Google started rolling out Android Q Beta 5 today, which is the second to last beta for this brand new version of Android, and well that means that things are almost final. But we are still seeing some new changes in Android Q. One of those changes are the new corner hints for the Google Assistant.
These hints are small little corner lines in the lower corners of your home screen. Swipe in and it opens the Google Assistant. It actually works really well, but they will keep flashing at random while you’re using your phone. And to put it honestly, it’s a bit annoying. Many that have installed the beta are complaining that these arrows are annoying. But thankfully, there is a way to get rid of them. Though it does seem to be a bit more of a workaround than an actual way to turn them off.
How to turn off Google Assistant Corner Hints
To turn off these hints, simply, swipe in from the corner to open the Google Assistant.
You’ll need to ask the Google Assistant to do something first, like the weather, etc.
Then swipe up on the card to make it full screen.
Now you should see a “Got It” button towards the top of the screen, as you can see here on the screenshot below.
Tap on the “Got It” button, and the hints should now go away.
If they don’t, you may need to just continue opening the Google Assistant, asking it to do something then finding the “Got It” button to tap on. In my experience, I had to do it a couple of times before it actually worked.
After this, the hints should go away, but you can still activate the Google Assistant by swiping in from the left or right corner on your Pixel smartphone. You just won’t get those flashing arrows in the corner. Which is what we want.
Wrap Up
Google decided to change the way you can access the Google Assistant in Android Q, because of the new gesture system. Instead of simply long-pressing the home button, that doesn’t exist anymore, Google needed to find a new way to do it. And since most smartphones don’t have a dedicated Google Assistant button, this was the best way to do it, and the most intuitive way. It’s definitely going to take some time to get used too, but you also can still use the three-button navigation or the pill gestures on Android Q – at least for now. So if you aren’t ready to give up that home button shortcut to Google Assistant, you don’t have too.
The good news is that there is a way to get rid of those flashing arrows that are in Beta 5. And it doesn’t mean getting rid of the full gestural navigation system on the Pixel. Which is going to be great for those that do actually like the new gestures – though that’s not the case for everyone. Google is giving us a choice here, and that’s a great thing.