- cross-posted to:
- [email protected]
- cross-posted to:
- [email protected]
Google is quietly rolling out its Gemini AI tool as the default assistant on Android, even on devices where users never explicitly enabled it. In many cases, Gemini replaces Google Assistant by default, making it increasingly challenging to disable fully.
This deep integration means Gemini can still be active in the background, accessing your apps, system features, and personal info.
Here’s what Gemini can access:
Gmail
Google Calendar
Google Drive & Docs
Maps, Keep, Tasks
Messages, Phone, and even WhatsApp
Even more concerning:
Your data is used to train Google’s AI.
Human reviewers may see your chats.
Data can be shared with 3rd parties.
As of July 2025, Gemini stays connected to apps even when activity tracking is turned off.
🛑 You can’t fully disable Gemini, but you can limit it:
How to limit Gemini on Android:
Turn off activity tracking
Revoke permissions
Uninstall it (if possible)
Further options, if you’re privacy-conscious:
Reduce your reliance on Google services or fully de-Google
Consider a privacy-first OS like GrapheneOS or CalyxOS
⚠️ Google is making Gemini the default assistant for all Android devices by the end of 2025.
Choose privacy over AI surveillance.
If you want tools that respect your data, ensure you use encrypted email, a private calendar, and a secure cloud, with no AI training or human review.
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The problem I have with disabling or turning off permissions is that it assumes that Google respects you enough to honour your requests and actually disable them.
And I have absolutely zero faith in Google to do that.
One of the main reasons I moved to GrapheneOS was to avoid the impending push for Gemini to be everywhere and I don’t trust Google not to use some subset of my data by not making a setting for it and not making it clear that it’s being used. They started doing that in way too many places the last several years.
Same for me, but I use CalyxOS. Now more than ever, it highlights the importance of these custom rom OS’s.
I use CalyxOS too. But Google doesn’t like it and they’ve taken steps to stop us.
So, enjoy the freedom while you can: the big G is coming for it.Yes, Google is making it more difficult, but CalyxOS devs are on it. It means more work for them, especially to support other manufacturers, but they are committed…and should be supported.
Just disable the Google app. Easy. You’re welcome. Pretty sure that disables everything because I don’t see a single Gemini related thing on my phone and I don’t have the Gemini app installed. Also activity is turned off in my account. Almost positive all you need to do is disable the Google app.
Pretty sure it is an integration, you can’t fully turn it off under Android. I suggest a custom rom Android to be fully de-googled.
I’m just confused because I’m not seeing any evidence of Gemini on my phone? Is there a way to check? All of the articles on this are incredibly confusing. I don’t see it as an assistant or anything.
I can’t even open the gemini app on my phone (if i download it) because it says it doesn’t work if the google app is disabled…
The instructions are listed in the link to the article above on how to find it and “disable” it. Could depend on the version of Android you are running? I use a custom rom android that doesn’t have any of it, so can’t really help you.
Nope, you can’t fully disable it on android and that’s by design. maybe you don’t have it in older android versions yet. It’s time to switch to GrapheneOS or something similar.
