How to Reprogram the Samsung Bixby Button

What to Know

• Make sure you have the latest version of Bixby Voice, then go to Settings > Advanced Features > Bixby Key.
• To assign a secondary action, tap Run quick command on the Use single (or double) press page.
• To access a different virtual assistant with the Bixby button, use a third-party app or the Bixby Assistant Remapper APK.

Many Samsung users prefer other voice assistants, such as Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, or Microsoft Cortana. The good news is, you can remap the Bixby button to access a different application or reprogram Bixby to use another voice assistant. These instructions apply to the following versions of Samsung Galaxy devices: Galaxy S10e, S10+, S10, S9+, S9, S8+, S8, Note 9, and Note 8.

Make Sure You Have the Latest Version of Bixby

Remapping the Bixby button means changing the application it opens when you press the button.

You cannot completely turn off the button or prevent it from calling up Bixby. However, you can change the way it behaves.

Before you begin the process, check the version of Bixby Voice to make sure it is 2.1.04.18 or higher. Go to Settings > Apps > Bixby Voice and scroll to the bottom to view the version.

If you need to update the app before proceeding, go to the Galaxy Store app. In the Galaxy Store, tap the three-line menu in the upper-left corner and select Updates. Scroll down to see if an update for Bixby is available, and tap the Download button on the right side of the screen.

The Galaxy Store is different from the Google Play store, so be sure you're selecting the correct app.

How to Remap the Bixby Button

Once you've made sure you have the latest version of Bixby Voice, follow these steps to remap the Bixby button.

1. Pull down the window shade from the top of the screen and select Settings.

2. Go to Advanced Features > Bixby Key.

3. On the Bixby key settings page, you have two options. Select the option you prefer. In this example, Double press to open Bixby is selected.

   You can choose to have Bixby open with a single press, in which case you can assign a double press to open something else. Or, you can reverse it and assign a single press on the Bixby key to open an app of your choice and assign a double press to open Bixby.

   

4. With the desired option selected for Bixby, a second option is enabled. In this example, it is Use Single Press. Select the option.

5. On the page for the option you selected, select the bubble to the right of Open app.

6. You are taken to a page of apps where you can select the one you prefer to open when you press the Bixby key the desired number of times.

7. Once you've selected the desired app, you'll return to the previous screen. To change the app, tap the Settings icon.

   

Run a Quick Command in Bixby

Rather than assign the second action of the Bixby key to a specific app, you can choose to run a quick command.

A quick command is a set of actions that you choose to happen when you press the Bixby key one or two times. For example, if you want to set up your phone to reduce distractions automatically when you're driving, set the quick command option to turn on Do Not Disturb, turn off the Wi-Fi, and turn off the Always-on Display.

To do this, instead of selecting Open app on the Use single (or double) press page, select Run quick command on the page that opens when you choose either a single press or a double press. Select an existing command, or tap Go to Quick Commands to find more.

To change the quick command, return to this screen and tap the Settings icon.

How to Reprogram the Bixby Button

If you're disappointed that you can't automatically use the Bixby button to access a different virtual assistant, some third-party apps will help. For example, BixAssist and BixLexa. These are paid apps, but at $0.99, it might be worth the investment.

There is another way to reassign the Bixby button using the Bixby Assistant Remapper APK. It's a little more involved, but it's free.

Here's how that works:

1. On your Samsung phone, download the Bixby Button Assistant Remapper APK.

   You might receive a security warning on your device. Choose Continue or Allow to continue with the download.

2. Once the download completes, pull down the window shade and select the Download button to open it and begin the installation. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

   You must allow installation from Unknown Sources to install this software. The app does not request any special permissions, so choosing Allow from this source when prompted is safe.

3. Once the installation is complete, go to Settings > Advanced Features > Bixby Key and select Double press to open Bixby.

4. Select Use single press.

5. If it's not on, turn on the feature with the toggle switch at the top of the screen, then select the gear icon next to Open app.

6. Find and select Bixby Button Assistant Remapper, then close Settings.

7. Press the Bixby key one time. Then, in the selection screen that appears, choose the voice assistant you want to use and select Always.

   

8. Now, when you want to use your alternative virtual assistant, press the Bixby key one time.