Google Gemini Voice Assistant won't open or close the garage door

The original text of this article is below, but it appears that most, if not all of it will be moot shortly as Google will soon be shutting down the Google Assistant. You can read about it here.

If you noticed that you can no longer control your garage door by voice commands after upgrading from the Google Assistant to Gemini, you're not alone. Google removed the ability to use voice control for devices it deems as being related to security. This includes door locks, garage door openers, cameras, and possibly more. You can read their article about it here.

This restriction applies to Gemini voice control on your smartphone as well as in your vehicle, even if your vehicle runs AAOS (Android Automotive OS).

While we can't research and provide instructions on how to revert back to the Google Assistant on every smartphone, vehicle, and Android OS version, the steps below show known methods to revert to the Google Assistant on some devices and in some AAOS equipped vehicles. Yours may be different.

Smartphones

The toggle still exists on many devices, but it's being actively phased out — so whether you'll find it depends on your phone and Google app version.

On a Pixel or stock Android:

1. Open the Gemini app (or the Google app)
2. Tap your profile photo, top right → Settings
3. Tap Google Assistant
4. Scroll to Digital assistants from Google — from there you can pick Google Assistant instead of Gemini, then confirm the switch

On Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo, etc., the path is usually through the Google app rather than Gemini: Google app → profile photo → Settings → Google Assistant → Digital assistants from Google. Alternatively via system settings: Settings → Google → All services → Settings for Google Apps → Search, Assistant & Voice → Google Assistant → Digital assistants from Google.

If the option isn't there, it's likely already been removed on your device. Google has been stripping the "Digital assistants from Google" choice screen out of both Gemini and Assistant settings, locking users to Gemini, and newer hardware (Pixel 10 and later) ships Gemini-only with no Assistant at all. The mobile retirement was originally targeted for end of 2025, then pushed into 2026, with March 2026 floated as a milestone for platforms like Android Auto — so on a device that just got updated, the revert path may simply be gone.

One thing worth knowing if your motivation is smart home control: Assistant settings for Nest devices are still reachable separately via Google Home app → Settings → Home features → Google Assistant, even if your phone's voice assistant is Gemini.

AAOS equipped Vehicles

Volvo Vehicles (may apply to others as well)

1. Tap the car symbol on the bar at the bottom of the screen
2. Tap the "Settings" tab at the top
3. Tap "Google"
4. Tap "Gemini", underneath "Services on this device"
5. Scroll to the bottom of the Gemini settings page, there's an entry called "Switch to Google Assistant". Tap it.
6. A confirmation dialog will open up, confirm by tapping "Switch"