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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →If holding your Galaxy phone’s Side button opens Bixby, the button’s Long press action is assigned to Bixby. You can change that assignment in Settings > Advanced features > Side button (sometimes labelled Side key). Choose Bixby, a digital assistant, or the Power off menu. On phones running One UI 7, Samsung changed the default long-press action to Gemini, or Google Assistant where Gemini is unavailable, but Bixby remains an available choice on supported models.
What the Galaxy Side button actually does
On newer Galaxy phones, Samsung combines the former power and Bixby controls into one multifunction Side button. The phone interprets different gestures separately:
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| Gesture | Typical assignment | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Short press | Wake, lock, or turn off the screen | This basic action is separate from the programmable shortcuts. |
| Long press | Bixby, another assistant, or the Power off menu | This is the gesture that commonly launches Bixby. |
| Double press | An app or feature you select | Camera and other shortcuts may be offered, depending on the phone, software, carrier, and region. |
Therefore, Bixby opening after you hold the button is normally not a fault. It means the current long-press assignment is Bixby. Samsung’s available choices differ by model and operating-system version, so two Galaxy phones can respond differently to the same gesture.
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The long-press setting controls the result
Samsung’s support instructions list Bixby, a digital-assistant option, and the power-off menu as possible long-press destinations. If Bixby is selected, the phone starts Bixby Voice when the press lasts long enough. If the power menu is selected, the same gesture displays shutdown and restart controls instead.
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The setting can be changed without installing an app, buying an accessory, replacing the button, or changing your phone. It is a software shortcut attached to the hardware button.
One UI 7 changed the default on newer phones
Samsung says that from One UI 7 onward, holding the Side button defaults to Gemini. In regions where Gemini is unavailable, Google Assistant is used instead. This explains why a recently updated phone may no longer behave like an older Galaxy model, while a phone that still has Bixby selected will continue to open Bixby.
Do not assume that every Galaxy phone has the same factory setting. Samsung’s US, Ireland, Gulf, and Australia guidance notes that the displayed choices depend on the model, One UI version, carrier, and region. The Australian instructions, for example, are specifically for Australian variants.
Change the long-press action in Settings
Use this route on a current Galaxy phone with a configurable Side button:
- Open Settings.
- Tap Advanced features.
- Tap Side button. Some devices or software versions call it Side key.
- Under the button actions, tap Long press.
- Select Bixby, Power off menu, or an available assistant option.
The change takes effect immediately. Lock the screen and hold the button once to verify the new behavior. If your menu uses slightly different wording, look for the Side button or Side key entry under Advanced features; Samsung does not expose identical choices on every model.
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Restore Bixby if another assistant opens
If Gemini or Google Assistant appears after a long press and you prefer Bixby, return to Settings > Advanced features > Side button > Long press and choose Bixby. This is the normal fix for the One UI 7 default change.
Samsung also documents an alternative path through the Bixby app:
- Open Bixby.
- Tap Settings in the upper-right corner.
- Tap Side button settings.
- Tap Long press, then choose Bixby.
If Bixby is not listed, the phone’s model, region, software build, or carrier configuration may not expose that option. Check the Side button page in Settings rather than assuming the instructions for another Galaxy model apply.
Choose what a double press does
Double press is configured independently from Long press. Changing one does not change the other. To edit it, open Settings > Advanced features > Side button > Double press, then select one of the choices shown on your phone.
Samsung’s examples include Camera, Flashlight, Magnifier, Voice Recorder, Samsung Notes, Samsung Capture, Modes and Routines, and other installed or supported apps. The exact list is device- and region-dependent. If you want the button to launch a shortcut without holding it long enough to invoke an assistant, assign that shortcut to Double press while leaving Long press set to the power menu or your preferred assistant.
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The important trade-off: the power menu may move
Samsung warns that assigning Long press to Bixby or another digital assistant removes the power-off menu from that Side button gesture. In other words, the same hold cannot both launch Bixby and display the shutdown controls.
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When an assistant owns Long press, Samsung identifies two alternatives for power controls:
- Open the Quick panel and use its power-control icon, where available.
- Press and hold Side button + Volume Down together.
The precise on-screen controls can vary by device. If having a one-button route to shutdown matters more than instant Bixby access, select Power off menu for Long press and use another method to open Bixby.
Which setting should you use?
| Your priority | Recommended Long press choice | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Open Bixby by holding the button | Bixby | The Side button no longer opens the power menu on that gesture. |
| Use Samsung’s newer assistant behavior | Digital assistant or the listed Gemini/Google Assistant option | The assistant shown depends on One UI version and regional availability. |
| Reach shutdown and restart controls directly | Power off menu | Holding the button will not start Bixby or another assistant. |
| Launch an app quickly without a long hold | Keep Long press as preferred, then configure Double press | Only the apps and features offered by your phone can be assigned. |
There is no universal “correct” assignment. The practical choice is whether the hold gesture should prioritize an assistant or power controls, while Double press handles a separate shortcut.
Why your screen may not match Samsung’s instructions
Different One UI releases
One UI 7 introduced the Gemini-first default described by Samsung. Earlier releases may show Bixby or a more general digital-assistant label as the default. Menu names can also change between releases, so use the closest matching Side button or Side key entry.
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Different Galaxy models
Samsung’s support material is not a single specification for every Galaxy phone. A flagship, an older model, and a tablet can expose different Double press apps and different assistant choices. A missing option is usually a compatibility difference, not evidence that the button is defective.
Regional and carrier availability
Samsung specifically qualifies some guidance by market, including an Australia-only variant guide. Assistant availability can also vary by country, language, carrier software, and account setup. Use the options actually displayed on your device as the authoritative list for that phone.
Modern Side button versus older dedicated Bixby key
Older Galaxy devices may have a separate physical Bixby key rather than the combined Side button. Samsung lists the Galaxy Note 9, the Galaxy S8 series, and the Galaxy S10 and earlier as examples of phones with that legacy arrangement.
On those listed legacy models, Samsung says holding the dedicated Bixby key always activates Bixby Voice. Instructions for remapping the modern Side button therefore do not necessarily apply. First identify whether your phone has one combined Side button or a distinct Bixby key; the hardware layout determines which settings guide is relevant.
Troubleshoot an unexpected Bixby launch
Check the assignment rather than the app
Open Settings > Advanced features > Side button and inspect Long press. If it says Bixby, the behavior is configured rather than accidental software failure. Select the desired option and test again.
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Confirm you changed Long press, not Double press
The two gestures have separate controls. Changing Double press to Camera or another app will not stop Bixby from opening during a hold. Return specifically to the Long press setting.
Use the hardware combination for shutdown
If you intentionally keep Bixby or an assistant on Long press and cannot find the power menu, use the Quick panel or hold Side + Volume Down, as Samsung’s current guidance recommends.
Account for software differences
If a Samsung article describes Gemini but your phone shows Bixby, or vice versa, compare the phone’s One UI version, model, region, and carrier software. Samsung’s support pages caution that these factors affect the available actions. Do not force a setting through a menu that your device does not provide.
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Can you disable Bixby completely?
Changing the Side button assignment can prevent the long-press gesture from launching Bixby, but that is not the same as removing Bixby from the phone. Samsung’s older UK guidance describes remapping as a way to reduce accidental launches; it does not establish that Bixby can be fully uninstalled or disabled on every model. The current, supported approach is to assign Long press to the power menu or another available assistant.
Bottom line for Galaxy owners
Bixby opens because the Side button’s Long press action is set to Bixby. Change it at Settings > Advanced features > Side button > Long press, remembering that One UI 7 commonly defaults that gesture to Gemini or Google Assistant instead. Double press is a separate shortcut, and assigning an assistant to Long press moves power controls to the Quick panel or the Side + Volume Down combination. Exact labels and choices depend on your Galaxy model, One UI release, carrier, and region.
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