If every time you swipe your home screen you see news that doesn't interest you, you've probably already considered How to disable Google Discover on your mobile phoneWhile many users find it useful, for others it is simply a source of distractions, irrelevant content, or extra data consumption that they would prefer to avoid.
Some people bother to go training Google Discover by telling him which topics he likes and which he doesn't.But even then, it sometimes doesn't quite work. If you recognize yourself in this situation and want to get rid of it once and for all, you're in the right place: here you'll see how to disable it on Android, iPhone, and even an advanced method for some specific devices like OnePlus.
What exactly is Google Discover and why is it optional?
Google Discover is that section where Google shows you a feed of news, articles, and recommended content Based on your searches, browsing history, and interests. It's not just a simple information panel: it's constantly learning from what you view, what you open, and what you ignore to refine its recommendations.
The important thing is that Discover is not a mandatory component of the system.Rather, it's a feature integrated primarily into the Google app and some Android home screens. In fact, on most phones, you'll only see it if you go to the corresponding tab in the Google app or swipe left from your main home screen.
On many Android phones, especially with Google launchers or similar, the left panel of the first home screen is reserved for the Google module where Discover is displayedIf nothing appears when you swipe left, it's possible that your launcher doesn't have it enabled, or that the manufacturer has replaced it with their own panel or a service like update or that it is already deactivated.
On iOS the approach changes quite a bit: Discover lives within the Google appIt appears as a feed within the app itself, but it doesn't occupy a separate home screen like on many Android devices. This means that if you don't use the Google app, you won't even encounter Discover.
Why you might want to turn off Google Discover
Discover might be convenient for staying up-to-date, but there are several reasons why many users choose not to. Turn it off completely on any deviceBeyond personal preferences, there are practical and privacy reasons.
To begin with, Discover is powered by your dataIt tracks what you search for, the websites you visit, the videos you watch… and creates a fairly detailed profile of your interests. Although you can control certain aspects from your Google account, and see why. The Google app uses too much batteryIf you want it to stop influencing what you see on your mobile, the direct solution is to deactivate it.
Another common reason is that the feed becomes a constant source of distractionsYou open your phone to check something quickly and end up reading articles you weren't even looking for. For those trying to reduce their phone use, Discover isn't always helpful.
Nor should we forget that, especially in mobile connections, Loading a feed full of content, images, and videos consumes data.It's not a huge amount, but if you have a limited data plan or travel while roaming, every MB counts, and you might prefer to save it or use alternatives like RSS aggregators.
Finally, in some Android versions, the left panel contains Discover. It disrupts the desk organization a bit.There are users who would prefer to use that gesture for something else or, simply, have a cleaner launcher, without a screen that they don't use for anything.
How to disable Google Discover on Android
On most Android phones, the easiest method to Disabling Google Discover involves using the Google app itself. and its settings. The trick is to locate the general settings where the feed is controlled and turn off the corresponding toggle.
The first step is to open the Discover panel. On many devices, this will be sufficient. Slide the desktop to the left until you reach the screen located before your first desktopIt's that special panel where news cards, weather, sports scores, and other content recommended by Google usually appear.
If no Google panel appears when you swipe, it may be because Your launcher doesn't include Discover or it's already disabled.In that case, you can still manage the function from the Google app, but you won't see that panel on the desktop.
Once you're in the Discover section (either from the left panel or by directly opening the Google app), look at the bottom bar with the different tabsYou will usually see Home, Search, Collections and, on the far right, an icon with three dots or the word "More".
Tap that button “More” to access an additional menu with different optionsThat's where Google groups quick access options like history, incognito mode, and, what interests us now, the app's full settings.
Within this options screen, locate the entry for “Settings” with the gear iconIt is the central settings panel from which you control both search and Discover behavior, notifications, account, etc.
When you go into Settings, you'll see several sections grouped by topic. The section you need to open is... “General”, which usually appears firstThis is where you'll find the basic options that affect your entire Google app experience.
Once inside General, scroll through the list until you see the option called “Discover” next to a switchThis toggle determines whether the feed is enabled on your device. If it's colored (blue, green, or similar), it means Discover is on and will continue to appear.
To deactivate it, simply Touch the switch to turn it to a gray or off stateOnce you do this, the feed will stop appearing in both the Google app and the desktop panel where it was displayed. From then on, even if you access the Google module, you will no longer see the Discover cards.
If at any point you change your mind and want the feed back, you'll just have to Repeat the same path to Settings > General > Discover and reactivate the toggle.It's a reversible adjustment and doesn't delete your interest history; it simply stops showing you the content.
How to turn off Google Discover on iPhone (iOS)
On iOS, it works similarly but with one important difference: Discover is not integrated into the iPhone home screen.Instead, it only appears within the Google app. This means that if you don't use it, Discover practically doesn't exist for you.
The most drastic way to get rid of Discover on iPhone is uninstall the Google app directlyIf you don't rely on it for searches and you're fine with Safari or the Chrome app, deleting it means you can forget about Discover and all the other associated features.
Now, you might like using the Google app to browse or search, but that You don't want to see the Discover feed every time you open it.In that case, it is recommended to disable it from the app's internal settings, without needing to uninstall anything.
To begin, open the Google app on your iPhone and, once inside, tap about your profile picture located in the upper right cornerIt's the same icon you use to manage your account, switch users, or access associated personal data.
Tapping your image will open a panel-style menu, from which you can perform quick actions such as delete recent history, activate incognito mode or manage your connected accounts. Among all these options, you'll also see a shortcut to "Settings".
Enter the section “Adjustments” (identified by a gear)From here you control the app's overall behavior, including Discover preferences, notifications, and other settings that affect how results and content are displayed.
Just like on Android, within Settings you'll see several sections, and the first one is usually... "General"Tap it to access the main settings. This is where, among other things, you can manage the theme, language, and Discover controls.
Within the General section, scroll down until you find the option called “Discover” next to an activation leverIf the switch is active (usually colored), the feed will continue to appear on the Google app's home screen.
To disable Discover on iOS, simply Turn the lever off so it turns gray.From that moment on, when you open the application, the personalized news carousel will no longer load, and it will be much cleaner, focused on the search bar.
As with Android, this setting is completely reversible: if you ever want to see the recommendations again, Go back to Settings > General > Discover and re-enable the optionYou won't lose your previous preferences, they're just "paused" while Discover is turned off.
Advanced method on Android: Remove or replace Discover with ADB (OnePlus and similar)
In addition to the standard options from Google settings, on some Android phones you can go a step further and Remove or replace Discover at the system level using ADB commandsThis method is considerably more technical and not necessary for most users, but it can be interesting if you want finer control over what appears when you slide the desktop.
This procedure has been tested, for example, in OnePlus devices with OxygenOS 16, such as the OnePlus 13sIt can be used to completely disable Discover or to replace it with other features like OnePlus Shelf. However, it does require using a computer (PC or laptop) and enabling several developer options on the phone.
Before anything else, you should keep several important points in mind. On the one hand, it is necessary Enable OEM unlocking and USB debugging on your Android phone. On the other hand, you will need to install the Android Development Kit (SDK) platform tools on your computer to be able to run ADB commands.
The process begins by going to the mobile phone's settings and looking for the device information section, where the “system build number”Tap that number repeatedly until a message appears indicating that developer options have been enabled. This is the standard procedure on Android to unlock this advanced menu.
Once you've enabled developer options, return to the main settings menu and enter them. There, you'll need to Locate and activate two parameters: “OEM Unlocking” and “USB Debugging”Both are necessary for the computer to communicate with the device and send the commands that will disable Discover.
The next step is to switch to your PC or laptop. From the official Google website you can Download the Android developer tools (the well-known SDK Platform Tools). This software is completely legitimate and provided by Google, so you don't have to worry about its security as long as you get it from the official website.
After downloading the ZIP file, extract it to a folder of your choice. Inside the extracted folder, you'll see another subfolder containing the ADB binaries. Open that subfolder, and from the address bar of your file explorer, you can Type “cmd” to launch a command line window directly in that path, which makes it easy to run ADB without having to navigate with commands.
Now connect your mobile phone to the computer using a USB cable and select the “File Transfer” mode or similar on the panel that appears on your phone. If this is the first time you've enabled USB debugging, the system will display a warning asking if you trust this device: accept the request to allow the ADB connection.
In the PC's command window, type adb devices and press Enter. If everything is configured correctly, you will see a line with a string of numbers and letters, which corresponds to your device identifier. This confirms that the phone is properly connected and ready to receive instructions.
Once the device is recognized, you can execute commands that modify the behavior of the Discover panel. To disable the assistant screen associated with the left side of the launcher, commands like the following are used: adb shell settings put secure assistant_screen_type 0 y adb shell settings put secure assistant_screen_type_left_enable 0These commands change configuration values ​​in the Android secure settings database.
If you want to replace Discover with another specific function, such as OnePlus Shelf on OnePlus devicesThere are variations of these commands that configure other values. A common example is to set assistant_screen_type y assistant_screen_type_left_enable a 1, which indicates that the system should use another screen instead of the Google feed as a side panel.
If you are using a different version of OxygenOS or a different skin, you may the exact name of the launcher package is differentTo identify it, you can run a command in the ADB console like adb shell pm list packages | grep launcherThis way you'll see all the launcher-related packages installed on your system and you can locate the one you're interested in to adjust the settings according to your device.
After completing these steps, it is recommended Disable developer options, USB debugging, and OEM unlocking again on your mobile device to put it in a more secure state. The modifications applied via ADB will remain active even after restarting the device, so there's no need to keep these settings open.
According to the tests performed, this advanced method It does not void your phone's warranty as long as you do not root the device, unlock the bootloader, or flash unofficial firmware.You are simply using tools provided by Google itself to change certain internal configuration parameters.
Furthermore, disabling or replacing Discover in this way does not affect features such as Google Lens, the built-in translator, or Circle to SearchThese features will continue to function without issue. What you're actually changing is the behavior of the launcher's left panel and the presence of the news feed, not the other search-related services.
It should be noted, however, that although the change persists after restarting the phone, it is still not entirely clear how the system will behave. after a major software updateIn some cases it might respect your settings, and in others it might reset them, so it's always a good idea to check the panel's status after updating.
Ultimately, it's a somewhat "overkill" procedure for many users, but Perfectly valid for those who enjoy tinkering with their Android And they want total control over what appears on their desktop. If you fit that more "tech-nerdy" profile, it's a very powerful alternative to getting rid of Discover or customizing it to your liking.
Between the simple option of turning off Discover from the general settings of the Google app and the advanced method using ADB on some Android devices, Any user can get rid of the recommendations feed and leave their mobile phone much cleaner and focused on what they really need.Whether on Android, iPhone, or custom interfaces like OxygenOS, you're not forced to live with Discover if it doesn't benefit you; simply spend a few minutes configuring your device to work exactly the way you want.
