Table of contents:
- Why Google Saves Audio Recordings
- How to disable audio recordings
- How to delete Google Assistant audio recordings
However, to take advantage of its full potential and unlock all its features we need to give a series of permissions. That may mean, depending on our Google account settings, that we have given permission for audio recordings.
What does this mean and how can you delete everything the Google Assistant listens to on your phone? We explain it to you in detail below.
Why Google Saves Audio Recordings
Google has made a number of improvements to the audio recording settings so that it doesn't cause confusion for users. So it will not be difficult to adjust it according to our preferences.
A detail to keep in mind is that Google does not save voice recordings by default This only happens if you have given the corresponding permit. So the audio recordings setting will only be active if you have enabled this option.
Why does Google save audio recordings? The Google team has mentioned the reason several times: to improve their voice systems using different procedures, as explained in the video:
So if the user gives permission, Google may save their voice interaction with services like the Assistant when it detects an activation, for example by saying “Ok Google”.
What if you accidentally turned on audio recording? Or how can you find out what recordings Google has of you? All this has a simple solution from the settings of your Google account.
How to disable audio recordings
If you have Recording Settings turned on, all voice recordings are saved in the “Web & App Activity” section from your Google account. This dynamic applies to all voice interaction with Google Assistant, Maps, or search, whether you use “Ok Google” or the microphone icon.
In the case of the Assistant you will find this configuration in the Google app:
- Open the Google app and Go to Settings >> Google Assistant
- Choose the option “Your data in the Wizard”
- Scroll to “All Google product controls” >> Audio recordings
As you can see in the image, in this section you will see if you have activated or not the recording settings, as well as the option to manage available recordings.
If you want to deactivate the option of Audio recordings you just have to choose “Activated” to open the account activity controls and you will allow disable it. Then just uncheck “Include Audio Recordings” and you're done.
How to delete Google Assistant audio recordings
One thing to note is that already saved audio is not deleted when you disable the record setting. To delete it, you will have to use one of the options that you will find in "Activity on the web and in Applications" of your Google account (as you see in the image above):
- Automatic Deletion: This option allows you to activate a minimum period of 3 months to automatically delete all your activity on the web or in the Google apps. That is, when that time elapses, all your audio recordings will be deleted.
- Manage Activity: This option will allow you to delete recordings manually at any time.
Another quick way to delete audio recordings is using the Google app:
- Go to Settings >> Google Assistant
- Choose Your data in the Assistant >> Your activity with the Assistant
- Select My activity and you will have all your activity history in the Google Assistant
You'll see that all voice queries (and therefore audio recordings) have the microphone icon. If you select it, the query details will be displayed along with the audio recording. You can listen to it, and from the menu (from the three dots) use the option to delete it
And if the process is easier for you, you can delete audio recordings from the web. Just go to this link, sign in with your Google account and follow these steps:
- Choose Activity on the web and Applications >> Manage activity
- Select the menu with the three dots to “Delete activity by”
- Choose the period of time you want and “Assistant” as product
- It will show you all your Assistant activity (including audio recordings) to permanently delete them
