Skip to main content

How to disable the Bixby button

Virtual assistants are very common, and every phone manufacturer seems to have their own version. For Samsung phones, the assistant is Bixby. Samsung even has a special button to call up Bixby. Unfortunately, many users would prefer if this button did not exist.

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

10 minutes

What You Need

  • Samsung phone

If the Bixby button is driving you crazy, then it is time to learn how to disable it. Then you won’t have to worry about Bixby popping up when you’d rather it stay hidden.

How to disable the Bixby button (for Samsung Galaxy S20 and Note 10)

If you’re using a Samsung Galaxy S20 or Samsung Galaxy Note 10, the side key below the volume rocker functions as a Bixby button and a power button. By default, the side key will trigger Bixby with a long press instead of opening up your power-off menu, but that can be tweaked by accessing the side key settings.

Step 1: Press and hold the side key of the device.

Step 2: Tap on Side key settings.

Step 3: Toggle on the Power off menu under Press and hold.

Step 4: To fully disable Bixby on the side key, make sure Open Bixby isn’t toggled on under Double press.

How to disable the Bixby key’s single press (for Samsung Galaxy S10 and older)

You used to be able to disable the Bixby key on older Galaxy smartphones, but with software updates, that’s no longer the case. However, while you can’t stop the Bixby key from activating Bixby, you can make it harder to accidentally trigger by requiring a double-press to bring up Bixby Home. To do so, you’ll need to access a specific setting in a specific part of Bixby — as nothing tied to Bixby is allowed to be simple, apparently.

Step 1: Press the Bixby key to bring up the Bixby Home page.

Step 2: Tap the three vertical dots and tap Settings.

Step 3: Scroll down until you find the option titled Bixby key.

Step 4: Change your option to Double press to open Bixby to make it harder to accidentally open Bixby.

Reassigning the Bixby key (for Samsung Galaxy S20 and Note 10)

You can reassign the Double press function of the side key, but not with the Press and hold function. You can assign the function to open an app of your choosing instead of quick-launching the camera or opening Bixby.

Step 1: Return to the side key settings by pressing and holding it and tapping Side key settings.

Step 2: Toggle on Double press.

Step 3: Tap on the gear icon next to Open app.

Step 4: Select an app from the drawer of installed applications to assign it.

Step 5: The name of the app should be under Open app if done correctly.

Reassigning the Bixby key (for Samsung Galaxy S10 and older)

You can disable Bixby completely, but it’s easier to assign it permission to access specific apps so you can still take advantage of the features.

Step 1: Head back to Bixby Home and the area where you changed the Bixby key originally.

Step 2: Tap (or double-tap, if you’ve already changed the Bixby key) to open Bixby Home.

Step 3: Tap the three vertical dots.

Step 4: Hit Settings > Bixby key.

Step 5: If you haven’t already, you’ll need to enable Double press to open Bixby.

Step 6: Once you’ve done that, you’ll be able to select the single-press option. Turn it on by tapping the slider.

Step 7: Tap Open app to choose a single app to launch from your list of currently installed apps, or tap Run quick command to run a Bixby quick command when pressed.

Step 8: Tap Go to Quick commands after tapping Run Quick command to see a ton of good examples.

If you change your mind and decide to give the Bixby key another chance, you can reactivate it by selecting single-press. Reactivation sends it back to the basic setup, so you’ll lose your customizations, but you’ll have it ready to use in other ways.

Before you uninstall the app, consider undoing the changes you’ve made, restarting, and restoring it to its original state so you can take advantage of its other functions.

Editors' Recommendations

Mark Jansen
Mark Jansen is an avid follower of everything that beeps, bloops, or makes pretty lights. He has a degree in Ancient &…
How to use iMessage on an Android phone or tablet
iMessage on an iPhone 14 Pro Max, plus iMessage on an Android phone using the Beeper app.

One of the big draws of iPhone and Mac is the iMessage software. This texting app makes it easy to stay connected to friends and family, and many users point to it as a key reason they stay within the Apple ecosystem – venture off to Android, and you'll be stuck with third-party apps or standard text chats.

However, that's not actually the case anymore. While Apple's iMessage software is exclusive to iOS and you won't find it in the Google Play Store, a new app called Beeper lets you access the iMessage platform. The universal chat app works with a variety of texting software beyond iMessage, making it a one-stop-shop for all your communication needs.

Read more
How to change your Gmail password
pilot testing drivers licenses internet rolls two us states password

Changing your Gmail password is incredibly important for your online security. If you're anything like the average user, your Gmail account is linked to dozens of other organizations and programs – and if your account gets hacked, there's no telling what sort of damage can be done.

Because of this, it's crucial to change your Gmail password at regular intervals. Google makes this a rather painless process, and it should take no more than a few seconds from start to finish.

Read more
How to use Circle to Search on your Android phone
Samsung Galaxy S24 showing Circle to Search.

When Samsung announced its Galaxy S24 series, it also revealed a slew of new features in its Galaxy AI suite. One of these new features is Circle to Search, which lets you easily search for anything on the screen with a simple gesture.

Think of it like a mashup of Google Lens and a screenshot search. You can activate Circle to Search no matter what you're doing. Whether you're on your home screen, in a web browser, or using an app, you can always call upon Circle to Search.

Read more