Overview
- Google has begun notifying users by email this week that it will remove Google Assistant from many Android devices as part of the planned switch to Gemini.
- The staged rollout, which begins on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, will move compatible phones and tablets to Gemini over several weeks and does not allow users to revert a device back to Google Assistant once switched.
- The change covers smartphones, tablets, Wear OS watches and supported headphones or earbuds that are paired with Android devices while Android Automotive will transition more slowly and some car systems may remain on Assistant longer.
- Google requires devices to meet Gemini’s minimum install conditions—about Android 10 and roughly 2 GB of RAM—so older or low‑memory devices and regions where Gemini is unavailable will continue on Google Assistant for the time being.
- The swap follows repeated delays to an earlier end‑of‑2025 plan and reflects Gemini’s expanded capabilities and deeper on‑device access that position it to replace the decade‑old Assistant, a shift that will remove users’ choice of Google’s older assistant and change how voice commands and app permissions are managed.