How do you turn off the microphone on a Samsung phone?

Introduction

Many users may want to turn off the microphone on their Samsung phone for privacy reasons. There are growing concerns that smartphones and other connected devices with always-on microphones are constantly listening and collecting data about users without their knowledge or consent. The ACLU has warned that always-on microphones represent a significant privacy threat. Users may wish to disable the microphone on their Samsung devices to prevent unauthorized eavesdropping and data collection by apps, advertisers or even hackers. Turning off the microphone provides peace of mind that your conversations and activities are not being recorded without your knowledge.

Locate the Microphone Settings

The microphone settings on Samsung Galaxy phones are located within the Settings app. To access the microphone settings:

1. Open the Settings app on your Samsung Galaxy device.
2. Scroll down and tap “Apps.”
3. Tap “App permissions.”
4. Tap “Microphone.”

This will show you a list of apps that have requested permission to access your phone’s microphone. From here, you can toggle the microphone access on or off for each individual app.

Alternatively, you can also search for “Microphone” within the Settings app to quickly access the microphone settings and app permissions page.

The Settings app is where you can view and control which apps can access your Samsung Galaxy device’s microphone. Adjusting these permissions on a per-app basis allows you to disable the microphone specifically for apps that you don’t want listening in.

Turn Off App Permissions

The easiest way to disable the microphone on specific apps is to go through the app permissions and turn off microphone access. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open Settings and tap Apps.

2. Tap the app you want to revoke microphone permissions for.

3. Tap Permissions.

4. Turn off the Allow option next to Microphone.

This will restrict that app’s access to your phone’s microphone. You can repeat this for any apps that don’t need microphone access. For example, disabling microphone access for camera or social media apps can help prevent unwanted recording.

According to this article, Android 11 makes it even easier to auto revoke app permissions like microphone access for unused apps. So if you upgrade to Android 11, permissions will reset automatically if you haven’t used an app for a while.

Mute the Microphone

The easiest way to quickly mute the microphone on a Samsung phone is by using the physical mute switch. Most Samsung Galaxy models have a dedicated mute switch on the left side of the device, just above the volume buttons.

To mute the microphone, simply slide the switch down so it is in the muted position. An icon will appear in the status bar indicating the microphone is now muted. To unmute, slide the switch back up. The mute switch provides a convenient way to immediately disable the microphone without having to dig through software settings.

Some older or budget Samsung models may not have a dedicated mute switch. In this case, you will need to rely on software options to mute the microphone, like disabling app permissions or turning on Do Not Disturb mode.

The mute switch only mutes the microphone in certain apps and scenarios. The microphone may still pick up voice in apps like voice recorder or during calls. For full microphone disable, use the software options.

Clear App Cache and Data

One way to reset app permissions on your Samsung phone is to clear the app’s cache and data. Clearing the cache removes temporary files stored by the app, while clearing data erases all data associated with the app including settings and permissions.

To clear the cache and data for an app on a Samsung device, go to Settings > Apps. Tap on the app you want to clear data for, then tap Storage. Next, tap Clear Cache to clear just the cache, or Clear Data to erase all app data. Be aware that clearing app data will reset any preferences or login details associated with that app [1].

After clearing an app’s data, the next time you open the app it will prompt you again for permissions as if opening it for the first time. This is an easy way to reset microphone or other permissions that you may have previously granted an app. Just be sure you are comfortable erasing all local data before clearing app data.

Turn Off Bixby

Bixby is Samsung’s virtual assistant that can respond to voice commands and automate tasks on your phone. If you don’t want Bixby listening or don’t find it useful, you can disable it completely.

To turn off Bixby on your Samsung Galaxy phone:

1. Open the Settings app and tap “Advanced features.”
2. Tap “Bixby key” or “Bixby Voice.”
3. Toggle the “Wake Bixby with voice” or “Bixby Voice Wake-up” switch off.
4. You can also toggle off the “Press and hold Bixby key to…” option to disable the Bixby button.

According to Tom’s Guide, disabling Bixby prevents it from listening for voice commands and accessing your phone’s microphone. If you want to re-enable it later, you can return to the Bixby settings. Disabling Bixby can help extend battery life and give you more privacy if you don’t regularly use Samsung’s virtual assistant.

Disable Google Assistant

Google Assistant is enabled by default on most Android devices, including Samsung phones. To fully disable the microphone access for Google Assistant:

1. Open the Google app and tap on your profile icon in the top right corner.
2. Go to Settings > Google Assistant.
3. Toggle “Hey Google” to off.
4. Toggle “Voice Match” to off.
5. You can also go to Apps > Google > Permissions and toggle the Microphone permission to off.

This will prevent Google Assistant from activating when it hears the “Hey Google” trigger phrase. It will no longer have access to your microphone unless you manually launch the Google Assistant app.

For complete removal, go to Apps > Google > Uninstall Updates. This will revert Google Assistant and the Google app to the factory version without automatic updates or microphone access unless granted again. Reboot your device after uninstalling updates.

Source: https://www.androidauthority.com/turn-off-google-assistant-949523/

Use Do Not Disturb Mode

Enabling Do Not Disturb (DND) mode is an easy way to limit interruptions and microphone use on your Samsung phone. When DND mode is on, your phone will silence incoming calls, alerts, and notifications so they don’t disturb you. It also prevents the microphone from being accessed by apps.

To enable DND mode on your Samsung:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap “Sounds and vibration.”
3. Toggle on “Do not disturb.”

With DND mode enabled, your phone’s microphone will be muted for most apps. You can customize DND settings to allow exceptions for certain contacts or apps. Just keep in mind that allowing microphone access for specific apps will override DND mode for those apps.

DND mode is an easy way to instantly mute your Samsung’s microphone across all apps, except for allowed exceptions. Just toggle it on whenever you want to limit interruptions and microphone use.

Adjust Voice Wake Up Settings

One way to turn off the microphone on your Samsung phone is to disable the voice wake up features that activate when you say certain phrases. Many Samsung Galaxy devices have built-in wake up commands like “Hi Bixby” or “Ok Google” that listen for your voice and respond.

To disable Bixby voice wake up, open the Bixby app and go to Settings > Voice wake-up. Turn off the “Wake with Hi Bixby” option. You can also go to Settings > Advanced features > Bixby key and turn off “Wake Bixby with voice.”

For Google Assistant, go to Settings > Apps > Assistant > Voice and turn off “Hey Google” voice detection. Alternatively, you can go to Settings > Google > Account services > Search, Assistant & Voice > Voice and turn off “Hey Google” detection.

Disabling these wake up features for Bixby and Google Assistant will prevent the microphone from turning on when you say their hotwords. Your phone will no longer listen for “Hi Bixby” or “Ok Google,” keeping the mic off.

Conclusion

There are several ways to control microphone access on Samsung phones. The main methods include:

• Going into App Permissions in Settings and toggling the microphone off for specific apps.
• Using Bixby or Google Assistant settings to disable voice activation features.
• Turning on Do Not Disturb mode to limit interruptions from calls and notifications.
• Adjusting Wake Up Voice settings under Advanced Features to prevent the microphone from activating for voice commands.
• Clearing app cache and data for problematic apps abusing the microphone.

Overall, Samsung provides granular control over microphone usage across different apps and features. Taking the time to adjust these settings ensures only trusted apps have microphone access, giving you greater privacy and control.