Google has announced it will permanently remove access to Google Assistant on Android phones and tablets beginning September 4, 2026, replacing it with its AI assistant Gemini. The shutdown was communicated via email to some users, as reported by 9to5Google and shared on Reddit.
“We will begin removing access to Google Assistant starting on 4 September,” Google states in the email, “and expect that this process may take a few weeks to reach everyone. Once availability is removed, you will no longer be able to use or switch back to Google Assistant on your phone, tablet or paired devices.”
The removal extends beyond phones and tablets to paired devices, including Wear OS smartwatches, headphones, earbuds, and cars running Android Auto. Vehicles running Google built-in will retain access to Assistant for now. Google Home and Google TV devices are not affected by the announcement, meaning Assistant will continue to function on those platforms past September.
Users in regions where Gemini is available and whose devices meet minimum requirements will have access only to the Gemini assistant once the transition is complete.
Google had previously planned to end Assistant access on most mobile devices at some point in 2025, but that shutdown was delayed. The September 4 date appears to mark the end of that extension. The Verge noted it had asked Google to confirm the accuracy of the email and would update its reporting upon receiving a response.
The discontinuation follows the arrival of Gemini, which Google has positioned as the successor to Assistant across its device ecosystem. Users who rely on Assistant for daily tasks on phones, tablets, or paired wearables may need to familiarize themselves with Gemini ahead of the September cutoff.
Source: The Verge