Google is shutting down Google Assistant on Android devices starting September 4, forcing all users to switch to Gemini, the company's newer AI system.
The transition will affect not only phones but also smartwatches, headphones, and Android Auto-enabled cars.
While the process may take several weeks to complete, there is no option to keep using the older Assistant.
What happened
Google is retiring Google Assistant on Android devices starting September 4, moving all users to Gemini. The company said in an email that the transition may take several weeks to complete.
Why it matters
This ends support for Google's older AI assistant across Android phones and connected devices—smartwatches, headphones, and cars with Android Auto. Users will have no choice but to switch to Gemini, Google's newer AI system. For those already using Gemini, nothing changes.
What to watch
The transition begins September 4, but may take several weeks for the option to fully disappear. Google originally planned to retire Assistant in late 2025 but accelerated the timeline after improving Gemini. Most of Google's smart home devices have already moved to Gemini.
Google Assistant, the company's original AI assistant, is being retired on Android devices starting September 4. In an email to users, Google confirmed the shutdown date after years of gradual wind-down. The original plan was to retire Assistant in late 2025, but Google delayed that decision to strengthen Gemini, its newer AI system, before making the switch mandatory.
The shutdown will affect not just Android phones but the broader ecosystem of devices that connect to them. Smartwatches, wireless headphones, and vehicles running Android Auto will all be moved to Gemini. Google noted that most of its smart home devices have already made the transition. The company emphasized that the process may take several weeks to complete, meaning some users may retain access to Assistant briefly after September 4 before the option fully disappears.
For users already using Gemini, the transition will be seamless—nothing will change. For those still on Assistant, the September 4 date marks the beginning of the forced migration, though the gradual rollout over several weeks gives them time to adjust. Google's decision reflects a strategic consolidation around Gemini as its unified mobile AI platform.
Google Assistant, the company's pre-AI assistant robot, has been slated for retirement for some time. The company originally planned to retire it in late 2025 but postponed the decision while it refined Gemini, its newer AI system built on large language model technology. Now that Gemini is mature enough to handle the workload, Google has confirmed September 4 as the official end date for Assistant on Android.
The shift consolidates Google's mobile AI strategy around a single product. By retiring Assistant across Android phones and the ecosystem of connected devices—smartwatches, headphones, and Android Auto cars—Google is forcing a unified migration to Gemini. This not only simplifies product maintenance but also ensures all users interact with the same AI engine. Users who have already switched to Gemini will see no disruption, while those still using Assistant will have a transition window measured in weeks rather than a hard cutoff.
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