How to Disable Bixby on a Samsung Device

Virtual assistants have become very common, with most smartphone manufacturers providing some version of this assistant. For Samsung users, the answer to Amazon's Alexa or Apple's Siri comes in the form of Bixby. As the world's largest smartphone maker, it was only a matter of time before Samsung launched its own voice assistant.

Like other smartphone assistants, Bixby can be used for many services. This includes making phone calls, setting timers, asking about the weather, and more.

However, users may not always want to enable Bixby. This article will guide you step by step on how to successfully disable Bixby on your Samsung.

How to disable the Bixby button

Samsung provides its users with a special button that can invoke Bixby at any time. The Bixby button is on the side key below the volume function. It is also used as the main power source button.

This feature can quickly become annoying for some as Bixby can often be accidentally invoked if the button is pressed. Also, users may want to use the side button only to turn the device on and off. Fortunately, disabling this feature is a relatively simple process that only requires a few steps:

1. Hold down the side key.
   
2. When the “Side key settings” option appears, tap on it.
   
3. Under where it says "Press and hold", select "Power off menu".
   
4. To disable Bixby, make sure the toggle next to "Open Bixby" is off.
   

How to Disable Bixby Voice

If you often find Bixby talking to you from inside your bag, it might be time to turn the feature off altogether. It only takes a few steps.

1. Press and hold the Bixby button on the side of your phone.
2. When the Bixby menu pops up, tap "Side key settings."
3. Next to where it says "Bixby Voice Switch," change the toggle so it's off.

How to Disable Bixby on an S21

As seen with other versions of Samsung Galaxy smartphones, Bixby can be accessed on an S21 by pressing the Bixby/power button located below the volume keys on the side. Here's how to disable Bixby on your S21.

1. From your "Home" page, swipe down to access the notifications menu.
   
2. Tap the "Power" icon at the top right of the screen.
   
3. Select "Side Key Settings".
   
4. Under where it says "Press and Hold," you'll notice two options: "Wake Bixby" and "Power Off Menu."
   
5. Select "Power Off Menu" to disable Bixby.
   

How to Disable Bixby on an S20

If you're using a Samsung Galaxy S20, you'll find the Bixby button located below the volume feature. This button is also used to turn your device off and on again. Bixby is usually accessed by pressing this feature. However, this feature can be adjusted in Bixby settings.

1. Press and hold the side key associated with Bixby until the Bixby home page appears.
2. Select "Side Key Settings".
3. Under 'Press and hold', turn on the toggle for 'Power off menu'.
4. Disable Bixby globally by making sure the toggle is off next to where it says "Open Bixby."

How to disable Bixby on an S10?

Due to software updates, those using older Samsung Galaxy smartphones such as the S10 will find that they can no longer disable the Bixby key. However, it is possible to change your settings to make it harder to accidentally trigger Bixby. To do this, you will need to access a particular setting associated with Bixby.

1. Press and hold the Bixby side key to access the Bixby home page.
   
2. Select the three dots that appear on your screen.
   
3. Next, you will need to tap on “Settings”.
   
4. Scroll down until you see "Bixby Key" on your screen.
   
5. You will now be presented with a list of options. Choose "Double-tap to open Bixby".
   
6. Once you complete this step, you can only access Bixby by double-tapping the Bixby button.

How to disable Bixby on an S51?

Like most new Samsung Galaxy smartphones, an S51's settings can be changed to completely disable Bixby. This can be especially useful if you often find yourself activating the feature unintentionally.

Updating the settings of your S51 smartphone is relatively simple:

1. On the side of your phone, press and hold the Bixby side key to access the Bixby home page.
2. Tap the three vertical dots that appear, then select "Settings."
3. Scroll down and choose "Bixby Key".
4. From the list of options that appear, tap "Double-tap to open Bixby."
5. Once this is complete, you will now only be able to access Bixby by double-tapping the Bixby button, making it less likely to access it accidentally.

How to Disable Bixby on an S8

When using older versions of Samsung Galaxy, users can no longer completely disable Bixby. Instead, they can change their settings to make access more difficult by implementing a double-tap feature.

1. Press and hold the side key below the volume function to access the Bixby home page.
2. Tap on the three vertical dots that will appear on your screen.
3. Select “Settings”.
4. From the available options, select "Bixby Key".
5. Next, you will need to tap on “Double tap to open Bixby”.
6. You will now only have full access to Bixby by double tapping the Bixby button instead of a single tap.

Additional FAQs

Is it possible to restrict Bixby instead of disabling it completely?

While it's possible to completely disable Bixby, it may be easier to give the feature permission to only access certain apps so you can take advantage of the features on offer.

Here's how:

1. Head to the Bixby home page by pressing and holding the side key (or double tap if you've already changed the feature).

2. Tap the three vertical dots on the right side of the screen.

3. Tap "Settings", then select "Bixby Key".

4. Choose the “One Touch” option from the available functions by pressing the rocker.

5. Select "Open Application" to choose a single application from the list of applications installed on your phone. You can also tap "Execute a quick command" to execute a quick Bixby command when pressed.

What is Bixby Vision?

Bixby Vision is a service available on new Samsung Galaxy models and can be accessed through the Camera app. The feature allows users to translate text on an image, gives additional information about the image, and helps you find similar images. To access this feature:

1. Open the Camera app.

2. Tap "More".

3. Select “Bixby Vision” to activate it.

Goodbye Bixby

A virtual assistant can be useful in many situations, like playing music in the car without having to physically touch your phone. However, the feature may not appeal to everyone when it comes to day-to-day use.

You may find yourself accidentally turning on Bixby and finding the feature annoying. Or maybe you just prefer to do things manually on your smartphone. Whatever your reason, knowing how to turn off the Bixby feature is extremely handy.

Do you use Bixby? What makes you want to disable this feature? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.