How to Turn Off AI Features on Your Samsung Phone

Where to find and disable Samsung AI on your phone

Samsung phones come with AI features built into the camera, keyboard, and search functions. You can turn off most of them in Settings without affecting how your phone works otherwise. The steps differ slightly depending on which Samsung model you own and which Android version it runs, but the general path is the same: Settings > Apps or Advanced Features > toggle off the AI tools you don't want.

The most common AI features to disable are Galaxy AI (Samsung's main AI assistant), Generative Edit (which uses AI to alter photos), Circle to Search (which identifies objects on screen), and Smart Suggestions in the keyboard. Each one has its own toggle, so you can turn off only the features that bother you and leave the rest running.

Key Takeaways

Most Samsung AI features can be disabled individually in Settings without affecting your phone's core functions.
Galaxy AI, Generative Edit, and Circle to Search each have separate toggles you can find under Apps, Advanced Features, or Display settings depending on your model.
Turning off AI features does not delete your data or break your phone — it straightforward stops those tools from running in the background.
If you cannot find a toggle for a specific AI feature, it may be disabled already or built into an app you can uninstall instead.

Disable Galaxy AI and voice assistant features

Galaxy AI is Samsung's main artificial intelligence system. It powers voice commands, search suggestions, and some camera functions. To turn it off, open Settings and go to Apps > Default Apps > Assistant App. Tap the dropdown menu and select "None" instead of Galaxy AI. This stops the AI assistant from responding to voice commands and removes AI-powered suggestions from your home screen.

If you want to keep the assistant but disable specific features, you can instead go to Settings > Advanced Features > Galaxy AI and toggle off individual options like "Suggestions" or "Search with AI." This gives you more control — you can keep voice commands working while turning off the parts that track your behavior or send data to Samsung servers.

Turn off Circle to Search

Circle to Search is a feature that lets you draw a circle on your screen to search for objects, text, or images using Google's AI. It appears as a button at the bottom of your screen when you're using the camera or looking at photos. To disable it, open Settings > Apps > Circle to Search and toggle it off. The button will disappear from your screen when ready.

If you don't see Circle to Search in your Apps list, it may already be disabled. You can also check by going to Settings > Display > Navigation Bar and looking for a Circle to Search toggle there. On some Samsung models, this feature is tied to Google's search app rather than Samsung's own system, so the location varies.

Disable Generative Edit and AI photo tools

Generative Edit uses AI to remove objects from photos, fill in missing parts of an image, or change backgrounds. It's built into the Samsung Gallery app. To turn it off, open the Gallery app, take a photo or select an existing one, tap Edit, and look for the Generative Edit button. If you don't see it, the feature is already disabled on your device.

To prevent Generative Edit from appearing at all, open Settings > Apps > Gallery > Permissions and turn off any permissions related to "AI" or "Cloud." You can also go to Settings > Advanced Features > Gallery and look for toggles labeled "Generative Edit" or "AI Features." The exact name depends on your Android version and Samsung model year.

Turn off AI keyboard suggestions

Samsung's keyboard (called Samsung Keyboard) includes AI-powered word prediction and smart suggestions. These features learn from what you type and send some data to Samsung's servers. To disable them, open Settings > Apps > Samsung Keyboard > Permissions and turn off "Microphone" and "Camera" if you don't use voice typing. Then go to Settings > General Management > Samsung Keyboard Settings and toggle off "Predictive Text" and "Smart Suggestions."

If you use a different keyboard like Gboard, you can disable AI features there too. Open Gboard settings, go to Advanced > Experimental Features, and turn off "Magic Compose" (Google's AI writing tool). You can also switch to a keyboard without AI features entirely — many readers prefer simpler options like OpenBoard or AnySoftKeyboard, which you can read from the Google Play Store.

Check what's running in the background

After you disable AI features, you can verify they're actually off by checking which apps are running. Open Settings > Apps > Running Apps and look for Galaxy AI, Google Assistant, or other AI-related services. If they still appear in the list, they may be restarting automatically. Go back to Settings > Apps and find each one, then tap "Force Stop" to shut it down completely.

Some AI features restart when you restart your phone or update Android. If a feature you disabled comes back on after an update, you'll need to turn it off again using the same steps. This is normal — Samsung and Google often re-enable features during updates, so check your settings after major Android version changes.

What happens when you turn off Samsung AI

Turning off AI features does not break your phone or delete your data. Your camera will still work, your keyboard will still type, and your phone will still search the web. The only difference is that you lose the AI-powered shortcuts — you won't get smart suggestions, you won't be able to circle objects to search, and your keyboard won't predict words based on your typing patterns.

Battery life may improve slightly after disabling AI features, since these tools run in the background and use processing power. The improvement is usually small — a few percent at most — but if your phone runs hot or drains quickly, turning off AI is worth trying. You can always turn the features back on later if you change your mind by following the same steps and toggling them back on.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will turning off AI features affect my camera quality?

No. Your camera will take photos at the same resolution and quality. You'll just lose AI-powered editing tools like Generative Edit and some smart scene detection. Basic photo modes like Portrait and Night Mode will still work normally.

Can I turn off only some AI features and keep others?

Yes. Each AI feature has its own toggle in Settings, so you can disable Galaxy AI while keeping Circle to Search, or turn off keyboard suggestions while leaving the camera AI on. You don't have to disable everything at once.

If I turn off Galaxy AI, can I still use voice commands?

You can switch to Google Assistant instead. Go to Settings > Apps > Default Apps > Assistant App and select Google Assistant. This gives you voice commands without using Samsung's AI system. Google Assistant works the same way on Samsung phones as it does on other Android devices.

Do I need to restart my phone after disabling AI features?

No, but it doesn't hurt. Most AI features stop running when ready after you toggle them off. If a feature seems to still be active, restart your phone and check Settings again to confirm the toggle is still off.

What if I can't find the toggle for an AI feature?

It may already be disabled, or it may be built into an app you can uninstall instead. Check the Google Play Store for the app name and see if you can uninstall it. If the app is a system app (like Gallery), you may only be able to disable it rather than remove it completely.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.