Samsung is now giving Galaxy S8 and Note 8 owners the option to disable the Bixby button.
For most users, they weren't happy with the dedicated physical key and the virtual assistant, which were first seen on the Galaxy S8. The thing is, Bixby Voice wasn't even ready to launch alongside the smartphone because it couldn't understand English well, and Samsung has been adamant of keeping users from remapping the button — arguably the only reason it's worth using.
At any rate, the latest Bixby update will allow users to avoid accidentally opening Bixby Home when picking up their phones or while they're in their pockets.
How To Disable The Bixby Button
The update in question is Bixby Home version 2.0.03.3, and the option to turn off the Bixby button will only turn up when it's installed.
Now to disable it, just open Bixby Home, which can be done by pressing the button once, and tap on the Settings icon at the top. It's the one that looks like a gear. Once the menu is opened, a toggle to enable and disable the button will show up. Needless to say, just toggle it off.
Alternatively, the option is also available by going through Bixby Home, Settings, and then Bixby Key. There, two functions can be set: "Press to open Bixby Home. Press and hold to open Bixby Voice" or "Don't open anything." This goes without saying, but what we're looking for here is the latter.
Take note that Bixby Voice can't be disabled, so a long press on the button will still open it. Also, Bixby Home will still be accessible by swiping left to right on the home screen, but to turn this off, tap and hold on the home screen, swipe left to go to the Bixby Home page, and toggle it off.
Bixby Update Availability
Samsung has yet to launch the latest Bixby update to all Galaxy S8 and Note 8 devices. According to SamMobile, the rollout is currently random. Regardless, it's only a matter of time before every handset gets the option to disable the Bixby button.
The Bottom Line
To put the update into perspective, Samsung seems to be throwing Galaxy S8 and Note 8 owners a bone. In other words, what users really want is the option to remap the Bixby button, but hey, disabling it is the next best thing. At the very least, accidentally pulling up Bixby Home is now a thing of the past.
