Tired of Gemini? This trick helps you bring back Google Assistant

We knew the writing was on the wall for Google Assistant when Google announced Gemini as its replacement. Things became more official recently when Google began killing off Assistant on phones in favor of the newer experience. But it appears that all hope isn’t lost, with one user finding a novel way to force a switch back to Assistant.

In a Reddit post explaining the process, the user claims they uninstalled Google app updates from its App info page, then opened the Assistant app on the Play Store (via Android Police). And sure enough, it works as expected, at least on my Pixel, and seems confirmed by a few others in the comments.

To uninstall updates for the Google app, go to Settings > Apps > Google, then hit the three-dot menu in the top right to find Uninstall updates. Alternatively, long-press the Google icon in the app drawer or on the home screen, then tap App info in the shortcuts menu to go there directly.

Opening Assistant after this process shows a screen prompting you to try Gemini. As the user notes, you should find the option to either stay with Gemini or open Google Assistant. Choosing the latter makes it the default, and you may be prompted to choose the default assistant, with Google Assistant appearing as one of the options alongside Gemini.

With this solution, users can finally get back the Assistant experience they have been longing for, especially amid the wave of complaints after the switch to Gemini.

While this looks like a good workaround for now, it’s almost certainly not permanent. As one person ominously puts it, this remedy won’t last forever. Google could pull the plug entirely one day, forcing users to make their peace with Gemini.

Still, people who prefer Assistant for its ability to handle certain tasks better than Gemini might find this makeshift solution helpful, even if it’s only temporary.

User reports about the switch to Gemini have been overwhelmed by negative accounts, with people claiming it can fall short on basic functions like setting alarms or timers. Similarly, the switch to Gemini on Android Auto hasn’t been without its problems, either.