The Bixby key on Samsung devices is a source of much internet consternation. The main area of concern is Samsung’s unwillingness to allow it to be remapped to another voice assistant service. To combat this you can download a 3rd party app that will simply redirect to your Assistant of choice.
Unfortunately Samsung has a history of blocking these and it looks like they’re at it again. We have been using the Bixbi Button Remapper – bxActions on the Play Store to get around the issue. As of this weekend the app no longer redirects the Bixby button and can not be sleeted as an action in the Bixby app.
The change must be the result of a background update to the Bixby app, so if yours in working and you want it to keep working I suggest turning off automatic updates.
Technically the app still works, but it just can’t be triggered by pressing the Bixby button. You can still program the Bixby button to “open Assistant” using the quick command feature, see the details how here.
As with all of these things, it’s a game of whack-a-mole, either another app is already working or the existing apps will be updated or another app will appear on the Play Store, it’s just frustrating that after spending nearly $2000 on a device you legally own it’s use is being restricted by the original manufacturer, that feels consumer choice hostile to me, and more that a little anti competitive.
Samsung, if you want people to use Bixby, just make it better (or even useful).
