Where to find the voice assistant setting

Samsung TVs come with a voice assistant built in—usually Bixby, though some models use Google Assistant or Alexa. You can turn it off entirely through your TV's settings menu without removing any apps or changing how the rest of your TV works.

The exact path depends on your TV's software version, but the setting lives in the same general area on all recent Samsung models. You do not need a remote app or any special knowledge—just your standard remote and about two minutes.

Key Takeaways

  • Voice assistant on Samsung TVs is controlled through Settings > General > Voice > Voice Assistant, where you can toggle it off completely.
  • Turning off voice assistant does not delete any apps or affect picture quality, sound, or any other TV function.
  • If you have a Samsung TV from 2016 or earlier, the setting may be under Settings > System > Voice Recognition instead.
  • You can also disable the microphone in the remote itself if your remote has a mute button with a microphone symbol.
  • If you turn it back on later, the setting is in the exact same place and takes one button press to re-enable.

Steps to disable voice assistant on 2017 and newer Samsung TVs

Press the Home button on your remote to open the main menu. Navigate to Settings (usually a gear icon) and select it.

Go to General, then find Voice. Select Voice Assistant and toggle it Off. Your TV will confirm the change, and you are done. The voice assistant will no longer respond to voice commands or listen for wake words.

Steps to disable voice assistant on 2016 and older Samsung TVs

Older Samsung models store this setting in a slightly different location. Press Home, then go to Settings.

Select System, then Voice Recognition. Toggle the setting to Off. If you do not see Voice Recognition in System, check under Smart Features instead—Samsung moved it between software versions on older sets.

Disabling the microphone on your remote

Many Samsung remotes have a physical microphone button (usually marked with a microphone icon or the word "Mic"). Pressing this button once mutes the microphone so the remote cannot send voice commands, even if voice assistant is still enabled in settings.

This is a quick way to stop the remote from listening without going into the TV menu. The microphone stays muted until you press the button again. Some remotes also have a small physical switch on the back—check your remote's manual if you are unsure which button controls the microphone.

What happens when you turn off voice assistant

Turning off voice assistant does not affect your TV's picture, sound, apps, or any other function. You can still use your remote normally to change channels, adjust volume, and navigate menus. The only change is that the TV will no longer respond to voice commands or listen for wake words like "Hi Bixby" or "OK Google."

If you have voice assistant turned off and later decide you want it back, you can follow the same steps and toggle it back on. Your settings will be remembered, so you will not have to reconfigure anything.

If you cannot find the voice assistant setting

Some Samsung TV models—particularly older ones or certain regional versions—may have the setting under a different name or in a different menu location. Check under Settings > Smart Features > Voice Wake-Up or Settings > Sound > Voice Guide if the paths above do not match your TV.

If you still cannot locate it, check your TV's model number (usually on the back or in Settings > About This TV) and search the Samsung support website for your specific model. The support page will show you the exact menu path for your TV's software version.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will turning off voice assistant delete my apps or settings?

No. Disabling voice assistant only turns off the voice listening feature. All your apps, channels, picture settings, and everything else on your TV stays exactly as it is. You can turn voice assistant back on anytime without losing anything.

Can I disable voice assistant on just the remote, not the TV?

Yes. If your remote has a microphone button, press it to mute the microphone. The remote will no longer send voice commands, but the TV's voice assistant setting remains unchanged. This is useful if you want to keep voice assistant available but do not want the remote listening.

What if my TV still responds to voice commands after I turn off voice assistant?

Check that you toggled the setting all the way to Off—sometimes it requires a second button press to confirm. Also check whether your remote's microphone button is muted. If both are off and the TV still responds, restart the TV by unplugging it for 30 seconds, then plugging it back in.

Does turning off voice assistant save power or improve performance?

The difference is minimal. Voice assistant uses very little power when idle, so disabling it will not noticeably reduce your electricity bill or speed up your TV. Most people turn it off for privacy or to avoid accidental voice commands, not for performance reasons.

Can I turn off just Bixby and keep Google Assistant?

If your TV has multiple voice assistants available, you may be able to choose which one is active in the Voice settings menu. However, most Samsung TVs come with only one voice assistant enabled by default. Check under Settings > Voice to see if you have a choice of assistants, but on most models turning off voice assistant disables all of them at once.