How do I turn off Google Search microphone?

The Google Search microphone feature allows users to perform voice searches by tapping a microphone icon in the Google Search bar. Speaking a search query out loud can be quicker and more convenient than typing, especially on mobile devices. However, some users may want to turn off this feature due to privacy concerns over Google recording voice data or unwanted voice search activation.

According to a 2017 Forbes article, only a small percentage of people were using voice search features on social media at that time. But experts predict the percentage will rise as voice assistants like Google Assistant become more prevalent. Voice search adoption is a trend CMOs and brands need to pay attention to.

Locate the Microphone Icon

The microphone icon is located in the Google Search bar at the top of the screen on both mobile and desktop. On mobile, it will be on the right side of the search bar, while on desktop it will be on the left side.

The icon looks like a microphone and will have a red slash through it when microphone access is disabled. If you don’t see the icon at all, you may need to refresh the page or restart your browser.

According to Google Support, you may need to tap the ‘G’ logo on the left of the search bar to reload the page, and the microphone icon should then appear on the refreshed search bar. This allows you to easily locate the microphone icon if it’s not immediately visible.

Once you locate the microphone icon in the search bar, you can use it to turn off microphone access for Google Search as covered in the next section.

Turn Off Microphone in Search Settings

The easiest way to turn off the Google Search microphone is to go into your Google Account settings and disable Voice and Audio Activity. Here’s how to do it on Android:

Open the Settings app on your Android device.
Tap on Google.

Tap on Manage your Google Account.
Under “Personal info & privacy”, tap on Activity controls.
Under “Web & App Activity”, uncheck the box next to “Include voice and audio recordings.”

Turning this setting off will prevent Google from saving any audio recordings or transcripts associated with your Google searches (source: Google Support). Your microphone will essentially be muted for Google Search on that device.

Mute Microphone in Chrome

You can mute site access to your microphone directly in Chrome’s settings. This will prevent sites from accessing your microphone when you’re browsing in Chrome without fully disabling the microphone across your device.

To mute microphone access in Chrome (source):

Open Chrome on your computer or mobile device.
Click the three dot menu icon in the top right corner.
Select “Settings” from the drop down menu.

Click “Privacy and security” on the left side.
Scroll down and toggle “Ask before accessing microphone” to the on position.

This will make Chrome ask for your permission each time a site wants to access your microphone. You can deny access on a per-site basis to keep your microphone muted.

On mobile, you may also see microphone access settings under “Site Settings” rather than “Privacy and security.” The steps are the same.

Disable Google Assistant

One of the most direct ways to turn off the Google Search microphone is by disabling Google Assistant. Since the microphone feature is used by Google Assistant for voice commands and queries, turning it off will stop microphone access across Google services.

To disable Google Assistant on Android, go to Settings > Apps & notifications > Advanced > Default apps > Assist & voice input. Tap on Assist app and select None to turn off Google Assistant.

You can also go to Settings > Apps & notifications > See all # apps > Google > Disable. This will disable the entire Google app, including Assistant.

On Android 13 and newer, go to Settings > Privacy & security > Apps with microphone access. Turn off microphone access for the Google app.

According to XDA Developers, disabling Google Assistant this way will completely turn off microphone access across the system.

Use Keyboard Shortcuts

You can quickly toggle the microphone on and off using a handy keyboard shortcut (source: https://blog.expertrec.com/google-voice-search-keyboard-shortcut/). On Google Chrome, press Ctrl + Shift + Period on Windows or Command + Shift + Period on Mac to activate voice search. To turn off the microphone, simply press Ctrl + Shift + L (Windows) or Command + Shift + L (Mac). This will stop Google from listening and disable the microphone icon.

The keyboard shortcuts allow you to easily toggle voice search on and off without having to locate and click the microphone icon. Memorizing the shortcuts can save you time and effort. Just remember Ctrl + Shift + Period/Command + Shift + Period to turn on the mic, and Ctrl + Shift + L/Command + Shift + L to turn it back off.

Clear Cookies and Cache

One way to reset microphone permissions for Google Search is by clearing your cookies and cache. This will clear all cookies and site data stored by Chrome, which often resets permissions that were previously granted to websites.

To clear cookies and cache in Chrome, open the settings menu and go to Privacy and Security > Clear Browsing Data. Make sure both “Cookies and other site data” and “Cached images and files” are selected. Then choose a timeframe, or “All time” to clear everything. Finally, click “Clear data.”

After clearing cookies and cache, microphone access will likely need to be re-enabled for sites you visit. So this fixes the microphone issue for Google Search, but resets permissions more broadly. Consider this option if microphone access seems to be stuck on accidentally. (source)

Use Incognito Mode

One way to turn off the Google Search microphone is to use Incognito mode in Chrome. Incognito mode doesn’t save your browsing history, cookies, site data, and information entered in forms. It also prevents the microphone from being enabled in Incognito mode tabs.

To open an Incognito window in Chrome:

On your computer, open Chrome.
At the top right, click the More icon (3 dots) > New incognito window.

Or press Ctrl+Shift+N on a Windows/Linux or Command+Shift+N on a Mac.

With Incognito mode, the microphone icon will not be present in the search bar. This prevents Google from capturing any audio input or using voice search features. However, you’ll need to open a new Incognito window each time you want to turn off the microphone.

According to How to enable voice typing in Incognito Mode?, voice typing and microphone access is disabled by default in Incognito tabs. So using Incognito prevents Google from accessing your microphone temporarily.

Consider Alternatives

If you want to use voice search capabilities but don’t want to enable the microphone for Google Search, there are some alternative options to consider:

Alexa by Amazon allows for voice interactions without having to enable a microphone for web searches. You can speak to Alexa through Amazon Echo devices or the Alexa mobile app to get information, play music, control smart home devices and more all through voice commands (Source).

Microsoft Cortana is another digital assistant that provides voice search functions separately from your browser. You can access it through Windows 10 and compatible Android devices without having to give microphone access to Google Search (Source).

Using a dedicated voice assistant app like Alexa or Cortana allows you to take advantage of voice search while limiting the access provided through your web browser.

Turn Microphone Back On

If you change your mind and want to turn the Google Search microphone feature back on, follow these steps:

On an Android phone or tablet:

Open the Google app.
Tap the More icon in the bottom right.
Select Settings > Voice > Voice Match.

Toggle “Hey Google” detection on.

On an iPhone or iPad:

Open the Google app.

Tap your profile icon in the top right.
Select Settings > Voice > Voice Match.
Toggle “Hey Google” on.

This will re-enable the microphone icon on the Google homepage and allow you to use voice searches again by tapping the mic or saying “Hey Google.” The microphone will now be listening for your voice commands whenever you are on the Google app.

If you still don’t see the microphone icon after toggling Voice Match on, you may need to also check your device permissions to make sure Google has access to your microphone.