn Off “Hi Bixby” Voice Activation

1. Open Bixby Voice (press and hold the Side key or open the app).

2. Tap the three-dot menu → Settings.

3. Disable Voice wake-up.

✅ Result: Saying “Hi Bixby” no longer launches the assistant.

B. Reassign the Side Key (Bixby Button)

1. Go to Settings → Advanced features → Side key.

2. Under Press and hold, select Power off menu instead of Bixby.

3. Optionally, under Double press, choose Open app and select Google Assistant or another app.

✅ Result: The button won’t trigger Bixby anymore.

C. Remove Bixby Home or Samsung Free from the Home Screen

1. Long-press an empty space on your home screen.

2. Swipe right to access Samsung Free / Bixby Home.

3. Toggle it Off.

✅ Result: The leftmost screen no longer shows Bixby suggestions.

D. Disable Bixby Voice and Services

1. Go to Settings → Apps.

2. Tap Bixby Voice and Bixby Services.

3. Choose Force Stop → Disable.

✅ Result: Bixby will stop running in the background.

5. What If You Still Can’t Disable It?

Sometimes, Samsung’s newer updates lock the disable option for Bixby apps. If that’s the case:

Option 1: Use ADB Commands (Advanced)

You can connect your phone to a PC and run commands to disable Bixby packages.
Example:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.samsung.android.bixby.agent

⚠️ Warning: This is for advanced users only. Mistakes could break system functions or prevent updates.

Option 2: Use “Good Lock” App (Official Samsung App)

Samsung’s Good Lock module, available in the Galaxy Store, allows you to customize buttons and actions.
Install the Keys Café or RegiStar module to:

• Change or remove Bixby shortcuts.

• Customize power button behavior safely.

✅ This is the safest Samsung-approved method to minimize Bixby without hacks.

6. Does Turning Off Bixby Affect Other Features?

Disabling Bixby won’t harm your phone, but some features tied to it might stop working:

So, no critical features are lost, but some smart automation options will stop functioning.

7. Why Samsung Keeps Bixby (Even If Users Don’t Like It)

Samsung continues to include Bixby in every phone for several reasons:

• Brand Ecosystem: It connects with SmartThings, Galaxy Buds, and Galaxy Watches.

• Offline Voice Processing: Bixby can execute basic commands without the internet.

• Data Privacy: It lets Samsung control AI data within its ecosystem instead of relying entirely on Google.

• Future AI Integration: Samsung plans to merge Bixby with its Galaxy AI platform.

So, even if many users prefer Google Assistant, Samsung isn’t likely to remove Bixby anytime soon.

8. Should You Keep or Disable Bixby?

Here’s a quick breakdown to help you decide:

✅ Keep Bixby If You:

• Use Samsung devices like Galaxy Watch or SmartThings.

• Enjoy voice commands and automation.

• Prefer Samsung’s privacy-focused assistant.

❌ Disable Bixby If You:

• Use Google Assistant or Alexa.

• Find accidental activations annoying.

• Want a simpler, cleaner user experience.

9. Final Thoughts

You can’t completely turn off or uninstall Bixby on Samsung phones because it’s a core system component integrated into One UI. However, with the right settings adjustments, you can effectively disable its voice wake-up, button triggers, and background services — making it practically invisible.

If you’re a fan of Google’s ecosystem, you can safely use Google Assistant instead, and your phone will still work perfectly fine.

Samsung may never let users fully remove Bixby, but with these steps, you can easily keep it out of your way without affecting your phone’s stability or performance.