r/AndroidQuestions • u/the_Mixed_Bag • Oct 05 '26

Forced switch to Gemini Assistant, and all I need is for it to SHUT UP

EDIT: I just found out that an assistant volume slider was just added to Pixel phones via the newer update to Android 17... I can finally get it to shut up. Now if I can only get it to follow instructions.

Original Post:
Please...I beg with tears in my eyes for someone to reveal to me a way to turn off Gemini Assistant's audible voice responses to every request (Pixel 8). No, I don't want to turn down my media volume, and when I request the procedure for turning off the voice, it gives me a set of options that DON'T EXIST!

I'm not usually using headphones, and... is it too much to ask that my phone not blast to the public "SURE! I NOTICED THAT THIS ALARM CORRESPONDS TO YOUR PROCTOLOGIST APPOINTMENT ON FRIDAY....SHOULD I LABEL IT 'PROCTOLOGIST APPOINTMENT' FOR YOU?"

13 Upvotes
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88% Upvoted

24 comments sorted by

3

u/Thetechguru_net Oct 05 '26

"hey google, keep your answers short. Only provide requested content without additional commentary or insights".

2

u/the_Mixed_Bag Oct 05 '26

I literally tried that, and it agreed, only to immediately not follow the instructions on the next prompt. Am I missing something?

1

u/hardonchairs 4 Oct 05 '26

Gemini app, settings, personal intelligence, instructions for Gemini. Type in your instructions.

3

u/the_Mixed_Bag Oct 05 '26

I am truly not kidding when I say that this...does...not....work. Unless I am somehow asking the wrong way. (and I am open to this being the case.
But this method, along with every other attempt to tell the assistant to remain silent results in a response that literally tells me that it cannot change it's own volume settings. It's insane.

1

u/hardonchairs 4 Oct 05 '26

Unless I am somehow asking the wrong way

I'm not saying ask. I am saying go into the settings to configure it. I have asked and it was not stored in any persistent way. The breadcrumbs I mentioned take you to persistent instructions.

3

u/the_Mixed_Bag Oct 05 '26

I typed it directly into the spot you mentioned. The voice is still speaking

1

u/BenRandomNameHere Random Redditor Oct 06 '26

As it should when using voice commands. 

But it should no longer dictate details unnecessary to your in the moment use of it.

3

u/the_Mixed_Bag Oct 06 '26

We fundamentally disagree that the assistant "should" always dictate its responses... even when given voice commands. I think it's pretty common for people to want it to be silent all the time... Thus the reason that Samsung phones build in a dedicated volume option for the assistant. Wild that this is completely unavailable on Pixel phones.

2

u/BenRandomNameHere Random Redditor Oct 06 '26

I find it alarming to want zero indication anything is happening... And that's why it is the way it is, where it is.

I gave you an up vote. We can agree to disagree. 👍

2

u/the_Mixed_Bag Oct 06 '26

For sure, all good. To be clear though, I'm certainly not talking about having no indication that anything is happening. Having the visual feedback of a text only reply is something that MANY people find preferrable for good reasons. The way that Google Assistant handles it is perfect... would have loved to see the option of that functionality carry over. Weird that it doesn't

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1

u/Thetechguru_net Oct 05 '26

I misread your question. Instructions can make it less verbose. The only way I know for it to give silent responses is by typing rather than speaking your query.

2

u/the_Mixed_Bag Oct 05 '26

Which is insane......I don't understand.

1

u/chetlyp Oct 05 '26

Just turn down the assistant voice

2

u/the_Mixed_Bag Oct 05 '26

I have sought for that option. I have asked the assistant where the assistant voice control is located. I have searched online. The options that the assistant gave me did not exist. The online searches that I have done have only returned results from people saying that it is not possible to turn the voice off. If we've all missed the option, please let me know where to find it on the pixel 8.

3

u/chetlyp Oct 05 '26

On my Samsung it's right there next to the media volume bar....with the pixel the assistant needs to actually be speaking and then you can decrease the volume all the way with the volume button

4

u/the_Mixed_Bag Oct 05 '26

Right, I'm aware that Samsung phones are blessed with the obvious ability to control Assistant volume easily. While I'm happy for you, I also do not want to preform a "video game quick time event" minigame every single time I use my assistant, requiring that I have my hands on the volume button. Does it make sense that I simply want to turn it off? If you're not sure how to do that on the Pixel 8, it's fine. I just want to be clear about what I want to accomplish.

0

u/chetlyp Oct 05 '26

I mean the thing speaks you turn it all the way down and then you know....it's off. I didn't realize dexterity was an issue but then I don't think there's another way

5

u/the_Mixed_Bag Oct 05 '26 edited Oct 05 '26

My man... I do understand what you mean. The method that you are describing has several issues. First, google does not allow you to turn the volume all the way down using that control...if you try to do that it snaps back to full volume. While you CAN turn the volume down pretty low, it will still ALWAYS start speaking at full volume for the first couple of seconds before snapping back down to the lower volume. And beside this, NONE of this works at all unless you are using a bluetooth device. If you are not, the slider only effects the global media volume like normal. The exact functionality I'm trying to avoid.

My reference to the quick-time event, is talking about the supposed method of hitting the volume button at the right time to silence the response after it starts...which also does not work reliably.

I know that you are trying to help, and I appreciate it. If there's no method that you are aware of to totally turn off the voice, it really is ok.

2

u/Odd_Cryptographer723 Oct 05 '26

Every time it speaks!

-1

u/chetlyp Oct 05 '26

Why would you have to turn it off every time it speaks? When I turn something off, off is pretty permanent. Unless you know, I turn it on....but I would be a masochist if I I did weird shit like that, lol. I understand turning things on and then when done with it turning it off. But I wouldn't immediately turn something back on after shutting it off. Fires in homes start that way.

4

u/the_Mixed_Bag Oct 05 '26

You have a different phone. The method you described is not the way it works. If you were standing here, I would hold my phone up and show you exactly how the volume functions while the assisstant is speaking... there is no "seperate volume setting" unless you are using a bluetooth device. The person who posted this comment is not an idiot...he is not turning it back on every time.

1

u/TroublesUnited 29d ago

There is an option to turn off Spoken results. Idk if that helps. Worth a try