How to turn off the Pixel 9

We got used to turning off our phones by simply pressing and holding the power button, but this is no longer how it’s done. It’s like manufacturers don’t want you turning off your phone! If you just got yourself a new Google device, we can help you figure out how to turn off the Pixel 9. There are multiple ways to do this, and they work on all versions of the Pixel 9 series. Let’s get right into it.

Turn off the Pixel 9 using the hardware keys

The easiest way to turn off the Pixel 9 is to simultaneously press the side and volume up button. This will pull up the power menu; select Power off.

This is the most universal way to turn off Android phones, and the method should work with most modern Android devices.

How to remap the side key on a Pixel 9

While the method for turning off an Android device has changed over the years, the truth is you can still use only the side key to power off your Pixel 9. The trick here is that you have to dig into the settings and manually change what the side button does. Let’s take you through the process.

1. Launch the Settings app.
2. Select System.
3. Tap on Gestures.
4. Select Press & hold power button.
5. Here, you can pick Power menu.

Turn off the Pixel 9 from the notification area

This option is easy to miss unless you look closely. There is a power menu option in the notification area, but it only shows up in a specific area.

1. Swipe down to access the notification area.
2. Swipe down again to display more options.
3. In the bottom right corner, tap the power menu icon.
4. Select Power off.

Ask Gemini to turn off the phone

Google Pixel 9 devices come with Gemini by default. You can, however, switch back to legacy Google Assistant. Regardless of which digital assistant version you are using, you can simply ask Gemini or Google Assistant to turn your phone off.

Just say, “OK, Google. Turn off the phone.” This will launch the power menu. Select Power off.

If this doesn’t work, it’s likely because you have “Hey, Google” disabled.

How to enable “Hey, Google” on a Pixel 9 device:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap on Google.
3. Hit the All services tab.
4. Select Settings for Google apps.
5. Pick Search, Assistant & Voice.
6. Tap on Google Assistant.
7. Go into Voice Match.
8. Ensure Hey Google is enabled.

How to force restart a Google Pixel 9

This method is intended for those times when your phone freezes, and you can’t access the software options for turning off your Pixel 9 device. You can use hardware actions to force a device reboot. This is known as a “hard reset” or “force restart.”

All you have to do is press and hold the side button for about 30 seconds. I am a bit impatient, so I prefer using the second method, which is simultaneously pressing and holding the side and volume up buttons for about 10 seconds. The device’s screen will power off, and the phone will restart.

FAQs