Google switched most Android phones from Assistant to Gemini, and a Reddit user has found a way to get Assistant back. Android Authority and Android Police both reported it on Oct. 13. We did not test it. Every step below is theirs or the Reddit poster's.

What Google said

Google's community post says Assistant on mobile is being discontinued and Gemini is now the assistant on Android. It says that from Sept. 4, 2026 most users can no longer use or switch back to Assistant on a phone or tablet.

Gemini also takes over on paired peripherals, Google says: Wear OS watches, compatible headphones and Android Auto cars.

The steps, as reported

The original poster is u/Seanykun- on r/googleassistant. Android Police, which says it reproduced the steps on a Pixel 10 Pro, lists them like this:

  1. Open Settings, then Apps, then Google.
  2. Tap the three dots at top right, then Uninstall updates.
  3. Open the Google Assistant page in the Play Store, even if the app is installed, and tap Open.
  4. You should now be able to switch from Gemini to Google Assistant.

Android Authority adds that the Gemini screen offers staying with Gemini or opening Google Assistant. Picking Assistant makes it the default, and it then shows in the default-assistant picker. Its writer says it worked on his Pixel.

The catch

  • It is a rollback. Android Police says this reverts the Google app to the version your phone shipped with. Neither article says what else that changes.
  • Updates. Android Police and the Reddit poster both advise turning off auto-update for the Google app in the Play Store. Android Police says to open its page, tap the three dots and untick Enable auto-update.
  • Hotwords. Android Police says "Hey Google" and "Okay Google" did not wake Assistant for its writer, though the side key worked.
  • Not always lasting. One Reddit commenter says it has worked for about a week with updates off. Another says it lasted a couple of days before Gemini returned.
  • Region. A third commenter says Assistant is unavailable in their region, so they cannot go back to the old version.
  • Google's response. Android Police said it had contacted Google. The piece we read has no reply.

Who it is for

It suits people whose alarms, timers or voice commands got worse on Gemini. Android Authority says user reports about the switch are overwhelmingly negative, citing trouble setting alarms or timers. The Reddit poster says they can now ask for the weather without being told to use a weather app.

It is a poor fit if you want the Google app kept current. Holding back its updates is the price, and we have no source that lists what you miss.

If your complaint is the free Gemini itself rather than Assistant, see our story on the free plan's model picker.

Why it matters

Google can end this by shutting down Assistant's servers. Android Police says the servers are still live and expects that to happen; Android Authority calls the workaround "almost certainly not permanent". A rollback plus frozen updates is a bet that the old app keeps working, and neither outlet tested how long.

Our call, untested

This is a stopgap, not a fix. If Gemini broke a routine you rely on and you accept a frozen Google app, it is a few minutes of settings and easy to try. If you want a phone that stays updated, skip it and expect to use Gemini. We did not run it, so confirm on your own phone before relying on it.