Google Sets September 4 Date for Ending Assistant on Android Devices

Google announced the end date for the Assistant-to-Gemini transition, and the company has already begun emailing users ahead of the change. Google will start removing Google Assistant access from Android phones and tablets on September 4, 2026.

Once the change reaches a device, users will no longer be able to use Google Assistant or switch back to it on affected phones, tablets, and paired devices. On compatible Android smartphones and tablets, Google says Gemini will take over.

On supported devices, the "Hey Google" voice command and a long press of the power button will launch Gemini. The change also covers Wear OS watches, headphones, and Android Auto vehicles projected from a user's mobile device.

Google said,

The company had originally planned to move most Android devices to Gemini by the end of 2025, but later pushed the timeline to 2026.

There are a few exceptions. Phones and tablets running Android 9 or older with less than 2 GB of RAM will keep a legacy version of Assistant for basic tasks, and Assistant will continue to work in cars with Google built-in beyond September 4, 2026.

Assistant may be going away for most Android users in September, but should Google keep the older version alive on some devices for longer?