My Android phone has not received a system update in more than a year, and I never installed the Gemini app. However, for roughly the past six months, holding the Home button slightly too long causes Gemini to appear and take over the screen. Most guides say to open or uninstall the Gemini app, but that app is not installed on my phone. How can I disable this shortcut or switch back to Google Assistant?
2 Answers
Gemini has replaced Google Assistant as the default assistant on some phones, even when there is no separate Gemini app installed. Open the Google app—not Chrome—tap your profile picture, then go to Settings and find the Gemini section. Change the default assistant back to Google Assistant. After that, return to the settings and look for the Google Assistant options, where you may be able to turn the assistant off entirely.
This may also be the Circle to Search gesture rather than Gemini itself. Check your phone's Settings app under Display or Navigation bar and look for a Circle to Search option. Turning that feature off should prevent the long-press gesture from taking over the screen.
Thanks—that explains why I could not find a Gemini app to disable.