Google Ends Assistant on Android, Wear OS on Sept. 4 as Gemini Takes Over
Updated
Updated · Thurrott.com · Aug 5
Google Ends Assistant on Android, Wear OS on Sept. 4 as Gemini Takes Over
3 articles · Updated · Thurrott.com · Aug 5
Summary
September 4 is the cutoff Google gave users in emails saying the legacy Assistant app will be discontinued on Android and Wear OS, with removal taking a few weeks to fully complete.
Gemini is replacing it because Google says its newer AI assistant is now ready, after delays while the company built separate Gemini versions for phones, home devices and Google TV.
Android users who still rely on the old Assistant will lose the ability to use it or switch back on phones, tablets and paired devices; the retirement also covers headphones and Android Auto.
Cars with Google built-in are the main exception, keeping access to Google Assistant beyond September 4, 2026 even as Google makes Gemini the default assistant across most of its ecosystem.
As Google kills off Assistant on Android forever, what happens to millions of budget phone users who cannot run the new Gemini AI?
With Google permanently replacing the reliable Assistant with a slower AI, how will this forced upgrade actually impact your daily smart home routines?
Why is Google forcing a permanent switch to a conversational AI that struggles with the simple tasks Assistant mastered years ago?