How do I make Google my default voice Assistant on Samsung?
Google Assistant and Samsung devices both have a significant share of their respective markets. Google Assistant is one of the leading virtual assistants, with over 50% market share among smartphones according to one report from 2018 (https://voicebot.ai/2018/07/22/google-assistant-has-51-percent-virtual-assistant-market-share-on-smartphones-according-to-strategy-analytics/). Samsung remains a top smartphone vendor globally, although it recently lost the #1 position to Apple (https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/samsung-just-got-replaced-as-king-of-global-phone-market/). This article will provide a guide on setting Google Assistant as the default voice assistant on Samsung devices, which run the proprietary Samsung Bixby assistant by default.
Prerequisites
To use Google Assistant on your Samsung device, your phone must meet the minimum Android version requirements:
- Android 5.0 or higher – Google Assistant will work but with limited functionality
- Android 6.0 or higher – Recommended for full Google Assistant functionality
According to Google’s support page, your device should have at least 1.5GB of available memory and a minimum 720p screen resolution for the best experience with Google Assistant [1]. The Google app on your device should also be version 6.13 or higher.
So in summary, for Samsung devices running Android 5.0 or newer, with at least 1.5GB memory and 720p resolution, you should be able to use Google Assistant.
Enable Google Assistant
To use Google Assistant on your Samsung device, you first need to enable the Google app and give it permission to access your microphone. Here are the steps:
1. Open the Settings app on your Samsung device.
2. Tap on Apps or Application Manager.
3. Locate the Google app from the list and tap on it.
4. Tap Permissions.
5. Enable Microphone access by toggling it on.
This will allow the Google app to listen to your voice commands when accessing Google Assistant. Without microphone access, Google Assistant will not be able to understand your voice requests.
You can also enable location access in the Permissions menu if you want to use location-based features in Google Assistant like finding nearby restaurants or getting commute traffic information. Location access is optional but recommended.
Once microphone access is enabled for the Google app, you are ready to start using Google Assistant on your Samsung device.
Set Google Assistant as Default
To set Google Assistant as the default voice assistant on your Samsung Galaxy device, follow these steps:
1. Open the Settings app on your phone.
2. Scroll down and tap on “Apps”.
3. Tap on “Default apps”.
4. Under “Digital assistant app”, tap on Bixby or the current default.
5. Select Google Assistant from the list.
6. Tap “Set as default” to confirm.
Google Assistant will now be set as the default assistant and will launch when you press and hold the home button or say “Hey Google”. You can still access Bixby by pressing the dedicated Bixby button if your device has one. But Google Assistant will take over default voice commands.
Source: https://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS00077672/
Launching Google Assistant
There are a few different ways to launch or invoke Google Assistant on your Samsung device:
Use your voice by saying “Hey Google” or “OK Google.” Make sure you have set up voice match in your Google Assistant settings so it recognizes your voice (source).
Press and hold the home button. If you have navigation gestures enabled, swipe up from the bottom center of the screen and hold (source).
Tap the Google Assistant icon on your home screen if you have it available.
You can also launch Google Assistant from the Google Search widget on your home screen by tapping the mic icon.
Saying “Hey Google” or using the home button are often the quickest ways to launch the assistant.
Basic Voice Commands
Google Assistant can respond to a wide variety of voice commands to help you complete tasks on your Android device hands-free. Here are some examples of common voice commands you can try:
To launch apps or features:
“Hey Google, open Gmail”
“Hey Google, play my music”
“Hey Google, turn on flashlight”
To get information:
“Hey Google, what’s the weather today?”
“Hey Google, how tall is Mount Everest?”
“Hey Google, what is the capital of Australia?”
To set reminders and timers:
“Hey Google, set a timer for 20 minutes”
“Hey Google, remind me to call Mom at 5pm today”
To control your smart home devices:
“Hey Google, turn on the lights”
“Hey Google, set the thermostat to 72 degrees”
You can find many more examples of voice commands in this Google Assistant support article.
Customizing Google Assistant
There are several ways to customize your Google Assistant experience to your personal preferences. You can change the voice, adjust settings, and set up personalized results.
One of the easiest ways to customize Assistant is to change the voice. According to Google’s blog, you can select from a variety of voices to find the one you like best. Some options include male and female voices, as well as celebrity guest voices like John Legend. To change the voice, say “Hey Google, open Assistant settings,” then go to “Assistant voice” under “All settings.”1
Another customization method is setting up Voice Match. This allows Assistant to recognize your voice specifically and provide personalized results tailored just for you. Google recommends teaching Assistant the nuances of your voice by repeating “Ok Google” and “Hey Google” a few times during Voice Match setup.1
You can also customize the Google Assistant app itself for quick access to your most-used features. Adjust settings like voice selection, Routines, scheduled actions, and accessibility. Enable or disable features to optimize Assistant for your needs.
Overall, Google Assistant offers numerous ways to tweak the experience through voice selection, Voice Match, app customization, and adjustable settings so you can make it uniquely your own.
Google Assistant Settings
Google Assistant has a variety of settings that can be customized to your preferences. Here are some of the key settings you can adjust:
Under “You” in the Google Assistant settings, you can edit your name, photo, and other basic profile information. This helps the Assistant understand who you are and provide personalized results.
In the “Your data in the Assistant” section, you can manage activity controls which determine what information the Assistant saves and uses to provide recommendations. You can turn features on or off here.
The “Services” tab allows you to link streaming music accounts like Spotify and see connected smart home devices. You can manage what the Assistant has access to.
Under “Assistant voice,” you can change between different Assistant voices and accents. This alters the voice personality of your Assistant.
“Assistant languages” lets you set the primary language and any secondary languages you want the Assistant to understand.
Additional settings allow you to tweak when the Assistant listens for the “Hey Google” wake word, alter notifications, share usage diagnostics, and more. Everything can be customized.
For detailed instructions on adjusting Google Assistant settings, check out this Google support page.
Troubleshooting Google Assistant on Samsung Devices
Here are some common issues and solutions for troubleshooting Google Assistant on Samsung devices:
- Google Assistant not responding to “Hey Google”
Make sure the Google app is up to date and you have the latest version installed on your Samsung device. Check that Google Assistant is enabled in your device’s settings. Try rebooting your device or toggling your wifi on/off to reconnect.
- Getting error messages like “Google Assistant isn’t available for this version”
Your Samsung device software may be outdated. Make sure to install the latest Android updates for your device. You can find update instructions in the Samsung Members app.
- Google Assistant speaks but doesn’t provide feedback
Check your Samsung device’s audio settings and make sure media volume is turned up. Make sure you don’t have any headphones connected that may be capturing the audio feedback.
- Battery Saver mode affecting Google Assistant
Battery Saver can sometimes disable Google Assistant. Go into Settings > Battery > Battery Saver and add the Google app to the allowed apps list.
If issues persist, you can try rebooting your device, re-training your voice model, or reaching out to Google support for further troubleshooting.
Sources:
https://support.google.com/assistant/answer/7283669?hl=en
https://support.google.com/assistant/answer/9795643?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid
Conclusion
In summary, setting Google Assistant as the default voice assistant on Samsung devices is straightforward. First, you’ll need to download the Google Assistant app and enable permissions. Then head to Settings > Apps > Default apps > Digital assistant app and select Google Assistant.
With Google set as the default, you can launch it hands-free by saying “Ok Google” or “Hey Google.” Try asking questions, getting help with tasks, and controlling smart home devices. Don’t forget to customize Assistant in Settings for your preferences.
A few final tips: make sure Bixby Routines is disabled, update to the latest software version, and check Assistant microphone settings if you have issues. With these steps completed, Google Assistant will be ready to help on your Samsung device.