How do I control my Sony Bravia TV with voice?

This article provides an overview of how to control your Sony Bravia TV using voice commands. Voice control allows you to operate your TV hands-free using spoken instructions. With built-in microphones and voice assistant capabilities, Sony Bravia TVs can respond to your requests to adjust volume, switch inputs, launch apps, search for content, and more.

The purpose of this guide is to explain the voice control features available on compatible Sony Bravia models and provide instructions on how to set up and use voice commands effectively. Whether you want to search for your favorite show, change settings, or access other TV functions without reaching for the remote, this article will cover the capabilities and limitations of Sony Bravia voice control.

Prerequisites

Sony’s voice control functionality is available on 2018 and newer Bravia models that support Google Assistant (including some high-end 4K and 8K models). Voice control requires your television to be connected to the internet via Wi-Fi. You’ll also need a compatible source device connected to the TV that supports Google Assistant, such as an Android TV streamer or a Chromecast. The Google Assistant app must be installed on any mobile device you want to use for voice control.

Compatible Bravia models include:

XBR-65A8H
XBR-55A8H

XBR-65A9G
XBR-55A9G
XBR-65Z9G

XBR-75Z9G
XBR-85Z9G

Set-up requirements:

Wi-Fi internet connection
Android TV device or Chromecast connected to Bravia TV
Google Assistant app installed on mobile device or smart speaker

Enabling Voice Control

To use voice commands with your Sony Bravia TV, you first need to enable voice control in your TV’s settings menu. Here are the steps to turn on voice control:

Go to Settings > Device Preferences > Voice Control and select “On.” This activates the built-in microphone on your Sony TV.
Make sure your remote is paired with the TV. Go to Settings > Remotes & Accessories > Remote Control and select your remote.

On your remote, press and hold the microphone button to sync the remote so it can send voice commands.
You may need to calibrate or adjust the microphone level on your remote. Go to Settings > Remotes & Accessories > Voice Remote Control > Microphone level.

Once voice control is enabled in your settings and the remote is paired and synced, your Sony Bravia TV and remote are ready to receive voice commands. The built-in microphone on the TV or remote will listen for your voice when a button is pressed.

Using Your Voice

Basic voice commands for activating your TV and supported apps include “turn on”, “turn off”, and “open YouTube”. The Sony Bravia uses Google Assistant built-in for voice control so you can call out many common search queries and requests like “play Stranger Things” or “what’s the weather?”. Here are some examples of key voice commands:

Power
“Turn on TV”
“Power off TV”

Volume
“Volume up”
“Set volume to 50%”

Channels

“Go to channel 7”
“Change to ESPN”

Apps
“Open Netflix”
“Launch YouTube app”

You can control playback of media with commands like “pause”, “rewind”, or “skip ahead 2 minutes”. The full list of supported voice commands may be extensive based on enabled apps and services. Check your TV settings or say “voice guide” to hear examples of key phrases.

Smart Speakers

One of the easiest ways to control your Sony Bravia TV with your voice is by connecting it to a smart speaker like the Google Home or Amazon Echo. This allows you to use voice commands to control certain functions of your Sony TV.

To connect your Google Home or Nest speaker to your Sony TV, you’ll first need to link accounts in the Google Home app. Go to the Settings menu and select “TVs & speakers”, then select your Sony TV. Follow the on-screen prompts to sign-in and link your Google account. Once linked, you can use commands like “Hey Google, turn on the TV” or “Hey Google, set volume to 50%” to control your Bravia TV.[1]

For Alexa and Echo devices, go to the Alexa app and select “Settings”>”TV & Video”>”Sony Bravia”. Sign-in to link accounts and then you can use voice commands like “Alexa, turn on Bravia” or “Alexa, mute the TV”. Controlling volume and basic playback functions is also supported when connected.[2]

Once connected, your smart speaker can turn your Sony TV on or off, change volume, mute, and control basic playback functions. More advanced controls like changing inputs or channels may not be supported. Check the app and your TV’s settings to enable full voice control features.

Troubleshooting Voice Control

If you are having issues using voice control with your Sony Bravia TV, here are some common problems and solutions:

Microphone Not Detected

Make sure the microphone on your remote is turned on and paired properly with the TV. Go to Settings > Remotes & Accessories > Remote control and select Connect via Bluetooth or Activate the mic button. You can also try unpairing the remote and repairing [1].

Commands Not Recognized

Check your microphone settings under Settings > Device Preferences > Voice. Make sure Wake with “OK Google” is enabled. You can also try re-training the voice recognition under Settings > Device Preferences > Voice > Recognized Voice Training [2].

Intermittent Issues

Interference from other devices or ambient noise can cause the microphone to not pick up commands properly. Make sure the remote is close to you and aim it towards your mouth when speaking. Turn off nearby devices that could cause interference.

Limitations

Sony Bravia TVs have some limitations when it comes to voice control capabilities. According to Sony’s support article, the voice remote control cannot be used to open apps, control external devices connected via HDMI, or access certain settings menus. Additionally, voice commands may not work properly if there is background noise or other voices in the room.

Some key features not supported through voice include:

Launching apps like Netflix or YouTube
Controlling playback of media files from USB or HDMI devices

Adjusting advanced picture settings like color and contrast
Accessing network settings to connect to WiFi

According to another Sony article, basic TV operations like changing the channel, volume, and input source are the primarily supported voice commands. More complex voice control capabilities are limited at this time.

In summary, Sony Bravia TV voice control has restrictions around launching apps, external device control, and accessing certain settings. It serves mainly for basic TV operations through spoken commands. Users seeking full hands-free access to all TV features may find the voice control lacking in some areas.

Privacy Concerns

When using the voice control features on a Sony Bravia TV, users should be aware of potential privacy concerns around data collection. According to Sony’s Privacy Policy, the TV will collect and transmit certain data like your voice commands when using voice control. This data may be used by Sony to improve its products and services.

Some users may wish to limit or opt out of the data collection involved with the voice control features. Within the TV’s settings, you can disable “Voice Recording” under Google Assistant settings. This prevents the TV from saving and transmitting your voice recordings. However, this means you lose the ability to use voice commands. Another option is to not enable voice control at all when setting up the TV initially.

In summary, while voice control can be convenient, users should weigh the benefits against potential privacy risks. Adjusting settings like Voice Recording or avoiding enabling voice control altogether are ways to protect privacy if this is a concern.

Future Improvements

Sony is continuously working to improve the voice control capabilities of its Bravia TVs. Based on statements from Sony and trends in voice technology, here are some expected updates and new capabilities:

Expanded voice command support – Sony will likely expand the library of supported voice commands to control more functions of the TV and smart home devices. For example, users may be able to change picture settings or launch apps using just their voice.

Natural language understanding – Future Bravia TVs may include more advanced natural language processing to understand complex voice commands. Users may be able to speak full sentences like “What movies has Tom Hanks starred in?” instead of memorizing specific commands.

Personalization – Voice assistant capabilities may become more personalized to recognize different users and learn individual preferences over time. This could allow for a more tailored smart TV experience.

Far-field voice pickup – With improved microphone arrays, future Bravia TVs may be able to understand voice commands from across the room without needing to speak directly at the TV.

Third-party integrations – Sony may expand support for controlling smart home devices from other brands using Bravia voice control. This could allow TV voice commands to control lights, thermostats, and more.

Proactive suggestions – Based on viewing habits and preferences, the TV may proactively provide personalized content recommendations and other suggestions using the voice assistant.

Conclusion

In summary, Sony Bravia TVs can be controlled hands-free using voice commands through the built-in Google Assistant. By going through the TV’s settings to enable Voice Control and link your Google account, you can use natural language to change channels, adjust volume, open apps, search for content, and more. For full functionality, pairing your Bravia with a Google Nest or Amazon Echo smart speaker is recommended.

To get the most out of voice control, remember to speak clearly and phrase commands conversationally. Start with basic voice commands like “turn on Netflix” to get comfortable before trying more advanced features. Refer to Sony’s official voice command guide for a full list of capabilities. With some practice, voice control makes it simple and convenient to operate your Bravia TV.

A few final tips: update to the latest software version for optimal performance, position smart speakers close enough for accurate voice pickup, and adjust the microphone sensitivity as needed. While voice control has limitations in understanding complex requests, it should handle most day-to-day TV operations. Give it a try and enjoy the hands-free convenience!