Google Assistant to Be Discontinued on Android Phones by September 2026

Google has set 4 September 2026 as the date to discontinue its Google Assistant service on Android mobile devices. The company has begun emailing users to inform them that ‘Google Assistant will be discontinued on mobile devices,’ officially stating that Assistant ‘is being retired’ and that ‘Gemini, the next-generation AI-powered assistant, is now the primary assistant experience on Android.’

Access to Google Assistant will start being revoked on 4 September, though the shutdown process may take several weeks to reach all users. Once availability is removed, users will no longer be able to use or switch back to Google Assistant on phones, tablets, or paired devices.

Beyond mobile devices, the discontinuation also applies to Wear OS watches, headphones, and vehicles running Android Auto projected from a user’s mobile device. For cars equipped with Google built-in, Google Assistant will continue to function after 4 September 2026.

This announcement does not yet cover other form factors, although Google has indicated that Gemini will soon arrive on Google TV devices, Google Home speakers, and smart displays. It remains to be seen when the Pixel Tablet in docked mode will receive Gemini.

‘We are committed to providing a seamless transition and are confident that Gemini will offer you a more advanced and helpful assistant experience,’ Google stated in its announcement. The discontinuation was originally scheduled for late 2025 but was extended into 2026. Currently, the ‘Switch to Google Assistant’ option remains available within the Gemini app.