How to deactivate Google's voice commands

Google’s voice commands have significantly improved the way we interact with our devices. With just a few words, we can search the web, set reminders, send messages, and control various functions on our smartphones. However, there may be situations where you need to disable these voice commands temporarily or permanently. Whether it’s for privacy concerns or personal preference, here’s a guide on how to deactivate Google’s voice commands.

1. Disabling Voice Match:
Voice Match is a feature that allows Google Assistant to recognize your voice and respond to your specific commands. To deactivate Voice Match, follow these steps:
– Open the Google app on your smartphone.
– Tap on the More tab at the bottom right corner.
– Go to Settings, then select Voice.
– Tap on Voice Match and toggle off the option “Hey Google.”

By disabling Voice Match, Google Assistant will no longer respond to your voice commands.

2. Turning off Google Assistant:
If you want a more comprehensive deactivation of Google’s voice commands, you can turn off Google Assistant completely. Here’s how:
– Open the Google app on your smartphone.
– Tap on the More tab at the bottom right corner.
– Go to Settings, then select Google Assistant.
– In the Assistant tab, tap on Phone under Devices.
– Toggle off the switch at the top to disable Google Assistant.

Once Google Assistant is disabled, it will no longer respond to any voice commands, and the voice command icon will disappear from your smartphone’s screen.

3. Removing microphone access:
Another way to disable Google’s voice commands is by removing microphone access from the Google app on your smartphone. Here’s how:
– Open your device’s Settings.
– Scroll down and tap on Apps.
– Locate and select the Google app.
– Tap on Permissions.
– Find the Microphone option and disable it.

By removing microphone access, the Google app will no longer be able to listen to your voice commands.

4. Disabling Google voice search:
In addition to Google Assistant, you can also disable the voice search feature. Here’s how:
– Open the Google app on your smartphone.
– Tap on the More tab at the bottom right corner.
– Go to Settings, then select Voice.
– Under Search and Assistant, tap on Voice Match.
– Disable the option “Access with Voice Match.”
– This will disable the voice search capability, and the microphone icon will disappear from the Google search bar.

5. Re-evaluating app permissions:
Lastly, it’s essential to regularly review and manage the permissions granted to the Google app. By restricting its access to various features, you can further enhance your privacy and limit the use of voice commands. To re-evaluate the app permissions:
– Open your device’s Settings.
– Scroll down and tap on Apps.
– Locate and select the Google app.
– Tap on Permissions.
– Review the permissions granted and disable any unnecessary permissions.

In conclusion, if you’re looking to deactivate Google’s voice commands, you have several options. You can disable Voice Match or turn off Google Assistant entirely. Additionally, removing microphone access or disabling voice search provides further control over your device’s voice command capabilities. By implementing these steps, you can choose how and when you interact with Google’s voice commands, enabling a more personalized and private user experience.