Google is rolling out the shutdown of its classic Assistant on mobile devices, shifting users towards its more advanced AI, Gemini, in a phased approach that began on September 4, 2023, impacting smartphones, tablets, and Wear OS devices.
Google is ending Google Assistant on mobile devices in a staged rollout beginning Sept. 4, marking a clear handover to Gemini, its newer artificial intelligence assistant. The change affects smartphones first, with tablets and Wear OS devices also caught up in the shift, according to reporting from Tom’s Guide and TechRadar. Google has said users will eventually lose the option to switch back once the old assistant is removed from their devices.
The move follows a transition that began in March 2025, when Google started bringing Gemini to smartphones and said the upgrade would later extend to tablets and connected devices such as Wear OS watches. Several outlets have reported that the company had originally aimed to complete the change by the end of 2025, but later pushed the timetable into 2026. That delay suggests Google wanted more time to smooth the migration and avoid disrupting users who still depend on the older assistant.
For now, the shutdown does not appear to cover every Google ecosystem device at once. A separate report by TechRadar said Google TV and some Google Home products are still exempt, while Android Auto’s status has been described differently across reports, with some saying it is included in the phase-out and others noting that built-in car systems may retain Assistant longer. What is clear is that Google is steadily stripping classic Assistant features and folding them into Gemini, including tools such as live translation and photo sharing, as noted by Tom’s Guide and PhoneArena.
Once the change reaches a device, Gemini can be set up using the same Google account and can still respond to familiar voice prompts such as “Hey Google”. Google has also been working on visual and interface updates for Gemini on Android, including a blurred overlay and other design refinements, according to Android Central. The company is presenting Gemini as the more capable successor, but for millions of users the shift will still feel like the end of a familiar era.
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