Deactivate Bixby on Galaxy Note: Step-by-Step

This guide shows you how to turn off Bixby on a Samsung Galaxy Note, including the dedicated Bixby button, the Bixby Home screen, and voice activation. You don’t need any special tools—just your phone and a few minutes. Depending on your model and Android version, some steps may vary slightly, but the core methods below work for most Note devices.

What You’ll Need

• Your Samsung Galaxy Note device
• Access to the Settings app (usually a gear icon)
• Optional: A computer or second device to look up your exact model if you get stuck

Step-by-Step

Method 1: Disable the Bixby Button (Most Note Models)

1. Open Settings. Swipe down from the top of the screen and tap the gear icon, or find the Settings app in your app drawer.
2. Scroll to Advanced Features. Look for the entry labeled “Advanced Features”—it’s usually near the bottom of the Settings list.
3. Tap Bixby Key. Inside Advanced Features, you’ll see an option called “Bixby Key” or “Side Key” depending on your model and Android version.
4. Choose what the key does. You have two choices:
   • Press twice to open Bixby: Toggle this off if you don’t want Bixby to open with a double press.
   • Press and hold to open Bixby: Toggle this off to disable the long-press action entirely.
5. Alternatively, reassign the key. On newer Notes (like Note 10 and later), you can set the side key to open a different app or the power menu instead. Just tap “Side Key” and choose “Power off menu” or another app.

Method 2: Turn Off Bixby Home and Voice Wake-Up

1. Open the Bixby app. Swipe right on the home screen to access Bixby Home, or find the Bixby app in your app drawer.
2. Tap the three-line menu. It’s usually in the top-left corner of the Bixby Home screen.
3. Select Settings. Scroll down in the menu and tap “Settings.”
4. Disable Bixby Home. Look for “Bixby Home” or “Bixby on the Home screen” and toggle it off. This removes the Bixby panel from your home screen.
5. Turn off voice wake-up. In the same Settings menu, tap “Voice wake-up” and toggle it off. This stops Bixby from listening for “Hi Bixby.”
6. Disable Bixby on the lock screen. If you see an option for “Bixby on the lock screen” or “Bixby wake-up on lock screen,” turn that off too.

Method 3: Force-Stop or Disable Bixby (If You Want It Fully Off)

1. Open Settings. Go to the main Settings menu.
2. Tap Apps. Scroll down and select “Apps” (or “Applications”).
3. Find Bixby. Tap the three-dot menu in the top-right and choose “Show system apps” if you can’t see Bixby. Then scroll to find “Bixby” or “Bixby Voice.”
4. Tap Force Stop. This will stop Bixby from running until you open it again. It doesn’t uninstall it, but it stops background activity.
5. Tap Disable. If the option is available (not grayed out), tap “Disable.” This will prevent Bixby from running at all. On some carriers, this option is not available.

Common Mistakes

• Forgetting to disable both actions. If you only turn off the double-press but leave the long-press on, you’ll still trigger Bixby accidentally.
• Looking for a “Bixby” section in Settings. There isn’t one. The button settings are under Advanced Features, not under a dedicated Bixby menu.
• Assuming disabling the app removes it. Bixby is a system app on Samsung devices. You can’t uninstall it without root access, but you can disable it or stop it from launching.
• Not checking the lock screen. Even after disabling voice wake-up, Bixby may still appear on the lock screen if you don’t turn off that specific toggle.

Tips

• Use the side key for something useful. On Note 10 and newer, you can set the side key to open the camera or any app you prefer. This makes the button useful instead of annoying.
• Check for updates. Samsung occasionally changes the menu names. If you can’t find an option, make sure your phone is updated to the latest software.
• Use Bixby Routines if you want partial control. If you don’t want to fully disable Bixby, you can set up a routine that disables voice wake-up during certain hours.
• If you change your mind. You can always re-enable Bixby by going back to the same settings and toggling things back on.

Troubleshooting

Bixby Still Opens When I Press the Side Key

If you’ve disabled both actions but Bixby still opens, try restarting your phone. If that doesn’t work, go to Settings > Advanced Features > Side Key and make sure you’ve selected “Power off menu” or another app, not “Bixby.” On some models, the side key settings are under “Advanced Features” > “Side Key” and you need to tap “Press and hold” and select “Power off menu.”

I Can’t Find the Bixby Key Settings

On older Note models (Note 8, Note 9), the setting is called “Bixby Key” and is under Advanced Features. On newer models, it’s called “Side Key” and may be under Advanced Features or under “Display” > “Navigation bar” depending on the Android version. If you truly can’t find it, search for “Side key” in the Settings search bar at the top.

The Disable Button Is Grayed Out

This happens on carrier-locked phones. You can’t disable Bixby completely, but you can force-stop it and disable all its triggers. You can also use a package disabler app from the Play Store, but that requires a small fee and may not work on all models.

Bixby Home Still Appears After I Disabled It

Make sure you’ve toggled off “Bixby Home” in Bixby Settings. If it still appears, swipe right on the home screen, tap the three-dot menu, and choose “Remove from Home screen.” Also check if there’s a “Bixby Home” toggle in your home screen settings (long-press on the home screen, then swipe to the rightmost panel).

Voice Wake-Up Keeps Turning Back On

This can happen after a system update. Go back to Bixby Settings > Voice wake-up and turn it off again. If it keeps happening, disable Bixby entirely via the Apps menu, or use a Bixby routine to keep it off.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I uninstall Bixby completely?

No, Bixby is a system app and cannot be uninstalled without rooting your phone. However, you can disable it via Settings > Apps, which stops it from running. On some carrier-locked phones, even the Disable option is unavailable.

Will disabling Bixby affect other Samsung features?

Disabling Bixby won’t affect core functions like calls, texts, or the camera. It may affect Bixby Routines and Bixby Vision features (like using the camera to identify objects). If you use those, you might want to keep Bixby partially enabled.

Does the Bixby button work on all Note models?

No. The Note 8 and Note 9 have a dedicated Bixby button. Starting with the Note 10, Samsung replaced it with the side key, which can be reassigned. The Note 20 and later also use the side key. So the exact steps differ by model.

How do I get Bixby back if I change my mind?

Go to Settings > Apps > Bixby, tap “Enable” if it was disabled. Then go to Settings > Advanced Features > Side Key (or Bixby Key) and set it to open Bixby again. Voice wake-up can be re-enabled in Bixby Settings.

Why does Bixby keep opening when I press the power button?

On some models, the power button and Bixby button are the same (side key). If you’ve set the side key to open Bixby, that’s why. Change it to “Power off menu” or another app in Settings > Advanced Features > Side Key.

Will disabling Bixby improve battery life?

Possibly, if Bixby was running in the background. Disabling it or stopping it may reduce background activity and slightly improve battery life, though the effect is usually minimal on modern phones.

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