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Google Assistant not working? Here's how to fix it

Make sure Assistant is always listening!
By
September 24, 2023
Google Assistant stock photo 1
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

There could be many reasons for Google Assistant not working on your device. This is especially an issue when you rely heavily on Google’s apps and services. You may even use Google Nest devices to control your smart home!

Fortunately, most problems are minor and can be fixed within a few minutes without much technical knowledge. Just follow the steps below to get everything back up and running. One of them should solve the problem.

Editor’s note: Some of the instructions in this article were generated using a Google Pixel 7 running Android 13. Keep in mind that steps can be slightly different depending on your device.

Are Google services down?

As hard as it is to believe, sometimes Google services go down too. It’s a rare occurrence, but it can happen, so you should first check if Google’s servers are having problems.

The easiest way to do this is to check a website like DownDetector.com. There’s a page for Google and Google Nest, so check them out before moving to the following sections in this post. The site even includes a live outage map to see if the issue is local.

If Google’s servers are down, there’s nothing you can do but wait it out.

Make sure your device supports Google Assistant

Best Smartphones 4 End of Year 2021
Robert Triggs / Android Authority

Does your smartphone even support Google Assistant? The latest devices should all be in the green, but some older phones won’t take advantage of the digital assistant. Check if your phone supports it by looking at the requirements listed below.

Google Assistant requirements:

  • Android 5.0+ with at least 1GB of memory.
  • Android 6.0+ with at least 1.5GB of memory.
  • Google app 6.13 or higher.
  • Google Play services.
  • A screen resolution of at least 720p.
  • Device language needs to be supported.

Enable Google Assistant

Google Assistant stock photo 3
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

If your Android device is new and you’re having issues with Google Assistant not working, chances are the service is turned off. Go ahead and check.

How to enable Google Assistant:

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

Check for updates

Running an older version of your Google and Google Assistant apps is usually not that big of a problem, but you can encounter some compatibility issues from time to time. You’re best off updating everything, especially if you’re having issues with Google Assistant not working.

Google Nest speakers and smart displays are updated through the Google Home app, so go ahead and update your smart devices there. Also, update the Google Home app, while you’re at it.

How to update Android apps:

  1. Open the Google Play Store.
  2. Tap on your avatar icon.
  3. Select Manage apps & device.
  4. Go into Updates available.
  5. Find the apps you want updated and hit the Update button next to them.
  6. Alternatively, you can hit Update all to take care of all apps at once.

Additionally, you might want to update your phone if there’s an upgrade available. Google Assistant is deeply baked into the Android operating system, so chances are bug fixes and improvements are included in newer Android updates.

How to check for Android updates:

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Select System.
  3. Tap on System update.
  4. Hit Check for update.
  5. Follow instructions to update, if available.

Restart your phone!

This is one of the most common troubleshooting tips in existence. I recommend it whenever someone has issues with any device, and it works most of the time. Restarting your device might help when you’re having problems with Google Assistant not working. Just give it a try and see if a reboot fixes everything. Press and hold the power button and tap Restart.

How to restart an Android phone:

  1. Press the side and volume up buttons simultaneously.
  2. Tap on Restart.

You can also try turning Google Assistant off, then turning it back on. This could work out any kinks going on in the background.

Check your internet connection

Google Assistant not working could be due to a faulty internet connection. It is a service that relies heavily on data, after all. You can’t really use Google Assistant offline, so you must ensure your internet is working.

An easy way to check if the internet is operational is by performing any other internet-based tasks using the same device. It could be something as simple as launching a browser and doing a Google search. Those using Wi-Fi should also try using another device and ensure the network is alive.

A good solution for a faulty Wi-Fi network is a simple router restart. There’s usually a dedicated button for rebooting the router, but simply unplugging, waiting for about a minute, and plugging the device back in works, too.

If you’re using cellular data, you might want to see if your data connection is on:

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Go into Network & internet.
  3. Under SIMs, select the main network.
  4. Toggle Mobile data on.
  5. If you’re outside your country or network coverage, also toggle Roaming on (this may incur extra charges).

Retrain Voice Model

It’s possible that Google Assistant is not working because it doesn’t recognize your voice. This is easy to fix; all you have to do is retrain Voice Model.

How to retrain Voice Model:

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Go into Google.
  3. Go into the All services tab.
  4. Select Settings for Google apps.
  5. Tap on Search, Assistant & Voice.
  6. Hit Google Assistant.
  7. Go into Hey Google & Voice Match.
  8. Hit Retrain Voice Match model.
  9. Read the displayed commands out loud when requested.
  10. Hit Next. You’re done!

Disable other assistants

Many of you may be using other digital assistants along with Google’s. A prevalent one is Alexa. It’s a great alternative, but it can often create conflicts with Google Assistant when using both in tandem. Try disabling any secondary digital assistant and see if that helps with Google Assistant not working.

In the case of Alexa, here’s how to disable it:

  1. Open the Alexa app.
  2. Tap on the More button.
  3. Select Settings.
  4. Go into Device Settings.
  5. Tap on Alexa on this phone.
  6. Toggle off the Enable Alexa Hands Free option.

Turn off Battery Saver and Adaptive Battery

Battery Saver and Adaptive Battery modes are great for extending your battery life, but they can affect performance and functionality across multiple features. One of them is Google Assistant. Make sure you turn off Battery Saver and Adaptive Battery to ensure Google Assistant functions appropriately.

How to turn off Battery Saver and Adaptive Battery:

    1. Launch the Settings app.
    2. Go into the Battery option.
  1. Tap on Battery Saver.
  2. Toggle off Use Battery Saver.
  3. Go back to the Battery settings and tap on Adaptive preferences.
  4. Toggle off Adaptive Battery.

Is it time for a factory data reset?

Alternatively, you might want to consider performing a factory data reset. It’s a bit of an extreme solution, as it will wipe the phone clean, but all settings and software issues should be cleared. You will delete all settings, data, and files on your phone, so make sure to follow our guide to back up your Android device, first.

How to factory reset an Android phone:

  1. Launch the Settings app.
  2. Go into System.
  3. Tap on Reset options.
  4. Select Erase all data (factory reset).
  5. Select Erase all data.
  6. Confirm by hitting Erase all data, once again.

Once you get everything back up and running, you should learn how to make the best of Google Assistant using the best commands and routines.

Still can’t figure out what’s going on? Google has a dedicated help center for Google Assistant users, as well as a community where you can ask questions.