How To Stop Google Home From Listening To Me

Google Home is among the many smart speakers on the market today. There’s the Google Home, Google Home Mini, and Google Home Max. If you are transitioning your home into a “smart home”, having a Google Home device (or similar products) is essential. However in recent years, there has been controversy over smart speakers recording and storing voice and audio recordings of its users. This issue goes one step further with the possibility of employees listening to these private voice recordings as well. 

For example, it was revealed that Amazon employs people to listen to Alexa voice recordings in order to improve their virtual assistant. However, before this occurred, Amazon and other smart speaker companies weren’t transparent with users regarding this fact. 

If you are worried about this and are wondering how to stop Google Home from listening to you, continue reading. 

Ways To Stop Your Google Home Device From Listening To You

Adjust Your Google Assistant Settings

Even though Google doesn’t save voice audio activity through Google Assistant, users have the choice to save recordings to improve their use of and experience with Google Home. Users are also able to delete Google Assistant recordings saved whenever they wish. 

How To Turn Off Audio Recordings

• Go to https://myactivity.google.com/myactivity.
• Click on the left menu (☰), and select Activity Controls.
• Under Activity Controls → Web & App Activity, uncheck Include Audio Recordings. 

How To Delete Audio Recordings

• Go to https://myactivity.google.com/myactivity.
• Click on the left menu (☰), and select Activity Controls.
• Under Activity Controls, go to the Web & App Activity section and select Manage Activity. 
• Then, view all of your activities. Any audio recordings will have the icon next to it. 
• To delete the activity, press ⋮ next to it and click delete. You also have the option to delete in bulk if you wish. 

Turn Off Your Device’s Microphone

The simplest way to not have your Google Home record you is by turning off the microphone. You can do this by locating the microphone mute button on your device. The location of this button depends on the type of device you have.

Is There Anything Else I Can Do? 

Currently, there is nothing else you can do to restrict your Google Home device. However, there are other actions you can take to protect your privacy:

• • Continually update your device’s software.
  • Stay up-to-date with any new features, policies, etc. Google has for your device. 
  • Be aware of the data privacy laws that apply to you. 
  • Check your Google privacy and Activity Control settings on a monthly basis. 

To learn more about how to stop other smart devices from listening to your, read this.