Can I set Alexa as default assistant on Android?
Introduction
Virtual assistants like Amazon’s Alexa, Apple’s Siri, and Google Assistant have become increasingly popular in recent years. The global intelligent virtual assistant market is expected to reach $27.23 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 34.5% from 2020 to 2027, according to Grandview Research. These AI-powered assistants allow users to get information, play music, control smart home devices, and more through voice commands.
Alexa in particular has proven popular, with over 100 million Alexa-enabled devices sold as of January 2020 according to Amazon. Alexa can provide weather updates, news briefings, calendar reminders, music playback, and other features through Echo smart speakers and other compatible devices. Alexa also allows control of thousands of smart home devices.
While Alexa comes built into Amazon’s Fire OS for tablets and phones, it is also possible to make Alexa the default voice assistant on Android devices. This allows Android users to access Alexa’s capabilities hands-free even when not near an Amazon Echo device.
What Makes Alexa Useful
Alexa offers convenient voice control for a wide range of smart home devices. With Alexa, you can use voice commands to control lights, thermostats, TVs, security systems and more, which is very useful for hands-free operation while multitasking or moving around the home.
Alexa also has access to tens of thousands of skills and integrations that allow you to do everything from play games to order food. This vast range of capabilities makes Alexa a versatile assistant.
In addition, Alexa provides quick access to Amazon’s services like music, audiobooks and shopping. You can ask Alexa to play songs, read audiobooks or order household essentials, which saves time compared to manually looking them up.
With Alexa’s hands-free voice control and wide range of skills, it offers convenient access to information and tasks while allowing you to keep your hands and eyes free for other activities.
How to Change Default Assistant on Android
Here is a step-by-step walkthrough on how to change your default voice assistant to Alexa on Android devices:
1. Open the Alexa app on your Android phone or tablet. If you don’t have it installed yet, you can download it from the Google Play Store.
2. Tap on the menu icon in the top left corner and select “Settings”.
3. Under “General” settings, toggle “Alexa as default assistant” to the on position.
4. You may need to grant some permissions for Alexa like allowing access to notifications and other device data. Accept these permissions when prompted.
5. Close the Alexa app. From now on, Alexa should be triggered when you initiate voice commands rather than Google Assistant.
The process is mostly similar across Android versions. For Android 6.0 Marshmallow and above, you may need to explicitly set app defaults. Go to Settings > Apps > Default Apps > Digital Assistant and select Alexa here as well.
That’s it! Alexa is now set as the default assistant app on your Android phone. You can revert back to Google Assistant anytime by toggling the “Default Assistant” setting off for Alexa and selecting Google instead.
Configuring Alexa on Android
To start using Alexa on your Android device, you’ll first need to download the Alexa app from the Google Play Store and link it to your Amazon account. According to this guide, the setup process includes:
- Downloading the Alexa app
- Signing in with your Amazon account credentials
- Allowing the necessary permissions like location, microphone access, and notifications
The Alexa app will walk you through the permissions and account linking when you first launch it. Make sure to enable all permissions like location and microphone access so Alexa can understand and respond to your requests properly. According to this LifeWire article, you may need to manually enable permissions in your Android settings if you previously disabled access.
If you run into issues getting Alexa to work properly, you can try force closing the app, clearing app data/cache, uninstalling updates, or rebooting your device. Check that you have an active internet connection and that your Amazon account is in good standing. With the right permissions and account access, Alexa should work seamlessly on Android.
Using Alexa as Default
Once Alexa is set as the default voice assistant, you can activate it hands-free by saying the wake word “Alexa” when your phone screen is on or by pressing and holding the home button when the screen is off or locked (Amazon). You can then use Alexa to play music, set timers and alarms, check the weather, control smart home devices, make calls, send messages, and more using just your voice.
Some example voice commands include:
– “Alexa, play my workout playlist”
– “Alexa, set a timer for 20 minutes”
– “Alexa, what’s the weather forecast today?”
– “Alexa, turn on the lights”
– “Alexa, call Mom”
– “Alexa, send a text to John”
However, there are some limitations compared to using Alexa on an Echo device. On your phone, Alexa cannot drop in on or announce calls and messages. You also cannot use Alexa to make PA announcements or control entertainment systems. Multi-room music is limited and calling capabilities depend on your cell service and phone OS (Hellotech). But for many daily tasks, Alexa on Android works very well.
Pros of Switching to Alexa
One of the biggest pros of switching to Alexa as your default voice assistant on Android is the seamless smart home control it provides. According to Good Housekeeping, Alexa integrates extremely well with smart home devices and allows you to control things like lights, thermostats, door locks, and more using just your voice. This hands-free convenience can be a major plus in day-to-day use.
Alexa also gives you access to over 100,000 different skills that allow you to customize your experience. You can enable skills for playing games, getting news updates, controlling media playback, and automating various household tasks. The vast skill selection provides tons of possibilities to make Alexa fit your lifestyle and needs.
Additionally, multiple reviews praise Alexa for having more natural conversational abilities compared to Google Assistant. Interacting with Alexa can feel more human-like and flowing versus the sometimes stilted back-and-forth of Google Assistant. This leads to an overall smoother and more pleasant experience having Alexa manage your requests and queries.
Cons of Switching to Alexa
While Alexa has many useful features, there are some potential downsides to switching over to it from Google Assistant on Android devices. One disadvantage frequently cited is that Alexa is less personalized than Google Assistant. As reported by Tom’s Guide (https://www.tomsguide.com/face-off/alexa-vs-google-assistant), Google Assistant pulls data from your Google account and search history to provide more tailored results and recommendations. In contrast, Alexa relies more on third-party skills and integrations for personalization.
Additionally, some key Alexa features have limited functionality on Android devices. For example, Alexa’s Drop In feature for intercom-style communication between Echo devices is restricted on Android as noted by TechRadar (https://www.techradar.com/news/alexa-vs-google-assistant-which-voice-assistant-is-best-for-your-smart-home). There are also fewer Alexa-optimized apps available on the Google Play Store.
Finally, privacy concerns may deter some users from switching to Alexa. There have been instances of Alexa recording and transmitting private conversations as reported by multiple sources. While Amazon has added more privacy protections, some may feel more comfortable sticking with Google’s approach to user data when it comes to digital assistants.
Best Practices
Here are some tips to get the most out of Alexa on your Android device:
Placement is key for optimal microphone pickup. When invoking Alexa, hold your device about an arm’s length away and speak directly towards the microphone. Avoid placing the device in pockets or bags, as this can muffle Alexa’s ability to hear you clearly.
Be sure to keep the Alexa app updated to the latest version. Amazon frequently rolls out improvements and new features in app updates, so keeping your software current will ensure Alexa works her best.
Allowing notification access for the Alexa app is recommended. This allows Alexa to notify you of reminders, alerts, and other timely information even when the app is in the background. Enable notifications in your device settings to get the most from Alexa’s capabilities.
The Future of Virtual Assistants
Experts predict that virtual assistants will continue to advance and become more conversational and integrated into more aspects of daily life. According to a 2023 report, virtual assistants are expected to utilize more natural language processing and machine learning to understand nuances in human speech better. This will enable more natural back-and-forth conversation between users and assistants.
In addition to improvements in conversational ability, virtual assistants are predicted to expand beyond smart speakers and phones into more integrated devices and services. For example, virtual assistants may be built into household appliances, vehicles, business software and more. The goal is to enable users to access assistance easily wherever they are.
While Amazon’s Alexa and Google Assistant currently dominate the market, competitors like Apple’s Siri, Microsoft’s Cortana, and Samsung’s Bixby aim to grow their market share. Each assistant has relative strengths and weaknesses, but all are making advancements using artificial intelligence to better understand and anticipate user needs. It remains to be seen which assistants will become predominant, or if the market will remain diverse. However, the outlook is for continued innovation and expanded capabilities across all major virtual assistants.
Conclusion
When choosing Alexa as your default assistant on an Android device, you gain access to many beneficial features that enhance the user experience. Alexa allows for hands-free operation, quick access to information, management of smart home devices, shopping through Amazon, playing music, setting reminders, useful skills, and much more.
For Android users who want a capable, helpful voice assistant that integrates well with other Amazon services, switching to Alexa as the default can be a wise choice. Although the Google Assistant that comes built-in to Android devices is also powerful, Alexa offers some unique advantages that many will find useful.
Taking the steps to change the default assistant to Alexa grants Android device owners greater flexibility and control over their user experience. With Alexa easily accessible, users can take full advantage of Amazon’s continually advancing virtual assistant technology.