Can you answer an Android phone by voice command?

Voice commands allow Android users to control their phones hands-free using only their voice. This feature has become increasingly popular and advanced over the years. Most Android phones now come with built-in voice command capabilities powered by Google Assistant. Users can launch apps, make calls, send texts, set alarms, and more just by speaking to their phone.

According to an article on TechVerse, voice commands have been available on Android phones since at least 2013[1]. They have improved greatly since then. Google has enabled many voice commands to work offline without an internet connection[2]. Voice recognition capabilities have also gotten much more accurate over time.

Activate Voice Commands

To enable voice commands on Android devices, you first need to turn on the Voice Access feature. This can be done by going to your device’s Settings app and tapping on Accessibility. Under Accessibility, tap on Voice Access and toggle the “Use Voice Access” switch to the on position.

According to Google’s support page, once Voice Access is enabled, you can start it in a few ways (source):

• Say “Hey Google, start Voice Access”
• Tap the Voice Access shortcut in your device’s accessibility menu
• Set up a custom gesture, like tapping the back of your device, to launch Voice Access

Voice Access provides you with spoken feedback and allows you to control your device completely hands-free using voice commands. With it enabled, you can launch apps, navigate screens, enter text, and more using your voice.

Launch Applications

One of the most useful voice commands on Android is the ability to launch apps hands-free using just your voice. Both Google’s built-in Voice Access feature and third party apps like Touchless give users the power to open apps with a simple spoken phrase.

To open an app with Voice Access, first make sure the feature is enabled and you are on the home screen. Then say “Hey Google, open” followed by the name of the app you want to launch. For example, saying “Hey Google, open Gmail” will initiate the Gmail app. You can open most apps this way by voice.

The command is the same when using Touchless or other third party voice command apps. After enabling the app and granting required permissions, you can say “Open” followed by the app name to quickly launch any application hands-free.

This ability to start apps by voice makes using an Android device much more convenient. It allows you to multitask or access apps without having to touch the screen or buttons. Whether cooking, driving or just when your hands are full, voice commands enable easy access to the features and apps you need.

For details refer to:
Get started with Voice Access spoken commands – Android – Google Accessibility Help

And:
Use Voice Access commands – Android Accessibility Help

Make Calls

One of the most useful voice commands on Android phones is the ability to place calls hands-free. To start a call by voice, simply say “OK Google” or “Hey Google”, followed by a command like “Call Mom” or “Call 555-1234”.

According to Google Support, Android phones running at least Android 6.0 have built-in support for voice calling via Google Assistant. On a Pixel 4 or later, you can also accept or reject incoming calls completely hands-free.

Once you’ve initiated a call via voice command, you can continue the conversation as normal over the phone’s speakerphone. Voice calling makes it easy to dial friends or family without having to stop what you’re doing to pick up your phone.

Send Texts

One of the most useful voice commands on Android phones is sending texts via voice. To send a text by voice, first open your messaging app and select a contact you want to message. Then tap the microphone icon on the keyboard and say “Send message to [contact name]” (https://www.androidauthority.com/how-to-use-voice-to-text-on-android-1195895/).

After initiating a voice message, speak the content you want to send. The phone will transcribe your speech into a text message automatically. You can dictate punctuation by saying “period,” “question mark,” or “exclamation point.” Once your message is complete, say “Send message” or tap the send button, and the text will be delivered to your selected contact.

Some Android devices like Samsung Galaxy phones have built-in Bixby voice commands to send texts hands-free. You can say “Hi Bixby, send a text to [contact name]” to start composing a message (https://support.google.com/gboard/answer/2781851?hl=en-GB&co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid). Voice-to-text for messaging gives you a convenient way to communicate on the go without typing.

Write Messages

One of the most useful voice commands on Android phones is the ability to dictate messages by voice. Instead of typing out a text message, you can simply speak your message and have it transcribed automatically. This feature is enabled through Google’s speech recognition technology.

To dictate a text message by voice on Android:

1. Open the Messages app and select a conversation or start a new one. Tap the text field to bring up the keyboard.

2. On the keyboard, press and hold the microphone icon and allow the phone access to the microphone if prompted.

3. Speak your message clearly and at a normal pace. Say “comma,” “period,” “question mark,” etc. to automatically insert punctuation.

4. Once you’ve finished speaking, tap “Send.” The phone will transcribe your speech and insert the text into the message.

5. Review the transcribed text and make any corrections before sending or tapping the microphone again to re-dictate the message.

This feature utilizes Google’s automatic speech recognition, so there is no need to train the phone’s AI or install additional apps (1). Dictation is available for free on all Android devices with Google Assistant. With some practice, voice dictation can save time compared to typing long messages by hand.

Set Alarms

One of the most useful voice commands on Android phones is the ability to set alarms hands-free using only your voice. To set an alarm by voice, first make sure Google Assistant is enabled on your device. Then simply say “OK Google” or “Hey Google” to activate it, followed by a command like “Set alarm for 7am” or “Set an alarm for tomorrow at 8:30am.”

According to Google’s support page, you can set an alarm by touching and holding the home button or saying “Hey Google,” then saying or typing the alarm details you want (source). For example, commands like “Set alarm for 6am,” “Set an alarm for 7:30pm,” or even just stating a time like “Alarm at 10am” will create an alarm at those times.

The key is to clearly state the time you want the alarm set for after activating Google Assistant. You can set single alarms or recurring alarms this way. Android’s voice control integration allows setting alarms completely hands-free, making it quick and convenient.

Schedule Events

One handy feature of Android phones is the ability to schedule calendar events and set reminders using only your voice. The Google Assistant on Android allows you to add appointments, meetings, and other events to your calendar without ever having to touch your phone.

To schedule an event by voice, first make sure you have the Google Assistant enabled on your Android device. Then say a command such as “Hey Google, schedule a meeting with John at 3pm tomorrow” or “Hey Google, set a reminder to take out the trash at 7pm.”

The Google Assistant will add the event or reminder directly to your default calendar app. You can also specify which calendar you want to add the event to by saying something like “Add it to my work calendar.”

The Assistant can schedule events ranging from meetings to appointments to reminders. It will prompt you for any additional details like location, attendees, or notes. You can also ask to reschedule, move, or cancel events by voice.

According to Google’s support page, this feature works with Google Calendar as well as other popular calendar apps like Calendar, Business Calendar, aCalendar, and Today Calendar.

Navigate

One of the most useful voice commands on Android phones is navigation. Using just your voice, you can get turn-by-turn directions to any destination with Google Maps. Here’s an overview of how to navigate by voice on Android:

First, make sure you have the latest version of Google Maps installed on your device. Open the app and say “Ok Google” or “Hey Google” to activate voice commands. Then say something like “Navigate to [destination]”. Google Maps will start navigation using the phone’s GPS and provide voice-guided turn-by-turn directions.

You can customize the voice navigation experience in Settings. Go to Navigation settings to change options like voice language, voice volume, and more (source). If you run into any issues with voice navigation, check the Google Maps help center for troubleshooting tips (source).

Voice navigation makes it easy to get to your destination hands-free. Just launch Google Maps and say where you want to go for quick access to turn-by-turn directions by voice.

Conclusion

In summary, Android devices have robust voice command capabilities through Google’s Voice Access app. With Voice Access enabled, users can launch apps, place calls, send texts, set alarms, create events, get directions, and more using only their voice. Some additional useful voice commands include opening settings, checking notifications, controlling media playback, and returning home. While Voice Access currently only supports a handful of languages, it enables hands-free access to Android devices for millions of users.

Voice commands on Android offer an accessible, convenient way to accomplish tasks without touch interaction. As the technology continues improving, we can expect even more functionality and smarter voice control. For now, the existing voice capabilities provide Android users, especially those with disabilities, greater independence and flexibility in using their devices.