Google Assistant’s long goodbye has finally acquired a date. Starting September 4, Google will begin stripping the legacy voice assistant from Android’s mobile ecosystem and placing Gemini at the center of the experience.

The cutoff emerged in an email sent to users, setting out a phased removal rather than an overnight switch. “We will begin removing access to Google Assistant starting on 4 September,” the message says, adding that the process could take weeks to reach everyone.¹ When it does, users will no longer be able to use—or switch back to—Assistant on eligible phones, tablets and paired devices.

The change is broader than a handset software update. Wear OS watches, headphones, earbuds and cars using Android Auto are also being pulled into the Gemini transition, according to reports.² For people in regions where Gemini is available, and whose devices meet its requirements, Google’s AI assistant will become the only option.

That timetable closes a chapter Google had already signalled would end. The company had planned to retire Assistant on most mobile devices in 2025, but the move was delayed while Gemini was further prepared for the handover.¹ Now the reprieve is over.

The practical impact will vary. Users already on Gemini should see little change, while owners of older unsupported devices or people in markets without Gemini may receive a temporary exception.² Assistant is not disappearing everywhere just yet: Google Home and Google TV devices appear unaffected for now, and vehicles running Google built-in will retain it pending a future migration.¹

The split between the old and new assistants is also a philosophical one. Assistant was limited but predictable; Gemini is more conversational and capable, yet its tool-driven responses can be less reliable for a quick command. September 4 makes clear which trade-off Google has chosen.²